Rule Britannia.

In all matters , then , which affect the course of ublic events , whether for peace or war , the defence of our "Alma Mater , " our common country , in the honour and freedom of the British dqcr as Freemasons we evar take a eleep , and an

unchang ing , and fervid interest . We are still proud of that fine army of ours , which is ever ready at the call of duty to go anywhere , to do any thing for the Queen and old England . We warmly sympathize with our "hearts of oak , " and thoug h we do not talk so much just now as we once did of our wooden walls , but rather of our

" ironclads , " we often echo Campbell ' s words , Britannia needs no bulwark , No towers along the steep . Her march is o ' er thc mountain wave , Her power is on the deep .

Many of our brethren at Portsmouth will have taken part in the launching of the "Inflexible " on Thursday Inst , and its naming by a fair member of our Royal family , Princess Lo . ise . And while we shall all hope and pray that peace may be long preserved , th . it the sword may be

turned into the ploughshare practically , in all lands and in all hemispheres , yet if the " war dogs" of rapine and ruin , oj suffering and sorrow , of wrong and wretchedness should yet be loosed upon mankind , we shall equally believe that

quick to strike and ready for the warfare will ever be that noble profession , the navy of Great Britain . That it will do its duty we know . That Jack will always be chivalrous in the hour of strife , and humane iu the moment of victory , we are well assured , and so we meet the future

with calm composure and reliant hope ; and feeling that it is in th- highest interest of civilization and progress , and liberty and toleration , and peace and hapoiness for mankind , that the * ' meteor flag of England " should float in

tindimmed greatness over the mighty ocean , we shall trust that in the good Providence of God , it will yet be upheld by our blue jackets as of o ! d , in safety , and dignity , and glory , nothing being able to tarnish its honou ** , and no stranger being able to haul it down .

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

We rejoice to observe that , on the motion of our gallant and estimable Bro . Lieut .-Col . Creaton , like a good soldier ahvays " to the front , " cur male annuitants receive __ . 4 additional yearly , making their incomes ^ 40 , and the females £ 31 , hitherto £ 28 . We quite approve of the

increase , which has becn lor some time needed , and is both appropriate and seasonable . Bro Terry , the worthy Secretary , states that the increase will impos . an additional charge on the income of the Institution of £ 9 60 per annum , and that there were no ** 240 annuitants . Be it

so j we feel sure that the change is one equally approved of and appreciated by oar entire Craft , and we have no doubt that this proper and beneficial change will at once be endorsed by the still more liberal support of all classes of our brethren .

The Value Of Freemasonry.

THE VALUE OF FREEMASONRY .

People may doubt or debate in respect of the history of Freemasonry , but none can question its value , or deny its benefits . Freemasonry has this peculiar characteristic , explain it as you may , that it includes within its ample fold men of very

contrasted callings and conditions of life . It has its attractions , apparently , as well for the intellectual as the well-to-do , for the man of science as well as the man of business , for the followers of the learned professions as well as those who

make up the great nameless middle-class of Ang lo-Saxon Freemasonry . Clergymen and physicians , barristers and solicitors , the skilful surgeon and the able " litterateur , " all alike are not ashamed to avow themselves brethren of the

mystic tie . And to them Freemasonry often holds out a kindly and a helping hand . Prosperity is not necessaril y the lot of any . It often leaves many of us . in the great forest of life , when the leaves are sere and the winds are

chilling . Too often , day by day , we hear of sad cases of those who once were travelling the hi gh road of affluence and comfort and respectability , men of gaiety and geniality , who now are

The Value Of Freemasonry.

alas ! too sadly and slowly limping along the crosscountry lanes of gloom , and misery , and penury . Misfortunes overtake us all alike , and adversity visits us , some one has said , in turn ; no life is necessarily exempt from its drawbacks ; no career can ba always

preserved from its vicissitudes I No , theie is one law for us all alike , often of " hard measures , " as we think , of deep sorrow , of overwhelming misfortune , of untoward hours in this great noisy , struggling , dusty world of ours .

