A Justificaton Of Persecution.

ous blow to true religion , and an insult to the understanding , and the sympathies of the age in which we live .

Advice Gratis.

ADVICE GRATIS .

Some people are very fond of giving , as Mr . Samuel Weller used to remarK , " adwice gratis , " and we receive from time to timu an enormous quantity of a similar commodity , which , though it is no doubt very well intended , savours to us , as a rule , of "bottled moonshine , " or

unadulterated " cheek . " For Truth—stern uncompromising truth—compels us to say , that for the most part , those who are so good at tendering advice are the least competent to act as advisers to am body , or in anything . Indeed , it is sometimes quite ludicrous to note , how utterly

unpractical are the suggestions we receive , how utterly wide of the mark are the majority of counsels we have to wade through . We . thank all such friendly counsellors alike by anticipation , and with a present sense of favours received , but we would ask them to spare

themselves the trouble of penning , and us the trouble of reading their needless lucubrations on things in general , and Masonry in particular . For it must be obvious that it is not the role of every one to act as a sagacious adviser . It is not within the competence of every on ? , ( even

though he thinks . so ) , to offer to us good advice . Many circumstances concur in order to render the adviser authoritative or the advice any of value . As a matter of fact , all such advice is good for very little , and rill such advisers ate much to be deprecated . We fancy we know our own

business as well as most people , if not better , and we require neither the doubts of the doubting , nor the criticisms of the critical , or even the " advice gratis " of the sagacious and the philanthropic . At the same time , we say all this , we do not

wish to appear to complain too much . As we observed before , we do not pretend to question the good intention of our self-constituted "Mentors , " or the wisdom of much spontaneous and salutary exhortation , though as it is said , that a certain locality is " paved with good intentions , "

so we feel that the latter excellent quality may very often be conveniently , ( as far as we are concerned ) , dispensed with altogether . Indeed it is not too much to say that , knowing our own work , and attending to our own duties , we treat all such extreme and abnormal expressions of

opinion as ot slight value and no moment . J ust now a great deal of" advice gratis , " is going on amongst us , and we cannot profess to regard it , from any point of view , either with favour or approval . If well meant , it is very officious , and if not well meant , it becomes both a bore and an

impertinence . Like Mr . Samuel Weller , we confess to have little sympathy , and less patience with the " advice gratis sect . " For even if you grant them the fairest intentions in the world , they become great nuisances , offering much

advice which means nothing , goes for nothing , and is good for nothing . Our contemporary The Jforld , as quoted by the Times , gives us an amusing little story , with which we will conclude this leader of ours , and which we think will serve

to " point the moral and adorn the tale ;— " A stanch adherent of Lord Beaconsficid from a distant county took up his two sons to present them to the illustrious Statesman . 'Give them a word of advice , Mr . Disraeli , on their introduction into life ; it would be an honour they would never forget . ' Very much worried at

therequest , Mr . Disraeli at last consented . ' Never try to ascertain , ' he said to the elder boy , ' who was the man with the iron mask , or you will be thought a terrible bore . ' Nor do yon , ' he added to the second , ' ask who was the author of Junius , ' or you will be thought a bigger bore than your brother . ' "

The Hazards Of Life.

THE HAZARDS OF LIFE .

We alluded in our last to a most mournful explosion of firedamp near Glasgow , by which the lives of over 200 miners were supposed to be lost . This number may now happily be reduced b y about 20 , but not many under 200 have alas , ceased . to be , and their bodies are gr ? lually being disinterred by zealous and gaitant survivors , from

The Hazards Of Life.

