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TO ADVERTISERS . 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 of 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 , 2 , 3 , & 4 , LITTLE BRITAIN , LONDON , E . C .

Births, Marriages, And Deaths.

Births , Marriages , and Deaths .

BIRTH . DICKSON . — -On the 4 th inst ., at 53 , St . Stephen-street , Salford , the wife of Bro . Joseph Dickson , I . P . M . of the Richmond Lodge ( 1011 ) , Salford , of a daughter .

MARRIAGES . BRITTAIN—KELLY . —On the 9 th ult ., in the Congregational Church , Cape of Good Hope , by the Rev . Wm . Thompson , Bro . George Brittain , to Eliza Catherine , eldest daughter of the late William Kelly , Esq ., of Rondebosch .

RODDEWIG—HALL . —On the 7 th inst ., at the Parish Church , Sheffield , Bro . William Roddewig , 30 , P . M . 296 , and M . W . S . Talbot Rose Croix Chapter , to Felice Lucy , eldest daughter of Dr . J . C . Hall , M . D ., Surrey House , all of Sheffield .

DEATH . FERGUSON . —On the 12 th instant , at 75 , Clyde-street , Anderston , Glasgow , Jennet Mills , aged 41 years , wife of Bro . George Ferguson , Past S . W . Lodge Clyde , No . 40 S .

FlRTIl . —On the 2 nd inst ., at Brighouse , near Halifax , Bro . Samuel Firth , plumber and gas-fitter , aged 27 years . His death was caused by being thrown from his phaeton on the previous day . He was a member of St .

James ' s Lodge , No . 448 , and one of the twelve petitioning brethren forming the De Warren Lodge , No . 1302 . He was also a Sergeant in the 2 nd West Yorkshire Yeomanry Cavalry . He leaves a widow and three children to mourn his sudden , and untimely death .

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TheFreemason, SATURDAY , J ULY I 6 , 1870 .

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THE FREEMASON is published on Saturday Mornings in time for the early trains . The price or THE FREEMASON is Twopence per wetk ; quarterly subscription ( including postage ) 3 s . 3 d . Annual Subscription , 12 s . Subscriptions payable in advance . All communications , letters , & o , to be addressed to the EDITOR a , 3 , and 4 , Little Britain , E . C . The Editor will pay careful attention to all MSS . entrusted to him but cannot undertake to return them unless accompanied by postage stamps .

A Glance Around.

A GLANCE AROUND .

SUMMER is come , and visions of the cool sea-shore , with its golden waves dancing before the refreshing breeze , begin to haunt the languid souls of our pent-up

citizens . There are days when it is almost torture to think of leafy bowers , and verdurous glades , with rivulets twinkling in the distance , and zephyrs breathing through the murmuring trees .

There are days when the burden of ordinary life seems more than usually intolerable ; when cares seem duller and more dismal , because the physical frame is

overborne with a sense of unutterable weariness , and yearns for shady quietude and renovating rest . At this period of the year Masonic meetings in England are usually

suspended , but there is a growing tendency on the part of London brethren to have a little outing to some rural spot , where the

blue skies and green fields can be seen and enjoyed . In some cases the presence of ladies makes an agreeable change in the somewhat rrvonotonous proceedings of the

A Glance Around.

summer festival , and the Grand Mark Lodge especially deserves credit for the highly successful manner in which the sisters and brethren were entertained under

its auspices last summer , at the far-famed Mitre , at Hampton Court . This week a similar festive meeting was held at Richmond , and proved a great and merited success .

