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NOTICE .

The Subscription to THE FREEMASON is now ios . per annum , post-free , payable in advance . Vol . L , bound in cloth ... ... 4 s . 6 ( 1 . Vol . IL , ditto 7 s . 6 el . fobs HI ., IV ., V . and VI each 15 s . od . Reading Cases to hold 52 numbers ... 2 s . 6 d . Ditto ditto 4 do . ... is . 6 d .

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uuhsciip . 'icn , ios . ( payanle in advance . ) All communications , letters , & c ., to be addressed to the Editor , 1 , S , Fleet-street , E . C . 1 he Editor will pay careful attention to allMSS . entrusted to him , hutciniiot undertake to return them unless accompanied by postag stamps .

Answer To Correspondents.

Answer to Correspondents .

All Communications , Advertisements , & c , intended for insertion in the Number of the following Saturday , must reach the Office not later than 6 o ' clock on Wednesday evening . All Communications should be sent to 198 , Fleet Street .

W . K . ' s letter too personal for our pages . The following communications stand over : —Reports of Craft Lodges , 35 , 104 , 359 , E . C . ; 541 S . C . Mark Lodge 9 . Letter from Bro . G . R . II .

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The Freemason , S ATURDAY , J ANUARY a , 1875 .

The New Year.

THE NEW YEAR .

When these lines meet the eyes of our many readers , a new year will have dawned upon them one and all , and very sincere are the wishes wc offer that a happy New Year may be the lot of all cur kind friends and patrons , as well

as of our Cosmopolitan Craft . It is inevitable but that the close of an old year and the commencement of a new year suggest many reflections to the consieleratc and the wcll-disp iscd . The lapse of lime is always a great wonder , if not a mystery , in some respects , to us all , anil

few there are who must not anil do not experience some few passing emotions of awakened memory , or of sympathetic association . For the old year is often like a friend of our own whom we deposit all tenderly and gradually in the grave . Another portion of time , of our own little

history , of our allotted probation , has passed away never to return , and wc often , as we sing a requiem over the departed year , remember it either with an-aching heart or a grateful memory . Thorns have mixed probably with its roses , trials with its joys , tears with its smiles , and

cares with its peace , anil very few there arc who can realize the flight of any year , without some sensations of sorrow , some reminiscences of regret . For we ourselves have reached another milestone on our journey , anil whether the road traversed be long or little , whether we

are beginning . or even ending our pilgrimage , we all must feel that to us this ceaseless onward passage of years is alike somewhat of a grave enigma , of a depressing fact . F > r we are no longer young , or fresh , or active , or strong . We may have outlived our contemporaries ,

and stand , as it were , but lonely watchers for a coming dawn , or we find a premature ending of all our hopes and plans , and longings , anil endeavours . Hence , in our opinion , he is an unthinking or heartless person who desp ises the warning counsels of each departing old year , of

each opening new year , who affects to consider such reflections distasteful or inopportune , and who considers that he can best evince his contempt for all such obsolete prejudices by treating this season as a time alone for idle revelry , or unwholesome dissipation . As Freemasons , the

close of 1874 and the approach of 18 75 have much alike of interest , both in memory , in association , and in anticipation . This time last year , the new year beheld a most happy , and contented , and prosperous Craft . All seemed

to be well and to do well with our brotherhood . Favouring breezes impelled the gooel ship of Freemasonry over a tranquil ocean , and wc seemed lo have lighted on lasting and auspicious trade winds . The Grand Master was installed anew amid tlicnpplauseand gratification of an united

The New Year.

