To Our Readers.

TO OUR READERS .

The Freemason is a sixteen page weekly newspaper , price 2 d . It is published every Friday morning , and contains the most important and useful information relating to Freemasonry in everv degree . Annual subscription in the United Kingdom , Post free , 10 / . Brethren in foreign parts , wishing to have this newspaper sent them regularly from the office of publication , should , in sending their remittances , add to the 2 d . per week the postage on 20 z .

newspapers . The Freemason may be procured through any newsagen in the United Kingdom by g iving ( if needed ) the publisher ' s address , 198 , Fleet-st . All communications , correspondence , reports , & c , must

be addressed to the Editor . Advertisements , change in address , complaints of difficulties in procuring Freemason , etc ., to the Publisher , 198 , Fleet-st ., London , E . C . Careful attention will be paid to all MSS . entrusted to the Editor , but he cannot undertake to return them unless accompanied by stamp directed covers .

To Advertisers.

TO ADVERTISERS .

The Freemason has a large circulation in all parts of the Globe , its advantages as an advertising medium can therefore scarcely be overrated . For terms , position , & c , apply to GEORGE K ENNINO , 198 , Fleet-st .

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NOTICE

Many complaints having been received of the difficulty experienced in procuring the Freemason in the City , the publisher begs to append the following list , being a selected few of the appointed agents : — Abbott , Wm ., East Cheap . Bates , Pilgrim-street , Ludgate-hill . Born , H ., 115 , London-wall . Dawson , Win ., 121 , Cannon-street .

Gilbert , Jas ., 18 , Gracechurch-street . Guest , Wm ., 54 , Paternoster-row . Phillpott Bros . ' , 63 , King William-street . Pottle , R ., 14 , Royal Exchange . May also be obtained at W . H . Smith & Son ' s Bookstalls at the following City Stations : — Broad-street . I Holborn Viaduct . Cannon-street . | London Bridge . Ludgate Hill .

Answers To Correspondents.

Answers to Correspondents .

All Communications , Advertisements , & c , intended for insertion in the Number of the following Saturday , must reach the Office not later than 1 2 o ' clock on Wednesday morning . The following stand over and' will be inserted next week;—"Masonic Orphan Schools , Dublin . ' Letter from " One of the Disappointed Brethren . "

REMITTANCES RECEIVED . £ s . d . Batherjee , M . S ., Kurrachee , draft 1 12 o Bailey , J . C , Chicago , P . O . O o 14 2 Hopwood , J . R ., Jamaica , P . O . 0 1 10 o Ife , Wm ., Constantinople , Stamps o 17 4

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THE ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS , 1 for SATURDAY , May 1 . —PORTRAIT OK THK PRINCK Of WALKS attired as Grand Master of the Freemasons ( two-page engraving ) forming the Kxtra Supplement . INSTALLING THK PRINCK OK WALKS as Grand Master of the Freemasons ( two-page engraving ) . Inmates of the Royal Masonic Institution for the Aged . Boys of the Royal Masonic School . The Fatal Balloon Ascent in France ( three illustrations ) . Sketches in the Grounds of the New Alexandra Palace . Paris New Spring Fashions . The New Racecourse at Saudown Park , Ksher . Portrait of the late Count Brunnow . —Price Sixpence ; or , by Post , Sixpence-Halfpenny . Office , 108 , Strand , W . C .

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The Freemason , SATURDAY , MAY I , 1875 .

Our Royal Grand Master.

OUR ROYAL GRAND MASTER .

The installation of the Prince of Wales as Royal Grand Master of English Freemasonry is an ev ent in our Masonic history , the importance

Our Royal Grand Master.

of which should not be undervalued or overlooked . In the first place , it is an answer clear and convincing to contumelious calumnies and illogical adversaries , in that the Heir to the English Throne , following the example of his great ancestors , at a time of much opprobrium and no

little excitement , throws in his lot with us disloyal and disreputable Freemasons , takes our name , and places himself at our head ! Surely , with such an answer to the invectives of the Ultramontane Press we may well be content , and leaving calumny and calumniators , anathema aad

anathematizer tranquilly behind us , we can go on our way rejoicing , " spe surgentis luli , " and leaving the vindication of our good fame , our loyal character , and our benevolent efforts , to the honest and just of our fellow-countrymen . One of the popular axioms in use just now is , " Throw

a sufficient quantity of dirt , and some of it must stick ! " Yet , strange to say , this is not a " sequitur ; ' ' on the contrary , falsehood is always punished by itself , and sooner or later the " nee conscire sibi nulla pallescere culpa " carries straig htforwardness and sincerity through the

aspersions of the malevolent and the vituperations of the unjust . In the Installation of our Royal Grand Master we have the one good and sufficient reply to the allocution of Pio Nino , the excommunication of Cardinal Descliamps , the animadversions of Cardinal Manning , the

disapproval of worthy but mistaken Monsignenr Dupanloup , and above all , to the childish bombast cf the Church Herald , or the rowdy vulgarity of the Westminster Gazette . And in the next place , thePrince of Wales , in following the example of his Royal ancestors , and thus publicly

patronizing and identifying himself with Freemasonry , is , in our opinion , not only " wise in his generation , " but is pursuing a course alike honourable to himself and beneficial to society . The Masonic body , despite every allowance for mortal weakness and imperfection , is a brotherhood of

very worthy men and very loyal subjects . In the darkest hours it has never failed in its ri ghtful allegiance to the Sovereign of its native land , and the language in which the Grand Lodge of England once addressed King George the Third through its Grand Master , the then Prince of Wales , is the same * ' tolidem verbis " in

which it would address its gracious Queen Victoria , through its Grand Master , the Prince of Wales , to-day . " We are the free citi / . ens , your Majestyj of a free State , and number many thousands in our body . The Heir Apparent of the Empire is our chief . We fraternize for the

purpose of social intercourse , of mutual assistance , of charity to the distressed , and goodwill to all . Fidelity to a trust , reverence to the magistrate , and obedience to the laws , are sculptured in capitals upon the pediment of our Institution . " We think then that on this

auspicious occasion it may be welt to remind ourselves of that intimate connexion especially of the " House of Brunswick " with our Order , which has been so worthy of its cxaltetl members , and so pleasurable and honourable to us . It has been said by some writers that King James I ., King

Charles I ., King Charles II ., and'King William III . were all Freemasons , but , so far , no actual evidence has been forthcoming of the statement ; and , leaving these good old legends to prehistoric times , let go on to see what is undoubtedly true and provable of after epochs and later generations .

