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NOTICE . The Subscription to T HE F REEMASON is now i os . per annum , post-free , pat / able in advance . Vol . I ., bound in cloth 4 s . 6 d . Vol . II ., ditto is . Od . Vol . s III ., IV ., V and VI [ each 15 s . od . Re iding Cases to hold 52 . lumbers ... 2 s . Od . Ditto ditto 4 do . ... is . Od . United States of America . THE FREEMASON is delivered free in any part of the United States for 12 s . per annum , payable in advance . The Freemason is published on Saturday Mornings in time for the early trains . The price of the Freemason is Twopence per week j annual uhscription , 10 s . ( payable in advance . ) All communications , letters , Sec , to be addressed to the Editor , t-8 . Fleet-street , E . C . The Editor will pay careful attention to all MSS . entrusted to him , ¦ •utcannot undertake to return them unlessaccompanied bypostaj-5 stamps .

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NOTICE . All Communications , Advertisements , & c , intended for insertion in the Number of the following Saturday , must reach the Office not later than 6 o ' clock on IVednesday evening .

The History Of Freemasonry,

THE HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY ,

FROM ITS ORIGIN TO THE PRESENT DAY . Drawn from the best sources and the most recent * investigations . BY J . G . FINDEL , Second Edition , Revised , and Preface written by Bro . D . MURRAY LYON .

One vol ., 800 pages 8 vo ., with an Index . Cloth gilt . Price , 10 s . 6 d . " This book is a strictly historical one , from which all is excluded that is not based upon ascertained or probable fact . "—Builder . " Of its value to Freemasons , as a detailed history of their Brotherhood , it is not possible to speak too highly . "—

Puttie Opinion . " The author seems to have fairly exhausted thc subject . "—The Athenaeum . " The edition we are now considering is a second English edition , which had the great advantage of Bro . D . M . Lyon's able superintendence and editorship in its English dress . There can be no doubt but , that so far , Bro .

Findel ' s work is the most complete work on Freemasonry which has yet appeared , and that he deserves the greatest credit for his careful and accurate treatment of all evidence ou the subject , and for his honest desire after truth . Bro . Findel gives up in the view he has so cleaily and consistently put foith our eaily Masonic history , the older theory of the Roman Colleges , \* c , and limits the origin

f Freemasonry to about the twelfth century , and as then arising from the operative Masons , and specially the " Stcinmeitzen" and " Bauhutten" of Germany . Bro . Findel gives us a good deal of evidence on this head , and one thing is clear from his work , that the German Freemasons were , at a very early period , organized into lodges with a Master over them , and with outward regulations and

inner ceremonies peculiar to the Craft . Bro . 1 'indel rejects all the views which have been from time to time put forward of a Templar or a Rosicrueiau origin . Whether or no Bro , Findel ' s theory of the date of the lise of Freemasonry be correct , matters very little : we do not ourselves piofess to accept it ; but this wecan fairly say of Bro Findel ' s work , it is marked from first to last hy the most remarkable

tokenof industry , ability , and care , of patient research , and of skilful criticism . We know of no work which so clearly sets before us our amount of knowledge up to the present time on the great iiucstion of Masonic Archieology , and there can be little doubt that what Preston ' s work is to English Fieemasonry , Findel ' s work is to cosmopolitan Freemasonry . Indeed no student in Masonry can now dispense with it , and it

is a perfect storehouse both of Masonic evidence and Masonic illustrations . We earnestly recommend all the lodges in this country to obtain a copy for the lodge library before the work is bought up for America ; and wc believe that no Mason will rise from the perusal of its pages without a hig her idea both of the histoiical truth and intrinsic value of Freemasonry , and of fraternal regard and recognition to the latest and not the least well-informed or effective of our

