24(3 
ORDINARY MEETING, April 21, 1879. 
H. Cadman Jones, Esq., M.A., in the Chair. 
The minutes of the hist meeting were read and confirmed, and the 
following elections were announced : — ■ 
Honorary Local Secretaries Rev. N. Hurt, M.A., Wakefield ; Rev. 
J. M. Mello, M.A., F.G.S., Brampton, Chesterfield. 
Member : — T. R. Gill, Esq., New Cross. 
Associates E. Beales, Esq., M.A., London; A. M. Chance, Esq., Bir- 
mingham. 
Also the presentation of the following Works for the Library : — 
“ Biblical Psychology.” From L. Biden Esq. 
Eruvin.” From J W. Lea, Esq. 
“Antiquity of Man.’’ By Professor T. Rupert Jones. From the Author. 
“ Testimony of the Stars.” By Mrs. F. Bolleston. Ditto. 
The following paper was then read by the Author : — 
THE RELIGION OF ZOROASTER CONSIDERED IN 
CONNECTION WITH ARCHAIC MONOTHEISM. 
By R. Brown, Esq., F.S.A. 
1. The Classics on the Date of Zoroaster. 
O NE of the greatest, yet at the same time most shadowy, 
figures in the history of the earlier religion of the world, 
is that of Zoroaster the Magian, to whom aftertimes have 
united in ascribing high and mysterious doctrine in com- 
bination with occult and wondrous lore. His actual historical 
existence was not doubted by the Greek and Latin writers, but 
the time when he lived was only conjectured. Thus, Agathias, 
writing about A.D. 57(3, observes that the Persians in his day 
stated that Zoroaster lived in the time of Hystaspes, who, by 
a not unnatural error, was regarded as identical with the father 