In Lord Darnley ' s Grand Mastership , from 1737 to 17 . 3 S , Frederick , Prince of Wales , was , as far as we know , the first member of cur Royal Family who saw the light of Freemasonry . He was admitted in 1737 , at the Royal Palace of Kew , a special lodge , over which presided the well

known Dr . Desaguliers . The author of " Multa Paucis " mentions Nov . 5 th as the actual date , and adds , that his brother , the Duke of Cumberland , who commanded the English army " at Fontenoyand Culloden , was also admitted shortly after , namely in 1743 , though we believe he is the only writer who mentions this fact .

Frederick , Prince of Wales , never seems to have gone beyond the degree of Master Mason . Anderson , however } dedicated to him the Constitutions of 1738 . He died in 175 1 , and his son , George , III . not a Freemason . During the Grand Mastership of Lord Blayney , which lasted from 1764 to 1766 , their Royal Highnesses the Dukes of Cumberland and Gloucester became Freemasons . The

Our Royal Grand Master.

Duke of York , the King ' s brother , was also initiated abroad , and in 1776 they were all proclaimed Past Grand Masters by our Grand Lodge . In 1782 the Duke of Cumberland became Grand Master , and presided over the Craft most admirabl y for many years . During his

happy administration the Girls' School was founded , mainly by the benevolent initiative of the Chevalier Ruspini and others . In 1786 the Duke of Clarence was received into Freemasonry at Plymouth , and on Thursday , February 6 th , 1787 , His Royal Highness George , Prince of

Wales , was received into the Order , the Duke of Cumberland the Grand Master , presiding in person . On Friday , 21 st November following , the Duke of York was also received by the Grand Master at a special lodge , being introduced by his brother , the Princeof Wales . In subsequent years

the Duke of Kent , the grandfather of our Grand Master , was initiated at Geneva , the Duke of Sussex at Berlin , and the Dukes of Cumberland and Gloucester , were likewise admitted into our fraternity in England . We believe that the Duke of Cambridge was not a Freemason , though we are

not quite certain on the subject , but if so . all the sons of good King George III . became Freemasons , with this single exception . In 1790 our excellent and zealous Grand Master the Duke of Cumberland died , and was succeeded on the Masonic throne by George , Prince of Wales .

He appointed the well-known Lord Moir 3 , afterwards Marquis of Hastings , his Pro Grand Master , and presided over the Craft until his accession to the Regency in 1 S 13 . Before he resigned the Grand Mastership one of the most remarkable Masonic banquets that ever was

witnessed took place in honour of Lord Moira ' s appointment to the Governor-Generalship of India . Six Royal Dukes were present at the festival , and the Prince of Wales sent his " heartygood wishes . " On December 1 st , 1813 , H . R . H . the Duke of Sussex was installed Grand Master

of our Order , and remained so , a most devoted Freemason , until his death in 18 43 , when he was succeeded by our good old and lamented chief , Lord Zetland . ThePrince of Wales , in 1813 , became Patron of our Order , and remained so until his death . In 1813 , the Duke of Kent was

also elected Grand Master of the Athol Masons , for the purpose of promoting the union of the two divergent bodies , and healing a miserable and mournful schism . On St . John ' s Day , December a 7 th , 1813 , the great Act of Union was consummated , which has tended so greatly

to the progress and welfare of Freemasonry , under the auspices of the two Grand Masters , the Duke of Sussex and the Doke of Kent , the former remaining Grand Master of the now united organization , the latter becoming a Past Grand Master . We have then , surely , much cause , from this brief

recapitulation of our past annals , to feel thankful to that Royal Family , whose presence has been so welcome , and whose countenance has been so beneficial , to our great brotherhood . At this moment , at a period of much anxiety , when we had lost a most effective and popular Grand

Master , whose worth we all acknowledge though we deplore his proceedings , we have been cheered and strengthened by the fraternal readiness with which the Prince of Wales of to-day a knowledges our brotherhood , and -assumes its headship . His two brothers , the Duke of Connaught

and Prince Leopold , are also members of our Order , and we , as English Freemasons , are , and may be , justly proud of the fact that our Princes have chivalrously come forward to testify to our loyal character , and to uphold our gooti fame before men . Under such a chief and with such

rulers , and supported by some of the noblest of the land , we shall fear no enemyand be appalled by no excommunication . In 1875 , the davs of "Bulls" and " Interdicts " and " Anathemas , " are surely over : we need no longer dread the outbreaks of unbridled fanaticism , nor the foolish

idiosyncrasies of ill-regulated pseudo-religious faith We shall march on our way a great and a loyal host , the Royal Standard and the Union Jack and the Masonic Banner over our heads , and ours will be the exulting shout of Englishmen

and Freemasons . We fear no assailants , and we mean , God helping us , to advance under our gallant commander , our parole Brotherly Love , Relief , and Truth , our countersign , " Dieu et mort Droit . "