Masonic Sayings And Doings Abroad.

" address of welcome" by Frater Sir George Giscombe , the response being delivered by P . E . C . Savey , the delegate of the Boston Commandery , and an exhibition of the proficiency of the Sir Knights in the military movements of the Order . The Grand Chapter of Tennessee have resolved

that Grand Lecturers be appointed , one for each division of the State , to communicate to the subordinate chapters a system of Avork and lectures in the degrees of Capitular Masonry agreed upon by a committee appointed for that purpose .

A chapter in Tennessee has petitioned Grand Chapter for a dispensation to enable it to meet alternatel y at two different points , a request which was not complied with , as the committee found no authority or precedent to give the chapter such a ubiquitous character .

A monumental memorial has been inaugurated at Utrecht over the grave of Bro . Van Lennep . A greatnumber of the fraternity attended the touching ceremony , at which the King of Holland was represented by one of his aides-de-camp .

Bro . Smit Kruisinga , editor of the Magonnik Week Had of Holland , has offered a prize of fifty florins to the author of the best " Guide for those who desire to become Freemasons . " The members of the Lodge Bonaparte , held in

Paris , some time since resolved to change the title of their lodge . After a long and earnest debate , 24 brethren voted for the change , and 13 to maintain the old name , when a brother , one of the founders of the lodge , called attention to an old rule , unknown , for

the most part , to the members of the lodge , that it was absolutely forbidden to change the name of the lodge if seven brethren opposed it . In the face of this announcement the 2- _ > members who voted for the change have tendered their resignation . If they adhere

to their determination , as is probable , it will doubtless end in the dissolution of the lodge . " It is impossible , " says Le Monde Maconniqite , "to accept the pretension that seven members should govern the majority , however large it mi ght be . Such an enormity cannot be justified , being both ridiculous and arbitrary . "

On Saturday , April 2 nd , the Lodges " Les Cceurs Unis" and "Les Pbiladelphes , " Paris , celebrated their annual festival and the 50 th anniversary of the initiation of Frere Cauchois , member of the Council of the Order , and Past Master of the Lodge " Les Cceurs

Masonic Sayings And Doings Abroad.

Unis . " A number of ladies were present during the ceremony , which was followed by a banquet , at which covers were laid for two hundred , and a brilliant ball . Bros , d'Alsace and Thirch , the Masters of the two lodges , were indefatigable in their efforts to secure

the comfort and enjoyment of all present . Bro . Bordeaund , editor of the journal La Turcjuie , has been chosen Master of the Lodge PUnion de l'Orient , Constantinople . The respected Brother

Amiable , having declined re-election on account of illhealth , accepted the post of Orator , giving an example of humility to the Masters of most of the Oriental lodges , who seem to consider it beneath their dignity to accept a position lower than that which they had

previously occupied . This example has been followed by Bro . Ismyrides , who has accepted the office of Secretary , being succeeded in the Mastership of Lodge le Progres by Bro . Yrelos , the editor of a Greek journal .

The late Bro . Henri de Bourbon was but a recent member of the Masonic fraternity , having been initiated in April , 1868 , in . Lodge Henri IV .

St. John's Day.

ST . JOHN'S DAY .

Masonic lodges in ancient times were dedicated to King Solomon . Tradition informs us that they were thus dedicated from the building of the first temple at Jerusalem to the Babylonish captivity . From that time to the coming of the Messiah , they were dedicated to Zerubbabel , the building of the second temple ; and

from that to the final destruction of the temple by Titus , in the reign of the Emperor Vespasian , they were dedicated to St . John the Baptist .

Owing to the many massacres and disorders which attended that memorable event , Freemasonry fell very much into decay . Many of the lodges were broken up , and but few could meet with sufficient members to constitute their legality . Under these circumstances , a general meeting of the Craft was held in the city of

Benjamin , when it was observed that the principal decline of Masonry was the want of a Grand Master to direct its affairs . They therefore deputed seven of the most eminent of their members to wait upon St . John the Evangelist , who was at that time Bishop of Ephesus , to request him to take the office of Grand Master . He

returned for answer that , though well stricken in years ( being upwards of ninety ) , yet having been in the early part of his life initiated into Masonry , he would take upon himself that office . He did so , and completed by his learning what St . John the Baptist had accomplished bhis zealAfter his decease the Christian lod were

y . ges dedicated to him and St . John the Baptist , both of them being regarded as eminent Christian patrons of Masonry . Since then Masons have ever celebrated the 24 th of June in commemoration of St . John the Baptist , and the 27 th of December in commemoration of St . John the Evangelist .