Ar00800

TO OUR READERS . The FREEMASON is a Weekly Newspaper , price ad . It is published every Friday morning , and contains the most important , interesting , and useful information relating to Freemasonry in every degree . Subscription , including postage :

United America , India , India , China , & c Kingdom , the Continent , & c . Via Brindisi . Twelve Months ios . 6 d . 12 s . od . 17 s . 4 d . Six „ 5 s . 3 d . 6 s . 6 d . 8 s . 8 d . Three „ 2 S . 8 d . 3 s . 3 d . 4 s . 6 d . Subscriptions may be paid for in stamps , but Post Ofiice Orders or Cheques are preferred , the former payable to

GEORGE KENNING , CHIEF OFFICE , LONDON , the latter crossed London and Joint Stock Bank . Advertisements and other business communications should be addressed to the Publisher . Communications on literary subjects and books for

review are to be forwarded to the Editor . Anonymous correspondence will be wholly disregarded , and the return of rejected MSS . cannot be guaranteed . Further information will be supplied on application to tlie Publisher , 198 , Fleet-street , London .

Ar00801

IMPORTANT NOTICE . COLONIAL and FOREIGN SUBSCRIBERS are informed that acknowledgments of remittances received are published in the first number of every month .

It is very necessary for our readers to advise as of all money orders they remit , more especiall y those from the United States of America and India j otherwise we cannot tell where to credit them .

Ar00802

NOTICE . To prevent delay or miscarriage , it is particularly requested that ALL communications for the FREEMASON , may be addressed to the Office , 198 , Fleet-street , London .

Ar00803

TO AVERT 1 SERS . The FREEMASON has a large circulation in all parts of the Globe , its advantages as an advertising medium can therefore scarcely be overrated . ADVERTISEMENTS to ensure insertion in current -week's issue should reach the Ofiice , 198 , Fleet-street , hy 12 o ' clock on 'Wednesdays .

Answers To Correspondents.

Answers to Correspondents .

SENIOR DEACON . —Many thanks ; in our next ; a proof and letter will be sent . BOOKS , & c , RECEIVED . " Floral Designs for the Table , " by John Perkins ; Wyman , and Sons , Great Quecn-strcet . " Medical Examiner ;"

" Risorgimento ; " " New York Dispatch ; " " Scottish Freemason ; " "La Chaine d' Union ; " " Card Tricks , " Warne and Co . ; " Early French Lessons , " " First French Lessons , " by Bro . Henri Buc , Hachette antl Co ., 18 , King William-street ; " Old Jonathan" ( City Press ) .

Births ,Marriages And Deaths.

Births , Marriages and Deaths .

[ The charge is 2 S . 6 d . for announcements , not exceed ing four lines , under this heading . ]

BIRTHS . BHOWNE . —On the 3 rd inst ., at Hillside , Shortlands , thc wife of G . F . Browne , of a son . CROSSLEY . —On the 3 rd inst ., at 23 , 81 . Bartholomew-road , Tufnell-park , the wife of C . H . Crossley , of a daughter . ELI . ESMERE . —On the 2 nd inst ., at Bridgwater House , St . James ' s , the Countess ot EUesmere , of a daughter . WHEELER . —On the 30 th inst ., at 20 , Watcrgatc-row , Chester , the wife of Walter Edward Wheeler , of a son .

DEATHS . AIILAKD . —On the ist inst ., at West House , Rangoon , Kate , the dearly-beloved wife t f Percy H . Adlard , aged 28 years , sincerely lamented by all who knew her . HATCH . —On the 2 nd inst ., at Birchanger , Essex , after preaching at afternoon service , thc Rev . Walter M . Hatch , M . A ., Fellow of New College , Oxford , and rector

of Birchanger , aged 34 . PARRY . —On the 29 th ult ., at her residence , 32 , Portmansquarc , aged 88 , Susanna , eldest ana last surviving daughter of the late Nicholas Segar Perry , Esq ., eif Little Hadham , Herts . SAWYER . —On the 29 th inst ., at Hammoon Rectory ,

Dorset , the resilience of his son , Herbert Sawyer , younger son of the late John Sawyer , Esq ., of Heywood Lodge , Maidenhead , Berks , agetl 74 . WYNNE . —On the 2 nd inst ., at Brighton , of diphtheria , Jessie Isabel , the beloved eldest daughter of the Rev . John Wynne , rector of Warnford , Hants , aged 12 years . R . I . P .

Ar00810

The Freemason , SATURDAY , DECEMBER 8 , 1877 .

The Meeting Of Grand Lodge.

THE MEETING OF GRAND LODGE .

Our prophecy of last week has been perfectly made good . Grand Lodge has dealt with the question of the Grand Orient and Hebrew Petitions in a thoroughly wise and practical manner . The Pro Grand Master , in a speech of great power , introduced the recent unwise

proceedings to the notice of the English Grand Lodge in words which commanded the hearty assent and warm plaudits of a crowded Grand Lodge . But as that " burning question" has been referred to a committee to report on , we forbear to discuss it now at any greater length ,

further than to say that the opinion of our English brethren on the subject is as unanimous as it is happily unequivocal ! We think that on the whole , Grand Lodge has taken the proper course in the matter . Bro . Simpson , whose speech was marked by much

eloquence , introduced his resolutions , which gave rise to a lengthened discussion . At the conclusion , in deference to the urgent desire of Lord Carnarvon , he wisely withdrew the two resolutions , which had led to much debate , and which we fancy had he not done so , would have been

negatived by a large adverse majority . Indeed , after the able , and forcible , and convincing speech of the Grand Registrar , and the sound and statesman-like warning of Lord Carnarvon , there could be but one result and opinion in Grand Lodge . As we ventured to hint

last week , a grave objection lay at the root of Bro . Simpson ' s moticn , namely , the interference with another independent Grand Lodge , and this point , indeed , became the " pivot" on which the whole long and able debate turned . Whether we have regard to the speeches of Bros .

