Supreme Grand Chapter.

as Grand Lodge , and had it not been for his motion this evening , the business of Grand Chapter would have been concluded in half an hour . He hoped the companions would agree with him that meeting at 7 o ' clock was most nn

fortunate and awkward . Many companions like himself , could not leave business in time to dine and dress and come down to Grand . Chapter by seven . He thought that eight o ' clock would be more suitable , and that more companions , would be got together at that hour than at

seven . Comp . S . L . Tomkins seconded thejnotion . He represented a class which would be considerably benefited by the proposed " alteration . Where men ' s business hours were from nine or

ten till five , it took an hour later to finish up for the day ; and if Grand Chapter met at seven , there was not sufficient time left for companions to dine and dress before they reached it . He himself had to apologise for not beingdressed then ;

if Grand Chapter met at eig ht this would be remedied . When Grand Lodge met at eight the discussions were frequently kept up till eleven o ' clock , and brethren could not get away in time for their late trains . But Grand Chapter had

much less business to transact , and companions would be able to get off in plenty of time for such trains . Comp . John B . Monckton felt that there was nothing to be added lo the able arguments which

had been adduced in favor of the change proposed , and he begged to support the proposition Comp . S . Rawson proposed as an amendment " That Grand Chapter meet at half-past five , " which would enable Companions to attend Grand Chapter before they dined .

Comp . Major J . Creaton seconded the amendment . He thought half-past five would be much more convenient , on this principle , that they would be following as much as possible the example of private lodges and chapters , which did their work first and dined afterwards .

Comp . H . Radchfre would be happy to vote for the amendment . He did not agree with Comp . Monckton that the arguments in favour of an eight o ' clock assembling were strong ; he thought them very weak . It would be far better

to go to business first and dine after . On a division being taken , 16 companions voted for the amendment , and 12 against it . Before the amendment was put as an original motion ,

Comp . H . Radcliffe suggested that the hour of half-past five sho .. ld be tried for a twelvvmonth , to see whether the attendance of companions was more numerous than at present . Comp . Joshua Nunn thought the change was

a move in the ri ght direction . In Masonry , generally , business was transacted first ; and in Grand Lodge of England it would be far better for those who spoke , and for those who unfortunately had to listen , if they dined after

business . Half-past five would suit provincial companions just as well , because if they came up to town they could not go back the same night , and they would have an opportunity of visiting places of amusement after Grand Chapter

was over . Com ]) , the Rev . C . J . Martyn said he agreed with Comp . Nunn . He was obliged to stay in town a ni ght when he came up to Grand Chanter , because his train left London at

halfpast four ; and Comp . Huyshe was even worse off than that . If Grand Chapter met at halfpast five , the companions from the country would have an opportunity < if visiting theirfrieiids

after Grand Chapter was over . A division was then taken , when there appeared For the amendment , as an original motion 10 Against 11

Majority for meeting at half-past five 8 Comp . Browse asked whether next Quarterl y Convocation would be called for half-past five .

Comp . John Hervey said no , the minutes of this evening must be confirmed before that could take place . Grand Chapter was then closed and adjourned till the first Wednesday in February , 1874 .

Mark Benevolent Fund.

MARK BENEVOLENT FUND .

A meeting of the second series of the Mark Benevolent Association in London , was held at the Essex Head , Essex Street , Strand , on Monday last , when Bro . Meggy presided , and before proceeding with the business of the association , worked the ceremony of

advancement in his usual admirable style . The following brethren also attended , S . Rosenthal , H . F . Binckes , E . Harris , C . Hammerton , C J . Sparks , G . Barlow , A . D . Loewenstark , Charles Horsley , Charles Allen , B . H . Mallam , James Mancler , I . J . H . Wilkins , F . Binckes , Hyde Pullen , R . Wentworth

Little , and H . Massey . The object of the association is very well known . By payment of a shilling per week , the contributor is entitled to take part in a ballot for a Life Governorship of one of the three Masonic Charities , and if the ballot is in his favour , has the liberty of choosing of which of the Institutions he will be a Life Governor . The

association endures for 210 weeks , and the first series having completed its term , is now exhausted . This , the second series , is therefore established on the same principle . The business ofthe first meeting of the second series having been completed , the brethren sat

down to supper ; but it was announced by Bro . Meggy , that the other meetings would be held in different quarters of the town , to give brethren living in all parts , the opportunity of attending without inconvenience . Bro . Meggy ' s exertions on behalf of the Charitable Institutions

having been very great , it was deemed to be only a proper acknowledgment of his services , to present him with a testimonial , and this took the form of a handsome jewel . At the supper Bro . F . Binckes presided , and in presenting the jewel to Bro . Meggy . Bro . Binckes said that the exertions of Bro .

