Antiquity Of Freemasonry.

ANTIQUITY OF FREEMASONRY .

The following appears in the Correspondence of the Masonic Record of ll ' cslcrn India : — As the antiquity of Freemasonry is a dogma which the Craft inculcates with truth , the study of its history , and the landmarks of its early existence , form an interesting subject for the enquiring Craftsman ; more

conspicuous amongst these is certainly the name handed down to us of our Grand Master , Hiram Abif , which was ably discussed in a valuable contribution to the Freemason some time since ; but which would have been more lucid had it not been so encumbered with extracts from Hebrew , Greek , and Latin . The matter may be briefly put thus—The Hebrew Bible

says that Hiram , King of Tyre , sent to Solomon for his chief workman on the Temple , Huram Avi . II . Chron . ii . , 2 in the Hebrew , but ii . 13 in the English version ; or , as written in another place , Huram Aviv . II . Chron . iv . 16 , anil called Hiram in I . Kings vii . 13 . The first translation of the I Iebrcw Scriptures known was made by the Seventy into Greek ; and they translated

the first two Hebrew words by Hiram my father . This shows how the passage was understood two centuries before Christ . The earliest standard version of the Old and New Testaments into Latin was made by Jerome , in the fourth century of our era ; and that followed the Greek by rendering the words " Hiram my father . " This version , the

Vulgate , is still of equal authority with the original in the Komish Church , and was used by all Christendom till the Reformation . When the English version was made the passage was rendered " of Huram my father , " and the second form , " lluram his father , " following in the latter instance the Vulgate . Modern criticism however hasshown that all these

renderings arc wrong , and that the errors have arisen from the mistake of translating as a significant word , a form which is really a proper name , and should be " And now I have' sent a cunning man endued with understanding , Hiram Ab'f , " and instead of Hiram his father make , lluram Abif make . But while Hiram Abiv or Hiram Abif is a name new

to Biblical critics , it is old to Masons , having been used by them from time immemorial , thus showing that they had the true interpretation of the old Hebrew Scriptures among them so far as this passage is concerned , while the unmasonic world was floundering among such meaningless renderings as " Hiram my father , " "Hiram his father , " and of " Hiram my fathers . "

The first translator who got at the true rendering was Luther . He wrote Huram Abif , and lhat he owed his correct version to Freemasonry rather than to his study of Hebrew is highly probable , from the fact that he used the final / peculiar 10 Masons , while the name in the Hebrew Bible has a final 1 : This is clear from De Wettc's accurate version . He docs not follow Luther and write Abif ,

but adheres closely to the Hebrew form and writes Abiv . That Freemasons have always possessed the correct name of Solomon ' s Master Builder is now generally admitted ; they must have obtained this name originally cither from the Volume of the Sacred Law , or Tradition ; but as it was not to bc found in the Bible from the time the Septuagint was written , so they must have got it from the Bible at some period anterior to the second century

before Christ , or from Tradition , because at that period the true inteqiretation was lost . That they never obtained it lrom the written text at aU seems almost certain ; because if they hail , the name in use now would be Hiram Abiv , and not Hiram Abif , which appears to have come down l > y tradition as the original pronunciation . So one marked evidence of the antiquity of our Order , together with the traditional integrity of the Sublime Digree , is " Hiram Abif . "

Freemasonry In Constantinople.

FREEMASONRY IN CONSTANTINOPLE .

The monthly meeting of Oriental Lodge 687 , was held " 1 the Masonic Pemplc , Pera , on Thursday , June 24 th , at s p . m . The chair of K . S . was occupied by Bro . B . Atkin-« m , and that of I . P . M . by Bro . John Wetherill , P . M . jf > 6 , D -J . O . W . ; Bros . Ernicombe , S . W .: I Iarvv . I . W . ( act . 1 :

Mountain , P . M ., D . S . G . W . Treas . ; Swiss , Sec . ( act . ); «> Uelcr , S . D . ( act . ); Wren , J . D . ; Lingford , I . G . ; and "ingill , Tyler . There were also about twenty members w the lodge present , the W . M . being well supported by M - ' s II . Arnold , L . Hanley ( Levant Times ) , II . Temple , Henry Wetherill , R . 1 lammond ( M . D . ) . The lodge having win

opened , and the minutes of the previous evening con-Ijrnicd , the circular convening this meeting was then read , itj business being to ballot for . Messrs . D . James and D . I if » * an ! '" I " vsclU ! l testimonial to VV . Bro . Wetherill , ¦ l . M , T | lc candidates being duly accepted , were ad-I ' . ' Ut- ' il and initiated into the mysteries of Freemasonry .

