Obituary.

county , who died in 1812 . In 1780 he was chosen a representative for the borough of Hertford ; but in the next year he returned to St . Petersburgh , at the request of the Empress , to inoculate the two sons of the Grand Duke .

Here he met with the kindest treatment from the Empress and her son , whose generosity greatly increased the Baron ' s private fortune . In 1784 he was again elected to represent the borough ; and having retired from public business , at the general election in 1790 , he had the satisfaction

of seeing his son , Nathaniel Baron Dimsdale , returned in his room . He died , after a few week ' s illness , on the , 30 th of December , 1800 , in the eighty-ninth year of his age ; and was interred in the burial ground of the Society of Friends , at Bishop Stortford .

"Nathaniel Baron Dimsdale , the second son of Thomas Baron Dimsdale , was born at the Priory , Hertford , on the 1 ith of April , 174 S . In 1768 , he accompanied his father to Russia , on which occasion the Empress Catherine conferred upon him the title of the Russian empire , wi th

limitations similar to those contained in the grant to his father . He was an Alderman of the borough , and served the office of Mayor of Hertford in 1790 and 1804 ; he also represented the borough in Parliament the thirty-first , thirty-sixth and forty-first of George III . He died unmarried on the 3 rd of July , 1811 , in the sixty-fourth year

of his age , and was interred in the parish church of St . Andrew , in Hertford , where a monumental inscription was placed to his memory on the south wall in the south aisle . " We may add that the heirs in succession are authorized b y Royal license to assume in England the Russian title of Bnron with the prefix of Honourable .

Provincial Masonic Lodges And The Grand Lodge Of Scotland.

PROVINCIAL MASONIC LODGES AND THE GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND .

At the last quarterly communication of the Grand Lodge of Scotland it was enacted that the registration and diploma of entrants shall be 1 os . 6 d . each , instead of 8 s . as hitherto ; also that on the 24 th of June annually the contribution of one pound sterling must be remitted in addition to the fee of jjs . for the annual certificate . This has been done with a view to the

extinction of the debt of the Grand Lodge and the application of its surplus revenues to charitable purposes . I do not know how far the lodges throughout Scotland have been consulted by their respective proxy-masters before such a motion was agreed to , but I will venture to affirm

that the Grand Lodge has legalised an assessment that will be sure to give rise to great dissatisfaction , and will not be heartily responded to . The eflect will be to cripple and impede the ellorts which many lodges are now making to

carry out projects of education and beneficence . In all the experiments cf the Grand Lodge in the science of legislation we seldom or never hear of any assessment being imposed exclusively on the members of that venerable < ruild . It

might be oetter if now and then it were to exemplify the salutory aphorism , that charity and deeds of self-denying virtue , should begin at home . Probably the present Grand Master , the Earl of Rosslyn , was fully aware that any proposal of this kind would not be well received by many of the members . I cannot bnt admire his ardent desire that the debt of the Grand

Lodge should be wiped off ; and ( from wdiat is known of his kind and generous disposition ) if a subscription had been set on foot by the more wealthy brethren of the Craft , his name would assuredly have stood second to none for liberality and munificence . It is to be hoped that this

additional impost upon the lodges will awaken a spirit of inquiry , in order to ascertain if the expenses of the Grand Lodge cannot somehow be reduced to a practical minimum . MuHi more honour would accrue to the society

from works of benevolence and mutual aid than from haying a highly paid class of officers , or from prodi gal expenditure in banqtietings and gatherings for parade and pleasure . The foundation-stone of die Masonic Hall was laid on the 24 th of June , 1858 , and at what cost the structure

Provincial Masonic Lodges And The Grand Lodge Of Scotland.

