To Our Readers.

TO OUR READERS .

The Freemason is a sixteen page weekly newspaper , price 21 I . It is published every Friday morning , and conpains the most important and useful information relating tto Freemasonry in every degree . Annual subscription in the United Kingdom , Post free , 10 / . Brethren in foreign parts , wishing to have this newspaper sent them regularly from U " . i office of publication , should , in sending their remittances , ade ! tc the 2 el . per week the postage on aoz .

newspapers . The Freemason may be procured through any newsagent in the United Kingdom by giving ( if needed ) the publisher ' s address , 198 , Fleet-st .

To Advertisers.

TO ADVERTISERS .

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

Answers To Correspondents.

Answers to Correspondents .

All Communications , Advertisements , & c , intended for insertion in the Number of the following Saturday , must reach the Office not later than 12 o ' clock on Wednesday morning . Careful attention will be paid to all MSS . entrusted to : he Editor , but he cannot undertake to return them unless iccompanictl by stamped directed covers .

The following stand over : — . " Masonic Jewels " , " W . M . " The Geneva paper kindly forwarded by W . E . G . will be ised next week . See Leaeler . T . C . G . II . —On consideration , weelo not deem it adviable to publish the extract on " Spurious Orders . " ' '" i ^ nevancr nam * . } A .. T 1 ritcuiasonry , " vf . j . ' i-idgna

111 our next . Reports of Lodges 141 , 209 , 279 , 1085 , 11 ( 1 7 , l 33 h J . « i > ' 458 ; Chapters 177 , 424 . Several Reports of Scotch Lodges , noticed under that heading , stand over . Consecration cf a Loelge at Newquay .

BOOK RECEIVED . The Pythagorean Triangle , by Rev . G . Oliver , D . D ., John Hogg and Co .

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The Freemason , SATURDAY , Nov . 13 , 1875 .

Our Royal Grand Master's Visit To India.

OUR ROYAL GRAND MASTER'S VISIT TO INDIA .

Our Royal brother landed at Bombay at four o ' clock on the 8 th inst ., accompanied by the Viceroy aud his suite , who had gone on board the Serapis immediately on her arrival . On leaving the Serapis , a procession was formed astern of the Royal barge by the Admirals and Captains of the

Queen ' s ships 111 their boats . Salutes were fired by the squadron and the shore batteries , All the ships in harbour were dressed with Hags and their yards manned , forming a grand spectacle . His Royal Highness , who wore the uniform of a Field-Marshal , was received on landing by Sir

Philip Wotiehouse , Governor of Bombay ; Lord Napier of Magdala , Commander-in-Chief in India ; the Hon . Sir Michael R . Westropp , Chief Justice of Bombay : and other hi gh civil and military officials . Upwards of 70 native Princes , Chiefs , and Sirdars , in glittering Oriental costume ,

were also present . An address of welcome was presented by the Municipality of Bombay , to which the Prince bnVily replied . A brilliant procession was then formed , which proceeded at a slow pace towards the Government House . Troops lined the road as far as the native town ,

from which point the way was kept by tho police . The greeting given by the people to his Royal Highness was at once cordial and respectful . The utmost enthusiasm was manifested along the whole line of route , a dense , seething mass of people of all castes occupying every inch

of standing room from the ground to the housetops . It is computed that nearly 200 , 000 persons came from the Mofussil alono . As the Prince ncared certain points , the excitement increased , the mob gathering round the carriage and catching the enthusiasm of the Europeans . Nevertheless , excellent order prevailed . His

Royal Highness looked very well , and appeared highly gratified with the demonstrations in his honour . The whole city is splendidly decorated , and there is a seiies of ei ght triumphal arches along the route tnkcn by the procession . In celebration uf the Prince ' s visit there will be a general holiday until the 15 th inst . The Parsees met on IIIJ 6 th inst . at the splendid Fire Temple

Our Royal Grand Master's Visit To India.

belonging to the Ardaseer Hormusjee Wadia family , of Covvjee Castle , in order to offer prayers for the safe arrival and departure from India of the Prince of Wales . The reception of the Native Princes b y His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , on the oth ,

was stately and splendid . After the Rajahs of Kolapoor , Mysore , Oodeypore , Kutch , and Baroda , came Sir Salar Jung , with the Nizam ' s deputation , which contained many Rajahs , Nawabs , and Chiefs . The Prince ' s birthday was celebrated by salutes all over India . At 4

p . m . the Prince visited the Admirals . Salutes were fired , and the fleet was illuminated on the departure of the Prince . On his landing he was received by the Viceroy and the Governor at the Mazagon Stairs . The Prince and the Governor and Viceroy , with their suites , drove in seven

carriages for two hours through Bombay , which was illuminated . It was a marvellous sight with the miles of lamps and the cheers , which are unusual from natives . There were myriads of quaint devices ; among others , " Tell Mama we are happy . " After the Queen ' s health , the

Governor proposed that of the Prince , who expressed pleasure at his reception . He had , he said , always wished lo see India , and never would forget his 3 4 th birthday , which had been passed in that great Empire of the Queen . Among the natives in general the impression was most

satisfactory , and the important Chiefs were < greatly pleased . The thermometer is at 88 ; degrees . Every one is well . Bombay is still 1 '• j en fete , and there is tremendous excitement

never such a sight having been beheld there . The Prince thanked the Governor for the arrangements . He gave a dinner to the crews of the Serapis and Osborne . The " Times " of Thursday has the following : —

" During the Guildhall banquet on Tuesday evening the Lord Mayer addressed the following telegram to his Royal Hi ghness the Prince of Wales at Bombay : — ' The Lord Mayor and his distinguished guests now assembled wish your Royal Highness many happy returns of the day . '

Yesterday morning the Prince replied by a telegram dated ' Parell ( Bombay ) , 11 40 a . m ., 10 th November : '—' Accept my very best thanks for your kind wishes and those of your distinguished guests on the occasion of my birthday , and I

wish you and the Corporation every possible wisii you and the Corporation every possible prosperity . ' A similar message was sent by the Benchers from Middle Temple Hall , and as promptly and graciously acknowledged . "

New Lodges.

