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Now lieadv . INDEX to Vol . VI . of "TUB FREEMASON . " May be had at the Publishing O Kce , roS , Fleetstreet .

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 0 o'clock on Wednesday evening ; .

The following rcpoits stand over : —Lodge of _ Truth , Manchester , 145 8 ; Lebanon Lodge , Gloucester ; Sotitliwark Lodge of Mark Masters ; anil Consecration " of Madoc Lodge , 1 5 , P 1 . Ttma . 1 loc .

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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 » ol , 800 pages 8 vo ., with an Index . Cloth gilt . Price , 1 os . ( id . " This book is . 1 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 hi ghly . "Put-tic Opinion . "The author seems to have fairly exhausted the subject . "—Tlie Athenaeum . "This volume is the history of Masonry par excellence Every interested person may regard it , therefore , as the present text-book on the subject . "—Manchester Gutmliun London : GKORGK KKNNING , iyS , Fleet Street .

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Now icady , with Index and Preface , in Twelve Imperial Folio Paits , 5 s . each , or bound i'r one har . dsonie volume , £ . : > . TUK FREEMASONS ' . LIBER MUSIGUS , Dedicated by express permission to II . K . H . THE PRINCE OF WALKS , Past Grand Masti of England and Wales . Edited by Dn . WILLIAM SPAHK , P . P . G () ., W . V . —208 . This Work con tains 2 r ^ pp . and 188 Musical Compositions , suitable for the Ceremonies of the Masonic Order ; First , Second , and Third Degrees ; Consecration and Dedication of Halls and Lodges , Programmes , Toasts , . Sonsjs , Trios Choruses , tVe ., for Bnnijucts and other Festive Gatherings ; Laying Foundation or Corner Stones ; Installation , Marls Masonry ; Royal Arch ; Masonic Fuuetals ; Voluntaries ; Marches , & c „ & C . HANDSOME CLOTH COVERS , with gilt lines , and lettered , for Binding ( similar to those used lor the Graphic and Illiiilruletl AVw . v ) , price 5 s . each . LONDON : GEORGE KENNING . inS , Fleet-street .

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MADAME TUSSAUD'S EXHIBITION , BAKER STREET . Now added , PORTRAIT MODELS of the CZAR OF RUSSIA , SIR GARNET WOl . SELEV , the 'Three Judges in the Ticbbome 'Trial , Cockbiim , Mellor , and Lush ; the Shall of Persia , M ., r .-dial . MacMahon , M . 'Thiers , and the late Mr . Charles Dick » -ns . Admission is . Childitn under ten , 6 d . Extra Rooms , 6 d . Open fro'ii ten a . m . to ten p . m .

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The Freemason , SATURDAY , NOVEMBER 14 , 1874 .

The Grand Mastership Of Irish Freemasonry.

THE GRAND MASTERSHIP OF IRISH FREEMASONRY .

We publish in another column the report of the recent ceding of the Irish Grand Lodge , by which it appears that , by the unanimous vote of an influential and crowded assembly , the

Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland , the Duke of Abercorn , was elected Grand Master of Irish Freemasons . There can be no doubt that in the selection of so distinguished and so popular a

nobleman , the Irish Grand Lodge has manifested alike the hig hest wisdom and the soundest judgment . For our noble brother the Duke of Abercorn , is in our humble opinion , emphatically the right

man in the right place . Himself of most noble and patrician descent , he is endowed with al ' those qualities which have gained him so many friends and enabled him to play so distinguished a

part in public affairs . Kind and genial , tolerant , and yet firm in his administrative career , he has satisfied his friends and conciliated his oppotu nts , while in private life his personal amiability and

his many and sterling social qualities have endeared him to his family and his friends . When then , at a crisis in its history , the Irish Grand Lodge , bereft of its old and venerated ruler in

the providence of the Great Architect of the Universe , looks around for a fitting successor , it finds its search not prolonged , nor its choice at all doubtful . With one glad voice of