Masonic historians . The present century has produced no such equal , in authority and usefulness , to the great work of our Bio . Findel , and we wish him and it , in all of fraternal sympathy and kindly intent , many earnest readers , and more grateful students . "—7 ' / ic Masonic MugazillC . "This volume is the histoiy of Masonry pur excellence Every interested person may legard it , therefore , as the jiresent text-book on the subject . "—Manchester Guardian

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MADAME TUSSAUD'S EXHIBITION BAKER STREET . Now added , PORTRAIT MODELS of thc SHAH of PERSIA , Marshal MacMahon , M . Thiers , and thc late Charles Dickens . The original autograph and testimonial written and presented by the Shah to Messrs . Tussaud , July 3 , 18 73 , is exhibited . Admission is . Children under ten , Od . Extra Rooms , 6 d . ( pen horn ten a . m . to ten p . m

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In thc Press , will shortly be Published . Price - ^ s ., Svo , handsomely bound . THE LIFE OF CONSTANTINE . Wiitten in Greek , by EI-SEIHUS PA . MI ' . US , ( Bishop of Ca'sarea in Palestine ) . Done into English from that edition , set foith b y VAJ . USIUS , and piinted in Paris in the year lO . iQ . Pieface by Bros . R . Wentworth Little , Treas . Gen ., and the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , Past Grand Chaplain . With Engravings of Constantino ; thc Duke of Sussex , P . G . Sov . ; Lord Kancliffe , P . G . Sov . ; Eail Bective , M . l \ , M . I . G . Sov . ; Sir Frederick Martin Williams , Bait ., M . P ., G . V ., & c , & c . London : GEORGE KENNING , 19 R , Fleet-street .

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SECOND EDITION . —NOW READY . Price One . Shilling , Post-free , Revised and Enlarged . Freemasonry in Relation to Civil Authority and the Family Circle , Bv BRO . CHALMERS I . PATON . ( Past Master , No . 31 ) 3 , England . ) '"PHIS work is a perfect handbook of the principles of Freemasonry , founded on the Ancient Charges and Symbols , and will be found to be eminentl y practical and useful in the vindication and support of the Order . Office , 198 , Fleet-street .

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Now Readv Post Free 1 / 7 . THE MARK ' MASONS' SONG , Dedicated by permission to the Right Hon . the Earl Percy , M . P ., 30 , Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master of Freemasons for Northumberland Most Worshipful Grand Mark Master Mason of England . Woids by Bro . T . Burdett Yeoman , Original Mark Lodge No . i ., composed by Bro . Henry Parker , Original Mark LodgeNo . 1 . Office , 11 ) 8 , Heel-street :

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Second Edition , Now Heady , 1 / 6 . A MASONIC MUSICAL SERVICE . In the key of C . for A ., T ., T ., B . Opening and Closing Odes . Craft Ceremonies . Royal Arch Ceremony . Consecration Ceremony . Grace before and after Meat . COMPOSED Hi' DR . , | . C . BAKER , NO . 241 . LONDON . —Geo . Kenning , 198 , Fleet-street ; and 2 , 3 , an 1 4 , Little Britain . „ R . Spencer , 2 O , Great Queen-street . LIVERPOOL . —Geo . Kenning , 2 , Monument-place . MANCHESTER . —li . Henry & Co ., 59 , Deansgate . DUBLIN . —C . Hedgelong , 26 , Grafton-street GLASGOW . —Geo . Kenning , 14 , - * , Argyle-street .

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Price 3 J- , post-free 3 J 1 , THE RED CROSS SONG , Words by Bro . R . W . Little . Music by Bro . H . Parker . OFFICE : —igS , FLEET-STREET .