Meggy were very well known wherever Masonry was known , because his good deeds and activity were not confined to any particular sphere . He had known him advocate the great cause ol Masonic Charity by sending his missives all over the world . Wherever there was the work to be

performed , Bro . Meggy was always prepared to do it . Duty was his great guiding star , and Bro . Meggy had always been read y to discharge his duty . He had been the originator of one very successful association like the present inconnection with the Mark Degree . Several brethren had

through it been recipients of its benefits , benefits which they would not have received but for Bro . Meggy , and great credit was due to him for his untiring perseverance and his devotion to the great cause of Masonic Charity . Life governorships were by this means easily obtainable

by brethren . By a small weekly contribution they were able to de in time what the more affluent did at once . The brethren who believed they could do nothing for the Charities were shown that it was in their power to forward the great object which Masons had at heart . No

matter how little a man contributed ; if he contributed his mite only , it was a positive proof that he regarded the obligation he came under at his initiation . These associations had done an immense amount of good , and one of them having been worked out , testified that they

were successful . On the present occasion certain brethren were anxious to show Bro . Meggy that they appreciated his efforts in aiding Masonic Charity , and they presented him with a jewel , whieh would remind him that they were not forgetful of his services . He was sure that in placing that mark of his biethren ' s affection on

his ( Bro . Meggy ' s ) breast Bro . Meggy would not regard merely the pecuniary value of the jewel , but only as it exhibited the sentiments by which his ' brcthren were actuated . With the jewel he hoped Bro . Meggy would receive the hearty and sincere thanks of the brethren for what he had hitherto done , and their best wishes for his future happiness and prosperity .

Uro . Meggy in reply said he fully appreciated the great kindness of the brethren and the good feeling shown by Bro . Binckes in the address he had just delivered . He felt that Bro Binckes had said more of him than he deserved , but he was deeply impressed with his observations . Of what he had done for Masonry he could only say he had

Mark Benevolent Fund.

endeavoured to make himself a trueMasonand to promote the cause of Charity . It was the great standpoint of Masonry to help their fellow creatures , and there were of course various ways of doing it . He was pleased to find what he had done in that way had met with the approbation of

his brethren . When he undertook to form these associations , he did not expect that he would meet with such high approbation ; but he nevertheless could not refuse to accept their acknowledgment of his poor services when it was so kindly offered . He required no such acknowledgment

to spur him in his work , and he would always be ready to continue it . He had not expected the great success which had attended these associations , but he was now convinced that though they had been a marvel to himself they might be continued with equal prosperity . He

agreed with Bro . Binckes , that every one might contribute something , and he should endeavour to impress that fact on the minds of the brethren . Bro . R . Wentworth Little , responded for "The Masonic Charities , " and in an able

speech showed what an immense amount of good they had been the means of doing . All the Masonic Institutions worked together in great harmony , and if there was any rivalry between them , it was only that honest rivalry which was shown in trying which could do the

most good . He spoke in the highest terms of the efforts of Bro . Binckes to promote the cause of charity even before he became Secretary of the Boys' School , and he thanked him for the interest he had exhibited in the Girls' School , of which he ( Bro . Little ) was Secretary . The usefulness of all the institutions was being very

much extended , and though the Masonic Order was making such marvellous strides , the institutions were keeping pace with the extension of Masonry , and would always show themselves worthy of any support which might be given to them . After some other speeches had been delivered , the brethren separated .

Relations Of Sts. John To Freemasonry.

RELATIONS OF STS . JOHN TO FREEMASONRY .

BY BRO . J ACOB NORTON ( Continued from page 724 . ) Now , thtre are two conflicting statements pervading those legends . Some claim that lodges were dedicated to both saints , since their own time , while others attribute the origin of

dedication to the Baptist only , since thc Crusades . Both ideas cannot be true , but both may be false . The question , then , is : How far back can the existence of these legends be traced with certainty ? For ascertaining this I have waded though

more books than those enumerated in liro . Pierson ' s preface , and , without consulting Calmet , 1 venture to assert that Father Cahnet never said that the Baptist was a " Freemason . " This is doubtless , an interpolation of Bro . Pierson , or of some former luminary . Briefly ,

then , I have searched through ecclesiastical histories , encyclopedias , lives of saints , and books devoted to evidences of Christianity , including Dr . N . Lardner ' s work of " Jewish and Heathen Testimonies , " but could find nowhere any testimony of either Christian , Jew , or heathen , in

relation to the Saints or Saint Johnbeinga l'rccmason , and as it seems impossible that such an event as the Evangelist ' s Masonry could have escaped the notice of all early writers , I must come to the conclusion that St . John knew as much of Masonry as the man in the moon .

But Bro . Pierson is certain that the traditions were believed by the Craft in the fifteenth century . Fortunately , we have the Halliwell poem , and the Strasburg Constitution of 145 6 . The former contains legends about Euclid , Atheistae , Nabogodonozor , Noah , etc ., but no

allusion to the . Saints John . Each of these documents contain an invocation to the Godhead , the Virgin , and the " four holy crowned martyrs . " These martyrs , then , were the patron saints of both English and German Masons in the fifteenth century , and not the Sts . John . Having examined all the existing authorities