and rejoicing brotherhood , and all appeared to point to happy progress and to constitutional government , under a most popular and prosperous regime . Anel so the year passed on , with much of material prosperity , and many tokens of a rapidly increasing fraternity . We had attacks

to be sure , but still on wc went , heeding them not , and neither turning asiele to the right hand or to the left . The Archbishop of Malincs excommunicated all the Belgian brotherhood with a remarkable exercize of the excommunicating ' process , Archbishop Manning denounced

the German freemasons , the Il'estminsler Gazette railed at us , " ore rotunelo , " anel yet we did not mind them one and all , and found ourselves none the worse for the anathema or the allocution . We heard from far-off Brazil that , like Father Cuffe , the Brazilian Bishops would not

bury the Freemasons , and put them under " Bell , Book , and Candle ; " and we were edified by a letter of the benevolent Pontiff to his Episcopal suffragans in Brazil commending them , and politely telling us that we , as Freemasons , were " booked for something uncomfortable . "

But still we paid but little attention either to bellicose Bishops or vulgar and anonymous scribblers . Yet as those who have ever seen the Bay of Biscay know how treacherous is the calm of the " great ocean , " so that , as the poet says of old : " Una est injusti cccrula forma

maris , " and too often the calm forbotles the squall ; so our Masonic life was to receive a sudden check , an unexpected blow , almost unexpectedly , " in the dark . " We wurc startled by hearing , at the Grand Lodge in September , that our chief , our valued brother , and active ruler ,

Lord Ripon , had resigned his office without any reasons being publicly alleged . And then came out the still more startling reason—that Lorel Ripon hael become a Roman Catholic , and tliat his astute and new aelvisers , disliking Freemasons , and hating Freemasonry , had thought the

opportunity too good to be lost of striking a blow at the inculpated brotherhood . Wc are not going to-day to question Lord Ripon ' s sincerity , or even his right to abandon Jiis former creed ; and we feel that , as Freemasons , our duly and our principles compel us to treat

such an act if with respectful regret and fraternal silence , yet with Masonic toleration ; but this wc may say . If the Roman Catholic authorities expected to gain anything by such a "coup de theatre , " they alike equally miscalculated the ' effect , it [ would produce either on English

Freemasonry , or the English mind . Lord Ripon's resignation has produced no palpable effect whatever cither on our Order or on the public ; it has only served , in truth , to make the Order rally together more than ever , and to cause the public to feel still greater distrust respecting the present

attitude anil proceedings of the Roman Catholic Church . For what is before us after all ? In the midst of a great struggle , in the midst of cruel calumnies , at a time when the bitterest anil most unrelenting of our enemies was dealing blow after blow upon our peaceful and unoffending

Order , unprovoked and uncalleei-for , wc find that our Gciicral-in-Chicf has gone over to the enemy , bag and baggage , and that here wc are just at the very opening of a long campaign , and that wc have to look about us for a new commander . All that , as Freemasons , we could do ,

wc had to do , and we did do . We closed upon our centre , we stood on the defensive , we ^ have founel another captain ; and here we arc , with renewed strength and eager courage ; drums beating , colours flying , reaely to go anywhere and 1 I 0 anything , under our august chief . So that , instead

of weakening Freemasonry , this most mistaken policy of the Roman Catholic Church , this untoward secession of Lord Ripon's , have served , practically , alike to strengthen our position anil to encourage our adherents . The hours of doubt , regret , dismay , fear , are over , and under

our Royal Brother and Grand Master , the English Craft is prepared for any emergency , and is fearless of any opponent . Thus , then , 1874 is a year long to be remembered by English Freemasons , and we doubt not that 1875 will witness , by God ' s blessing , all of peaceful

prosperity to our tried and maligned but useful and benevolent brotherhood . When Freemasons , in their " comitia curiata" in 1875 , unanimously elect and exultingly instal

their Royal Grand Master , every sound of discord and of depression will be silenced in that glad acclaim which welcomes the grandson of an old Grand Master , the eldest son of our beloved Queen , the heir apparent to the

The New Year.

throne , as he fitly assumes the hi ghest post in English Freemasonry . Wc feel certain that from what wc know of his genial character , and his true Masonic spirit , the ability and straightforwardness which pervade all his public acts , that as Freemasons wc shall finel in him a most loyal

brother , a most sincere friend , and a sound , and wise , and just , and constitutional ruler . May our anticipations be realized one and all , and may 1875 be a year of happiness and unity , and progress and contentment to all our English lodges , and to all our brethren everywhere . The

