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NOW READY . VOLUME 8 OF THE " FREEMASON " from January to December , 1875 , bound in cloth , with richly embossed device on cover . Price 15 shillings . This volume forms a first class reference and chronology of the leading events in Masonry during the past year . It may be had through any bookseller , or at the office , 198 , Fleet-st ., London .

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NOW READY , Price gs . Od . Each . VOLS . 1 & 2 OF THE MASONIC MAGAZINE . 19 S , FLEET-STREET , LONDON .

To Our Readers.

TO OUR READERS .

The Freemason is a sixteen-page weekly newspaper , price 2 d . It is published every Friday morning , and contains the most important , interesting , and useful information relating to Freemasonry in every degree . Annual

subscription in the United Kingdom , Post free , 10 / - P . O . O . ' s to be made payable at the chief office , London . NEW POSTAL RATES . Owing to a reduction in the Postal Rates , the publisher is now enabled to send thc " Freemason" to the following

parts abroad for One Year for Twelve Shillings ( payable in advance ) : —Africa , Australia , Bombay , Canada , Cape of Good Hope , Ceylon , China , Constantinople , Demerara , France , Germany , Gibraltar , Jamaica , Malta , Newfoundland , New South Wales , New Zealand , Suez , Trinidad , L nited States of America . & c .

COLONIAL AND FOREIGN SUBSCRIBERS are informed that acknowledgments of remittances received are published in thc first number of every month . NOTICE . —It is very necessary for our friends to advise us of all monev orders thev remit , more csueciallv those

from the United States of America and India ; otherwise we cannot tell where to credit them .

To Advertisers.

TO ADVERTISERS .

The Freemason has a large circulation in all parts of the Globe , its advantages as an advertising medium can therefore scarcely be overrated . For terms , position , & c , apply to GEOKGE KENNING , 198 , Flcct-st .

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glnsto to OLoxxctyouomts . All Communications , Advertisements , & c , intended for insertion in the Number of the following Saturday , must reach the Office not later thar . 12 o'clock on Wednesday morning . Several communications unavoidably stand over .

Births, Marriages, And Deaths.

Births , Marriages , and Deaths .

[ The charge is 2 s . 6 d . for announcements , not exceeding four lines , under this heading . ]]

BIRTHS . AiiMSTUONC—On the 27 th ult ., at South Shields , thc wife of J . F . Armstrong , M . D ., of a son . BAKUH . —On thc 2 nd inst ., at Herne-hill-road , Brixton , the wife of J . F . Baker , of a son .

BIIOWNE . —On the 2 nd inst ., at Framsden , Suffolk , the wife of the Rev . S . B . Browne , of a son . HIST . —On the 3 rd inst ., at Oak Park , East Finchley , the wife of J . W . Hunt , of a son . LBITII . —Onthe 3 rd inst ., at Qucen ' s-gardens , the wife of W . Leith , Esq ., of a son .

MARRIAGES . BAKEH—WII . KES . —On the ist inst ., at St . Paul ' s , Walsall , Harry Baker , of Huyton , Lancashire , to Sarah Kezia , daughter of Mr . G . Wilkes . COOK—Foiim-ST . —On the ist inst .. at Milltown . Co .

Dublin , Herbert Cook , Esq ., of Matlaske Hall , Norfolk , to Edith , daughter of J . Forrest , Esq . Cooi'ER—FIIEIEII . —On the ist inst ., at Wetheringsettcum-Brockford , Suffolk , Philip , son of D . Cooper , Est ] ., of Pync House , Clapham Common , to Mary Ray , daughter of the late W . L . B . Frcucr , of West Rudham , Norfolk .

