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NOTICE . The Subscripliou lo THE FRKEMASON is now ios . per annum , post-free , payable in advance . Vol . I ., bound in cloth 4 s . 6 d . Vol . II ., ditto ; s . fid . Vol . 111 ., ditto i . SS . od . . Vol . IV ,, ditto 15 s . od . Heading Cases tu hold 52 numbers ... 2 s . Oil . United States of America . THE FHKUMASOS is delivered free in any part of the United States for 12 s . per annum , payable in advance .

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gnste to Correspondents . All communications for Thc Freemason should bc written legibly on one side of thc -paper only , and , if intended t ' ov insertion in the current nnmber , must bc received not later than io o ' clock a . m . on Thursdays , unless in very special cases . The name and address of every writer must be sent to us in confidence . BKTA ( 450 I . C ) , Hamilton , Auckland .- ** - —Received from thc Secretary of this Lodge , twenty-four shillings , his subscription .

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TheFreemason, SATURDAY , AUGUST 17 , 1 S 72 .

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The Freemason is published « n Saturday Mornings hi time for thc early trains . The price of the Freemason is Twopence per week ; annual subscription , ios . ( payable in advance . ) All communications , letters * & c , to be addressed to the Editor , iyS , Fleet-street , E . C . The Kditorwill pay careful attention to all MSS . entrusted toliim , but cannot •undertake tu return them unless accompanied by postage stamps .

The Progress Of Freemasonry, And Its Consequences.

THE PROGRESS OF FREEMASONRY , AND ITS CONSEQUENCES .

Who has not witnessed the wonderful spread of the Craft with mingled feelings of congratulation and alarm ? To think that on the second decade of the last century , all the lodges known to be in existence could be counted on our

fingers , and the membership probabl y did not exceed a few hundreds , whereas now it is estimated that there are about three millions of Freemasons scattered over the globe , and the

lodges may be counted by thousands . It was a maxim , we believe , of the great Duke of Wellington , that " where numbers are small ,

caution IS necessary . In 1 * reemasonry , we must quite reverse our distinguished brother ' s opinion , as caution is the more necessary as our numbers increase .

We should like for every member of our ancient and honourable fraternity , to feel that they had a most important duty to perform , viz ., to guard carefully our portals from the intrusion

of the unworthy j and that they who neglect the sacred trust thus reposed in them , fail in realizing the responsibilities of their position , and arc actually indirect aids to inroads being made into the fair

fame ol our society . The crying evil at the present time is the apathy of those who should be our best friends iu seeking to purify our order , and render it

wholly acceptable in a moral point of view . Such Masons generally profess great regard for the Institution , and express pleasure on hearing any

time of the good achieved by our bond of brotherhood , but they do nothing themselves to increase the general prosperity of all that we

The Progress Of Freemasonry, And Its Consequences.

hold dear and sacred , and in many cases actuall y do positive injury by " throwing cold water " on the exertions of those who are engaged in work ^ mg for our charities , and in promoting the

regularity of the work , the attendance of the members , and enquiry as to the characters ofthe gentlemen who desire to be initiated . The fact is , we are disgusted with the " big talk" of these

great professors of morality , because they literally do nothing to ensure the triumph ofthe principles we all admire ; and even when most unsuitable men are proposed for initiation , they never

proceed to the lodge to record their adverse vote , though they could by a word , stop the entrance of some , who are plainly about to perjure themselves , and are only anxious to become

Freemasons , as a matter of trade speculation , 3 * et they never breathe an objection , and consequentl y they may be said , of themselves , to admit into the lodge those whose actions are known by them to

be wholly foreign to every genuine principle of Freemasonry . We have often heard such so-called Masons say , " I can ' t meet so and so in the lodge . You

are not select enough for me and my friends . Bro . , in your ranks , is a disgrace to the Order . I think well of Freemasonry , but really of late members have been admitted who are no

credit to us . " We ask , as we have done before , whose fault is this misfortune ? Who is to blame for such initiations ? Who should be visited with contempt for such neglect ? We

reply , those who stay away from the lodge when they ought to black ball the men in question ; those whose regard for Freemasonry , though professedly so strong , does not lead them to warn

the members against receiving wolves into the fold , those , in fact , who knowingly suffer wrong to be perpetrated , when it is in their power to prevent it . Among reflective Masons , it is

considered that a further increase of lodges , unless the characters of the petitioners are closel y enquired into , is fraught with danger to the Craft . We could cite many instances where warrants

have been granted on the strength of Provincial Grand Masters' recommendations , which were not reall y required , and where the districts contained even too many lodges before . In country