^ N .. M . then called the attention of the brethren to the < J ri'it hiss the Oriental Lodge had sustained by the sudden «> tli of our late Bros . Scilly and Green , both P . M . ' s . VV . '" Mountain , after a very lengthy and minute address l i ' "lc S <> 1 , ( 1 qualities of our late brethren , moved that a | ir ' , uf coniloknce be sent to the families of the deceased Klircn whom , he was sure , would feel Ih .-if while <• ., _ ,.

;¦' •"" "i Irani any quarter was acceptable , it would be doubly i ^; ' ""> ig from the lodge , The VV . M ., before closing the HIIM' S : l' 1 ' t , lat lle , la ( ' : l most pleasant duty to perform , » I'M _ as . 'lr ,: s ,: nt W- Bro- J 0 '" 1 Wctll « i » . I-P . M ., with Very ' . i- . Jcwc ' i ; ls : l token of respect and esteem for the llf \ V \ i ' mamlcr '" which he had performed the duties \ il ¦ ' ll , c 0 l ' lcnt ; l 1 Lodge for the year 1874 . W . Bro . "' riiw t ,, c " ' a vtry al , 'c manni ; r i thanked the brelii , " "'< - ' honour they had been pleased to confer on lii , ! ,, ! lot , ge was then closed , to bc opened on the first ^ ' » October , 1875 .

Metropolitan Masonic Meetings.

METROPOLITAN MASONIC MEETINGS .

For the Week ending Friday , August 6 , 1875 .

SATURDAY , JULY 31 . Manchester Lodgeof Instruction ( 179 ) , Yorkshire Grey , 77 , London-st ., Fitzroy-sq ., at 8 ; Bro . H . Ash , Prec . Lily Lodge of Instruction ( 820 ) , Greyhound , Richmond . Star Lodge of Instruction ( 1275 )) Marquis of Granby , New Cross-road , at 7 ; Bros . Macdonald and Griffin , Preceptois .

MONDAY , AUGUST 2 . Prince Leopold Lodge of Instruction ( 1445 ) , Lord Stanley Tavern , Sandringham-road , Kingsland , at 7 ; Bro . T . Austin , Preceptor . Stronsj Man Lodge of Instruction ( 45 ) , Crown Tavern ,

Clerkenwell Green , at 8 ; Bro . Beckett , Preceptor . Sincerity Lodge of Instruction ( 174 ) , Railway Tavern , Fenchurch-street Station , at 7 . Camden Lodge of Instruction ( 704 ) , Adelaide Tavern , Haverstock-hill , at 8 ; Bro . T . A . Adams , Preceptrr . Eastern Star Lodge of Instruction ( 0 , 3 ) , Royal Hotel ,

Mileend-road , at 7 . 30 ; Bro . E . Gottheil , Preceptor . British Oak Lodge of Instruction ( 813 ) , Bank of Friendship Tavern , Mile-end , at 7 for 8 . St . James ' s Union Lodge of Instruction dSo ) , Union Tavern , Air-st ., Regent-st ., at 8 ; Bro . J . R . Stacey , Preceptor . Wellington Lodge of Instruction ( 548 ) , White Swan , Deptford , at 8 j Bros . Shaw and Griffin , Preceptors .

West Kent Lodge of Improvement ( 1297 ) , St . Saviour ' s College , Stansted-road , Forest-hill , at 7 . 30 ; Bro . H . W . Lindus , Preceptor . Metropolitan Mark Lodge of Instruction , Coach and Horses Hotel , 323 , Strand , at 8 . Perfect Ashlar Lodge of Instruction ( 1178 ) , Victoria Tavern , Lower-road , Rotherhithe , at 8 ; Bro . C . W . Kent , Preceptor .