DEATHS ; COLLINS . —On thc 30 th ult ., Danit-I Edward Collins , Esq ., of Whitley , near Coventry , aged 54 . DAWSON . —On the 4 th inst ., at 71 , Elsham Road , Edith Grace , youngest daughter of Thomas Dawson , Esq . DIHM . MONI ) . —On the 3 rd inst ., at St . George's-placc ,

Hyde Park-corner , London , George Stirling Home Drummond , Esq ., of Blair Drummond and Ardoch , Perthshire , aged ( 13 years . PULLEN . —On the 4 th inst ., at Lower Broughton , Manchester , Willie , thc dearly beloved son of Robert William

and Nancy Pullen , in the 7 th year of his age . ROSE . —On the ist inst ., at Farleigh Road , Stoke Newington , John Falconer Rose , aged 3-. WEST . —On thc 3 rd inst , at Putney , Edward Robert , son of F . B . West , aged 30 . WOOD . —On the 30 th ult ., at Westlands , West Giinstead , George Edward Wood , Its' ; ., aged -6 .

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The Freemason , SATURDAY , J UNE IO , 1876 .

The Limits Of Masonic Publication.

THE LIMITS OF MASONIC PUBLICATION .

This is confessedl y one of the most difficult topics on which to dilate , or with which to treat . And the difficulty arises from the very nature of things , from the necessities of the case . For we in England—rightl y or wrongly , we pause not to enquire to-day—adhere firmly to the oral

delivery of ceremonial' and exposition . In some countries it is different , but with us , and we think wisely , there is no " sealed book , " so to say , of general appeal and infallible authority . Hence the publication of the proceedings of the Craft in England always has two great difficulties

to contend with , and runs the risk of being confronted by one ofthe two "horns ofthe dilemma , " over-publication of detail , uninteresting repetition of commonplace and well-known Ritual formularies . " Incidis in Scyllam cupiens evitare Charibdin . " If , for instance , you dilate too

much on lodge proceedings , vou inevitably find yourselves treating as common and fit matters for publication the minuti .-e of the ritualism of Freemasonry until to profanes as well as to professed the technical terms and usages of lodge work become quite familiar . This we hold to

be a great mistake , and therefore we have now for some time carefully eschewed , as far as lay in us , all references ancl correspondence respecting pure ritual , and shall certainly continue to do so . So again , if y 0 U simply relate the normal proceedings of lod ge work and lodge banquets ,

the reading becomes neither very intellectual nor very profitable . Like in all other things , sameness produces monotony , and plethora " leads to surfeit . It appears to us , therefore , that in order to keep to the " golden mean " in this branch of Masonic literature should always endeavour

to avoid too much expansion and freedom of language on the one hand and too much repetition of well-known habits on the other . While one extreme is hurtfu l to the interests of Freemasonry , the other palls upon our Masonic palate , so that it often requires a steady hand to

keep the helm amidshi ps , and steer the good old Craft safely through the breakers on either side into the still water of peaceful and approving sympathy . We hold , then , it will be observed , that great caution is still both advisable and requisite in all Masonic publication , and that

especially as regards the current proceedings of the Order our reports should be neither too profuse in gushing statements , nor too dry in long-accustomed technicalities . That is a most mistaken view of the Masonic Press which would identify it with anything of unlicensed

publication , and we cannot too severely deprecate anything like hasty indiscretion on a point which is , in our opinion , so essential to the best interests of Freemasonry , owing to the peculiar nature and characteristic of the Institution itself . But there is another feature of this question of

publication which \ v > must now consider . It is not merely the hebdomadal reporting of Masonic proceedings , or lodge gatherings , with which we have to do . We may observe that the actual reports in the " Freemason , " qua reports ,

are marked by great clearness , skill , and fairness . But there is a Masonic literature which is , to say the truth , going ahead . And if it be true that good old Dr . Oliver paved the way by a too liberal dealing with Masonic regulation , by too t » uch of communicativeness

on matters , too , not purely archaeological , we can but feel that others have out-Heroded Herod . In some countries and by some writers Masonic publication seem to have been pushed to thc extreme that propriety would suggest or duty sanction . Some might be disposed to say

and to think a good deal beyond both , but we do not wish to appear to lay down anything like the principles of a Masonic censorship . There is still a wide difference , iu our humble opinion , between what is allowable to print on Masonic

archaeology , and what is permissible , even in good form , to publish in respect of Masonic ceremonial . The former may fairly be submitted to the profane and to the world , the latter ought to be reserved for the professed and the lodge-

