Agents.

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AMERICA : Bro . J . FLETCHER BRENNAN , lid , Main street , Cincinnati , Ohio . CANADA : Messrs . Dtvia E & SON , Ottawa . CEYLON : Messrs . W . L . SKEENE & Co ., Columbo .

CONSTANTINOPLE : Bro . J . L . HANLT , Levant Times 6 ALATA : IFSICK KAHN , Perchembe Bajar . PARIS : M . D ECHEVAUX-DUMESNIL , Rue de Havlay-du-Palais , 2 U , near the Pont Neuf ; Editor Le Franc Macon . And all Booksellers and Newsagents in Great Britain and Ireland .

Births, Marriages, And Deaths.

Births , Marriages , and Deaths .

MARRIAGE . PORTER— BROWN . —On the 15 th ' inst ., at the May-street Presbyterian Church , Belfast , by the Rev . John S . Mcintosh , Bro . Jolm B . Porter ( J . D . 10 B ) , teacher , Seaman ' s Friend Society Schools , to Miss Catherine Brown , both of Belfast .

DEATHS . GACGHAN . —Recently , at his residence , Bridge-street , Tralec , aged 33 years , Bro . Thomas Gaughan ( Comp . R . A ., 379 ) , deeply regretted by the members of his lodge . GOULTY . —Oa the 7 th inst ., at Brighton , aged 39 years ,

Brother Horatio Nelson Goulty , architect and surveyor . [ A most estimable Mason , and one whom we deeply lament . —ED . FREEMASON . ] SMITH On the 2 nd inst . Major Henry F . Smith , of Clapham , E . C . Temple Crossing Encampment .

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€\tJreemmit, SATURDAY , JULY 17 , 1869 . TnB FUBBJIASON is published on Saturday Mornings in-timo for the early trains . The price of THE FHHBIHASOH" is Twopence per week ; quarterly subscription ( including postage ) 3 s . 3 d . Annual Subscription , 12 s . Subseriptionspayablo in advance . All communications , letters , & c , to bo addressed to tho EDITOR , 3 & -1 , Little Britain , te . O . The Editor will pay careful attention to all MSS . entrusted to him , but cannot undertake to return them unless accompanied by postage stamps .

Signs Of The Times.

SIGNS OF THE TIMES .

THE fact cannot be gainsayed . A fearless spirit of enquiry is abroad ; and codes , theologies , and revelations which have hitherto passed unquestioned arc now being tested with analytical minuteness in the crucible of truth . Acute

thinkers and subtle logicians have brought the artillery of reason to bear upon many venerable abuses and antiquated superstitions , and the result of their labours is seen in the wonderfull y improved condition of mankind in general . But

it is easier to demolish than to bulla , anil while admitting to it . 3 fullest extent tho ri ght of free t hought and free opinion , let us- not wautonl y destroy the beautiful in our anxiety to be wiser than our forefathers .

Among other human institutions , Freemasonry offers to the serious student a problem so unique and so complicated as to challenge investigation and solution . It presents itself to the nonmasonic observer in a variety of aspects ,

involving different and apparently irreconcileable conditions . Thus , its secrecy is a stumbling-block to those who acknowledge fully its beneficent and charitable clement , their argument bjing that what is good ought not to bo concealed .

This view arises from an utter misconception of the objects and aims of the Fraternity . Is it for a moment to be supposed that if the ceremonies of Freemasonry wero to be practised in public , and its initiatoiy rites conferred

indiscriminately upon all who chose to apply—if the good and the evil , tho ignorant and the learned , wero to be thus admitted without distinctionis it to be believed that the Order could then effect

its noble purposes with tlie same facility : or , rather , would it not shatter that bond of brotherhood which now encircles the earth with the celestial girdle of love , because we desire to link together only the tried , the faithful , and tho true ?

Signs Of The Times.

No ! Freemasonry glories in doing good by stealth , and works in silence and secrecy , although it is doubtless our hope and belief that , as civilization advances and knowledge

increases , so will the light of Freemasonry radiate more and more , until the dream of the poet becomes merged in blissful realityuntil the scattered and hostile nations are blended

into one vast and glorious " federation of the world . " In the meantime , we must act like the early Fathers of the Christian Church , who deferred the rite of baptism , as a rule , until the

catechumen had been fully instructed in the preparatory mysteries of the faith . We invite all meu of sound judgment and strict morals , and he who seeks in earnest shall find in truth .

But we cannot , we will not—we dare not dispense with those initiatory observances by whieh we arc distinguished from the body of mankind . It is not only that our ceremonies are typical of a sublime system of morality ; they are also

paths b y which the willing mind is led by wise gradations to the contemplation of the works of Nature , and the mysterious operations of tlie Divine Being . The whole p lan of the creation sustains this

theory of progression : the bud expands into the perfect flower , the chrysalis emerges from torpor and darkness into winged life and beauty . We place the alphabet in the hands of the child , while the more mature scholar exercises his

mental faculties with syllogisms or geometrical symbols . Thus it is in the speculative science of Frcemasonry—the aspirant proceeds b y regulated steps or degrees to the goal ho dosiies to reach .

It is not to be expected , however , that a system which persistentl y excludes from participation in its rites , all upon . whom the stamp of folly or vice is sot , should be very' popular , nor can wc as Freemasons regret the circumstance .

