Tonight at 8 o'clock in Sever 11 Professor Emerton will deliver the third anniversary lecture in the Dudleian series, on the subject, "The Romish Church." This lecture is one of a course of four, given, one each year, on topics of religion.

A brief sketch of the history of these lectures may be of interest. Chief Justice Dudley of the Supreme Court of Massachusetts made a bequest in 1750, of a little over sigma 23 for the support of a series of four lectures, one each year, occurring in regular rotation and treating of subjects in religion. Justice Dudley was of an investigating turn of mind, more or less of a scientist and very much interested in all matters of theology. Being interested in Harvard College, he thought it would be a good thing to establish these lectures as regular institutions. In 1755, soon after his death, the first lecture was given, and they were kept up in the order prescribed in the bequest, till 1857, a period of over a century, when the fund became so low that it was decided to suspend the course for some years. This was done and the fund was allowed to accumulate till three years ago, when it was deemed proper to begin again. The lecture tonight will be the fourth one given since the new beginning, and as stated above, the third, in order of rotation.