was raised , or what may be the present amount of debt upon the property , are matters on which I regret to find that " the Grand Lodge of Scotland ' s Reporter , April , 1872 / ' is singularly silent . The sums which the Grand Lodge receives from the affiliated and daughter lodges throughout the

country must add up every year to a very large total , and yet there is little or no apparent good done by this opulent income . I am not of opinion—and in this I differ from some whom I highly esteem , and to whose authority I should in many cases defer—that there ought to be no

paid officers . The secretary ' s work is most laborious ; but I am unable to perceive any necessity for two paid officials—the secretary and clerk . One of these might be dispensed with ; and in saying so , 1 only express the opinion of many good and true Masons , held at the time of

the death of the late lamented secretary . While thus urging the desirability of retrenchment , it would be unfair not to acknowledge in the most emphatic terms , the eminent services which Lord Rosslyn has rendered to the Craft

generally . But I believe that he has no wish to make the terms of membership onerous throughout the country , in order to extinguish the debt on the Metropolitan Lodge , over which he so ably and honourably presides . —The Cuuratil , Dec . 2 , 1782 .

The Star Lodge ( No . 1275 ) now meets at the Ship Hotel , Greenwich , on the 1 st Friday in March , June , September , and December .

Metropolitan Masonic Meetings.

METROPOLITAN MASONIC MEETINGS .

For the Week ending Friday , December 13 , 1872 . The Editor will be glad to have notice from Secretaries of Lodges and Chapters of any « hange in place or time of meeting .

SATURDAY , Dec . 7 . Gen . Com . Boys' School at Freemasons' Hall , at 4 . Lodge 142 , St . Thomas , Caledonian-hotel , Adelphi . Chap . 97 j , Rose of Denmark , White Matt , Barnes . Star Lodge of Instruction ( 1275 ) , Alaiouis of Granbj

New Cross-roatl , at 7 ; Bro . C . G . Dtlley , Preceptor Mount Sinai Chapter of Instruction , Union Tavern , Air street , at 8 ; Comp . Brett , Preceptor . Manchester Lodge of Instruction , Yorkshire Grey , London street , 1 ' 'itzroy-snuare , at 8 ; Bro . Ash , P . M ., Precep

tor . Sphinx Lodge of Instruction ( 1329 ) , Castle Tavern , Cam benvell-road , at 7 ; Bros . John Thomas and K , Worth ington , Preceptors .

MONDAY , Dec . 9 . Lodge 5 , St . George's and Cornerstone , Freemasons ' Hal ) . ' „ 29 , St . Allan ' s , Albion Tavern , Aldcrsgate-street . „ J 9 , Royal Naval , Freemasons'Hall . „ 90 , St . John ' s , Ship and Turtle , Leadenhall-strcet . » I <) 3 > Confidence , Anderton ' . s Hotel , Flect-st .

,, 222 , St . Andrew s , London lavern , Btshopsgate-st . i > 8 79 , Pcckham , Maismore Arms Tavern , Peckhamroad , Pcckham . „ 957 , Leigh , Freemasons' Hall . Strong Man Lodge of Instruction ( 45 ) , Old Jerusalem . Tavern , St . John's-gate , Clerkemvell , at 8 ; Bro Beckett , Preceptor .

Sincerity Lodge of Instruction ( 174 ) , Railway Tavern . Fenchurch-strect Station , at 7 . Ceiemony of Installation by Bro . C . I . acey , P . M . Camden Lodge of Instruction ( 704 ) , Adelaide Tavern , Haverstock-hill , at 8 ; Bro . T . A . Adams , Preceptor . Eastern Star Lodge of Instruction ( 95 ) , Royal Hotel , Mileend-road , at 7 . 30 ; Bro . E . Gottheil , Preceptor .

British Oak Lodge of Instruction , Bank of Friendship Tavern , Mile-end , at 7 for 8 . St . James's Union Lodge of Instruction ( 180 ) , Horse and Groom Tavern , Winsley-street ( opposite the Pantheon ) , Oxford-street , at 8 ; Bro . J . R . Stacey , Preceptor . Wellington Lodge of Instruction , White Swan Tavern , Dcptford , at 8 ; Bro . C . G . Dilley , P . M . 1155 .