TUESDAY , AUGUST 3 . Cononial Board at 3 , Lodge 171 , Amity , Ship Ilotel , Greenwich . „ 126 9 , Stanhope , Thicket Hotel , Anerley . „ 1472 , Henley , Three Crowns , High-street , Woolwich Chap . 507 , United Pilgrims , Horns Tavern , Kennington . „ 1269 , Stanhope , Thicket Hotel , Anerley .

Yarborough Lodge of Instruction ( 554 ) , Green Dragon , Stepney , at 8 ; Bro . Barnes , P . M ., Preceptor . Domatic Lodge of Instruction , Surrey Alasonic Mall , Camberwell New-road , at 8 ; Bro . Lailham , Precep . Faith Lodgeof Instruction ( 141 ) , Refreshment Rooms , Victoria-st . ( opposite Westminster Palace Hotel ) , at 8 ; Bro . C . A . Cottebrune , Preceptor .

Prince Fredk . William Lodge of-Instruction ( j $ 3 ) , Lord ' s Hotel , Lord's Cricket Ground , St . John ' s Wood , at 8 ; Bro . F . G . Baker , Preceptor . Dalhousie Lodge of Instruction ( 860 ) , King Edward , Triangle , Hackney , at 7 . 30 ; Bro . Crawley , Preceptor . Prosperity Lodge of Instruction ( 65 ) , Gladstone Tavern , Bishopsgate-st . Within , at 7 . 30 ; Bro . J . L . Mather ,

P . M . 6 5 and 1227 , Preceptor . St . Marylebone Ledge of Instruction ( 1305 ) , British Stores Tavern , New-street , St . John ' s Wood , at 8 ; Bro . T . A . Adams , Preceptor . Constitutional Ledge of Instruction ( 55 ) , Wheatshea Hotel , Hand-court , Holborn , at j ; Bro . J . It , Stacey ' P . M . 1 S 0 , Preceptor . Percy Lodge of Instruction , Grapes Tavern , Little

Windraill-street , W . Israel Lodge of Instruction , Rising Sun Tavern , Globe-road , at 7-30-Sydney Lodge of Instruction , White Hart Hotel , Upper Norwood ; Bro . H . Frances , Preceptor . Royal Arthur Lodge of Instruction ( No . 1360 ) , Prince ' s Head , York-road , Battersea , at 8 ; Bro . G . King , P . M ., Preceptor .

WEDNESDAY , AUGUST 4 . Grand Chapter , at 7 . Lodge 1491 , AthentEum , Athenajum , Camdcn-road , Hoiloway . Mark Lodge , Old Kent , Masons I lall , Masons' Avenue . Mount Lebanon Lodge of Instruction ( 73 ) , Windsor Castle Tavern , Southwark-bridge-road , at 8 ; Bro . Noke , P . M ., Preceptor . Pylhagoican Lodge of Instruction ( 79 ) , Prince of Orange ,

Greenwich , at 8 ; Bro . J . Robt . Nash , Preceptor . New Concord Lodge of Instruction , Rosemary Branch Tavern , Hoxton , at 8 . Royal Union Lodge of Instruction , Horse and Groom , Winsley-st ., Oxford-st ., at 8 s Bro . T . A . Adams , Prec . Confidence Lodgeof Instiuction , White Hart Tavern , Abchurch-lar . e , at 7 . 30 .

Peckham Lodge of Instruction , Maismore Arms , Park-road , Peckham , at 8 ; Bro . David Rose , Preceptor . Stanhope Lodge of Instruction , Thicket Hotel , Anerley , at 7 . 30 p . m . ; Bro . H . W . Lindus , Preceptor . Finsbury Park Lodge of Instruction ( 1288 ) , Finsbury Paik Tavern , Seven Sistcrs ' -rnad , N ., at 8 . Bro . P . Dickinson , Preceptor .

