The Freemason.

or so " well considered . " Indeed , were it not for the " vagaries" of some jurisdictions , and the childish " imitations " of others , ' we cannot affix any limits to what the possible and probable and rapid extension of Freemasonry would be , the

proportions it might assume , or the influence it could exercise . But in some jurisdictions the extreme folly and recklessness of what is termed by misnomer the " movement party , " is not only driving good men and loyal citizens out of Masonry , but , as we

well know from personal assurances , indisposing and alarming those who are well affected to our principles and admire our proceedings . It is very difficult indeed to estimate correctly , as a matter of true and dependable statistics , the number of

Freemasons in the world , but allowing for what we do not know , and rel ying on what we do , we think we can make a fairly approximate estimate of the numbers of our Order when we say , without any wish to exaggerate on the one hand , or unduly

depreciate on the other , we arrive , we think , at the following satisfactory total of 1 , 175 , 000 . This is , of course , widely different from those

wonderful statistics we have sometimes read , which frighten our Ultramontane friends so greatly , and which make up a " * buckram " Masonic array of « four or five millions . As far as we know these do

not exist , but we again repeat our Masonic statistics are by no means clear or perfect . These I , I 75 . Masons are divided as follows : — America and Canada claim 630 , 000 ; Great Britain and her Colonies and Dependencies , 370 , 000

France , Belgium , Holland , Spain , and Portugal seem to have about 52 , 000 members ; and Germany , Switzerland , Hungary , Denmark , and Sweden about 60 , 000 more ; Greece , Egypt , and Turkey possess about 21 , 000 Masons ; and South

America about 19 , 900 . If to these figures * we add "unattached Masons , " and " irregular Masons , " and "detached bodies" 20 , 000 j and if we take into account " unreliable data " and " unavoidable omissions , " we reach a fair approximate estimate

oi 1 , 173 , 000 , or in round numbers , as we said before , 1 , 1 75 , 000 . Now this result has been reached after all the opposition , vituperation , ridicule of centuries , political persecutions , and religious (?) excommunications . What then may we

expect in the future ? If Freemasonry , we make bold to say , will but adhere to its own good and sacred princi ples ; if it will but continue to remain cosmopolitan in practice as in theory ; ever tolerant , liberal , considerate , and yet reverent ,

religious , and independent ; practising what it professes , and adhering to its wise old landmarks—we may safely leave its work , its mission and career , to the good Providence of T . G . A . O . T . U ., without fear and without misgiving , as to its

onward march , its increased extension , its safe and certain triumph over the prejudices and bigotry arrayed against it . That it will never be popular with a certain class of minds , a certain section of intolerant thought , we do not

care to admit , and we do not think it needful to Conceal . But strong in the attachment of its friends , admired b y the world , and even feared and respected b y its foes , both for what it teaches , and for what it does , we can only bid it " God

speed " in the name of the Most Hi gh , and urge it to adhere under all circumstances , through evil and good report , to those sacred princi ples which

it still happily and unchangingly proclaims as generations of men come and go , and year succeeds to year in the ceaseless crumbling away of Time .

* * THE Freemason , with the beginning of a newyear , has naturally a few words of special utterance and bearing to offer to its numerous and kindl y readers . It has had a most prosperous year in 1880 , and has

seen its circulation increasing week b y week , though , of course , there is still a very large margin of sympathetic support to be gained b y a Masonic newspaper . It is no doubt true that special journals are at a disadvantage in the great open struggle of

literary competition . They appeal , in the first place , to a limited number of readers ; they deal with subjects which only have an interest for the few , comparativel y speaking , and which are as " caviare " is said to be , ( though very mistakenly ,

The Freemason.

