" The Relation Of St. John The Evangelist To Freemasonry.''

would have been well , and to the credit of Bro . Paton , to have set a better example than by romancing through six columns without making a single point , so far as I have been able to discover , tending to show that even one " saint " had any relationship whatever to Freemasonry

during his life . . What is the nature of the " answers " which I receive to my demand for evidence , for " chapter and verse , " to prove the existence of the re * lationship in dispute ? It reminds me of the cuttle-fish , which has been provided by nature

with a large ink-bag , or pouch containing an inky fluid , and of the trick which that curious creature has of ejecting forth this black stuff into the water at the slightest prospect of an attack from its enemies , and having thus discoloured the sea all around its whereabouts , it

seeks safety from pursuit by dropping quietly to the bottom . It has also recalled the story of " Knickerbocker" concerning the sea iight wherein to fell a Dutch vessel of war and an English one , and wherein , the story says , the Dutch commander getting the worst of it , set

himself and crew to smoking their tobacco pipes with such might and main , as that he was enabled to baffle the Englishman completely , and by the aid of the fog so raised make a drawn battle of that which would have otherwise 'resulted in his defeat . The first part of Bro .

Paton ' s " answers " is all " ink " and " fog . " He descends to verbal criticism . He objects to my calling my paper a " criticism , " —he himself " might have designated it a letter to the editor . " Any one else but Bro . Paton , would have taken it to be a criticism , and even a damaging one ,

perhaps , if I had not called it one . And could not " a letter to the editor" be a criticism also ? Bro . Paton may say no ; but I do not think any body will join him in such nonsense . Are we discussing philology or avchseology , about words or things ?

I called the heading which he had given to his article a " caption . " He says , " The word caption , however , is new to me in this sense . " It is " new " to him . He should be thankful for that something " new . " He may count on that as one of the bona fide gains of the discussion .

" There is more in nature than is dreamt of in your philosophy ; " hut the word is not neiv in the sense in which I used it . It is in use , in the sense of a heading or title , in the United States , and has its place in our dictionaries with that meaning attached . Bro . Paton may ( practically

or not does not matter ) have learned its "Scottish legal" significance ; but Scotland is a very small country in comparison with this , and is very much given to " Scotticisms . " Now in this country the English language is receiving a development under which it does not suffer near

as much abuse as it does in the land o' cakes and of sans culottes . And when it is to be borne in mind that within the United States the English language is spoken by more people—more by millions—than speak it throughout England proper , and that education is much more generally

diffused here , it would be modest at least to admit that the people of America have as much right to attach a meaning to a word as can be claimed for a Scotch lawyer , and that once in awhile an " Americanism " may be exported for English use as well as " Anglicising " imported for American use .

Bro . Paton also alludes to my use of the plural in the use of the word " relationships " when that word had reference to a certain " Institute " and to two etc . 's , and suggests that " for the purpose of creating a little prejudice against me ( him ) at the outset of the " criticism , " the

singular—had it been warranted—would have served better . " Now why he should suggest that I could belter raise a little prejudice against him by violating grammar than by observing it is more than I can comprehend . He must have reference to circumstances connected with the

" Institute" or Ins connection with it of which I am ignorant , and if I have raised any prejudice against him by referring to his membership in the " Archaeological Institute , " I regret it , and pray that nobody may inform me of the circumstance . The whole purport of my reference to the

" The Relation Of St. John The Evangelist To Freemasonry.''

" Institute " was of this kind . Had Bro . Paton produced a paper on a geological subject , and added to his name " Member of the Geological Society , " he would have entitled me to claim a more scientific treatment of his subject , than if he had not made public his association with the

" Geological Society . " As it was , Bvo . Paton publishes a paper on " The Relation of St . John the Evangelist to Freemasonry , "—a very fitting subject of Archaeological enquiry , considering that so very much has been said , and nothing proved concerning that relationship , and Bro .

Paton appended his name , and as he undoubtedly had a right to , added that he was a " Member of the Masonic Archaeological Institute of England , etc ., etc . " Now , here we have a brother who claims to make Masonic antiquities a special and regular study , who has undertaken

to tell us something concerning a matter of Masonic antiquity , concerning the relation of the Evangelist to the Masonic Institution . From such a brother we may look for some new light upon the subject , Have we got it ? We had a chapter or move of extracts from the . New Testament , which has not one word to say about

Freemasonry—and an assertion that certain , as yet , nameless authority related something about the , Evangelist and so forth ; a re-hash of a wellworn fable and fraud , and not one word such as a professed archaeologist should have written on such a subject . Does Bro . Paton see the point now ?

