Many A Mickle Makes A Muckle.

They will further possess the inward satisfaction of feeling that though less wealthy than other , and more fortunately circumstanced members of the Craft , they are in no wise less charitable . Their pride too , in the charity of the Craft , will have a juster , and , we may add , a more extended

basis to rest upon . Our Masonic Institutions will thus become , in every sense , a credit to the whole Craft , instead of being a credit to only a limited number of its wealthier members . It only remains for us to add , that the plan has our warmest wishes for its success .

AVe cannot do better , perhaps , than close these remarks with the following pertinent extract from the speech of the Marquess of Ripon , our late Worship ful Grand Master , delivered at the Festival of the Boys' School , on the 11 th March 1874 : —

" What I want to impress upon you to-nig ht is this that it is far better that these institutions should be supported by small subscrip tions from large numbers , than that that they should be supported by large subscriptions from a few . You who can subscribe and do not , have no

right to say that the Boys' School is a credit to Freemasonry ; it is a credit to its subscribers ; it is no credit , but a discredit to those who do not subscribe . And I earnestly beg you to reflect that these institutions are the proofs which are held up , and which we ourselves hold up to our

fellow countrymen , of the advantages of the spirit by which the Craft in this country is animated ; but they are only proofs in the degree in which they are supported , throughout the length and breadth of the Craft , by every one who can give any support at all . Do not let any

brother be ashamed to give a small subscripton . A great many small subscriptions will , in the end , come , as you well know , to a great deal more than a few large ones , and what you want is that these institutions should rest upon the widest possible basis , that they should be truly

representatives of the spirit of this ancient fraternity ; that what we say after dinner we may say deliberately at all times , without fear of contradiction , that the spirit of the Craft is

to be judged by the fruits which it bears in institutions like this , because these institutions do not rest upon the generosity of the few , but because they are founded upon the broad and staple basis of the general support of the Craft . "

Opening Of Parliament.

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT .

Parliament was opened yesterday by Royal Commission at 2 p . m . The following is

THE QUEEN'S SPEECH .

MY LOKDS AND GENTLEMEN , It is with great satisfaction that I again meet yon and resort to the advice aud assistance of my Parliament . I continue to receive assurances of friendship from all foreign powers . The peace of Europe has remained , and I trust will remain , unbroken . To preserve and consolidate it will ever be a main object

of my endeavours . The conference held at Brussels on the laws and usages of war has concluded its sittings . My government have carefully examined the reports of its proceedings ; but , bearing in mind , on the one hand , the importance | of the principles involved , and , on the other , the widely divergent opinions which were there expressed , and the improbability of their being reconciled ; I havo not thought it right to accede to

proposals which have been made for further negociations on the subject . The correspondence which has passed will be presented to you . Tho Government of Spain , presided over by Marshal Serrano , has ceased to exist , aud the Prince of Asturius has been called to the throne under the title of King Alfonso XII . Tho question of formally recognising , in concert with other powers , the newlv

restored monarchy , is at this moment before my Government , and its decision will not be long delayed . It is my earnest hope that internal peace may be speedily restored to a great , but unfortunate country . The exertions of my naval and consular servants in the repression of the East African Slave Trade have not been relaxed , and I confidently trust that they will bring about the complete extinction of a traffic equally repugnant to humanity and injurious to legitimate commerce .

The differences which have arisen between China and Japan , and which at one time threatened to lead to war between those States , have been happily adjusted . I have learnt with pleasure that the good offices of my Minister at Pekin have been largely instrumental iu bringing about this result . The past year has been one of general prosperity aud progress

throughout my Colonial Empire . On the Gold Coast , a steady advance has been made in the establishment of civil government , peace has been maintained , and I have procured the asseut of the protected tribes to the abolition of slavery . Henceforward , I trust , freedom will exist there , as in every part of my dominions . la Katal I have found myself under the necessity of reviewing

Opening Of Parliament.

the sentence which had been passed upon a native chief , and of considering tho condition of the tribes , and their relations to tho European settlers and my Government . I doubt not that I shall have your concurrence in any measures which it may become my duty to adopt for ensuring a wise and humane system of native administration in that part of South Africa .