Southwark Lodge of Instruction ( 879 ) , Southwark Park Tavern , Southwark Park . Dalston Lodge of Instruction ( 975 ) , Havclock Tavern , Albion-road , Dalston , E . United Strength Lodge of Instruction ( 228 ) , the Grafton Aims , Prince of Wales ' s-road , Konlish- * . own , at 8 ; Bro . J . N . Frost , Preceptor . Mount Edgcumbe Lodge of Instruction ( 144 ( 1 ) , ' 9

fcrmyn-Strect , St James ' s ; at 8 ; Bro . Mander , Preceptor . THURSDAY , AUGUST 5 . Lodge 742 , Crystal Palace , Star and Gaiter , Kew Bridge . Chnp . 176 , Cavcac , Albion 'lavern , Aldersgate-street . Egyptian Lodge of Inslruclion ( 27 ) , Macules Tavern , Leadenhall-st ., at 7 . 30 ; J . Crawley , Preceptor . Albert Edward Lodge nf Instruction , King ' s Arms Motel , Peckham Rye ; W . VY . Ayling , Hon . Sec .

Metropolitan Masonic Meetings.

Fidelity Lodge of Instruction ( 3 ) , Yorkshire Grey , Londonst ., W .,-. at 8 ; Bro . T . A . Adams , Preceptor . Finsbury Lodge of Instruction , Jolly Anglers' Tavern , Bath-street , City-ioad ; Bro . Stean , Preceptor . United Mariners' Lodge of Instruction , Three Cranes ,

Mile-end-road , at 8 ; Bro . T . J . Barnes , Preceptor . Whittington Lodge of Instruction ( 862 ) , Crown Tavern , Holborn , at 8 ; Bro . L . Alexander , P . M . 188 , Preceptor . Temperance in the East Lodge of Instruction , ( 898 ) . George tlie Fourth , Catherine-street , Poplar , at 8 , Bro . S . T . Finch Preceptor . Doric Chapter of Instruction , Three Cranes Tavern ,

Mileend-road , at 8 ; Comp . T . J . Barnes , Preceptor . Ebury Lodge of Instruction , 12 , Ponsonby-st ., Millbank . Highgate Lodge of Instruction ( 1366 ) , Bull and Gate , Kentish-town , at 8 ; Bro . J . N . Frost , Preceptor . The Great City Lodge of Instruction ( 1426 ) , in ,

Cheapside , at 6 . 30 . High Cross Ledge of Instruction ( 754 ) , Coach & Horses , High-road , Tottenham . Salisbury Lodge of Instruction , Union Tavern , Air-st ., Regent-st ., at 8 ; Bro . Mander , Preceptor .

FRIDAY , AUGUST 6 . Lodge 1412 , I . a Iberia , Hill-road , St . John ' s Wood . „ 1489 , Marquis of Ripon , Metropolitan Societies Asylum , Balls-Pond-road , N . Union Waterloo Lodge of Instruction ( 13 ) , Earl of Chatham , Thomas-st ., ' . Woolwich , at 8 ; Bros . Davis and Macdonald , Preceptors .

St . George ' s Lodge of Instruction ( 140 ) , Globe Tavern , Royal-hill , Greenwich . Robert Burns Lodge of Instruction , Union Tavern , Air-st ., Regent-st ., at 8 . Belgrave Lodge of Instruction , ( 749 ) , Lyceum Tavern , 354 , Strand , at 8 ; Bro . Pulsford , Preceptor .

Panmure Lodge of Instruction ( 720 ) , Balham Hotel , Balham , at 7 . 30 . Unions Emulation Lodge of Improvement for M . M . ' s , Freemasons' Hall , at 7 . Temperance Lodge of Instruction , Victoria Tavern , Victoria-road , Deptford , at 8 . Clapton Lodge of Instruction ( 1365 ) , White Hart , Clapton ,

at 7 . 30 ; Bro . James Brett , P . G . P ., & c , Preceptor . Royal Standard Lodge of Instruction ( 129 S ) , the Castle Tavern , Holloway , at 8 j Bro . W . F . Rogers , Preceptor . Pythagorean Chapter of Instruction ( 79 ) , Prince , of Orange , Grecnwich-rd ., at 8 J Comp . W . Smith , Precep . Metropolitan Lodge of Instruction ( 1056 ) , Portugal Hotel , Fleet-street j Bro . Stacey , P . M . 180 , Preceptor .