Poetry.

Poetry .

• MASONIC ODE . BY T . F . MARVIN , DANVILLE , KY . The Brotherhood that widest claims Our warmest sympathies to move , Is that whose ancient structure frames

In Truth , and Harmony , and Love ; How great and good its vast designs , Its solemn grandeur fills the earth , The mystic love that gems its mines , To only Masonry has birth .

The Architect that built the skies Has willed and stamp'd it all divine , And where its glorious temples rise The laws of order noblest shine ;

The orphan ' s and the widow ' s tears Have known its softest , kindest care , And round the sick bed of long years Untir'd its watchful ling ' rings are .

Its tents from earliest history trae'd , And solemn tabernacles stood ; » Yct was its hand ne ' er crimsoned with A known , or signal'd Brother ' s blood :

Its circle is the radius where Truth's lovely banners are unfurl'd , Its rainbow hues are sorrow ' s tear , And plummet plumbs the balanced world .

Its pillars hieroglyphic d ocr—Where mysteries deep hidden lie , Where quarried from immortal love Beneath the broad , nil-searching- eye :

'I he cloud that guides the pilgrim on Is silver lin'J and fring'd with gold ; And penrl'd the staff he leans upon As unknown nivsterics unfold .

Its laws were known on Sinai , And where the waters ki . ss'd the rod , Its compass , square , and rule fram'd by ¦ The wise , unerring hand of God :

And when the Craft are called to work , Through yon grand arch that bends above , Be Truth the password all may breathe Within llie list ' ning car of Love .

Freemasonry is the light that shines in the dark places , the light that brings peace and joy to the disconsolate , the light that shines into the heart of the widow and the fatherless .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

Reports of Masonic Meetings .

—¦•—THE CRAFT .

METROPOLITAN . Lodge of Prosperity , No . 65 . —This ancient lodge held its installation meeting on Thursday , the 23 rd uk ., at the Guildhall Coffee House , Gresham-street . Bro . G . F . Cook , W . M ., opened the lodge and there were present during the evening : Bros . D . Forbes , S . W . and W . M .-elect ; E . C . Mather , J . W . ; J . Bellerby , P ? M ., Sec . ; J .

. Stevens , S . 1 J . ; T . Davy , J . D . ; J . Carruthers , I . G . ; E . Cornwall , P . M . ; E . Arnold , P . M . ; J . Goodyer , P . M ., and a large number of members . Amongst the large number of visitors present were : Bros . J . Emmens , P . G . P . ; E . Harris , P . M . and Treas . 73 ; F . Walters , P . M . 73 , W . M . 1309 ; J . Terry , P . M . 228 ; G . Bilby , P . M . S 61 : C . W . Ashdown , J . W . 1076 ; S . Watkins ,

P . M . 212 ; J . McCubbin , W . M . 94 S ; J . L . Fysh , 107 ; H . Lawler , 2 S 6 ; J . Bradbury , 7 S 1 ; W . II . Nain , P . M . 813 ; G . Sinclair , D . C . 813 ; J . Hart , P . M . 813 ; J . Bowron , P . M . 933 ; W . H . Spratt , 813 ; J . Forbes ; W . Haines , J . W . 917 ; J . Canter , W . M . 1000 ; J . Salisbury , S . W . 813 , and others . The minutes of the previous meeting were read and unanimously confirmed . The

W . M ., in perfect style , raised Bro . Browne , and installed the W . M .-elect , Bro . Forbes , as W . M . for the ensuing year . The customary salutes having been given , Bro . Forbes , W . M ., appointed and invested as his officers for the ensuing year : Bros . G . F . Cook , I . P . M . ; E . C . Mather , S . W . ; J . Stevens , J . W . ; J . Bellerby , P . M ., Sec . ( re-invested ); T . Davy , S . D . ; J . Carruthers , J . D . ;

L . A . Liens , I . G . ; C . T . Speight , P . M ., Tyler ( re-invested ) , and whose re-appointment , as usual , gave universal satisfaction , as by his gentlemanly conduct and polite attention he has made himself popular and respected by all who meet and know him . The newlyinstalled W . 31 . soon proved his proficiency by the excellent manner in which he initiated a gentleman into the