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Second Edition . Now ready , i 2 mo-, 208 pages , handsomel y bound in cloth , price . 2 S- Od ., post free 2 s . 8 ( 1 . THE ISRAELITES FOUND IN THE ANGLO-SAXONS . The Ten Tribes supposed to have been lott traced from the land of their captivity to their occupation of the Isles of the Sea . With an exhibition of those traits of character and national characteristics assigned to Israel in the Books of the Hebrew P . ophets , by Bro . WM . CAIU _ NTEII , Author of " Scientia Biblica , " " Scripture Natural I listory , " " Guide to the Heading of thc Bible , " " Lectures on Biblical Criticism and Interpretation , " "A Popular Introduction to the Bible , " " The Biblical Companion , " " Critica Biblica , " " Calendarium Palestine , " " An Introduction to the Reading and Stud y . of the English Bible , " and Editor of the fifth large edition of " Calmet ' s Dictionary of the Bible , " and of the abridgement of the same , etc ., etc ., etc . LONDON * . GEORGF / KENNING , 108 , Fleet-street , E . C .

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CHARITABLE SOCIETIES DINED TO PERFECTION , AT MODERATE CHARGES , AT The Freemasons' Tavern , Great Queen-street , W . C . Apply to C . E . FRANCATELLI . Restaurant Open Daily fiom 10 a . m . to 10 p . m .

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% \ vAwx $ to tecspoiuycnts . "A Masonic Lecture" leceived , too long for The . Free inasnii . Editor will write to Bro . j . C . A repoit of the Consecration ol the University Chapter ( No . 1118 ) , and of a new lodge at Boctlei will appear in our next .

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TheFreemason, SATURDAY , MARCH 14 , 1 S 74 .

The Last Grand Lodge.

THE LAST GRAND LODGE .

The proceedings of the Quarterl y Communication of the Grand Lodge on Wednesday , 4 th inst ., offered unmixed gratification to all the loyal and intelligent members of our Order .

The Last Grand Lodge.

The re-election of the Marquess of Ripon ass our Grand Master will be hailed with unanimous ; approval and applause by our united Craft . No one , we make bold to say , is there who

has deserved so well of our fraternity , and there is no one amid our long role of able and willing men who is more truly a Freema > so'a at heart than our exalted brother .

Those who have watcned . his long Masonic career , those who have been privileged to life under his provincial rule , as well as those who > have marked his skilful handling of all

matters , and his impartial attitude in his curule Chair , will feel as we do sincerely , that , to no worthier hands can the destinies of our Order be committed than to his , who

unites in himself the rare qualifications of unwavering geniality , and yet of authoritative determination . While no one will extend more forbearance , or evince more consideration

towards his brethren , in the discharge of his important duties , no one will uphold with a more unfaltering firmness alike the just prerogatives of his high office , the ancient liberties

of the Order , and the honour and dignity and privileges of the Grand Lodge . The unanimous voice of the Craft hailed him as the fitting successor of our late lamented Grand Master ,

and each succeeding year only serves to show how wise was our choice , and how truly he has justified our happy selection . From what we saw of his Provincial rule , to

which we have before alluded , we feel persuaded that the more we know of him as our Grand Master , the more we shall like him , and many are the loyal hearts in our order to day , who without flattery , and in all honest affection will

say , " Master lead on , We will follow to the last gasp , With truth and loyalty . "

We also congratulate the order on the unanimous re-election of our very worthy Bro . Samuel Tomkins , to the important post of Grand Treasurer .

There aie few brethren in the Craft who so claim and so command , from his long and faithful services , the entire confidence and respect of the brotherhood .

Many of our readers will be very sorry to hear of the serious illness of the very respected Chairman of the Board of General Put poses , Bro . Horace Lloyd , Q . C , and we are but expressing a

universal hope , in saying , that we trust soon to hear of his restoration to health and activity , and of his again discharging , as always efficiently , the duties of that important ofiice in our executive which he fills so well .

The serious question raised by the report of the Board of General Purposes , and the return of the Grand Registrar , with respect to Lodge S 31 , being now practically "sub judice , " we

forbear to make any comments upon it , further than saying that we think the Board of General Purposes have most properly brought the matter before Grand Lodge , and that the motion of the

3 rand Registrar , is the only fitting corollary to that report . Beyond this , we do not feel justified in alluding to the subject . We can now onl y congratulate the Order on