Irish Grand Lodge has lost too , its old and faithful ruler , the Duke of Leinstcr , in 1 S 74 , and has unanimously elected that truly popular nobleman and able statesman the Duke of Abcrcorn as his successor . May all of good attend its choice , and our good brethren across the

channel . All over the world , though the attacks on Freemasonry are many and bitter , with the close of 1 S 74 , yet Freemasonry is moving on , and will move on in 1875 , and we feel sure that Freemasonry will continue to advance ,

despite all its unscrupulous adversaries , so long as it fights manfully under its good old banner , and asserts its own unfailing maxims of truth anel right , of loyalty and order , of peace and toleration , of love and light .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

L \ Ve do not hold ourselves responsible fo . r , or even as approving of the opinions expressed by our correspondents , hut we wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . —ED . ]

INSTALLATION OF GRAND MASTER . To the Editor o / ' lite Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — As an old P . M ., permit me to express the pleasure 1 feel in our Royal Brother ' s accepting the Office of Grand Master ; and as I am sure every brother whose privilege it is to attend the ceremony of installation will be

there without fail , I , from experience , know the hall will be very inadequate to the requirements on that occasion . I would therefore suggest that Grand Loelge shall send a circular requesting every W . M , to fill in the names of every P . M . and Wardens of their respective lodges who intend witnessing this ceremony . These circulars , with the number , having been returned ,

it becomes an easy matter for Grand Lodge to make the necessary arrangements . 1 woulel further suggest the Albert Hall as a place which will be all that am be reeiuircd . G . L ., P . G . L ., and G . S . L ., will occupy the base , the W . M . ' s to have the front scats in the next row with their P . M . ' s immediately at back of them , the Wardens the next row above ; and also that each brother shall be supplied with a ticket of

admission which will at once indicate the door he is to enter at , and the seat he is to occupy ; and this , I think , will prevent all matters of crowd and annoyance . The musical arrangements are also complete . With regard to the banquet , this can easily be arranged for by taking part of the annexe immediately adjoining the hall . Yours truly and fraternally , P . M ., 186 .

OUR MASONIC CHARITIES . To Ihe Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — As the time is drawing nigh when our brethren will be buckling on their armour , to fight the good fight on behalf of our charities , a word or two on the subject may not be inopportune . The subject appears to have

engrossed the attention of many brethren , from the correspondence that has taken place from time to time in your valuable paper , and many suggestions have been put forward , some of which are too Utopian in their construction to be practically carried , and others falling short of any practical utility for their advancement . It is quite certain that our institutions will derive more or less benefit

in proportion to the number of Stewards representing lodges on those occasions ; the greater their number the greater the support deriveel from the various donors supporting the Stcwarel by contributions to his list as well as the donations of the Stewards themselves . We will assume the first thing to do is to get as large a list of Stewards as you possibly can , the question is , how to get

them . From my experience 1 have found the amount of the Stewards' fee to cover the incidental expenses of the festival to be a great bar to some brethren taking upon themselves the office . This fee is generally three or four guineas ; if it could be reduced to a guinea and a half we should have many more brethren serving . I will endeavour to point out how this may be done . The Stewards' fee is

generally fixed at the first meeting of the board , at which time the number comprises about 130 or 140 brethren . An estimate is made as to the amount required to meet the incidental expenses , and a levy is made accordingly . Before the festival takes place this number may be increased to 200 or more , so that after the festival , when the

settling day takes place , the brethren , from the additional number of Stewards' fees , find themselves in possession of a surplus , which they are sometimes puzzled to know what to do with , whereas if the matter had been left until a later period the fees would have been much less , and an inducement held out for brethren to take upon themselves the office on some future occasion . The brethren will under-