Ar00600

NOTICE . The Subscription to THE FREEMASON is now ws . per annum , post-free , payable in advance . Vol . I ., bound in cloth 4 s . 6 cl . Vol . II ., ditto 7 s- kl-Vol . III ., ditto 15 s - «•• 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 iiinum , payable in advance .

Ar00605

KOTICE TO SUBSCRIBERS . The Office of "T ' FUEEMASOIN" is new transferred to 198 , FLEET STREET , E . C . All comimtnicalions for the Editor or Publi iter should therefore be forwarded to that address .

Ar00606

gjttlbs , Carriages , anb S ^ ubs . —*—B 1 RTII . KENNING- Jan . 4 , at Upper Sydenham , the wife of Bro . George Kenning , of a son . All cummiiiiicitiuiislur'riiH I " ! KM . \ SI > N should IK . i-riticn legilp Oil 0110 ,-idt ; of the l > : i ] i' r only , and , il intended lor insertion in the current number , inu-l le received not Liter than 10 o ' clock a . m . un TUursd . i-. s , u . iiler „ in very special c : i-e > The name and address of every wilier must be sent lo us in confidence .

Ar00607

TheFreemason, S ATURDAY J AXUARV 13 , 1 S 72 . THE FKKHMASUN is published on Saturday iMormnp . s in lime for Ihe early trains . The price of l ' nu [' KICKMASON is Twopence per week ; annual subscription , IOS . ( payable in advance ) . All vim lnnicnt ' wns letters , ice , to he addressed to the EDITOR , 1 Q 8 , Flcct-strcct , K . C . ** ¦ ' ie Kilitor will pav n . ireful attention to nil MSS . entrusted to liim , ut cannot jndertakr to return them unles-. accompanied by postage sumps .

What Is Freemasonry?

WHAT IS FREEMASONRY ?

TllE question , "What is Freemasonry ? " is one which every member of the Craft ought to be prepared to answer—not by divulging one line or letter of its esoteric mysteries ,

but by a plain , intelligent definition of its principles . True it is that the tree may be known by its fruits ; but this test is by no means infallible when applied to any

human institution , however lofty it may be in ideal , or excellent in design . Still , it is our duty to prove that ( he groundwork of Freemasonry is indeed " holy , " to prove

that the mission of our beloved Order is to elevate the soul of man , as well as to inculcate the practice of those social virtues which are essential to our happiness in this

life . Noble testimony to the real value of the Masonic Institution has been given at various periods by men entitled to speak with authority upon the subject , and we

cannot do better than extract , for the benefit of our readers , some of the definitions of Masonic precepts and aims from the lips of t !; o .-c ivbo . e utterances the

popular world itself has not been slow to honour . Fortunately for our purpose , the industry of Bro . Macoy furnishes us with several notable examples , in his admir-

What Is Freemasonry?

able " Cyclopedia " of Freemasonry—a work which should be in the hands of every thoughtful member of the Craft . Let us hear the opinion of the late King Christian

of Denmark : "The prosperity of Masonry as a means of strengthening our religion , and propagating true brotherly love , is one of the dearest wishes of my heart , which , I

trust , will be gratified by the help of the Great Architect of the Universe . " Our own Royal Master , the late Duke of Sussex , has also placed on record his belief that

" Masonry is one of the most sublime and perfect institutions that ever was formed for the advancement of happiness , and the general good of mankind , creating , in all its

varieties , universal benevolence and brotherly love . " Washington bears witness thus : "The grand object of Masonry is to promote the happiness of the human race . " The late Lord Durham said : " I have ever

felt it my duty to support and encourage the principles of Freemasonry , because it powerfully devclopes all social and benevolent affections . " Bulwcr testifies , to the

following effect : " For centuries had Freemasonry existed ere modern political controversies were ever heard of , and when the topics which now agitate society were not

known , but all were united in brotherhood and affection . I know the Institution to be founded on the great principles of charity , philanthropy , and brotherly love . "

La Fayette , in one of his speeches , pronounced Freemasonry to be " an Order whose leading star is philanthropy , and whose principles inculcate an unceasing devotion to the cause of virtue and

morality . General Jackson , ex-President of the United States , and De Witt Clinton , the patriotic Governor of New York , bore

similar testimony ; and if we turn to the ministers of religion , wc find that a countless legion have been , and still are , arrayed on the side of Freemasonry . The Rev . Dr .

