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NOTICE .

Many complaints having been received of the difficulty exjierienced in procuring the Freemason in thc City , the publisher begs to append the following list , being a selected few of the apjiointcd agents : — Abbott , Wm ., East-cheap . Bates , Pilgrim-street , Ludgatc-hill . Born , H ., 11 ; , London-wall .

Dawson , Wm ., 121 , Cannon-street . Gilbert , Jas ., 18 , Gracechurch-street . Guest , Wm ., 54 , Paternoster-row . Phillpott Bros ., 65 , King William-street . Pottle , R ., 14 , Royal Exchange . May also be obtained at W . H . Smith & Son ' s Bookstalls at the following City Stations : —

Broad-street . I Holborn Viatluct . Cannon-street . | London Bridge . Ludgate Hill .

To Our Readers.

TO OUR READERS .

The Freemason is a sixteen page weekly newspaper , price 2 d . It is published every Friday morning , and contains the most important and useful information relating to Freemasonry in every tlegree . Annual subscription in the United Kingdom , Post free , 10 / . Brethren in foreign parts , wishing to have this newspaper sent them regularly from ths office of publication , should , in sending their remittances , add tc the 2 d . per week the postage on 2 oz .

newspapers . The Freemason may be procured through any newsagent in the United Kingdom by giving ( if needed ) the publisher ' s address , 198 , Fleet-st .

All communications , correspondence , reports , & c , must be addressed to the Editor . Advertisements , change in address , complaints of difficulties in procuring Freemason , & c , to the Publisher , 198 , Fleet-st ., London , E . C .

Careful attention will be paid to all MSS . entrusted to the Editor , hut he cannot undertake to return them unless accompanied by stamp directed covers .

To Advertisers.

TO ADVERTISERS .

The Freemason has a large circulation in all parts of the Globe , its advantages as an advertising medium can therefore scarcely be overrated . For terms , position , & c , apply to GEORGE KENNING , 198 , Fleet-st .

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 12 o ' clock on Wednesday morning . The following communications stand over . Reports of Lodges 177 , 206 , 228 , 673 , 913 , 1057 , 1085 , E . G . ; Royal Order of Scotland ; Prov . G . Lodge , Lancaster

and Chester ; Red Cross Conclave , 97 ; Newton Abbot ; No . 75 , Dublin ; Prov . Grand Lodgeof Kent ; Freemasonry at Constantinople . We have received Bro . Tew ' s letter , Bro . Perrot ' s new circular , and a letter from the four masters , but in the best interests of the Order we adhere to our former resolution of non-publication .

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TheFreemason, SATURDAY , J 17 , 187 . 5 .

The Boys School Anniversary.

THE BOYS SCHOOL ANNIVERSARY .

We concluded our article last week with the words , " We congratulate Bro . Binckes . " We reiterate them to-day . For certainly the meeting of Wednesday was a full endorsement of his views , and a complete justification of his proposals . No more thoroughly distinct expression

of the approval of the Order , of his unremitting efforts for the Boys' School , ever was accorded to any of the officials of any of our institutions . Bro . Binckes may indeed feel deeply gratified with the result of the festival , and as deeply grateful for the marked satisfaction and support of the

Order . We say nothing here of the munificent amount of - £ 12 , 700 , munificent though it in truth be , and reflecting tbe highest credit on all concerned . We may add " en passant , " that we have some reason to be proud of our good old Craft , which in the year of grace 1875

collects nearly £ 27 , 000 for our time great charitable institutions . But putting even the almost startling climax of so many zealous labours , and doubts , and anxieties on one side , we are glad to look on the proceedings of Wednesday as a satisfactory proof of the deep interest in the

Boys' School felt by our entire fraternity . It is to that , we think , that Bro . Binckes may fairly and rightly appeal as the best answer to any cavils , and the truest response to any idle complaints . The Boys' School is a necessity for the Order , a great , an abiding , a pressing necessity ,

The Boys School Anniversary.

and anything which would tend to lessen its character , or to hinder its progress , is to be discountenanced and repudiated by every true Freemason . Some questions have cropped up lately , into which , for the best interests of the Boys' School and of Freemasonry , we did not

think it befitting to enter in our columns , and we mean to continue our " reticence" in this respect . There were evidently personal feelings and personal controversies at the bottom , whether of letters , or pamphlets , or circulars , and we therefore decline to make

the Freemason the medium of communication of all these untoward discussions to the brethren at large . We felt , too , as we feel still more strongly now , that Bro . Binckes might fairly claim , from us especially , fair play . He is placed in a most responsible position , he has carried

through a gigantic undertaking , his labours of years alike untiring and praiseworthy have been rewarded with signal success , and he has , we do not hesitate to say , deserved well of his own committee , and of Freemasons generally . Sympathizing as we do alike with his past endeavours

to promote the efficiency and enlarge the utility of the Boys' School , believing as we do moreover that there are very few of our brethren , if any , who could have done what he has had to do , often too amid severe difficulties , and heavy discouragements , we heartily rejoice in

being able to offer to Bro . Binckes to-day , not only our " hearty good wishes " but our sincere congratulations . He may , and probably will , remember long with a grateful and gratifying memory , that amid the childish inculpations of our great Order , by the ignorant or mendacious , it has been given to him to evoke from our

benevolent organization one of the largest contributions to Masonic charity whjch Freemasonry has ever witnessed . May all of success attend the Boys' School , and may the happy result of 1873 be the foundation for it of a new funded capital , and an augury of successful labours , and of a prosperous Institution .