Preceptor . St . John of Wapping Lodge of Instruction ( 1306 ) , Gun Tavern , High-street , Wapping , at 8 ; Bro . T . Mortlock . Preceptor . West Kent Lodge of Improvement ( 1297 ) , St . Saviour ' s College , Statisted-road , Forest-hill , al 7 . 30 ; Bro . K . W . Lindus , Precentor .

TUESDAY , Dec . 10 . Lodge ()( i , Burlington , Albion 'Cavern , Aldersgatc-st . „ 160 , Union , I nndem Tavern , Bishopsgntc-st . „ 1 H 0 , Si . James ' s Union , Freemasons' Hall . „ iy 8 , Percy , Ship and Turtle , Lcadcnball-st . „ 211 , St . . Michael ' s , Albion Tavern , Aldersgatc-st .

„ 228 , United Strength , Old Jerusalem Tavern , St Joint ' s Gale , Clerkemvell . , 1 s . ISi Nine Muses , Clarendon I lotel , Bond-st . „ 54 8 , Wellington , White Swan Tavern , Dcptford . „ 834 , Ranelagh , Clarendon I lotel , I lammcrsmith . „ 933 , Doric , Andcrton ' s I lotel , Flcct-st . Chap . 185 , Jerusalem . Freemasons' Hall .

Metropolitan Masonic Meetings.

Sydney Lodge of Instruction , Cambridge Hotel , Upper Norwood . Metropolitan Chapter of Instruction , Portugal Hotel , Fleet-street , at 7 ; Comp . Brett , Preceptor . Domatic Lodge of Instruction , Palmerston Tav ., Grosvenorpark , Camberwell , at 8 j Bro . John Thomas , Preceptor . Faith Lodge of Instruction , Refreshment Rooms , Victoria-st ,

( opposite Westminster Palace Hotel ) , at 8 ; Bro . C . A . Cottebrune , Preceptor . Yarborough Lodge of Instruction , Green Dragon , Stepney at 8 ; Bro . T . J . Barnes , P . M ., Preceptor . Prince Fredk . William Lodge of Instruction ( 753 ) , Knights of St . John Tavern , St . John ' s-wood ; Bro . F . G . Baker , Preceptor . Dalhousie Lodge of Instruction , King Edward , Triangle

Hackney , "it 7 . 30 ; Bro . J . Saunders , Preceptor . Florence Nightingale Lodge of Instruction , Masonic Hall William-street , Woolwich , at 7 . 30 . Prosperity Lodge of Instruction , Gladstone Tavtrn 13 isbopsgate-st . Within , at 7 . 30 ; Bro . Bolton ( W . M 1227 ) , Preceptor .

St . Marylebone Lodge of Instruction ( 1305 ) , British Stores Tavern , New-street , St . John ' s wood , at 8 Bro . T A . Adams , Preceptor . Constitutional Lodge of Instruction , ( 50 ) , Wheatshea' ' Hotel , Hand-cou- , Holborn , at 7 ; Bro , J . R . Stacey , P . M ., 180 , Preceptor .

WEDNESDAY , Dec . 1 r . Committee of Masonic Benevolent Institution , at 3 o ' clock . Lodge 3 , Fidelity , Freemasons' Hall . ,, 11 , Enoch , Freemasons ' s Mall . „ 13 , Union of Waterloo , Masons' Hall , William , street , Woolwich .

,, 15 , Kent , Guildhall Tavern , Gresham-st . ,, 87 , Vitruvian , White Hart , College-st ., Lambeth . 11 ' 47 t Justice , White Swan , High-st ., Deptford . „ 238 , Pilgrim , Ship and Turtle , Leadenhall-st . „ 781 , Merchant Navy , Silver Tavern , Burdett-rd ., Lime house . „ toi 7 > Montcnore Freemasons' Hall . ,, 1228 , Bcacontree , Private Rooms , Leytonstone .

