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TO OUR READERS . The FREEMASON is a Weekly Newspaper , price ACI . It is published every Friday morning , and contains the most important , interesting , and useful information relating to Freemasonry in -very degree . Subscription , in eluding postage : United America , India , India , China , & c Kingdom , the Continent , & c . Via Brindisi . Twelve Months 10 s . 6 d . 12 s . od . 17 s . 4 d . Six „ 5 s . 3 d . 6 s . 6 d . 8 s . 8 d . Three „ 2 s . 8 d . 3 s . 3 d . 4 s . 6 d . Subscriptions may be paiel for in stamps , but Post Office Orders or Chc < iucs are preferred , the former payable to GEORGE KENNING , CHIEF OFFICE , LONDON , the latter crossed London Joint Stock Bank . Advertisements and other business communications should be addressed to the Publisher . Communications on literary subjects and books for review are to be forwarded to the Editor . Anonymous correspondence will be wholly disregarded , and the return of rejected MSS . cannot be guaranteed . Further information will be supplied on application to the Publisher , IQ 8 , Fleet-street , London .

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IMPORTANT NOTICE . COLONIAL and FOREIGN SUBSCRIBERS are informed that acknowledgments of remittances received are published in the first number of every month . It is very necessary for our readers to advise us of all money orders they remit , more especially those from the United States of America and India ; otherwise we cannot tell where to credit them . Several P . O . O . ' s are now in hand , but having received no advice we cannot credit th e 11 .

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Answers To Correspondents.

Answers to Correspondents .

P . M . Yes , our late Bro . Frederick Pepy ' s Cockerell was W . M ., of the Westminster and Keystone Lodge , No . 10 , but in 1808 , noi i 860 , P . G . S . E . —The date of the warrant appointing Col . Duff , AI . P ., R . W . P . G . Supl . of Norfolk , is July 10 th of the present year .

BOOKS tec , RECEIVED . "New York Dispatch-, " "Sunday Times ; " "Secret of Success ; or how to get on in the World ; " " Poets' Magazine ; " " Keystone ; " " La Chaine D'Union ; " " Freemason's Repository ; " "Paris Exhibition for 1878 ; " " Hebrew Leader ; " " Alasonic Advocate ; " " Alasonic Token ;" " Bjom and Beia ; a Norse Legend ; " "Hull Packet ;" "London Express ; " "Scottish Freemason ; " "Broad

Arrow ; " "Touchstone ; " " Risorgimento ; " " Corner Stone ; " " Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania ; its Early History and Constitutions ; its Alinutes and Proceedings ;"" Philadelphia Chronicle ; " "Herald ; " "Night and Day ;" " Canadian Craftsman ; " " City Press ; " "Citizen . " The following reports stand over : —Lodges 41 , 013 , 1158 , 1393 , 1621 ; Chapter 1507 ; Provincial Grand Alark Lodge of Lancashire .

Births ,Marriages And Deaths.

Births , Marriages and Deaths .

BIRTHS . GLADSTONE . — On the 9 th ins ' ., at Westboume-place , Eaton-square , the wife of R . S . Gladstone , of a daugl - ter . RAIKES . —On the icth inst ., at Westbourne Park . villas , the wife of R . T . Raik ; s , of a sop . THOMAS . —On the 101 I 1 inst ., at Giove Park , LIT , Kent , Airs . L . VV . Thomas , of a ton .

DEATHS . BEECH 1 so . —On the 81 h inst ., at his residence , Percy House' , Tunhrielge-wells , Stephen Belching , Esq ., in his 7 yth year . Deeply regretted . FELLOWS . —On the 1 lib ins ' ., at Montague-read , Dalston , Bro . Francis Fellows , if consumption . J ONES . —On the 101 I 1 ins ! ., at Bi ) i . adda , Dulgelley , Jobti Jones , ageel 70 .

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THE FREEMASON , SATURDAY , NOVEMBER 16 , 1878 .

English And Foreign Freemasonry.

ENGLISH AND FOREIGN FREEMASONRY .

In the discussions and considerations to which this passing question has given rise to , it seems to us well to remind our readers how purely nonpolitical and non-sectarian English Masonry really is , and how it stands on that one goodly platform , which proclaims to men and the

Masonic world the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man . We do not propose today to enter into any of the considerations which relate to the past history of English Freemasonry , to earlier teaching or distinct

proclivities . We take the Union of 1813 as a " standpoint , " ( to use a Germanism ) , and there it is we find a rallying centre , for all loyal Cosmopolitan Masons . For acceptance of belief in the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man

necessitates a good deal more than acquiescence in De istic formularies or nihil istic su btleties . Theism , remember , is not Deism , inasmuch as the former pre-snpposes a personal God , the latter a mere " anima mundi . " Thus it will be seen at once how definite , and yet how tolerant is the

foundation truth of English Freemasonry . We accept all brethren , even of differing creeds , who , like us , can reverently acknowledge " our Father which is in Heaven , " who can be fellow-workers with us in all those deeds of humaniiarian beneficence and charity , which the Sacred Word enjoins , or

even " humanitarianism " applauds . But beyond that we cannot and do not go . To some minds we go too far , to some we do not go far enough ; but Freemasonry like truth rejoices in a " via media , " and rejects none who can conscientiously say we believe in , accept , trust in , worship T . G . A . O . T . U ., the common Master , Sovereign , and

