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To ADVERTISERS . THE Circulation of THE F REEMASON being now at the rate of neo . r \ y Ifalf-a-million per annum , it offers peculiar facilities to all who advertise . It is well known that the Fraternity of Freemasons is a large and constantly increasing body , mainly composed of the influential and educated classes of society ; and as The Freemason is now the accepted organ of the Brotherhood in the United Kingdom , and also enjoys an extensive sale in the colonies and foreign parts , its advantages as an advertising medium can scarcely be overrated . For terms apply to GEORGE KENNING , 2 , 3 , & 4 , LITTLE BRITAIN , LONDON , E . C .

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NOTICE . The Subscription to THE FREEMASON is noiv \ os . per annum , post-free , payable in advance . Vol . I ., bound in cloth ... ... 4 s . 6 cl . Vol . II ., ditto 7 s . 6 d . Vol . III ., ditto 15 s . od . Reading Cases to hold 52 numbers ... 2 s . 6 d .

Books Received.

BOOKS RECEIVED .

"Bengal Freemasons' Almanac and Diary for 1871 . " Calcutta : F . Lewis , 5 , Couaeil House-street . "A Centennial Memorial of the LoJVe of St . Andrew , Boston , U . S . A ., 1 S 70 . " "The Rainbow Stories ; " No . 1 . Phil Tliorndvke ' s

Adventures ; No . 2 , The Rift in the Rock . Groombridge ant Sons , 5 , Paternoster-row . " Proceedings of the Supre ne Council 33 ° , N J . United States . " New York : Publishing Company , 432 , " Uroumestreet . " Suspension of the Antiquity Chapter Rose Croix at Bath .

"An Introduction to the Reading and Study of the English Bible ; " 3 vols . By William Carpenter , author of "Scientia Biblica , " & c . S . W . Partridge , Paternosterrow . [ For review in our next . ]

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All communications for THIS FHEKM \ snx should be 'viitlcn leiciilj on one side of the paper only , and , if intended tor insertion in the current number , must be received not later than 10 o ' clock a . in on Thursdays , unless in very special cases . 'I'he name and aiMres ' s of every writer must be sent to us in confidence .

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TheFreemason, SATURDAY , MARCH 4 , 1871 .

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THE FREKMASON is published ou Saturday Mcnnnys in time for the early trains . The price of Tim FRRRMASOV is Twopence per week ; annual » u !)» cripnon , IOJ . ( payable in ad i-. ince \ All Comriunicalious , letters , & c , lu be addressed lolheEDITOK 1 , 3 , and 4 , Little llritain , E . C . ITie Editor will pay careful attention mall MSS . rmm . trcl to him but onnot undertake 10 return them unless accompanied by postaee •lamp .. J 1- ? .

A Word In Season.

A WORD IN SEASON .

AT the completion of a second year of labour in the editorial department of THE FREEMASON , we cannot refrain from expressing our deep sense of the increased

support and encouragement by which our efforts have been sustained during the past year . It is no light matter to establish on a stable and permanent basis a weekly

newspaper like THE FREEMASON J it is no light matter , in this age of competition , not only to have reached the haven of success , but to Le enabled to maintain and

augment the prosperity of any literary undertaking . We have , however , been fortunate enough to accomplish this great

feat ; and we can say , with all sincerity and truth , that the progress of this journal , in circulation , especially during the last

A Word In Season.

three or four months , has kept pace with our most sanguine expectations . In fact , it is evident that the English Craft have adopted THE FREEMASON , and look upon

its columns as an honest reflex of their own thoughts , opinions , and customs . The history of Freemasonry in England at the present day can be gathered from our

pages , and the evil that is combated—the good that is achieved—by the Fraternity day "b y day is chronicled faithfully and impartially by men who delight in working

for the welfare of the Order . And beyond all doubt , the Masonic Charities—whose cause we have ever warmly advocatedhave derived substantial benefit from the

appeals which we have continuously made in their behalf . We are happy to add that the amount received at the recent Festival of the Roval Masonic Benevolent