What we have most to fear is the relaxation of disci p line , in our own ranks , not the disorderly array of the foe . The admission of one improper person into the order strikes a wei g htier blow at its stability than all the platitudes of priests

or pontifls . Greater caution in the selection ol candidates—and , wc may add , in the multi p lication of lodges—is essential to the future welfare of the Knglish Craft . The most flagrant violations o { the

Constitutions are being committed day by day—members are admitted without due enquiry into their character—brethren arc advanced to ollice

without tho slig htest qualification to perform their duties , and the want of authoritative supervision is daily ami increasingly felt . Now is the time to strike a blow at the root of

the evil , for , as one result of the Prince of Wales connection with the Craft , we may expect a greater influx of candidates—many of whom will enter out of mere curiosity , or , perhaps , influenced bv more ignoble motives .

We were among the first to hail the Hei s Apparent as a brother , and apart from hj personal merits , we did so on the ground that tho I'rince is tho descendant of many illustrious Masons , whose renown we hope his lloyal Hig h-

will emulate and justly inherit . The initiation of so exalted a personage also affords a complete Answer to the vapid and hackneyed charge of disloyalty which sonic puerile minds would

fain attach to the Craft ; and , further , to quote the remarks of a very eminent brother , we are at all times g lad to welcome distinguished men , because their names alone are a guarantee to society that the objects of the Institution arc

Signs Of The Times.

j ust , lawful , and consonant with due subordination to civil government and the maintenance of order in the State . Freemasonry fears no inquiry ; she can bear unmoved the Ithuriel touch of truth , and the probe

of the most sceptical metaphysician . She alone has withstood the assaults of ages , while other institutions have passed away and mi ghtier systems have gone down quenched in the abyss of oblivion . Why ? Because her great heart throbs with the

heart of humanity ; because she is the representative of human thought , the visible Incarnation of that immortal idea which folds within its wide embrace of peace and fraternity the world at

large , without distinction of clime or creed , regarding the manifold races of the earth as the children of one common Father , and the beloved fold of one divine Shepherd .

The Druids . —Is there any similarity between the ceremonies of the ancient Druids , and those preached by a modern Society of the same name ? There is a Druid's Lodge of Love and Liberality , No . 5 S 9 , at Beclriith , on tlie roll of the Grand Lodge of England , why is it sonamed ?—SIGMA .

UNITED SOCIETY OF IRONMONGERS . —The 43 rd annual festival of this Society was celebrated on Wednesday evening , at the Freemasons' Tavern , Mr . J . 1 ) . Adams in the chair , and Mr . H . Hickson in the vice-chair . About 120 gentlemen sat down to dinner , among them being Messrs . J . P . Walliker

( Treasurer ) . Joseph bpokes Corbett , Jas . Perkins , Kobt . Wilson , Griffiths Browel , James , Arkell , Bainbridge , Chapman , W . E . Coles , 11 . Crauswick , Carr ( of Sheffield ) , Hy . Knight , Thos . Hayes , and J . Dolamorc ( Secretary ) - Letters of apology wer » received from Mr . Tick ! Pratt , Mr . Serjt . Tlndal

Atkinson , and Mr . B , W . Kenuard , who were unable to attend . Before the Chairman gave the toast of the evening , the report of the past year was read , from which it appeared that the receipts during that time had been £ G 24 14 s . Od . and the expenses A ' 3 !) 3 6 s . 9 d . ; £ 87 ( is Od . had been paid

in cases of sickness ; £ 50 iu cases of death ; £ 107 3 s . for superannuation members ; £ 72 18 s . Od . for officers' salaries ; £ 20 18 s . fid . for new books , stationery , and postage ; . £ 4 for rent and gas ; and one guinea had been returned to the widow of a man who had paid that sum , but whose membership

had not been completed when he died , ihe balance for the year in favour of the Society was therefore £ i ! 31 7 s . 3 d . which added to the funds already in hand , made £ 5085 10 s . 8 d . The Chairman congratulated the Society on such a favorable report , and proposed " Success to the United Society of Ironmongers . " The toastwas drunk , as were all the

others , with great enthusiasm and the evening was passed most agreeably , The . dinner supplied by Mr . Gosden was excellent and abundant , and the splendid singing of Miss Fanny Danielsou , a young lady who possesses a charming voice , Mr . Kerr Gedgeund Mr . Alfred Mattacks , under the direction , of Mr . B . Glenn Wesley , was repeatedly encored Mr . Thomas Spencer wa * toastmaster .

'TunBIGHT HON . TJIELAIILOF ZETLAND , M . W . G . M . Another addition to the works of ait of this country has recently been mado by a Bro . who is well-known among the Order , in the shape of a beautiful bust of the Grand Master of England iu full Masonic costume . The work baa been executed by Bro .

Morton Edwards of St . Luke s Lodge and Industry Chapter , and is to be seen at his quiet studio , 18 , Hollywood-road , The Boltons , West Brampton . Freemasons who may desire to see it , and will pay a visit to Bro . Edward's studio , will find one of the best likenesses of his lordship they have ever been

favoured with , and wehope beforelongtohearthatit has been re-produced , and is in the possession , if not of every . Freemason , at least of every Lodge and Chapter . It reflects the highest credit on tho taste and skill of Bro . Edwards , who has not forgolteu any of the minutix which make a likeness perfect .

But besides the bust of the Grand Master , Bro . Edwards is the sculptor of several other busts , among which may be mentioned some speaking likenesses of Lyndhurst , Cobden , Bright , the Lord Chief Baron , and a host of famous statesmen and lawyers , who have honoured him with sittings . Tho Princo of

Wales is among the great men who have tried the dexterity of this rising artist , and the faithfulness with which the chisel has perpetuated His Koyal Highnesses face is of itself sullicient to makothe fame of the modeller . Tl e names of Behncs and Gibson , under whom Bro . E . lwards studied , derive an additional lustre from the eminence of their pupil .