Preface.

PREFACE .

THE N INTH V OLUME of the Freemason is completed , and offered to kind friends and readers wherever the English language is spoken ; in fact , in all parts of the world . It is truly a cosmopolitan work , as it records the events which take place , week by week , in every portion of civilized nationalities , and its completed volume will therefore have much interest for all who like to keep before them an authoritative record of Masonic " sayings and doings" during each successive twelve months . It may perhaps be said without any egotism or bravado , that few journals

have so much claim on the Craft generally as the Freemason . It offers in the first instance , a great desideratum tn all legitimate trade , a very od article , at a very reasonable price . Indeed , it is not too much even to add that we know of no publication anywhere which affords so much to its readers at so little cost . Its zealous and Masonic Publisher has from the first most manfull y laboured to give it not only a status in this country and in all countries , but also to put before his large circle of subscribers , and the reading public , as week follows week , a simple

Masonic Paper of literary merit and of careful compilation which might command the attention of all ranks in our Order , and fitly serve as trustworthy chronicle of the " notabilia , " and the " bene notanda , " of our great Masonic fraternity at home and abroad . And who can venture to deny that to him has been vouchsafed the prestige both of mercantile success and personal approval ? The Freemason is read , as we know just now in every known portion of the world , and its circulation is weekly increasing . When we remember the history of Masonic literary labour

in this county , we see at once how exceptional and how triumphant has been the onward progress of the Freemason . Its Publisher has never been daunted bv difficulties or doubts . He has offered m the open market of Freemasonry an honest ware , ( warranted not to shrink ) , at a very reasonable price , and he has left the matter as it can only be left , to the good sense , fair judgment , manly criticism , and kindly sympathies of his brethren . He has not been [ disappointed ; since never in the history of Freemasonry has so much Masonic support been ever received

before in Great Britain , [ by any Masonic Paper . But still , being alike energetic and persevering in business , as well as in Freemasonry , our Publisher naturally wishes to enlarge still more his circle of readers , so as to render the support he receives from the body generally , commensurate as far as may be , with the numerical and social importance of the Craft . One fact he wishes to impress on the minds and memories of his readers is that a large proportion of Freemasons read no Masonic Journal at all , and the margin between those who can take in a Masonic

Paper and those who do not , for some reason or other , is very wide indeed . He trusts therefore that in 1877 , much of the past apathy may be remedied—more of this present ignorance of the Freemason may be dispelled . He will spare no pains in the present or future , as in the past , to make the Freemason worthy ot the Order . During the last 12 , months , he has very frequently increased tbe 16-paged paper

to 20 or 24 pages , in order not to lag behind with the " copy , so kindly forwarded from all parts * he has improved the quality of the paper in striking measure , and he will be always willing to make any sacrifice in the interests of the Freemason ., which passing news may require , or the exigencies of superabundant correspondence may demand .

He thanks again one and all who have read , or circulated , or subscribed to , or written for the Freemason in 1876 , most heartily and sincerely for all their truly fraternal efforts , and he trusts that the same kind support will be tendered to him in 1877 . The Editor also begs to join with thc Publisher in offering his heartfelt acknowledgments to all , whether ' readers or writers , who have

cheered his humble labours in 1876 , and he is inclined to hope that 1877 will witness no deterioration iu the quality of the Free mason in any respect , but will manifest to all who look over it , or carefully con over its interesting pages , that as good Freemasons , those who manage it are zealously striving week by week , and year by year , to add to its own intrinsic worth as a true , sound , creditable , fair Masonic Journal , and to claim the confidence and maintain thc patronage of old and new friends .

Index.

INDEX .

A Abbots Ripton , Railway Accident at , G . * Aberdeen , Reopening of the Masonic Hall at , 447 Abdul-Aziz , Death of , 27 , * , Act of Masonic Devotion , an , 549 Advcniant utinam sic nitii s ; epc dies , 358 Affiliation , 173 A Friend and a Brother , 31 ) Alexandra Palace , 10 , 15 Allcroft , Bro . I . D ., Presentation by , - ; 4

, 1 „ at Y . M . C . A ., 6 , ; American Notes , 183 Analysis of the Returns of the Boys' School Festival , 3 [ 6 A . NCIKNT AND AcCiiPTEO RlTE Ball to the Duke of Connaught at Gibraltar , 131 Bayard Chapter , Rose Croix , Consecration of / 457 Bombay „ „ „ , 88 Cornwall „ „ „ 8 3 , 405 ^ P .. .. -, i . W Morganwg , 364 Mr . Calvary ,, „ „ 5 , £ . -- 'P r " » » ' 33 . 593 I nnce Leopold taking thc 30 , 70 St . George's Chapter Rose Croix , 188 Studholme „ „ „ Consecration nf , 70 Supreme Council of the Valley of Dunedin , 42-1