Westbourne Lodge of Instruction ( 733 ) , Horse and Groom , Winsley-street , Oxford-street , at 8 . Metropolitan Lodge of Instruction , 269 , Pentonville-road , at 7 ; Bro . T . Adams , P . G . P ., Preceptor . United Pilgrims Lodge of Instruction , Surrey Masonic Hall , Camberwell New Road , at 7 ; Bro M . S . Larlham , Preceptor . St . James ' s Lodge of Instruction , New Tanners' Arms ,

Grange-road , Bermondsey , at 8 ; Bro . Joshua Howes , P . M . 765 , 879 , Preceptor . Duke of Edinburgh Lodge of Instruction , Silver Lion , Penny-fields , Poplar , at 7 ; Bro . D . S . Potts , Preceptor . Doric Lodge of Instruction , Earl Grey Tavern , Mile-endroad , at 8 , Bro . P . M . Austin , Preceptor . Burgoyne Lodge of Instruction , Grafton Arms , Prince of Wales ' s-road , N . W ., at 8 ; Bro . P . M . Wuest ,

Preceptor . St . Luke ' s Lodge of Instruction ( 144 ) , Rose Tavern , Fulham-road , S . W . Chigwell Lodge of Instruction , Bald-faced Stag Hotel , Buckhurst-hill , at 8 . Burdett Coutts Lodge of Instruction ( 1278 ) , Approach Tavern , Approach-road , Victoria Park , at 8 ; Bro . J . Crawley , Preceptor .

Masonic Meetings In West Lancashire And Cheshire.

MASONIC MEETINGS IN WEST LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE .

For the Week ending Saturday , August 7 , 1875 . MONDAY , AUGUST 2 . Lodge 113 , Unanimity , Assembly Rooms , Bull Hotel , Preston .

,, 1045 , Stamford , Town Mall , Altrincham . „ 10 5 , Rowley , Masonic Rooms , Athenaeum , Lancaster . „ 126 4 , Neptune , Masonic I lall , Liverpool , at 6 .

„ 1380 , Skelmersdale , Queen ' s Motel , Waterloo , near Liverpool , at 6 . Chap . ( 105 , De Tabley , Seacombe Hotel , Seacombe , at 6 . Everton Lodge of Instruction ( 823 ) , Masonic Mall , Liverpool , at 7 . ^ 0 .

TUESDAY , AUGUST 3 . Lodge 995 , Furness , Masonic Temple , Ulverstone . „ 147 ft , Blackpool , Clifton Arms Hotel , Blackpool . Chap . 203 , St . John of Jerusalem , Masonic I lall , Liverpool , at 6 . Mark Lodge 161 , Walton , St . Lawrence School , Kirkdale .

Merchants' Lodge of Inslruclion ( 241 ) , Masonic Hall , Liverpool , at 6 . Downshire Lodge of Instruction ( 594 ) , Masonic Mall , Liverpool , at 7 . WEDNESDAY , AUGUST 4 , Lodge 6 73 , St . John's , Masonic Hall , Liverpool , at 6 . 30 . „ 730 , Ellesmere , Royal Oak Ilotel , Chorley .

„ 1013 , Royal Victoria , Masonic 1 lall , Liverpool , at 6 . " ' . Wai Lindsay , 20 , King-street , Wigan . ,, 1354 , Marquis of Lome , Masonic Rooms , Leigh . Chap . 477 , Fidelity , 55 , Argylc-st ., Hirkenhcatl . Harmonic Lodgeof Instruction ( 216 ) , Mona Hotel , Jamesstreet , Liverpool , at 8 . De Grey anil Ripon Lodge of Instruction ( 135 ( 1 ) , 80 , North Mill-slicct , Toxteth Park , Liverpool , at 7 . "to .