In reviewing the Masonic events of the past season , we may safely congratulate the English Craft upon the noble efforts which they have made on behalf of our several

charities ; our royal brother the Prince of Wales has also shown his high appreciation of the Order , and he is now publicly identified with its interests . The normal

increase in the number of lodges during the last six months has been fully sustained , and there is no reason to doubt that the heads

of the Fraternity have exercised a wise discretion in thus supplying means for the further extension of the Craft . Our late

Grand Master , Lord Zetland , has retired from his high post with the affection and esteem of every brother , but it will be seen that he is still as active as ever in assisting

by his presence and advice the deliberative assemblies of the Order , and in prompting the general good and welfare of Freemasonry . His successor , the Earl de Grey

and Ripon , is a statesman of eminence , and his time is necessarily much occupied in the discharge of official duties , but his heart is so thoroughly in the Masonic cause that

none but weighty reasons will ever detain him from his place in Grand Lodge . In Scotland , the Earl of Dalhousie , a vigorous and enlightened chief , wields the sceptre

of Solomon , and we trust that before he leaves the Masonic throne in that country , our Scottish brethren will have made a rapid stride in the right direction , by the

organization of charitable institutions similar to those which now flourish in England and Ireland . The Grand Lodge of Ireland is , we are led to believe , in a very

healthy condition , but information as to the progress of Freemasonry in Ireland is so scantily supplied by the authorities , that we arc forced to rely upon accounts which

are occasionally given by the secular press when anything very special in connection with Irish Masonry takes place . More prominence should be given to the doings

of our Irish brethren , many of whom wc know to be good men and true . Our neighbours in France have changed their Grand Master , General Mellinet having

retired in consequence of the state of his health and the infirmities of old age , but we believe that Bro . Babaud Laribiere , who succeeds the General , has his heart in the

work , and will make an efficient ruler of the Craft . In Germany , where there are many Grand Lodges , and where diversities of opinion as to what is really Masonry

prevail , there is yet a most encouraging prospect for Freemasonry . Liberal ideas are permeating the lodges , and even in

priestridden Austria , a lodge has been recently established . In Hungary , a Grand Lodge has been actually formed , Bro . Franz Pul-

A Glance Around.

szky being the first Grand Master , while every month new lodges are being added to this already important jurisdiction . In Spain , Freemasonry is spreading far and

near , and the number of brethren now at work in that country almost exceeds belief . We are assured by recent advices that there is scarcely a second-rate town in Spain

without a lodge , and in many large towns there are two or more . Portugal has also embraced the tenets of Freemasonry with enthusiasm , and a perfect fusion of the

recently conflicting Lusitanian Jurisdictions having been happily effected , there is great hope for the entire Iberian peninsula . Italy is still divided Masonically , and until our

Italian brethren learn the value of unity , they cannot expect to command the respect of the Craft universal . Of Switzerland , Holland and Belgium , we have little to

record , and if the saying be true , " happy is the nation which has no history , " it may be safely assumed that in each of these countries our Order is making steady , but

imperceptible progress . In the north of Europe , Freemasonry flourishes exceedingly , especially in Sweden , where the King is a zealous patron of the Craft , and we

hope shortly to give a more lengthened detail of the Swedish degrees . By the consolidation of English Masonry in Turkey , under the rule of R . W . Bro . Brown , as

District Grand Master , we anticipate a great future for the Order in the East , while the happy reconciliation which has been affected

between Halim Pasha , the District Grand Master for Egypt , and the Khedive of that prosperous province , promises equally happy results for the Egyptian lodges .

If we look beyond the Atlantic , an immense Masonic vista opens . The United States alone can muster some four hundred and eighty thousand members of our

mystic brotherhood ; and in the Southern republics and the Empire of Brazil , Freemasonry is popular and respected . It is to be regretted that the Masons of Canada

are not working with that love and harmony which should ever distinguish Freemasons , but wc are strongly of opinion that the two

Grand Lodges now in operation m the provinces of Ontario and Quebec will speedily arrive at an amicable solution of their present unhappy differences .

In all the colonies and dependencies of the British Crown the Order is also rapidly extending , and wc may anticipate at no

distant period the formation of independent Grand Lodges in Australia , where a vast numberoflodgcs now exist under conflicting jurisdictions .

It will thus be seen that the mustardseed of Speculative Freemasonry has become a great and mighty tree , under whose shadow men of every nation are gathering ;

and let us hope that the time is rapidly approaching , when the influence of so vast a peaceful confederation will be

powerful enough to preclude the possibility of war between civilised peoples , and that science , knowledge and virtue , combined , will eventually sway the destinies of the world .