The Limits Of Masonic Publication.

room . In this respect we feel sure that we are on a wrong tack and a " false scent , " so to say , and shall have to retrace our steps , to " hark back . " We cannot continue to go the pace ! If the system some are following is to be persisted in , there will be little left of Masonic reserve ,

and all the checks of Masonic silence and caution will have been ruthlessly swept away . Though this is true rather of other countries than our own , still the warning is needed by us , as we have a school , though not a large oive , anxious apparently , though not on any very intelligible

grounds , to be very generous and communicative as regards the arcana of Freemasonry . We can , then , have little hesitation in condemning such a system openly to-day . It is hurtful to Freemasonry , and injurious to us all . It affects our Masonic character for fair dealing and plain sailing , and our fidelity to an honorable

observance of our own laws , and tends more than anything else to give arms to the hands of those who deprecate or dislike Masonic literature per se , while it alarms the timid , and decides the hesitating , being so clearly an open violation of the iirst principles of our Order . What Masonic literature may be , might be , ought to be , we will consider next week .

The Expenses Of Lodge Banquets.

THE EXPENSES OF LODGE BANQUETS .

One of the most unsatisfactory arrangements of our private lodges is ^ that connected with the victualling and commissariat department . A very large amount is annually swallowed up by the payment for dinners , which might be much better used , for which no

satisfactory return is made , and which are too often , amid much external show , but a " Barmecides feast " for hungry and querulous brethren . It is certainly very hard , after a long day ' s work in chambers or counting-house , amid the Bulls andi the Bears , in the hospital , or in tho parish , amid

the grave duties which harass and perplex all ordinary mortals , to find ourselves seated down to partake of insipid viands and questionable wines , to receive indeed but a very poor equivalent for what we pay so liberally . One feels under such melancholy circumstances how the innate

dignity of the Briton and of thc Freemason is palpably and materially injured ; hew the needful feelings of self-respect and self-gratification ought to be asserted and vindicated . But what is to be done ? Labour requires refreshment . We must cat and drink , though the cynic may

say , " Je ne vois pas la necessity , and how else are the arduous sacrifices we make for the work and honour of our lodges to be fitly repaid or compensated ? What " solatium" are we to receive when we have adjourned from the serious responsibilities of lodge rule and work , to the

pleasant symposium , or the sustaining and animated banquet ? It appears to us that lodges have the remedy in their own hands"j '* and that all complainants can speedily have their vehement and indignant complaints remedied . Why should not lodges , for instance , cater for themselves at

Freemasons' Hall and elsewhere ' Why should they not , if they think well so to do , cook their own victuals , and hy in their own wine , alike in that central house of English Freemasonry and in all private lodge halls ? The adjournment for the banquet to cafes and hotels is , we

believe , a great mistake . We apprehend that there is no real difficulty in the matter , and that where there ' s a will there ' s a way . There is accommodation , for instance , under the Board Room , and elsewhere , at Freemasons' Hall , where lodge private kitchens might be set tip . There is space

and convenience , with some easy alteration , for the storage of lodge cellars . We feel sure that such a change would be most acceptable to lodges and valuable to the health of our brethren . The expenses of the banquets could be materially reduced , and contentment instead of

grumbling would be the result . If the whole of these arrangements were placed under one able and active brother , with autocratic powers , the present difficulty would soon cease , and we should no more hear the mournful comp laint

of excellent men and Masons , that their di gestions are impaired and their tempers soured , and that they do not receive a " quid pro quo . " We feel deeply for all such , and for their bodily and mental sufferings , and can only hope that ere