NEW LODGES .

Our readers will note , as week follows week , that our columns record the consecration of new lodges and the dedication of Masonic halls . Our present issue contains the account of the consecration of two lodges , one chapter , and one Masonic hall . Our muster roll of lodges is fast

approaching to 1600 , and that number will , no doubt , ere Jong actuall y be reached . This ought to be a subject of rejoicing to all loyal Freemasons . We cannot affect to sympathise with that lackadaisical or apathetic view of the case which , if it had any encouragement , would

throw cold water on any tendencies amongst us to enlarge and to advance . On the contrary , we ( irml y believe that all such ideas are both shallow and meaningless , and that , of course within due limits , the extension of our lod ge system is greatly to be desiderated and heartily to be

welcomed . Two points seem to press upon lis from the facts before us which we shall do well to notice . The one is a note of warning , the other a voice of encouragement . Freemasonry is not , let us bear in mind , a plaything or a sensation . It is a very useful , unassuming , benevolent , and

valuable Order , a friend to true progress and improving civilisation , which asks for and obtains the warm support uC the intellectual , the moral , the kindl y disposed , and tho honest hearted . It is an institution around which we may freely rally , amid many opposing schools of thought

and sympathy to-day , as ottering us a standpoint , to use a German phrase , on which we ourselves can plant as on a firm basis itsgoodl y standard of toleration , honour , loyalty , and charity . Freemasonry does not ask our adhesion or our adherence simply because it is a pleasant social institution , because it dispenses honours or bestows rank , or

New Lodges.

even because in it we Can frequent the agreeable gathering , and enjoy some beneficial moments of needful recreation ! These motives may sway some , no doubt , but they are all secondary motives , and not the motives which Freemasonry requires and approves . But when to us

Freemasonry has become something more than a name , when we have mastered its esoteric teachings as well as its exoteric forms , we think we discover and clearly discern how specially suited it is to the conflicts and exigencies of the hour . We are all of us now , in this

self-asserting age , loo much inclined to put forward our subjective theories of religion , truth , and sound teaching , for instance , as if they were objective realities . We like to invest our own personal " doxy " with the belief and the feelings of the Ego , with the colouring of abstract truth and of

everybody else s " doxy . " And hence arise inevitable collisions of thought and action , the regrettable though apparently unavoidable outbreaks of that " odium theologicum , " which has wrought so much mischief in the world . Now , Freemasonry seems to speak to us all to-day in the calm ,

convincing tones of reason , charity , and common sense . " Do not allow yourselves ever to surrender the best feelings of your nature to polemical strife . to meaningless controversies . There are times , indeed , as we all know , in the history of individuals and nations when we have to be

, very bold for the truth as w . e hold it and cling to it . But , as a general rule , men waste a deal of time hurtfullv <) n _ nnpu'Ie _ r . r > otQrit ^ o , iS-, " v ^ hsH # f 70 w ~ , logamachies . Come , then , within my peaceful : portals , and learn the lesson I would teach you and all my members . Hold what you deem

the truth tn love , not judging one another , not condemning one another . Within my dwelling no disputes prevail , and no discussions perplex . All is calm and kindly , forbearing and serene . I know neither of the cries of party nor the differences of reli gion , but I welcome all good men

who bow before the great Creator of all . Be you content to abide by His moral law , not asking about the precise creed of a brother , not involving } ' ourselvesindoctrinal discussions beyond my scope , but ottering every loyal heart a safe and consistent platform of religious sympathy

, morality , piety , and brotherly love ! " Such seems to be the voice . and words of our "Alma mater" to-day , and amid all that noise of angry combatants , which fills our streets with the din and turmoil of sectarian animosities , it is pleasant

for us all to remember tint Freemasonry affords a "Rendezvous" for all who like for a few passing hours to forget the animosities of humanity , and . to welcome the pleasant emotions of harmonious concord , toleration and union , friendship and allection .

Semper Eadem.

SEMPER EADEM .

Roman Catholicism is ever the same , in that it seems to oppose itself , no doubt on some wonderful principles of its own , not patent indeed Wthe uninitiated , to the claimsof individual liberty of thought and action , to the wants of an emancipated conscience , and even to the stern require , ments often of actual fact and historical truth ! In nothing more do we see this than in the

effect that Roman Catholic teaching often has on enli ghtened minds and ardent wills . The Roman Catholic would no doubt say , that the very axiom of Romanism proper is the surrender of the moral judgment and the intellectual powers of the individual to the voice of the Church ,

and the decision of the successor of St Peter . But here it is where we join issue with our Roman Catholic brethren . YVe cannot think it to be a good thing , that human reason and understanding , the sympathies and sentiments of the individual , should ' be subjected to this severe

strain of iron , unbending , irresponsible authority ! For the efleet is simply the ett ' ect of reaction . The string lias been too tightly extended , and the bow snaps . Hence , as a general rule , in all Roman Catholic countries the revulsion from Ultra montanism has led to

scepticismVoltair-, ianism , infidelity , We do not say that such a state of things is not also to be found in professedly tin-Roman Catholic countries , bectuse it undoubtedly is , but those who have ever lived in Roman Catholic countries , or mixed much with Roman Catholiclaymen , must be well aware , that