We are led back to these reflections by a case to which our good Bro . Jabez Hogg has called our attention , and which we will allow to tell its own tale . We append his circular , which we commend to the special notice of our readers : —

Greyhound Lane , Streatham Common , S . VV ., January , 1876 . Sir , — Your vote and interest are earnestly requested for Dr . Robert Stewart , at the ensuing election cf

candidates for the benefits of the Koyal Masonic Benevolent Institution . Dr . Stewart is a member of the College of Physicians , and was formerly in extensive practice at Streatham and its vicinity , but is now , by greit misfortune , obliged to solicit the favour and benevolence of his brother Masons .

The doctor has been an Arch Mason for some years , and until 186 7 was in flourishing circumstances . The first step to his misfortunes was caused by a partner whom he took into his praclice , and whom he trusted too confidently , and who , after having brought Dr . Stewart to a r . tate of bankruptcy , committed suicide . The next step was the

death of his beloved wife ; then fever struck the doctor , and left him , shattered in he _ lth and fortune , dependent upon the kindness of a neighbour for a home , which home may now at any moment be brok . n up , and your applicant be cast upon the world , unless the kindness of his brother Masons shall find him an asylum in their Institution .

Proxies will be thankfully received by me , J AIIEZ HOGO , P . G . D ., P . M . 1260 , & c . Surely this is a case alike demonstrating the value of Freemasonry , and appealing to us all alike , in our different positions and professions .

Medical men always appear to us to have a great claim on the sympathy ' and goodwill of their fellow creatures . Many are the grave difficulties , many the heavy responsibilities of their laborious lives . That great profession whicli has ever been foremost in all

works of scientific improvement , and in all la ' i )_ r ; of intellectual advance , is , as many of us know , ever most ready to aid calamity and mitigate suffering , not only by the potent exercise of the healing art , but by the priceless and ever cheerful endeavours of a

warmhearted personal sympathy . Very few people know how much of unostentatious kindness and liberality are shewn by the great body of the medical profession to- suffering patients , to the needy and the friendless , except those who have met them and seen them by the bedside of

the poor , or taken counsel with them amid the panic of infection , or the throes of the dying bed . To them humanity and society alike owe a great debt of gratitude , often forgotten , not seldom unexpressed . We are glad , then , in advocating on

every ground , personal and general , the claim and case of Bro . Dr . Stewart , and not the least because it is personally urged upon our attention and Masonic goodwill by our esteemed Bro . Jabex Hogg .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

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

KILWINNING AND FREEMASONRY . To the Editor of The Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — I do not know if the following is of much consequence , but if it is worthy of insertion you can use your discretion .

On looking over some volumes of "The Mirror , " the forerunner of the penny periodicals , and dated M ty 8 th , 18 , 30 , I discovered as under , which is the first intimation to myse'f , and I daresay it will be to a great many other brethren , of thc reason why so many of the Scotch lodges rejoice in the name of Kilwinning : — " Freemasonry in

Scotland first made its appearance at Kilwinning , in Ayrshire , where a party of enthusiasts having landed from the continent in the twelfth century spread the knowledge of their mysteries gradually over the rest of the country b y colonies termed lodges . " Yours fraternally , D . P . OWEN , P M . AND P . Z . 998 .

Original Correspondence.

MASONIC JURISPRUDENCE . In answer to " Enquirer , " we beg to say , on the best authority : — x . Yes ; frequently by the Board of General Purposes . He must serve for 12 consecutive months .