" 11 3 ° 1 65 n -I" ~ " . *) . *"' 4 < J 9 lalbot Chapter Rose Croix , 139 Universal Chapter of Sovereign Piinces , CJJ Ancient and Primitive Rite , 215 , 481 Ancient Craft Masonry , some of thc Peculiarities of , -77 » Masonic Chapter , z 6 j Ancient and Moderns , Fact ' s and Suggestions about the . , . 355 Ann- v-ersary Festival Boys' School , 303 , 316

, $ . Annuitants , Increase of , 84 Antiquity and Adaptation , 592 Apollo University Lodge ( 357 ) , 9 6 Archaeological Association , Bristol , 39 , 1 , 395 Archeology , 391 , 395 , 406 , 416 , 425 , 448 , 470 , 486 , 491 Arctic Expedition , Return of thc , 493 Argyll and the Isles , Prov . Grand Lodge of , 3 Armagh , Prov . Grand Lodge of , 423

Arnott , Dr ., Letter Irom , 39 Arthur , Piincc , at Gibraltar , 10 Ashton-under-Lyne , Laying Corner Stone of Holy Trinity Church , at , 414 Aurora Lodge , South Africa , 9 , Australia , freemasonry in , 9 , 18 Ayr , Laying Foundation Stone of New Docks at , 433

1 ; B ; Balfour of Burleigh , Lord , Marriage of , 519 Ball , Fitzroy Lodge ( 569 ) , 87 „ Masonic , at Barrow-in-Furness , 83 ii .: Dublin , 315 » 1 . Elgin , 562 11 11 Huddersfield , 97 11 n Liverpool , 42 , 1 „ Sheffield , 41 f- har ' fakl .. ( . f . ¦ —

" " — » -- « . « . v , uu Ballot , Abuse of the , 366 „ Discussion on the , 51 Bancroft , Bro ., P . M ., Pres . Civ . and Mech . Eng . Soc , 28 * Bank Manager , Testimonial to a , 15 : Banquet of the Star Lodge of Instruction , 468 . Bavaria , an Appeal from , 386 ¦ ' Beach , Bro . W . W . B . at Central Chamber of Agriculture , 166

I Benevolence , Board of , 99 „ Lodge of , 42 , 87 , 139 , 184 , 245 , 282 , 337 , 384 , 426 , 476 , 519 , 538 , 550 , 576 Benevolent Institution , Metropolitan Masonic , 501 „ „ Royal Masonic , 4 , 5 , 14 , 30 , 39 , 511 "Si 7 ° 73 I 7 SI 84 . " 8 , 16 9 , 190 , 203 , 215 . 241 , 242 , 243 , 275 , 287 , 327 , 372 , 416 , 461 , 500 , 5 6 9 Benevolent Institution , Proposeil Scottish Masonic , 95 Benevolent Lodge ( Three Score and Ten ) , American , 9 Bengal , District Grand Lodge of , 24 Bennett , Bro . Sir John , on " Thc Dutch and their

Doings , " 63 Berks and Bucks , Prov . Grand Lodge of , 244 Binckes , Perrott and Tew , Bros ., 39 Board of Grand Stewards , 70 Bombay , Laying Foundation Stone of the Prince's Dock at , 28 , 39 Bombay , Lodge of Truth at , 63 Books , Old Minute , 171 Bourchicr , Bro . Capt ., at the burning of the Goliath , 30 Bow and Bromley Institute , 595 Boys , Royal Masonic Institution for , 5 , 7 , 9 , 19 , 28 , 29 , 41 ,-62 , 71 , 118 , 121 , 161 , 162 , 166 , 17 c , 171 , 181 , 191 , 215 , 241 , 271 , 298 , 301 , 303 , 312 , 316 , 332 , 365 , 372 I 387 I 406 , 41 ii 42 Q 1 440 i 4 & S 468 , soi

, Boys , Royal Masonic Institution for , and thc West York . shire Committee , 62 Brigg , The Vicar of , 358 Brighton Aquarium , 235 ,, the Health of , 70 Bristol , Prov . Grand Mark Lodge of , 236 British Orphan Asylum , 10 Brother , My , 391 Brussels Exhibition , 391 Bulgarian Atrocities , 407 Bull , Aid . J . R ., Presentation to , 221 Burgess , Bro ., and the Mark Degree , 27 , 39 , y . „ P ., Benefit of , 6 5