by the way ) , to a large number 01 general readers . With the daily information and able competition of low priced papers many of all classes , especially in the country , content themselves ; and , as the Freemason only comes out once a week , and costs

threepence to boot , unless brethren are interested in this event , or that report , they content themselves with what they find so ready to hand and , above all , so well worth reading . The habit also of printing Masonic intelligence in a Masonic column

in some non-Masonic papers , ( though it is happily , we think , not gaining ground ) , also interferes with Masonic journalism . And when to this you add the indisposition manifested by some to all Masonic publication , it is not difficult to conceive or

understand that Masonic journalism is not , " per se , " a " bed of roses , " or a " venture " bringing in large and sterling profits . In America Masonic journalism has even a harder struggle than here , though there are 600 , 000 Freemasons , and very few papers

survive an ephemeral existence ; indeed , how many we can . ourselves remember to have gone down since we first took part in Masonic editorship I Our admirable contemporary the Philadelphia Keystone stiil carries its flag , bravely and manfully ; and long

may it flourish , for it is a credit to Masonic jour nalism ; and we read with pleasure the Masonic page of the New Fork Dispatch , which is most ably edited'b y our respected confrere Bro . SIMONS . The Freemason has , however , as we have said before ,

nothing to complain of , buteverythingtobe thankful for . Ithasbeen favoured fromits first appearance to this hour with the support of numerous kind friends and zealous correspondents , and it has sought to maintain a thoroughly independent tone on all

subjects , and to open its columns freely and fairly to all legitimate discussions . Probably one of the great reasons of its success has been the straightforward and business way in which it has come before the Craft . It has never sought to puff its

own ' wares at the expense of another , or to allow any personal feelings to tinge its estimate of other Masonic literature . It has offered , fraternally and honestly , the best "goods " it had at its command ,

and it has simply commended them in the open market of literary venture , if to indulgent critics , yet at the " market price , " and for " value received . " It may not have always been free from those unavoidable blemishes which mark all

Masonic journals , and most unaccountably so , considering Masonic professions , personality of tone , and acerbity ^ of argument , but it has striven carefull y for some time to use freely the editorial privilege of excision and suppression . Few persons , until they

try their " ' prentice hand , " can have any idea of two difficulties which accompany all Masonic journalism—the eagerness to rush into print with personal complaints , the readiness to explain ritual proceedings . It is not without some just pride that

the Freemason can say to-day , the task has been an uphill and distasteful one for many reasons , that though it has been carried through with much success in 1880 , and will , we trust , be still more successful in 1881 . It appears to us that much of

thc verbiage of reports of lodges mi ght be judiciously altered in our columns , as far too much of technical proceedings there finds an entrance . So , in 1881 , we shall , we think for the best interests of Masonry , still more closely watch over all

correspondence and ritual reports , as we think they should be so penned as to be , while perfectl y intelligible to the initiate , not so easy to the uninitiated . One other point we may well allude to before we close . Though always independent , the

Freemason equally wishes to support authority , and it has always discountenanced , and will continue to do so , all mere fault-finding , as nothing is so bad for Freemasonry as a spirit whether of cabal or clique , the proffering of idle

charges , or the fulmination of petty complaints . We say nothing now of the support the Freemason has given to allarchxological research , in whjph it has been cheered by the contributions of a HtfoirAN , a D . M . LYON , a GOULD , a " M ASONIC S TUDENT , "

a WHYTEHEAD , a NEILSON , and many others . But with . . this New Year we think it well to avow our principles , to show our " flag , " to return our hearty thanks for the past , and to leave in the hands of our numberless good friends our usefulness , our progress , and our prestige for the future ,

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ VVe do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even approving , of the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish in a spirit of fair play to all to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . ]

THE MASONIC ROBBERY AT NEWPORT . To the Editor of die "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Permit me through the medium of your columns to direct the attention of your readers to the loss the members of three of the Monmouthshire lodges have sustained by the wholesale and destructive robbery at their Masonic

Temple at Newport . Doubtless many like myself read the account in the columns of your last publication with mixed feelings of surprise , pain , and regret . We , the Masonic body throughout the country , have gained something by this robbery , namely—experience , as we know it is not an unusual practice for brethren to leave their clothing and jewels at the lodge between meetings . If

the practice is to be continued every lodge should be supplied with a large safe or strong room for depositing- the jewels belonging to the brethren and other valuables . In your report of the robbery which I have before me , you state that the silver jewels belonging to Lodges 471 , 6 S 3 , and 1429 are stolen , besides a quantity of P . G . Lodge clothing , presentation and other jewels ; you also give the

names of the Past Masters who have lost their presentation jewels . Now we may naturally conclude that the clothing and jewels of these P . M . ' s would not have been on the lodge premises were they not good hardworking brothers , who , although they had worked hard in the past for the benefit of Freemasonry in general , and their own lodges in particular , in no way had withdrawn their interest in the