2 . No , he must have served in an English lodge . 3 . No . The appointment of all officers , except the Treasurer and Tyler , is in the hands of the VV . M ., and no one else . 4 . No . The brother must be formally appointed as Warden by the VV . M ., and if present be installed . —[ ED . ]

POLITICS . The following letter appeared in tha " Daily News " of May ist : — SIR , —During the week I have had sent me , in my capacity of Master of a Masonic Lodge , a circular from the National Union of Conservative and Constitutional Association , at Stephen's Chambers , Bridge-street ,

Westminster , and an accompanying address to Her Majesty for signature . The address was a twofold object—First it congratulates Her Majesty on the reception met wilh by her Royal son in her Indian Empire ; and secondly , it expresses the satisfaction felt in learning that Her Majesty is about to be advised to assume the style of Empress of India . For the former object I should have no hesitation

in presenting the address in my lodge for the signature of my brethren . But with regard to the latter object I am astounded at the impudence of these gentlemen—for I can call it nothing else—in asking me to make my Masonic position a vehicle for promoting their political ends , by procuring signatures to this address . It has always been our boast as Masons we know no sect or party , and

however skilfully this matter may be put , it will undoubtedly lead , wherever it is adopted by Masters of lodges , to a violation on one of our foundation principles . I think this attempt at so gross an innovation should be shown up as it deserves , that Masons can see what Messrs . Gorst and Neville would do in order to promote their political views . Yours truly ,

Cardiff , April 28 . A W . M . The following is the circular referred to : — National Union of Conservative and Constitutional Associations , St . Stephen ' s Chambers , Bridge-street , Westminster , S . W ., April , 1876 . Sin , —We are desired by the Council of the national Union to send you a copy of an address to Her Majesty

which is being extensively signed in all pirts of the country , and to request that if you approve of the same you would use your influence to promote its adoption in your neighbourhood . We shall be pleased to send further copies if required , and it is desirable that the address should be returned by the end of this month , when the Council will take the necessary steps for its due presentation .

Yours truly , J . E . GORST , 'j' Honorary EDWARD NEVILLE , ) Secretaries .

MASONIC PREFIXES . To Ihe Editor of Ihe Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — The correctijns that have becn made in the several letters that have appeared on this subject have sadly militated against the clearness with whicli it is desirable it should be placed before your readers . " Ad

Rem , " for example , in your last issue seems to have quite misapprehended the subject . Adopting his plan ( a very good one ) of connecting the prefixes with the list of officers on pages 18 to 20 of the Book of Constitutions the following would appear to be the proper designations of the various officers , as gathered from Bro . Hughan's researches : —

GRAND LODGE . MOST WORSHIPFUL Nos . t to 4 inclusive . RIGHT WORSHIPFUL NOS . 5 to 10 inclusive . VERY WORSHIPFUL Nos . 11 to 20 inclusive . WoRSiiiPi'ui The remaining officers of Grand Lodge , also the actual Masters and subscribing Past Masters of every private lodge .

PROVINCIAL ( OH DISTRICT ) GRAND LODGES . RIOIIT WORSHIPFUL Only the Provincial ( or District ) Grand Masters , Past and . Present , are entitled to this designation , by virtue of their office outside Grand Lodge . No other officer of a Provincial ( or District ) Grand Lodge

is entitled to any prefix whatever , save and except such as he claims by viitue of his position in Grand Lodge i . e ., either as actual or past officer of Grand Lodge , or as being an actual Master or subscribing Past Master of a private lodge . Yours fraternally , Lux .

To the Editor of The Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — Mistakes having been made in both of Bro . W , J . Hughan's letters on this subject ( which led to a mis-statement in mine of last week ) , anda portion of my letter having been omitted , 1 can only suppose they are printer ' s errors ; anyway it leaves us much " as we were before we were . " Under these circumstances I must ask leave to trespass on

your space , in order that all the prefixes may , if possible , be correctly given at a glance , viz .: — MOST WORSHIPFUL NOS . I to 4 inclusive . RIGHT WORSHIPFUL NOS . 3 to 10 inclusive . VERY WORSHIPFUL NOS . 11 to 20 inclusive . WORSHIPFUL Nos . 21 to 34 inclusive , and the W . Masters , and Past Masters of all private lodges .