Institution was larger even than the average sums announced for several years past ; and this result is the more gratifying when we consider how many and how great have been

the claims of late on the sympathies of the English public . The horrors of famine in Paris have been averted mainly through the timely and well-organized aid extended by

the British people to their suffering neighbours , and in all parts of France which have been crushed and desolated by the iron heel of war our countrymen have been the first to

hasten to the rescue of the victims , and to aid in the good work of mercy , relief , and consolation . All honour to the humanitarian spirit which prompts such deeds , for

while other nations content themselves with expressing a barren sympathy with the woes of France , the practical mind of

England devises the means of help , and affords substantial succour to those who are in need .

Still , it cannot be denied that the pecuniary assistance rendered by the benevolent to foreign distress is likely to tell severely upon our charitable institutions at home

and it is scarcely to be expected that the educational establishments of the Craft will be entirely exempt from the disturbing influence resulting from this cause . One

of our institutions , the Boys' School , is , however , so exceptionally situated at present that we trust the brethren will allow no consideration , except the dictates

of prudence , to interfere with the hearty support which the Institution so urgently requires . We know that strong opinions have been expressed as to the wisdom or

unwisdom of spending so large a sum upon bricks and morlar as the Boys' Institution has undoubtedly cost . Probably if the Committee had to travel over the same road

again , the amount expended would not be so heavy . We learn by experience ; and forty thousand pounds present a rather formidable

appearance to many members of the Craft who are not exactly millionaires . However , the work is done—the school is built

and a very noble structure it is , replete with every comfort and convenience ; and now there is the "little bill" to pay .

A Word In Season.

Thanks to the gigantic efforts made by the Fraternity during the last two years , the debt incurred has been reduced to the comparatively small sum of ^ 6 , 000 . But

in addition to this , the current expenses of the Institution for the year must be defrayed , and we dare not hope that the ensuing Festival will witness the complete

extinction of the debt . In common with many of the Craft , we had fondly hoped that the magnificent result of the appeal made by His Royal Highness the Prince

of Wales last year had completely released the Institution from its pecuniary difficulties , and we fear that the disagreeable discovery that such was not the case , has

somewhat astounded many members of the Order . Now , our duty is plain : a Masonic charity is at present impeded in its career of usefulness , and its area of beneficence is

circumscribed for want of funds . Get the Institution out of debt , that is the main point ; and the ventilation of the theory

that mistakes have been made in the past will certainly not help us to secure this result .

The Festival which is to be held in aid of its objects will take place under the presidency of the Sir Watkin Williams Wynne , on the Sth inst , and knowing as

we do , how popular that Right Worshipful Brother is in the province over which hepresides—North Wales and Shropshirewe may anticipate a goodly list of

subscriptions , although scarcely the amount required to clear the Institution of debt . A considerable number of brethren , both in London and the provinces , have already

contributed largely , but a still greater number have never given a shilling to any of our Masonic Charities . Now , if each brother who had given his mite were to

make it is business to bring the subject under the notice of another brother who had not subscribed , even if no immediate donation were forthcoming , it would tend

to remove that lamentable ignorance and apathy in which the best and noblest principles of Freemasonry are ignored and forgotten by too many members of the Craft .

It shall certainly be our study to disseminate from time to time as widely as our circulation extends , accurate and reliable information upon the position and

prospects of our several charities , but in the meantime we earnestly recommend all to lend a helping hand to the Boys' School ,

so as to remove for ever the weight of debt which at present cripples its resources , and restricts its progress and development .

WE are pleased to hear that it is in contemplation to reopen the Florence Nightingale Mark Lodge at Woolwich . For some

time past the degree has been in abeyance at Woolwich , and now it is about to be revived—the old Scotch warrant will be

exchanged for one under the English Constitution . We wish the lodge every success .