heartfelt acclaim and rejoicing the Irish Grand Lodge nominates its noble brother the Duke of Abercorn , Grand Master of Irish Freemasonry , and as the Irish Grand Lodge has so well and wisely

chosen , we trust most sincerely that all happiness and prosperity will attend on its judicious and truly Masonic choice . Certainly it is very amusing to us . calumniated and

excommunicated Masons , to observe how all this recent plethora of nonsense as well as " verborum " is answered , both in England and Ireland . We leave the anathemas and the excommunications

to the anathemizers and the excommunicators and we go on our way , " no one making us afraid . " In England , H . R . rL the Prince of Wales , our august brother , assumes the head of

the Craft , and in Ireland , the Lord-Lieutenant becomes the unanimous selection of our loyal and honourable and benevolent fraternity . What a useful warning to impertinent interference on

the one hand , what a happy encouragement to calm performance of duty on the other . So long as Freemasonry is true to itself and to its great and sound principles—so long as it continues

peaceful andtolerant , avoiding political discussions and religious controversies , so long as it evidences the sincerity of its professions , by its unwearied practice of benevolence , sympathy , relief , and

brotherly love , so long will it flourish , so long will it attract to itself the confidence of the good , and the support of the wise . Indeed , all these

attacks upon Freemasonry will , it appears to us , only tend to throw Freemasons closer together , and we shall move on in defiance of our motley host of assailants , a good compact column

The Grand Mastership Of Irish Freemasonry.

keeping the " step , " and keeping the " touch . " Our banner is floating over our heads , unstained and undisgraced , and while some may ridicule and others may condemn , we are certain that

our Older , closely united in the bonds of sympathetic affection and fraternal concord , has no fear of any antagonists , if this foolish and perverse hostility to our charitable and innocuous

brotherhood , should be fomented by some , or perpetuated by others . It seems that Archbishop Manning is going to favour the reading world with an article on Freemasonry in the

December number of the " Contemporary Review , " at least , so it is stated , but as there is , and can be nothing new , even in his able hands , in the accusations against Freemasonry . so we

venture to believe that the answer will be easy , and will be at once forthcoming to so distinguished an opponent . In the meanwhile , Freemasonry cares nothing for attacks , or pamphlets ,

or edicts , or anathemas , but selecting the most exalted brethren in our land , to rule over its organization , to uphold its interests , and to increase its reputation before the world , conscious of its

good intentions , its true principles , and its benihcent customs , awaits , if in indifference yet in tranquil confidence , the sober judgment of the

sound thinking , the fair , the tolerant , and the true . We wish , in all heartfelt sincerity , all possible prosperity to our good Irish brethren and their new Grand Master , our excellent and exalted brother the Duke of Abercorn .

The Plymouth Question.

THE PLYMOUTH QUESTION .

In accordance with our promise we close this discussion with a few words , and a communication we print to-day , and we do not propose to publish any more letters on the

subject , pace our good Bro . " Soldier Freemason . " In one respect the discussion has been somewhat remarkable in demonstrating the uncertainties of even contemporary evidence . In

the first place we beg to repeat our original conviction , that our soldier brethren had very hard measure indeed meted out to them , and have a right to complain of very invidious

treatment . They have , however , this one consolation , that they have obtained the sympathy of the entire Craft , and that it is quite clear such a blunder will not occur again . In the next place

we think that the committee are fully exonerated from any intended desire to show any discourtesy to our soldier brethren . We who know well some of the distinguished brethren who formed

thejoint committee , excellent Masons and kindly men , were quite sure of the fact from the first that they were guiltless of any such unmasonic sentiments or actions . It seems that there were

two committees , however , and a little of cross purposes may have arisen in consequence , but there was clearly no intentional wish to deprive our soldier brethren of their Masonic ri ghts .

We are still of opinion , despite able and valuable correspondents like " Leo , " that there is no formal evidence of any actual military prohibition . The mistake , such as it was , a very

perverse one , seems to have arisen in this way , There had been , it is admitted , a previous case referred to the military chief authority , in which an official refusal had been given . It was