„ 1260 , Hervcy , Swan Hotel , Walham Green . „ 1 io ; , St . Marylebone , Eyre Arms Tavern , St . John ' s Wood . „ 1306 , St . John of Wapping , Gun Tavern , High-st . Wapping . Rose Croix Chapter , Grand Metropolitan , Freemasons , Tavern . Pythagorean Lodge of Instruction ( 79 ) , Prince of Orange ,

Greenwich , at 8 ; Bro . J . Robt . Nash , Preceptor . United Strength Lodge of Instruction ( 228 ) , the Grafton Arms , Prince of Wales ' s-road , tentish-town , at 8 ; Bro . J . N . Frost , Preceptor . Israel Lodge of Instruction , Rising Sun Tavern , Globe-road , at 7 . 30 ; Bro . Isaac Saqui , Preceptor . New Concord Lodge of Instruction , Rosemary Brancr

Tavern , Hoxton , at 8 . Confidence Lodge of Instruction , Railway Tav ,, London street , City , at 7 . 30 . Royal Union Lodge of Instruction , Horse and Groom Tavern , Winsley-street , Oxford-street , at 8 ; Bro . T . A . Adams , Preceptor .

Pcckham Lodge of Instruction , Maismore Arms , Park-road , Peckham , at 8 ; Bro . David Rose , Preceptor . Temperance in the East Lodge of Instruction , George the Fourth , Catherine-street , Poplar . Stanhope Lodge of Instruction . Thicket Hotel , Anerley , at 7 . 30 p . m . ; Bro . H . W . Lindus , Precentor .

I iivnsnAY , Dec . 12 . Lodge 19 , Athelstan , City Terminus Hotel , Cannon-st . „ 263 , Bank of England , Albion Tav ., Aldersgate-st . „ 534 , Polish National , Freemasons' Ha )) . „ 860 , Dalhousie , Andcrton ' s Hotel , Fleet-st . ,. 10 7 6 , Capper , Marine Hotel , Victoria Dock . „ 1288 , Finsbury Park , Finsbury Park Tavern , Seven

Sister s Road , N . Chap . 72 , Royal Jubilee , Horns Tavern , Kennington . „ 6 iy , Bcadon , Greyhound Hotel , Dulwich . Knights Templar Encampment , 117 , New Temple , The Inner Temple , London . The R . A . Chapter of Improvement , Freemasons' Hall-Fidelity Lodge of Instruction ( 3 ) , Yorkshire Grey , London

st ., Tottenham Court-road , at 8 ; Bro . 1 . A . Adams , Preceptor . Panmure Lodge of Instruction ( 720 ) , Balham Hotel , Balham , at 7 . 30 ; Bro . John Thomas , Preceptor . Finsbury Lodge of Instruction , Jolly Anglers' Tavern , Bath-street , City-road ; Bro . Stean , Preceptor . United Mariners' Lodge of Instruction , Three Cranes

Mile-end-road , at 8 ; Bro . T . J . Barnes , Preceptor . Whiitington Lodge of Instruction ( 862 ) , Crown Tavern , Holborn , at 8 ; Bro . Lewis Alexander , P . M . 188 , Preceptor . Chigwell Lodge of Instruction , Bald-faced Stag Hotel , Buekhurst-hill , at 7 . 30 . Doric Chapter of Instruction , Three Cranes Tavern ,

Mileend-road , at 8 ; Comp . T . J . Barnes , Preceptor . Ebury Lodge of Instruction , Bro . Palmer ' s , 12 , Ponsonby * st ., Millbank .

F 111 n . 1 v , Dec . 13 . Lodge 134 , Caledonian , Ship and Turtle , Lcadenhall . stieet . „ 157 , Bedford , Freemasons' Hall . „ 177 , Dumatic , Andcrton ' s Hotel , Fleet-street . Knights Templar Encampment , 26 , Faith and Fidelity , Ficemasons' Tavern . „ Templar Encampment , Mount Calvary , Freemasons' Tavern .