Craft , as , alas , too many do after a certain number of years ; but were supporting it by their presence , and they especially deserve the very deepest sympathy at the present time . In consideration of this experience , which we have certainly gained , and as brethren , I consider that we should , as far as possible , "bear one another ' s . ' - . urdens , " and ass ' st in repairing that loss for our suffering brothers , who ,

" unfortunately , have fallen amongst thieves who have stripped them of their raiment" in the Masonic world . I venture to propose , Mr . Editor , that every reader c this letter should send some small sum to you towards providing a fund for replenishing the jewels , & c , which you might acknowledge in your columns weekly , and if this scheme was carried out , I have not the slightest doubt that

in a very few weeks we should be able to supply the sufferers with new clothing and jewels , to replace those which have been stolen from them and so wantonly destroyed . The VV . M . of every lodge should bring the matter before his brethren , and get a small sum voted towards this object . A P . M . could not look upon a jewel he had purchased himself to substitute the one stolen with any amount of pride

or respect , but to have one replaced on his breast subscribed for , to repair the loss by the Masons of England , would indeed beapride , and it would be treated with veneration and as a markof fraternal affection in the true spirit of Freemasonry . I sincerely hope , Mr . Editor , that you will open your columns for this worthy object , and that you and your readers will embrace the opportunity of exercising

that virtue we all profess to admire—I mean "Charity . " I would also suggest that any sum that should be over , after supplying the loss to each of our suffering brothers , should be divided amongst the three Masonic Charities , viz ., the Boys' School , the Girls' School , and the Home for Aged and Decayed Freemasons . It may not be generally known , but , nevertheless , it is a

fact , that the Province of Monmouthshire is one of the most flourishing of small provinces , and of late years- has very largely supported the Masonic Charities . A couple of shillings from each of your readers would replace many a lost jewel and much clothing whichis reported to have been

destroyed , and I have not the slightest doubt would gladden the aching _ heart of many a brother Mason who has lost all his possessions inthe Masonic world . By inserting this fully in your next publication you will greatly oblige Yours fraternally , MASONIC CHARITY .

AMERICAN FREEMASONRY . To the Editor ofthe" Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — A good deal is often said by uninformed writers especially about American Masonry . I , who have studied it a good deal lately , have come to the honest conclusion that it holds a very remarkable position in Americaone of

, much good , utility , and benefit to others arid to itself . It has , no doubt , some weak points—and we in England , I fear , are not strong on all ; and the severe critic might discern some feeble crevices in our armour , and touch upon some " spots jn our feasts of charity . " In one point the American Freemasons undoubtedly excel us—in discipline . Their Masonic system is much

more organized than ours , and its shortcomings are inherent frorn the existence of so many State Grand Lodges , each sovereign and independent . Hence a variety of judicial decisions , some antagonistic and not a few nasty and without good precedent . It has often occurred to me that American Masonry would be stronger if the American Grand Masters had ayearly or biennial meeting , and

__ reduced judicial decisions to a coherent and consistent system . As regards discipline , which I have just mentioned , I tak * the following extract from the Canadian Craftsman : "The Essex ( Mass . ) Mercury states ' that the Rev . Mr . Chainey , pastor of the First Unitarian Church , of Evansville , Ind ., having become a Rationalist , and startled his congretration

by publicly denying- the existence of God , and asserting that prayer was a hideous mockery , in consequence charges were preferred against him in his Masonic lodge , and he was expelled for un-Masonic conduct . ' " The excellent Canadian paper adds : " This is as it should be , for as no Atheist can be made a Mason , so if any member of the

Fraternity subsequently lapse from the Masonic creed , which especially declares a belief in the existence of the Supreme Being , he should at once be excommunicated from the Society . " . I fancy that' in * England we shall all agree with these remarks , and , therefore , I think well to call attention to them . The New York Dispatch tells us moreover that " the anti-Masonic party didn't meet with astounding