the debris ' of blocked up shafts , and the obstacles of broken in galleries . How great are the hazards of life , and how wondrous its shifting scenes , its strange vicissitudes , and its awful catastrophes . Here 200 men went down in the cage cheerfully , in the early morning , little

thinking that their end was nigh , and in a moment , without a note of warning , or season for preparation , they pass away from Time to Eternity . It is a very depressing fact , and painful reality , look at it as we will , pass it by as we may , amid the hum of busy traffic ,

and the overpowering course of trade or literature or pleasure , yes and dissipation ! We must all be struck with the frequency of these explosions , and must wish that Science might step in to provide measures for if not the prevention , at least the diminution of

such dreadful and wholesale destruction of valuable lives . Most of these great explosions proceed from one great source , the use of naked lights , and the disinclination of coal miners to use the " Davy Lamp . " The reason given by them is , that the light it affords is so dim that

they cannot often distinguish stone and other substances from coal , and so they fill the " Corves " with valueless loads , which are condemned on reaching the surface . And hence it is , that thousands of men dare such dangers , which too often prove fatal to so many honest workers ,

running the risk of an explosion . Seeing , then , that the Davy lamps are so unpopular with the men , cannot some inventive , individual suggest an improvement , which would meet the wants of the miners , in giving more light , and yet being safe to ordinary risks . We do not fancy

that anything will be perfectly safe , but it is just possible that if the attention of the thoughtful is turned to the subject , a safety lamp might be invented which would be used by the men , and would reduce the possibility of danger from a maximum to a minimum . We always feel great sympathy for the coal mining

population , and we venture to express a hope that Science , ever helpful to man , may yet intervene , so to say , and pave the way for a diminution of risks among a most laborious class of people , though alas , the "hazards ol life" must always remain great and many for our poor and suffering Mortality .

Indian Famine Fund.

INDIAN FAMINE FUND .

We think it well to call the attention of our readers to the fact that this fund is by no means closed at the Mansion House , as some seem to think , but on the contrary is still open , and deserves both help and support- The last accounts from Madras are far from satisfactory , and indeed

are suggestive of very great sufferings , still amidst a famine-stricken people , and we hope therefore that our good brethren will continue to send in their subscriptions to the " Freemason Famine Fund , " that they may be at once handed over to the Lord Mayor . We call special

attention to the list published weekly in our columns . We are particularly pleased also to mention that the pupils in our Boys' School , as appears in our pages , have , collected £ 4 fJs . 6 d . We think that this praiseworthy conduct on the pan of " Our Boys , " may well be imitated b y many older Freemasons amongst us .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even as approving ol rtieopinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—Iree disciusion . —ED . 1

PAST GRAND RANK . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — In the Freemason oi October 13 th , in answer to a P . M ., you inform tie Cralt that the Prov . Grand Pursuivant , like all other Prov . Grand Ofiiccrs , carries past rank , in reply to which a Past Grand Pursuivant of North Wales

and Shropshire , in your issue October 20 th , states after serving the office for two years , he never wears the clothing , considering he has no right to do so , anel thinks the Beard of General Purposes shoulel take the question into consideration . Another brother , "V . A . M ., " in your last issue writes he was much surprised at your editorial note

appe-neled 10 a correspondent's letter in a recent number . Upon referring to the bye laws of the Prov . Grand Lodge of Cheshire , 1851 , also a later edition , 1868 , P . G . Pursuivants do take past rank . Should those bye-laws and your common sense view of thc matter be wrong , the sooner the position of Prov . Grand Pursuivant is settler ! the better ,

Original Correspondence.

for it must be exceedingly annoying to a brother receiving that appointment , and paying ten guineas for clothing , and perhaps a large sum in addition for other expenses , to finel the appointment does not carry honours . Yours fraternally , An OLD P . M .

To the Editor of thc "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Referring to the correspondence in your columns under the above head , whatever may be the exact law , the Pursuivants of my province ( Cumberland and

Wistmorelanri ) are always unelerstooei to be entitled to past rank , and I can call to mind at this moment at least half-adi'zcn who wear their clothing as such . It wou'd be as well , however , il some authoritative elecision emanateel from Granel Lodge , so as to settle thc point at issue . Fraternally yours , P . G . REGISTRAR .

