Foreign And Colonial Agents.

Foreign and Colonial Agents .

—•»—AMERICA : Bro . J . FLETCHER B RENNAN , 114 , Mainstreet , Cincinnati , Ohio . Messrs . WOODRUFF & BLOCKER , Little

Rock , Arkansas , U . S . CANADA : Messrs . DEVRIE & SON , Ottawa . CAPE OF GOOD HOPE : Bro . G EORGE BRITTAIN , Cape Town . CEYLON : Messrs . W . L . SKEENE & Co ., Colombo . CONSTANTINOPLE : Br . J . L . HANLY , Levant Times .

EAST INDIES : Allahabad : Messrs . "WVMAN BROS . Bombay : Bro . M . B . COHEN . Byculla : Bro . GEO . BEASE . Central Provinces : Bro . F . J . J ORDAN . Kurraclue : Bro . G . C . BRAYSON . Madras : Mr . CALEB FOSTER .

Mhow : Bro . COWASJEE N USSERWANJEE . Poona : Bro . W . WELLIS . GALATA : IPSICK KHAN , Perche-Bajar . LIBERIA : Bro . HENRY D . BROWN , Monrovia . PARIS : M . DECHEVAUX-DUMESNIL , Rue de Harlaydu-Palais , 20 , near the Pont Neuf ; Editor Le Franc-Mafon .

WEST 1 JND 1 KS : Jamaica : Bro . J A . D . SOUZA , Falmouth . Trinidad : Bros . S . CARTER and J . LEWIS , 3 , Abercrombie-street , Port of Spain ; and Bro . W . A . KERNAHAN , San Fernando . And all Booksellers and Newsagents in England , Ireland , and Scotland .

Births, Marriages, And Deaths.

Births , Marriages , and Deaths .

BIRTH . BOYLE . —On the 29 th ult ., at Eaglesham , the wife of Bro . John Boyle , S . M ., Lodge Clyde , 408 , of a son . DEATH . CROW . —On Thursday , 26 th ultt ., at De Montfort-terrace , Leicester , Florence Edith , infant daughter of Bro . Edwin J . Crow , J . W . 279 , P . G . O . Leicestershire and Rutland .

Answers To Correspondents.

Answers to Correspondents .

BRO . ARMSTRONG , W . M . 531 . —The candles in the East , South and West must be kept alight in all the degrees , and that in the East should never be extinguished , even during the ceremony of raising . Lamps or other contrivances used as substitutes for the light in the East are an utter abomination , and must have been introduced into lodges by some imbecile , who could

not comprehend the beautiful . symbolism of the light that " shineth in the valley of darkness , yea , even the valley of the shadow of death . " A little thought over these matters would weed many incongruities from the Masonic system , and many of those erroneous arrangements may be said to have arisen from the ignorance of some of the antiquated teachers of thc Craft in days gone by .

PHILALETHES . —We are really anxious to give every facility for the fair discussion of the question mooted , but we put it strongly to yourself whether the use of such expressions as "low fellows , " " gang of conspirators , " can possibly assist in elucidating the points

involved . For ourselves , we may safely say that we believe Prince Rhodocanakis to be a gentleman of worth and intelligence , but wc must decline giving any opinion upon his claims to the title of" Imperial Hi gh-Bess . " With the exceptions noted , your letter is fair criticism .

BRO . DUNCAN WILKIE . —If you send us a brief statement ofthe facts , it shall appear . S . P . —As a Dutch Rose Croix , you are eligible to attend an English Rose Croix Chapter upon the production of your 18 ° certificate , and undergoing an examination . BRO . WILLIAM WAYNE , P . M . No . 1161 . —You are quite correct ; thc word " two " is wanting , and we find that

it was not in thc paper from whicli we copied the explanation—hence , the Reader ' s sin was not one of " omission . " Candidates for the R . A . degree are very frequently proposed by letter to the Scribe E , although the proposition in open chapter is to be preferred , when practicable ; but the full particulars , excepting age , should be stated on the summons . A Royal Arch

Chapter in England can be opened by tlie Three Principals , or by Present or Past Principals of corresponding rank , and consequently a chapter can be held by three ; but no brother can be legally exalted unless nine companions—to represent the ancient "Chapter of Jerusalem "—be present . In America and elsewhere chapters are not opened exclusively by Principals ( there

termed High Priest , King , and Scribe ); but nine companions must be in attendance to form a quorum for opening and transacting business . M . M . —We have now given both sides a hearing , and believe it best to close the discussion . We deeply regret ,

however , to learn that " such things can be" amongst men who ought to practise fraternity and good-will . BRO . A . F . V . —We have to apologise for having mislaid your letter , which reached us when out of town . It is , however , so much to the point that delay will fortunately not put it out of date .

Several reviews and jottings from Masonic journals , with reports of Lodge of Harmony , 220 , and Lebanon Lodge , 1326 , and other communications , will appear in our nest .