places , frequently , lodges are in debt , and when candidates are proposed for initiation , the money is tempting , and men who , under normal circumstances , would not be admitted , are received

as members without question ! In other lodges , men who wouhl be " black-balled " in their own towns , as utterly unworthy of the privileges of Free m a sour )* , are initiated because strangers , and

quite unknown to the members , excepting probably , the brother who proposed him , and the "seconder ! " We support , most heartily , the

proposition that non-residents should not be initiated , without enquiry of the Master of the lodge in the town in which they reside . Few London Masons have :: correct idea ns to

how this •system of initiating non-residents is carried on in the country , and though , of course , many good men are admitted under such circumstances , we lament to state that several who

would be a disgrace to any society , which values "Truth , honour , and mercy , " have thus been pitchforked into the Order . Another time , we shall likely say a few words

The Progress Of Freemasonry, And Its Consequences.

about the fees for initiation in England , Ireland , and Scotland , and the methods of enquiry adopted , as tests for membership , but at the present time we content ourselves with drawing

attention to the laxity of many as to the admission of members derogatory to our institution , the professed regard of so-called Freemasons , for for the society who are actually the " drones of

the hive , ' the " drag" to our true prosperity , and the " eye-sore " of all active , earnest labourers , on behalf of all that is great and good , because they talk , talk , talk , and do nothing ; and ,

finally , we raise our warning against the mere numerical increase of our lodges against even mere financial considerations in our lodges , and against the growing popularity of Freemasonry ,

leading many to join our ranks , who have nothing in common with the worthy of our fraternity , believing , as we do , that numbers , wealth , and

popularity , will all prove more of a curse than a blessing to our Order , unless we aim to be trul y Freemasons in thought , word , and deed .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

Craft iiliisoiu'U . CHANNEL ISLANDS .

J ERSKY . —Prince of Wales Lodge ( No . 1003 ) . This lodge was held on Wednesday , August 6 th , at the Masonic Temple , and opened b y Bro . Boullier , W . M ., supported by Bros . Fallot , S . W . ; Pitcher , J . W . ; G . Grigg , I . P . M . ; P . \ V . Benham , P . M . ; J . Blampied , Sec . ; Wm . Adams ,

P . M . ; G . J . Renouf , P . M . ; R . Binet , P . M . ; E . Gilley , S . D . ; G . Rogers , P . M . We noticed among the visitors Bros . A . Schmitt , P . M . ; P . G . " Binet , P . M . ; A . Viel , P . M . ; Jn . Oatley , P . M . ; P . F . Le Marquand , W . M . 491 ; P . O'Bryan , W . M . 958 , Sec . After the

confirmation of the minutes , Mr . Cole was initiated j the ceremony of his admission into the Great Masonic Family being admirably gone through by the W . M ., ably supported by his officers . Bro . A . Schmitt , being deputed by Bro . L'Guillot , W . M . of Lodge La Parfaite Union , a l'Or . de

llennes ( Brittany ) , who headed the French deputation , officially visiting the Province of Jersey in 186 9 , on the occasion of installation of the Prov . Grand Master , R . W . Bro . Col . Malet de Carteret , and inauguration of water-works , presented to the lodge a portrait of that

highlyesteemed brother , who has occupied the chair of K . S . during the periotl of twenty-seven years in succession , as an affectionate souvenir of his fraternal attachment and gratitude for the cordial reception the French brethren received at the hands of the Jersey Craft . Bro . Benham

immediately proposed , seconded by the AV . M ., that the portrait be fraternally accepted , and neatl y framed . A resolution was also passed , requesting Bro . Schmitt to graciously acknowledge , on behalf of the lodge , the acceptance of the portrait . The business of the day being the

presenting Bro . Benham with a testimonial expressive of the esteem in which he is held by his brethren , and an acknowledgment of his indefatigable services to the * lodge , being its First Master , the W . M . deputed Bro . A . Schmitt to perform that pleasing and interesting ceremony .

On Bro . Benham being presented , thc officiating brother addressed the reci p ient in terms worth y of the occasion , briefly passing in review his long Masonic career , full of zeal , activity , and usefulness , gently alluding to the circumstances which have led him and several other brethren to form the Prince of Wales Lodge , enumerating

his numerous services rendered to the Province , his faithful and untiring exertions in promoting the prosperity of the lodge , which has attained a proud position both in number and character . My esteemed Bro . Benham said , Bro . Schmitt , believe me I am highly gratified by the selection of the brethren of your lodge to convey to you ,