Oliver tells us that the " study of Freemasonry is the study of man as a candidate for a blessed eternity . It furnishes examples of holy living , and displays the conduct

which is pleasing and acceptable to God . The doctrine and examples which distinguish the Order arc obvious , and suited to every capacity . It is impossible for the

most fastidious Mason to misunderstand , however he may slight or neglect them . It is impossible for the most superficial brother to say that he is unable to comprehend the

plain precepts and the unanswerable argumentswhich are furnished by Freemasonry . " The Rev . Dr . Hemming—one of the leading minds of the Order at the time of the

English Union in 1813—defined Freemasonry as " A beautiful system of moralit )' , veiled in allegory , and illustrated by symbols . " Dalcho , a learned American

divine , thus gives his verdict : " I highly venerate tire Masonic Institution , under the fullest persuasion that , where its principles

are acknowledged and its laws and precepts obeyed , it comes nearest to religion , in its moral effects and influence , of any Institu-

What Is Freemasonry?

tion with which I am acquainted . " The Rev . Erastus Burr says : " From its origin to the present hour , in all its vicissitudes , Masonry has been the steady , unvarying

friend of man . " Nor can we conclude this hasty sketch without quoting the sentiments of three distinguished American brethren , who , we are glad to say , are still living to

support and sustain the Order , in whose prosperity they are so deeply interested . The first is Dr . Albert G . Mackey , whose recent return to Masonic literary labours as the editor of the National Freemason has

been hailed with general delight by the brethren in both hemispheres : " Freemasonry is a science of symbols , in which , by their proper study , a search is instituted

after truth—that truth consisting in the knowledge of the Divine and human nature of God and the human soul . " Albert Pike , the illustrious head of Scottish Rite

Masonry for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States , tells us that " there are great truths at the foundations of Freemasonry—truths which it is its mission to

teach—and which , as constituting the very essence of that sublime system which gives to the venerable Institution its peculiar identity as a science of morality , it behoves

every disciple diligently to ponder and inwardly digest . " Though last , not least , we give the words of Bro . John W . Simons , Past Grand Master and present Grand

Treasurer of the Grand Lodge of New York , and also the very successful Masonic editor of the Neiv York Dispatch : " I regard the Masonic Institution as one of the means

ordained by the Supreme Architect to enable mankind to work out the problem of destiny , to fight against and overcome

the weaknesses and imperfections of his nature , and , at last , to attain to that true life of which death is the herald , and the grave the portal . " We will not weaken the force of these

eloquent tributes to the value and importance of our beloved Order , further than to add that they appear to us to afford a

complete and comprehensive answer to the oft-repeated question" WHAT IS FREEMASONRY ?"

Illness Of The Earl Of Carnarvon, R.W. D.G. M.

ILLNESS of the EARL OF CARNARVON , R . W . D . G . M .

Newbury , Wednesday Evening . The Earl of Carnarvon is confined to his bed at his seat , Highclere Castle , near Newbury , suffering somewhat acutely from the effects of fatigue and anxiety , the latter being mainly

attributable to the loss which his lordship recently sustained by the death of his brother-in-law , the Earl of Chesterfield . At present there is no fever , and altogether the symptoms are favourable . He lordship passed a good night , and

throughout the day has been more comfortable . Dr . Bunny , of Newbury , his lordship ' s usual medical adviser , has slept at the castle this week , and will do so again to-night . Dr . George

Burrows , of Cavendish-square , is also in attendance . The noble earl is held in the highest possible esteem throughout the neighbourhood , and the inquiries to-day as to his condition have I been very numerous .