Papers will bo laid before you on these several matters . The King and Chiefs of Fiji having made a new offer of their islands unfettered by conditions , I have thought it right to accept the cession of a territory , which , independently of its largo natural resources , offers important maritime advantages to my fleets in tho

Pacific . An ample hai-vest has restored prosperity to the provinces of my Eastern Empire , which , last year , were visited with famine . By tho blessing of Providence , my Indian Government has been able entirely to avert the loss of life , which I had reason to apprehend from that great calamity .

GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS , I havo directed the estimates of the year to be prepared and pre sen ted to you without delay . MY LOKDS AND GENTLEMEN , Tho condition of the finances is satisfactory . Tho trade of the country in the past year has somewhat fallen short of that of the

year before , but the general prosperity of the people , supported , as it has been , by an excellent harvest , as well as by the great reductions lately made in taxation , has led to a steady increase in the consumption of all tho necessaries of life , and of those articles which contribute to the revenue . The various statutes of an exceptional or temporary nature now

in force , for the preservation of peace in Ireland , will be brought to your notice with a view to determine whether some of them may not be dispensed with . Several measures which were unavoidably postponed at the end of last Session , will be again introduced . Among the most important are those for simplifying the transfer of land , and completing the

reconstruction of the judicature . Bills will be also laid before you for facilitating the improvement of the dwellings of the working classes in large towns j for tho Consolidation and amendment of tho Sanitary Laws ; and for the pre . vention of the pollution of rivers . A measure has been prepared for consolidating and amending the

laws relating to friendly societies . Its object will be to assist , with , out unnecessarily interfering with , the laudable efforts of my people to make provision for themselves against some of the calamities of life . A Bill for the amendment of the Merchant Shipping Acts will be laid before you .

Your attention will bo moreover directed to legislation for tho better security of my subjects from personal violence , and for more effectually providing for the trial of offences by establishing the office of a public prosecutor . Although the report of tho commission issued by mo to inquire into the state and working of the law as to offences connected with trade has not yet been made to me , I trust that any legislation on this sub *

ject which may be found to be expedient may take place in the present Session . You will also be invited to consider a measure for improving the law as to agricultural tenancies . I commend to your careful consideration these and other measures which may be submitted to you , and I pray that your deliberations may , under the Divine blessing , result in tho happiness and content ' ment of my people .

Reviews.

REVIEWS .

All Books intended for Heview should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , 67 Barbican , E . C . — : o : — MAGAZINES OP THE MONTH .

Considering the tendencies of Blackwood towards Conservatism , its survey of " Politics at Home and Abroad" is very impartially written . No one can deny that the Liberal party is somewhat disorganised at present , or that its re-organisation is desirable . Nor will any of oar readers cavil at the sketch of American and Continental politics . None , we think , will gainsay the accuracy of the writer's

statements on these matters . But the most attractive reading in the present number will be found in tho article headed , " The Payment of the Five Milliards . " We hardly know which to admire most , the description of the manner in which this marvellous operation was carried out , or the apparently inexhaustible resources of the country which has paid so immense an indemnity , and is yet prosperous , even

more than before the war . The short tale , " Giannetto , " is concluded . The materials were slight , but the writer has worked them up and has formed of them a well planned story . We must note that " The Story of Valentine and his Brother" is brought to a close . It has beeu one of the chief attractions of Blackwood for several months past . Few stories , indeed , have afforded us greater pleasure .

There is a capital contribution to Temple Baron " The Universality of Superstitions connected with Sneezing . " " A Few Weeks with Hans . Andersen , " tho well-known Danish writer , gives us an insight into the character of one of the ablest writers for youth of this , or , indeed , of any age . Mrs . Edwards ' s tale of " Leah } a Woman of Fashion , " and " Patricia Kemball , " are quite as inteiesting as ever . Nor should we pass over unnoticed the articles on " Benvenuto Cellini" and " Mirabeau and Madame de Nehra . "

Ihere is , as usual , abundance of agreeable light reading in London Society , and the illustrations are excellent . " Some of the Difficulties , of Dniwatiu Literature , " by Augustus W . Dubourg , " Gaatrouomioal