Order . He then had the pleasure and gratification of presenting , in the name of the lodge , a handsome gold Past Master ' s and Secretary ' s jewel to Bro . John Bellerby , P . M . and Secretary , in recognition for his faithful services rendered to the lodge for several years past as Honorary Secretary , which had been voted to him from the lodge funds . This testimonial was duly acknowledged by the

recipient , who has won the respect of all by his kind courteous manner in which he discharges the onerous duties of Secretary to so large and influential lodge as what the Prosperity really is . Over eighty brethren sat down to a first-class banquet , admirably served a la Rtisse which well sustained the high reputation of the caterer . The regular loyal and Masonic toasts were given and duly responded to . The toast of "Immediate Past Master "

was given and most enthusiastically received , and W . M . expressed the feelings of pleasure he sincerely felt in placing on Bro . G . F . Cook ' s breast the Past Master ' s jewel which had been unanimously voted to him from the lodge funds , and in addition gave him a magnificent diamond ring , purchased by private subscriptions amongst the members . Bro . Cook , in a neat and appropriate speech , acknowledged these gifts .

Vanmuie I-oily , No . 720 . —The regular meeting of this lodge was held at the Balliam Hotel , Balham . Present : Bros . J . B . A . Wolpcrt , W . M . ( in the chair ); J . Thomas , P . M ., Treas . ; II . F . Huntley , J . W . ; W . P . Moore , Sec . ; II . Payne , J . Poore , G . Lillcy , R . W . Huntley , & c . The lodge was opened in due form and with solemn prayer , and the Secretary having read the minutes they

were confirmed . This being the annual meeting for election of officers , a ballot was taken for the election of W . M ., and it proved unanimous in favour of Bro . J . M . Young , S . W . A ballot was then taken for the Treasurership , which was also unanimous for Bro . Thomas ; but Bro . Thomas wishing to be relieved of the office , Bro . Puhnan was elected as Treasurer . The election of a

1 yler next came forward , and Bio . Bradley was again chosen . It was then proposed by Bro . Moore , Sec , and seconded by Bro . II . F . Huntley , J . W ., that an address be engrossed 011 vellum and presented to Bro . Wolpcrt , expressive of the estimation of the lodge for the manner in which he hail conducted the working of the business anil ritual during the current year , which was

carried unanimously . It was afterwards proposed by Bro . Thomas , P . M . and Treas ., and seconded by Bro . II . F . 1 lodges , that a Past Master ' s jewel , of the value of five guineas , be voted to Bro . Wolpert , W . M ., which was carried . The Committee for auditing the past year ' s accounts was then appointed , viz . : Bros . C Puhnan and C . K . Cnincs . in addition to those members entitled to be

on the Committee cx-o ' jtao . The lodge was then closed in linrmony anil with prayer , and adjourned until the third Monday in May , emergencies excepted . Royal StiiiiMiril f ., ' . i ; y , A '» . 129 S . —The regular meeting of ibis very flourishing lodge was held at the Marquess Tavern , Cnnonbmy , X ., on the 4 th inst ., under the presidency of that excellent working Mason , Bro . R . Lee ,

P . M . 193 , the W . M . Owing to the unavoidable absence of our worthy brother , John F . Wilson , the S . W ., his chair was ablv filled by Bro . II . Ballanlync , P . M . 754 ; Bi \) s . W . I . ' Woodman , T . W . ; R . Sliackell . W . M . 30 , Hon . Sec . ' ; U . Duddeu , S . D . ; K . G . Modridgc , J . D . ; K . Rafter , Org . ; and M . Swcclland , I . G . Among the brethren present we observed Bros . C . Woodman , W . II .

Cohen , ( 1 . W . Kutterford , S . T . Cleaver , II . W . Catlin , W . Jameson , & c . ; and among the visitors were Bros . R . Iiullcr , P . M . of the Albion Lodge , No . 9 , and K . Hart , of the St . James ' s Union Lodge , No . 145 . Bro . I . ce , the W . M ., in his usual able manner , passed Bros . Cohen and Cleaver to the second degree , and initiated Mr . Daniel James Woodman into the mysteries of the Order . Aflci a little routine business , the lodge was closed and the