Providential Arbiter . of mankind . Now we know that it is exactly this question which has been assailed by the positivists , the nihilists , the materialists , as well as the Ultramontanes of the day , for extremes always meet . In the Grand Orient of Fiance , unfortunately , the views of a thoroughly destructive party have got the upper hand , and it is much to be feared that when

the question arises in the " Rite Ecossais " " can Atheists be admitted ? " owing to their having already tampered with the strictness of their own tolerant and enlightened profession of faith , they will have no logical course open ,

but to still further explain away their moderate avowal even of a " Principe Createur . " Neither to positivism , nor nihilism , nor materialism , much less to Ultramontanism , will such an avowal be satisfactory , and it will be seen that nothing will suit the

movement party , but to make a " tabula rasa " of all declarations , which avow not only belief in a personal God , but belief in God at all , unless indeed we are contented with the subterfuge of a "Principe Createur , " a "Force Superieure , " which may mean anything or nothing , and is only a

Jesuitic evasion of a grave difficulty . We hope that our forebodings may not be fulfilled , but we have great fears for the future , we confess . Knowing what has been for some time going on better than most people , we cannot but feel the outlook to be dreary and disheartening in the

extreme . But we have this one consolation , the great family of Anglo-Saxon Masonry remains true to the ancient principles and the " good old ways . " It moves on , heedlets of censure or criticism , of doubt or disavowal , of the dilemmas

of positivism , of the violence of unbelief , and adheres faithfully and firmly to the Koek of Ages , upholding as before the world its unchanged and unchanging belief in the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man .

The Progress Of Masonic Literature.

THE PROGRESS OF MASONIC LITERATURE .

We have often alluded to this subject before , and wc recur to it now with mingled feelings of pleasure and pain . If on the one hand it be true that wo see before us many valuable works issuing

The Progress Of Masonic Literature.

from the Cosmopolitan Masonic Press , day by day , we cannot also but feel how much labour is thrown away , how many sacrifices are made in vain , when we realize the paucity of Masonic readers , the unproductiveness of Masonic literat ure . It is somewhat humiliating to us as an

Order , is it not ? the undoubted fact , that almost all Masonic literature is carried on unremunera . lively , and that owing either to the apathy or indolence of Freemasons admirable serials and papers " go down " constantly , because simply " starved to death" for want of sympathy and

support . Neither do the greater works fare better than the "lighter array , " nor are the stand ing works of reference more eagerly sought afte . than the ephemeral pamphlets of the hour . Why is this ? H ow can this " paradox " almost , be accounted for , that an intelligent fraternity

disregards its own literature , nay , and deprecates its " own honest wares of literary ability and effort , which otherwise in the wide open market might find purchasers and readers . We cannot explain it , we never could explain it , except on this one supposition , — that

Freemasons are too busy to read Masonic literature , and that the " sociability " of Freemasonry has the principal attraction for the large majority of its members . We are not , however , going to make a complaint against " Masonic sociability , " inasmuch as it is a good thing in its way , but we

think it right to mention the fact , the non-popularity of Masonic literature , and leave it simply to the appreciation of the intelligent , and the consideration of the educated in our esteemed Order . We are glad to-day to mention , with feelings of just pride , Bro . Fort ' s " Antiquities of

freemasonry , a very remarkable book , Bro . D . Murray Lyon ' s " History of the Lodge of Edinburgh , " Bro . Findel ' s " History of Freemasonry , " as modern Masonic works of great merit . When it is boldly stated , as it sometimes is , by the ignorant , and

accepted as a fact by the credulous , that Freemasonry has no literature , we can boldly call the attention of the " Maligner" to works like these , which would reflect credit on any association , simply as literary works of hi gh excellence , but which , owing to the difficulties attendant on

all Masonic histtry , criticism , and " Belles Lettres" are not sufficiently appreciated , though they are worthy of all gratitude and commendation . We trust sincerely that we too ere long shall boast of " reading Masons " amongst us , and that that mighty wave of intellectual study

and advance which is sweeping before it the "dry withered leaves " of often too easily contented days , may bear us Freemasons on its " crest " to share in the student labours of our enquiring epoch , and to develope the benefits and importance of Masonic literature .

The London Masonic Charity Association.

THE LONDON MASONIC CHARITY ASSOCIATION .

We have thought it well to add a few words of explanation in our pages , which the necessary condensed report in last Freemason did not permit , and to call attention to a fuller report in our columns this week . It will be seen

that our esteemed and gallant Bro . Col . Creaton who was the first chairman of the Association , has felt that a question had arisen , which he could only truly answer , by ceasing to take an official and active part in the administration of an association of which he perfectly saw the

need , and is prepared to uphold Ihe value . He is , as our brethren and readers are aware , very often Chairman ofthe Quarterly Courts , and especially of the Courts for Elections , andjic had , we believe , been remarked , that there was something a little incompatible in any one brother filling two such

positions at the same time . We probably should laugh at any such idea , but our gallant brother felt that as chairman of a meeting pledged to absolute impartiality , and as the rules of the institution properly preclude any of the officials taking any part in elections , he should in this , as

he was sure to do , set a good example , and so , though very reluctantly , he resigned the chairmanship of the London ' Jlasonic Charity Association . We shall allcommend his clear sense of what is due to Masonic impartiality and his abstract and concrete realization of duty . We may add ,