Simpson and Hutton , Bro . Lord Tenterden , and the various Hebrew brethren who spoke , too much praise cannot be accorded to the tone and temper of the orators . As a reply to an able address , Bro . Mclntyre ' s certainly appeared to us to be one of the most forcible and crushing we

have heard for some time past , and seemed instanter to obtain the adhesion of the majority of Grand Lodge . As regards the abstract question in dispute there was practically no difference of opinion . The exclusion of the Hebrews was unequivocall y

condemned , and their admission considered to be a question of time ? Indeed , we feel peilectly convinced , that such un-Masonic restrictions must ere long be removed . But a grave question cropped up . Had we in the English Grand Lodge a right to pass a

resolution affecting the internal discipline of an independent Grand Lodge ? In the case of the Grand Orient , its proceedings involved momentous consequences , and were a revolutionary innovation , but in the case of the Grand Lodge of the Three Globes , it was acting on the same

rules it had clung to for 130 years . How then , could Grand Lodge be justified in addressing it on its internal regulations ? Would it not , in so doing , be acting " ultra vires ?' ' After Bro . McInty re ' s speech there could only be one reply to such questions , and further , we had clearly

no rig ht in our Grand Lodge to find fault with the rules of any independent Grand Lodge , however much we might object to them , unless , indeed , by some regrettable innovation they departed from the recognized land-marks of Freemasonry . But the Grand Lodge of the

Three Globes had always acted on these laws , and how could we call such exclusion an innovation ? Remembering that up to 1813 , we in England had used Christian prayers , more or less , bearing in mind that Christian prayers are still used in Ireland and Scotland , and that it was only in iS 13 that we in England wisely

laid down our more Cosmopolitan laws ; it would have placed Grand Lodge , in our opinion , in a very unsafe position , if it had gone out of its way to censure another Grand Lodge . It seemed , too , that these very German Grand Lodges received our certificates , admitted our Hebrew brethren as visitors , but refused them as joining members . Could we compel other

The Meeting Of Grand Lodge.

Grand Lodges to accept our brethren on the ballot ? Certainly not ! that Was a proposition which all the eloquence 0 f Bro . Simpson could not make good So on the whole we are very much satisfied with the discussion and the decision . We trust that

in due time the just rights of our Hebrew brethren will be acknowledged everywhere , and that the German Grand Lodges will one and all expunge these unwise and intolerant regulations from their constitutions . We may add that the appeals which were heard were very interesting , and after the lucid explanation of the Grand

Registrar , the decisions come to by Grand Lod ge were in accordance both with Masonic law and Masonic justice . All the brethren felt how admirably and how ably Lord Carnarvon presided over this most important meeting of Grand Lodge , and how much the brethren owed alike to his impartial ruling and his eloquent addresses .

Special Lodges.

SPECIAL LODGES .

Another special lodge , the " Kaiser-i-Hind lodge , " has been added to our roll , and its proceedings seem to call for a few words of comment and appreciation . We have already stated that in principle we are favourable to this system , as a protest against the prevailing tendency of

indiscriminate admission . No one can fitl y describe at this moment , the extraordinary idea which seems to have affected the minds of many , that they have a right to select a particular lodge , and to enter therein , whether the brethren like it or not . It is not too much to say

that at the moment we write , as it appears to us , the existence of Freemasonry is jeopardized , its prestige greatly impaired by the haste of indiscriminate admission , by the desire of lodges evidently to increase their funds , and extend their lodge roll . We feel quite sure of this , that

many are entering Freemasonry just now from a wrong motive , yes , even from sordid views , —for what Freemasonry can give , for what they can . get some day , if need be , out of so rich and influential an Order . Now all this is a great evil , and iiortends a great weakening of Masonic

influence and value . It is diametrically in opposition to the whole teaching of Freemasonry on the subject , and antagonizes all those safeguards which our Order has so carefully thrown around admission to our mysteries , and reception of our "aporreta . " We think , then , that this formation

of special lodges is justifiable and even advisable in the highest degree . We have long been sensible of this weak point in our Masonic system , and as a very distinguished brother well put it , the other evening , no one has a right to introduce or recommend any one into a lodge whom

he could not safely introduce into his own familycircle , and whom he was ashamed to acknowledge at all times and under all circumstances * . We have long foreseen that the time must come , for every interest , personal , social , charitable , and Masonic , when we must tighten up our " stakes "

brush up our hedges , and set our faces firml y against this indiscriminate admission into Freemasonry ! The Kaisar-i-Hind Lodge is meant mainly for military men who have served in India , and those connected with India , and for Officers of the Army . We wish it all success .

If we may judge of its future by its first appearance , we should say that it had a most useful Masonic career in its own hands , under the presidency of Bro . Captain Burton , and such officers as Major Blake and others . We cannot doubt that it will speedily " go to the front , "

and we can only trust that all its after meetings will be as pleasant as that which attended its first appearance in the Masonic world . We congratulate Bro . Dr . Ramsay on the successful result of so many laborious efforts , and so much careful forethought . We call attention to a detailed report of its proceedings elsewhere .

Kenning's Masonic Cyclopædia.

KENNING ' S MASONIC CYCLOP ? DIA .

Dear Bro . Kenning , — I am happy to inform you , that by the time these lines reach the eyes of your many readers , the whole of the copy for the C yclopaedia will be , in a few days , in the hands of the printers ,