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To ADA ' ERTISERS . THE Circulation of THE FREEMASON being now at the rate of nearly Half-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 o 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 , 198 , FLEET STREET , LONDON , E . C .

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NOTICE ; The Subscription to THE FREEMASON is now \ os . per annum , post-free , payable in advance . Vol . L , bound in cloth 4 s . 6 d . Vol . II ., ditto 7 s . 6 d . Vol . III ., ditto 15 s . od . Reading Cases to hold 52 numbers ... 2 S . 6 d . United States of America . THE FREEMASON' is delivered free in any part of the United States for 12 s . per annum , ' payable in advance .

Notice To Subscribers.

NOTICE TO SUBSCRIBERS .

e The Office of THU . FREEMASON is now transferred , lo 198 , FLEET STREET ,

E . C . All communications for the Editor or Publisher should therefore be forwarded to that address .

Answers To Correspondents.

Answers to Correspondents .

AU communications for THE FRF . SMASON should be written legibly on « ne side of the paper only , and , if intended for insertion in the current number , must be received not Liter than 10 o'clock a . m . on Thursdays , unless In very special crises . The name and atuircss of " very writer must be sent to us in confidence .

J . A . H . —Wc regret your contribution is not suitable for insertion in Till-: FRKKMASON ; tlie A e :: < York Tabid has a perfect right to express its opinion on our Order , and there is nothing to be complained of in the article , looking at the subject in the light it docs . \ Vc should like lo have contributions on other topics from your able pen .

Births, Marrianges, And Deaths.

Births , Marrianges , and Deaths .

—?—BIRTHS . EUCIIAX—On the 2 nd instant , at 151 , AVest Nile-street , Glasgow , lhc wife of ]! ro . \ V . P . Buchan , of a sonthe sivcnlh son in succession !

J ENNINGS . —On the 71 I 1 inst ., the wife of Uro . Newton E . Jennings ( Lodge 1139 , South Norwood ) , 2 , Queen ' sroad , Hattersea , of a daughter . Wvi . lir . ~ On lite 27 th ultimo , at 2 , Cambridge-street , Liverpool , the wife of JSro . Robert AV ylie , P . G . D . C . West Lancashire , of a son .

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The Freemason , SATURDAY , AUGUST 12 , 1871 .

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THE FXERMASON is published on Saturday Mornings in timo for the early trains . The price of Tim KiiKr . MAsoM is Twopence per week ; annual subscription , 10 s . ( payable in advance ) . All communications , letters , & c ., to be addressed to thc EDITOR 193 , Fleet-strcet , K . C . The Editor will pay careful attention to all MSS . entrusted to him liut cannot undertake to return them unless accompanied by postage stamps . "

The Prince Of Wales In Ireland.

THE PRINCE OF WALES IN IRELAND .

T / IK installation of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales as patron of the Grand

The Prince Of Wales In Ireland.

Lodge of Ireland is an event upon which the Freemasons of the sister isle may fairly be congratulated , and the manner in which the details of the ceremonial were carried

out may likewise be regarded as in every respect commensurate with the importance of the occasion . It is also gratifying to be enabled to record that the venerable Duke ,

who has so long and so abiy presided over the Irish Craft , had so far recovered from his recent severe illness as to occupy his wonted chair in the Grand Lodge of Ireland

when the heir to these realms presented himself as a Freemason , for the first time , in the midst of that intelligent and distinguished body . To say that the Prince was

well received by such an assembly would be an insult to its undoubted loyalty and fraternal spirit ; in fact , it may rather be questioned whether the enthusiasm which

our Irish brethren evinced upon the installation of their Royal Patron could be paralleled out of the Craft . We all remember the hearty reception given to the Prince

by the members of the Grand Lodges of England and Scotland , when his Royal Highness accepted similar honours at their hands , and we are all glad to know that

the third Grand Lodge in the United Kingdom has fully equalled , if not surpassed , its sisters in the affectionate cordiality of its greeting . In his reply to

the address read by the Deputy Grand Master of Ireland , thc Prince of Wales energetically defended the Masonic Order against the various imputations which are

so constantly levelled at its supposed constitution and character . The value of a testimonial as to loyalty derives additional force when uttered by the lips of one who is

the heir apparent to a mighty empire , and the Prince very justly added that , if Freemasonry were in any way identified with sects or parties , he should not have joined

the Craft . From experience , therefore , of its nature and objects , His Royal Highness was able to repudiate the erroneous idea that Freemasonry is other than a

beneficent organization of men , banded together to promote the social , moral , and intellectual advancement of mankind in general , and more particularly to develop in the

minds of its adherents the godlike precepts of fraternity , peace , and goodwill . Of course , every member of the Craft knew all this before , and a vast number of

wellwishers outside the pale arc equally convinced that the principles of Freemasonry breathe the very essence of charity and love ; but there is nevertheless a

considerable section of the community who , from various causes , view the progress of the Institution with dislike , if not with horror . Nor is this feeling confined , as

some may suppose , to the dignitaries of the Roman Church—it is found deeply implanted in the breasts of men who refuse to discriminate in their

prejudiced proscription of all secret societies . Such men would , in olden times , have denounced the Christian faith because its primitive disciples were compelled , by fear

The Prince Of Wales In Ireland.

to meet in secret , and to celebrate the mysteries of religion in the caves of Iona or the catacombs of Rome . To be logical , they must also maintain that the secrets of

every household should be daily proclaimed on the house-top , and that every human heart should be furnished with a window ,

that all who pass may read its inmost thoughts . No ! they may just as well contend that the seed should not be hidden

in the ground—to germinate in darkness and silence into the perfect fruit—as to contend that the progressive lessons of

Freemasonry should not be imparted under cover of the friendly shade , and sheltered from the vulgar eye .

It is not very long since an evidence of popular ignorance as to the influence of Freemasonry was exhibited in connection with a trial for murder in which the accused

was acquitted , when , because some of the parties concerned were said to be members ofthe Craft , it was loudly asserted that the result ofthe trial was due to the efforts made

by the Masonic Order in the prisoner ' s behalf . Ideas of this kind are not easily eradicated , and hence the importance which wc attach to the testimony borne hy the Prince of

Wales in favour of the law-abiding and non-sectarian attitude of the Fraternity . From a Masonic point of view , it is also pleasing to contemplate that if we have

separate Grand Lodges for each portion of the United Kingdom—the " Three " are as " One " in their support of the constitutions of the Order , and in their adherence to those

principles of loyalty which more effectually guard our ancient monarchy than a rampart of swords and spears . We are also glad to note that the Heir Apparent

embraces every opportunity of identifying himself with the Craft , not only by accepting its honours , but by advocating its charities and vindicating its good name .

Our daily contemporaries have been at some pains to contrast the Ireland of 1871 with the Ireland of 1821 , when George the Forth visited the Irish metropolis , and the

balance of hope certainly inclines to the present day , notwithstanding the factious efforts of a few misguided-partisans . Be this , however , as it may , English Masons

rejoice to see the prosperity of the Irish Craft , and will ever be ready to unite with their Hibernian brethren in disseminating the light of Freemasonry throughout the

globe . Nor can we doubt that the success of the Masonic Institution in Ireland may be accepted as a pleasant presage of the time when the sons of

Erin shall form one united , happy people—when the true principles of freedom and fraternity shall guide their progress , and the blessings of union and peace

be for ever established in their midst . In this spirit we tender our congratulations to the Grand Lodge of Ireland upon the

installation of the Prince of Wales as Patron of Irish Freemasonry , and we are sure that the honour thus conferred ir ; high !/ appreciated by our Royal Brother .