PROVINCIAL GRAND PURSUIVANTS . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In the Book of Constitutions . " Othtv Provincial Granel Officers " Art . 2 , the law is laid down that Grand Wardens and subonlinate Provincial Grand Officers ,

Treasurer excepted ) are to be annually appointed by the Provincial Grand Master : —they shall possess in their district the rank & c . of Grand Officers : —and are entitled to wear their clothing ns Provincial Granel Officers , or Past Provincial Grand Officer , in all Masonic meetingsthc next paragraph but one to this , sets out that Provincial

Granel Stewards do not take past rank , nor are they ci'titled to cemtinue to wear their clothing when out of office . Is not this conclusive that a Provincial Gianel Pursuivant becomes of right a Past Provincial Grand Pursuivant ? Why further legislaiion ? The Bye-laws of the P . G . Lodge cf North Wales and

Shropshire enumerate in the list of officers of that Grand Lodge , for Provincial Grand Pursuivant . Past Provincial Grand Pursuivant . Provincial Grand Standard-bearers . Past Provincial Grand Standard-bearers .

The Book of Constitutions says Grand Stanelard-bearers must be Master Masons—they are : not members of . Grand Lodge , nor are they to wear the clothing of a Grand Officer ! Further on these bye-laws provide for certain officers having the prefix of " Right Worshipful , " others , " Very Worshipful" surrly thc remainder might aelopt the

edd one of " Rather Worshipful , " ( all being equally against rule ) . If " V . A . M . " will again read thc paragraph he refers to at thc conclusion of his letter , he will see that the power given to the Grand Master to give Past Grand rank to brethren of " eminence and ability " who ha \ c not served

office , as in the case of t > ur present M . W . G . M . who , prior to his acceptance of that post , was M . W . P . G . M . Agreeing with Bro . D . P . Owen as to the importance of the office of a Granel Pursuivant , does he not , by his own shewing , create the anomaly he refers to ; and shew disrespect to his Provincial Granel Master , by being thc only

Granel Office . r in his Province who neglects to appear in the clothing of his rank ? 1 . The Bye-laws of die Province provide for a P . Prov . G . Pursuivant . 2 . Once a Provincial Grand Officer ( Steward excepted ) always , alter term of office , a 1 ' . Prov . Grand Officer , ( Constitutions ) . I am , dear Sir and brother , yours fraternally , VEVEV .

FREEMASONS AND MASONIC LITERATURE . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — In concluding your article in issue of 20 th Oct ., you invite the Craft to help you to a " solution " upon the siippoit ( or want of support ) of Masonic lircature ,

giving the number of American Masons , 700 , 000 , those in Great Britain , 100 , 000 . I am unable to solve your . . question , but it leads me to enquire if you can state the approximate number of Masons members of Lonelon lodges , for say 1 2 miles round ? also the number in the country ( England ) alone ? Faithfully yours ,

J . E .. S . [ Wc have no means at present of obtaining sucli statistics . —ED . ]

To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir ami Brother , — Vour remarks in last week ' s Freemason are but inn true , though severe . If genuine Masons , however , take them in the fraternal spirit they are penned , and put in practice the suggestions offered , your rnterprise in

enlarging the Freemason will be amply rewarded . I , ten ) , have a suggestion to make . It is this—that each lodge and chapter should pass a resolution to invest a certain small amount—say £ 1 or £ 2 a year—in Masonic literature . 1 do not sec why this idea should not be carried out . Yours fraternally , A . A . DENIIAM , Wandsworth , 1044 .

LOOSE RECEPTION OF CANDIDATES . To the Editor oj the "Freemason . " Dear Sir , and Brother , — As a Mason , permit me to complain of the very loose manner some London and other lotlp « have of initiating candidates into Masonry who are resident at a

distance from the place in which the loelge is held , without enquiring why he was not proposed in a loelge in the town in which he resides , or one nearer to his place of residence , or whether he has ever been proposed in any other . IE some such resolutions were in general use it would

certainly conduce to the harmony of loelges and the honour of the Craft . The following is a case in point . In my loelge last January , a gentleman of my town was proposed , and in February he was . balloted for anil rejectcel ; he would not ,