Christmas Freemasonry.

CHRISTMAS FREEMASONRY .

npHE return of Christmas , with its attendant A festivities , once more affords us the opportunity of offering our compliments to our readers r nd members of the Craft in general , but in doing so we

by no means wish to adopt the stereotyped formalities of the season , or avail ourselves of the customs of the outside world ; we desire our congratulations to rather take the form of fraternal personal greetings , and we offer them as such , with all sincerity .

With the close of the month we shall complete the nineteenth year in the history of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE , and with it close what we may term the first chapter in the second series of the paper . In June last we had to record the death of the founder

and former proprietor of the CHRONICLE , and in doing so we announced our intention of carrying on tl . o paper for the future on much the same lines as had been observed in the past . The results of our labours

so far are before our readers . It is not for us to say whether we havo succeeded , but we have the gratification of knowing that several of our supporters have expressed approval of our efforts , and satisfaction at the course we have pursued during our short reign .

We may at once say we are no means as satisfied as some of those who have expressed their views , but we prefer to advance with our programme by easy stages , even if by so doing we run the risk of delaying the recoenition we firmlv believe is in store for a free and

independent organ of Freemasonry . We have laid out a somewhat bold programme for the future , and hope we may be enabled to carry it through , and that too at no very distant date , but our

experience nas taugnt us tnat m Masonry at least journalistic efforts must be steadily persevered in , and no very early return expected for the labours of the day . Although young in the editorial chair of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE we have been associated with it during the whole period of its

existence , and have thereby gained a practical knowledge of the requirements of the Craft , and our duties as conductor of a paper especially catering for them . We can look back to a period when the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE enjoyed a circulation far

beyond what it was when we assumed command , and we look forward with confidence to the time when we shall be able to reach the limit to which we refer , yes , and even pass it . It is with these considerations then , we desire to tender our congratulations to the

many old friends we find still associated with the paper , and with the same cordiality we greet the newer subscribers on the list ; if we are not acquainted with them we hope the association is only delayed , for

we consider tnat witii sucn a paper as ours success is best assured by direct intercourse between subscribers and proprietor , although , with so large a field as Freemasonry presents , it is of course impossible to reach all onr supporters in person , though we may

Christmas Freemasonry.

strive to do so in spirit , and it is with this feeling we have so far pursued our labours in association with this paper . But it was not of ourselves we intended to speak when we commenced onr present remarks , but rather

of Freemasonry in its general bearings on the world at large at the season of Christmas . We have viewed with considerable satisfaction in recent years a growing desire on the part of Freemasons to bring the Order into close communion with the charitable

sentiments that so generally prevail at this season of the year . We have seen Lodges in various parts of the country making special provision at the season of Christmas for the poor of their immediate district , or making periodical grants to local funds promoted

for the same good object , and we may safely say that Freemasonry has lost nothing by doing so . In many a desolate home outside the actual limits of the Craft blessings are beings showered on the members of the Order whose watchwords of Brotherlv Love and Relief

have been carried into practical effect during the past few days , and we mnst rejoice in the knowledge that such is the case , and that the members of the Craft are not only mindful of the wants of each other , but that they also value the opportunity of doing good

outside the walls of Freemasonry . This growing tendency on the part of Masonic Lodges to associate themselves with the benevolent objects of the outside world is a very gratifying feature , and one that may well be extended as far as possible , although it must not be so extended at the

expense of our own Institutions and particular Charity funds , for despite the pleasure to be derived from the knowledge that Freemasonry is doing something for outsiders we must not forget the heavy claims the Craft has from within ; but there should be enough

for both , and we are loth to believe that help rendered in one quarter will make any appreciable difference on what should be dispensed in any other ; we would rather believe that as years go on there will be a

growing tendency in our midst to strengthen the ties between Freemasonry and the poor of the outside world at this season of Christmas , and that the members of the Masonic Order will find themselves

able to widen the sphere of their usefulness , with benefit to those they are enabled to reach , and satisfaction to themselves , and with this wish we fraternally offer our readers ® Ije tettfllimmts cf % Season .

Suffolk.

SUFFOLK .

01 $ tlie afternoon of tbe 20 fch inst . special meetings of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Suffolk find of tho Provincial Grand Mark Lodgo of Esist Anglia were held afc Ipswich , for the purpose of passing special votes of condolence to the Provincial Grand Master ( Lord Hcnnikor ) npon his bereavement in tho douih of Lad y Henniker .