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The Freemason , SATURDAY , SEPTEMBER 3 , 1 S 70 . THE FREEMASON is published on Saturday Mornings in time for the early trains . The price of THE FREEMASON is Twopence per week ; quarterly subscription ( including postage ) 3 s . 3 d . Annual Subscription , 12 s . Subscriptions payable in advance . All communications , letters , & c , to be addressed to the EDITOR , 2 , 3 , and 4 , Little Britain , E . C . The Editor will pay careful attention to all MSS . entrusted to himbut cannot undertake to return them unless accompanied by postage stamps .

Penalties Of Greatness

PENALTIES of GREATNESS

THE spell of war is upon us ; the fearful fascination of blood enthralls our soulsnothing is talked of but marches and counter-marches , sieges and sorties , defeats

or victories . Of a truth the present aspect of Europe is enough to discourage the most hopeful ; each day seems to add to the bitterness of the struggle between the

French and German nations , and every hour that passes appears to diminish the prospect of a speedy cessation of the strife . It was , we believe , Sir James Mackintosh

who said that , unfortunately for the repose of mankind , great states are compelled to consider the military spirit and martial habits of their people , as one of the main

objects of their policy , Lrequent hostilities seem almost thc necessary condition of greatness ; and , without being great , they cannot remain safe . " If this be so—and

history corroborates it to a remarkable extent—our surprise at the sudden outbreak of war between Prussia and France was

somewhat ill-founded , as the most superficial observer of European politics for the last four or five years must have noticed the war-cloud that dimmed the horizon

from time to time , and must have arrived at the conviction that a contest for supremacy between France and her powerful neighbour was sooner , or later , inevitable .

Lamentable " condition of greatness , deplorable penalty for increasing prosperity and power ! Must thc nations of the earth ever gird themselves for the fight , and

wrestle grimly to the death , like the gladiators of a Roman arena , in order to decide which is the strongest in skill and resources ? It is not a question of valour , because valour

is to be found amongst every race of men , and the tests of victory in these days arc sought in other directions . There must be generalship — there must be foresight — there must be an infinite combination of

strategy and tactics , as well as death-defying courage in the field ; and , unfortunately for France in her hour of peril , none of the required tests , save the last , are forthcoming .

In vain her chivalry rush upon the foe—in vain they sacrifice themselves bravely , but madly—because there is no guiding hand , no calculating brain to measure the

chances or to direct their onward course . As we have said before , we have no desire to enter upon the political bearings of the war , and we may add that our chief anxiety

is the restoration of peace without thc paramount triumph of either party ; but wc should be less , or more , than human if we could survey unmoved the fall of so many

Penalties Of Greatness

gallant men , all of whom , whether they be Gauls or Teutons , believe in the justice of their cause , and all of whom are fighting to maintain the fancied prestige of their respective fatherlands .

Now , although Englishmen make good soldiers , we are , happily , as yet very inexperienced in the duties of defending our

" homes and altars , " as the patriotic phrase goes , and long may we continue so ; but as men are said to have learnt to swim without

the trouble of entering the water , it would certainly not be out of place were we to attempt the feat of guarding our little island against even possible foes . Ambition is a

perilous thing , and the wealth of Great Britain is a somewhat tempting bait to a hungry foe . Let us , therefore , be wise in time , and show the vain-glorious boasters

of the Continent that England is still ready to defend her shores against all-comers ; aye , and to protect the interests of her children in every sea . " Without being

great , we cannot remain safe ; " these are words pregnant with meaning for all men who have studied the mighty book of human progress in every age , No nation

was ever yet enslaved , until the spirit of cowardice invaded its councils , and the surest way for a great nation to court danger is to abdicate its natural position in

the front rank . However , we have no distrust of this kind so far as Ensrland is concerned ; and in point of fact , unless we have very much degenerated , it

would be strange , indeed , to find that the thirty-one millions who inhabit the British Islands in 1870 are incapable of the

efforts liy which a world in arms was quelled by less than half that number of their ancestors . Wc would not be mistaken .

War is utterly abhorrent to our ideas ; but , at the same time , we should for ever regret having uttered a word whicli could be construed into an acknowledgment that

peace is preferable at any price . On the contrary , we hold that every man is justified infighting for his own home and for the safety of his family and friends ; and as

nations have wider responsibilities , we hold that England is bound to maintain , pure and unsullied , that flag which has waved triumphantly o ' er many a well-fought field .

Wc , nevertheless , sympathise with all those who arc enduring the privations and the miseries of war , and we commend the exertions of those true-hearted men and

women who seek to alleviate the pangs of the wounded and the anguish of the bereaved . Ali honour to the Grand Orient of France , who , in the holiest interpretation

of their Masonic mission , have come forward with pecuniary aid for the victims of battle , and may every success attend the appeal which they have made on behalf of our

common humanity . We have often had to differ with the foreign policy of the Grand Orient—a policy dictated by imperfect

information more than unsound views—and we , therefore , gladly greet the opportunity of bearing testimony to the fact that the leaders of French Masonry arc ever to be