The Admission Of New Members.

THE ADMISSION OF NEW MEMBERS .

Bro . Hervey , the Grand Secretary , at the consecration of the Chaucer Lodge on July the 2 nd , directed most of his weighty remarks to this very important point . He said that " the Order was no doubt enjoying great material prosperity , a prosperity almost unexampled in its history , but

that this very prosperity constituted both a trial and a danger . Freemasonry , owing to its large numerical increase , and the flourishing state of its institutions , had a good deal apparently to offer to some , and to promise to nic-ft" * " Hence , there was not only a very large number of

applicants for the light of Freemasonry , but it was just possible , that , owing to various circumstances at the present time , the desire for admission would be continuous and increasing . He felt then it to be his duty kindly to point out to the

W . M . and officers , and brethren of the new lodge , the necessity incumbent on them of caution and care . Not every one that asked to be numbered amongst onr brethren had therefore a right to expect or claim to be received . The brethren were bound to observe a strict " surveillance "

over all applicants for initiation , and unless they were persons who , by their respectability of character , and courtesy of demeanour , their general bearing , and their known qualifications , were likely to be careful and valuable members of lodges , the brethren ought to hesitate , and

they ought to be on their guard against an indiscriminate admission of candidates , simply because they were able to pay their fees , and were at present in a position even of wealth and respectability . Many brethren hastily admitted turned out to be great nuisances in their lodges ,

and were very difficult indeed to get rid of . The brethren should remember that it was " quality " not "' quantity , " which as Freemasons they shonld most have respect to , and a lodge with a few good men and true was far better ,

in his opinion , than the most numerous lodge composed of indifferent or fair weather Masons . He confessed that he looked with some little apprehension on the present tendency to admit new members somewhat hastily , and he had thought it well specially to

The Admission Of New Members.

call the attention of Bro . Sabine and his officers and brethren to a topic which , though not interesting , perhaps , and somewhat heavy , was yet of intense importance to the future welfare of the Craft . The drain on our charitable funds , and the claims on our

Institutions , were very large , and rapidly augmenting , and he could not help ascribing some of the present pressure to a little laxity in regard of careful selection of new members . " Our brother , the Grand Secretary , always speaks with great moderation and singular clearness , and

his words always deserve , as they always receive , the attention of the brethren at large . We quite agree with all he has so opportunely said , and so well expressed , and we feel how k _ - portant it is , that the lodges everywhere should weigh well these truthful statements , and this

valuable advice . It is no doubt a temptation to new lodges , probably to all lodges , to increase rapidly the roll of its associates , but we venture to think , that in no case are those old words more true , than as regards Masonic Lodges , " festina lente . " Let nothing tempt a lodge ever

to overlook the Masonic and prudential duty of sifting and selection . Freemasonry is strong , as well in the character of its adepts as in the principles of its profession , and no more serious blow could be administered to its true

stability and progressing permanency , than any relaxation of thc time-honoured axioms of our Order , care and attention as regards all candidates for admission and acceptance in our venerable and worthv sodality .

Masonic Toleration.

MASONIC TOLERATION .

It seems almost superfluous to speak to Freemasons about Toleration , as it is in one respect , so to say , the keystone of the great Masonic arch which spans the world in which we live . But yet , as we all of us are aware , it is not

always the most obvious and well-spoken truths which we accept and work out , if we may so express ourselves , in our daily practice and walk in life . Some truths are so well-known to us that we almost forget them from their very

familiarity , or overlook them from their oldfashioned triteness . And though as Freemasons we often profess Toleration , and though Toleration constitutes a great Masonic grace and virtue in the eyes of the best teachers and the truest

children of Freemasonry , yet we think we can trace somo little " indiciae " in the passing events and utterances of the day , which serve to convince us , at any rate , that some of us , whatever we may know of Toleration in the letter ,

have yet to learn its spirit . For what is Toleration ? And what is , we may further ask , Masonic Toleration ? Toleration in its essence is that active and gentle quality of the mind which is elevated above the depressing and

contracting influences of party spirit , of sectarian difference , of national hatreds , and personal prejudice . Toleration accepts the differences of opinion , and the contradistinction of creeds , as knowing well that they do and must exist in the

world , and that as there is not a monopoly of truth , just as there is not a monopoly of anything else , people must " agree to differ . " Toleration does not necessarily imply laxity of opinion , or indifference , or scepticism , or stoicism , as some

hot-headed writers have often hastily argued . On the contrary , Toleration may and does exist when a person is very fully persuaded of the " faith that is in him , " and when he sees very clearly in his own humble and reverent mind the

way in which he ought to go , and the way , moreover , at all hazards to himself . Toleration would lift itself and us , with its kindly sympathies , above the passing differences and

controversies of mankind , and would bid us all believe , in the words of the wittiest poet of the nineteenth century , " While zealots fast and frown , And fight for two or seven ,

That there are fifty roads to town , And rather more to Heaven . " Toleration would say to us all equally , " Judg e not your brother , to his own great Master he standeth or falleth . Do not suppose that you yourself alone are right , and everybody else wrong in the world . " And thus it comes ' to pas *