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To ADA-ERTISERS . THE Circulation of THE F REEMASON being now at the rate of nearly Haifa- 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 ; ancl 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 , Sc 4 , LITTLE BRITAIN , LONDON , E . C .

Births, Marriages, And Deaths.

Births , Marriages , and Deaths .

DEATHS . CATES . —On the 7 th inst ., at AVilton Mews , Bslgravesquare , Bro . Henry Gates , P . M . Lodge 192 , deeply lamented , FISHER . —On the 12 th inst ., at his residence , No . 2 , St . George ' s-road , Bro . Henry Fisher , of the Manchester Lodge , No . 1 79 , and of Victoria Station Pimlico . LANE . —On the 9 th inst ., aged 18 , Arthur , youngest son of Bro . John Edward Lane , of Lodge 504 , The Nurseries , Great Berkhamstead .

Answers To Correspondents.

Answers to Correspondents .

E . COLLINSON . —AVe confess that we never heard of the " Black Masons " or the "Grand Black Institution " before , but if you will favour us with a few particulars , we shall be in a better position to judge . PlULALETHES . —AVe must decline any further correspondence on the subject , having already given every scope and facility to a fair hearing of both sides .

A DOMESTIC DRAMA . —To whom are we indebted for this mysterious production ? AVho is Alchemia , with his mitra ' dleur of expletives ? and who Andronicum , with his olla podrida of maudlinism and Masonry ? A P . M . —Yes ; the change was effected by the Grand Lodge of England on the 27 th November , 1725 , when the motion being made that such part ofthe 13 th article of the General Regulations relating to thc making of

Masters only at a Quarterly Communication might be repealed , and that the Master of each lodge , with the consent of his AVardens and the majority ofthe brethren , being Masters , may make Masters at their discretion , the same was agreed to without a dissentient voice . BRO . J YARKER . —AVe deeply regret to inform you that by some untoward accident your "Templar " letter , and notes on the "Son of Salathiel's" article have been mislaid .

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BOOKS RECEIVED . Our fraternal thanks are due to R . AV . Bro . George S . Blackie , M . D ,, Assistant Grand Secretary of thc Masonic Bodies of Tennessee , for copies of the Proceedings of the Grand Lodge , Chapter , Council , and Commandery of that State . Also to 111 . Bro . Thevenot , Grand Secretary ( Chef du Secretariat ) of France , for a copy of the Calendar of the Grand Orient for 1870 .

Also to E . Sir Knight AA . Tinkler , Grand A'ice-Chancellor of England , for a Calendar of thc Masonic Knights Templar and Knights of Malla , 1 S 70 . Also to E . Sir Knight R . Wentworth Little , Grand Recorder , for a copy of the Annual Report of the Masonic Order of Knights of the Red + of Rome and Constantine , with Statement of Accounts and List of Conclaves , 1870 .

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TheFreemason, SATURDAY , SEPTEMBER 17 , 1870 .

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THE FKBEMASON is published on Saturday Mornings in time for the early trains . The price of Tim FREEMASON is Twopence per week ; quarterly subscription ( including postage ) 3 s . 3 d . Annual Subscription , iss . Subscriptions payable in advance . All communications , letters , & c , to be addressed to the EDITOB , 1 , 3 , and 4 , Little Britain , E . C . The Editor will pay careful attention to all MSS . entrusted to liimbut cannot undertake to return them unless accompanied by postage stamps .

True Fraternity.

TRUE FRATERNITY .

THERE is no taunt more freely flung at the Masonic body than thc one which attributes to Freemasons selfishness in tlie exercise of their benevolence . The superficial observer

of the fraternal feeling which cements and compresses the whole Masonic structure together almost invariably arrives at the somewhat illogical conclusion that because

True Fraternity.

our special care is for the "household ofthe faithful" we are utterly oblivious of the griefs and necessities of all the world beside . " I grant you , " says one of these Solons ,

" that the Freemasons are a very charitable association , but their solicitude is confined to members of their own fraternity , and

their finances are disbursed only to those who possess the shibboleth of Masonry . " NOAV , supposing this charge Avere true , is it such a heinous offence after all ? Do Ave

not see instances every day of societies being formed to produce certain definite results , and of hospitals being founded for the treatment of special diseases ? We might

just as Avell quarrel with the English Church Union for not circulating tracts in favour of Socinianism , or Avith the authorities of the

hospital for consumptive cases if they refused to receive fever patients , as to find fault Avith charitable or benevolent societies for

restricting the appropriation of their own funds to the benefit of their own members . This is , Ave submit , the common-sense vieAv of the matter ; and , moreover , no one Avill

venture to deny that there must be set rules for the due administration of all funds , Avhether they be dedicated to general or specified objects or not .

But as there are exceptions to every rule , so Ave find that Avhen great emergencies occur , the gold and the silver of the Craft and of other kindred sodalities , are Avillingly

poured out for the good of the greater number , irrespective of the interests of the few . Leaving private benefactions entirely out of the question , can it bc gainsaid that

the Grand Lodges of Freemasonry—and we may quote as a conspicuous example our OAvn " venerable mother , " the Grand Lodge of England—can it , Ave repeat , be denied

that they have ever been ready to contribute their quota for the relief of sufferers in many a sudden and terrible calamity ? One thousand pounds for the Patriotic

Fund—one thousand pounds for the Indian Mutiny Fund , a similar sum for the succour of thc distressed Lancashire operatives , and a lesser donation for the victims of an

earthquake in Peru—these are some of thc most recent instances of that large-heartedness which prompts English Freemasons to deeds of kindness and mercy . Let it not be

said that Ave boast of these acts , or that Ave Avish to parade them before thc Avorld as a palliation for our supposed manifold crimes . They are , as every Craftsman knows , only

the natural fruits of those sublime teachings Avhich are found in every branch of our ancient Order . They are but the visible signs of that developed intelligence Avhich

regards the nations of the earth as one brotherhood—of that spirit Avhich vibrates to the joys and the griefs , to the happiness , or thc misery , ofthe Avhole human race .

Therefore to those Avho taunt us Avith the special consideration which is ever manifested towards their brethren by members of the

Craft , Ave may very fairly say , " Suspend your judgment until you arc really in a position to judge ; study the history of our fraternity in every age , and then reproach

True Fraternity.

us Avith . selfishness—if you can . " At the present moment our sympathies as men and as Masons are peculiarly aroused by the war Avhich desolates a neighbouring country ;

we are all truly sensible of the AVOCS and horrors which afflict many a Continental home . The Terror of blood stalks through the fairest fields of France , and Europe

stares aghast at the gloom which overhangs her future . Be it ours to shed a gleam of light upon the darkness of the strife ; be it ours to pour the healing balm of consolation into the bosom of the afflicted . This is the

true mission of Masonry , and of that genuine religion which looks with an eye of adoration towards God and of compassion upon His creatures .

We have already urged upon our readers that the Avork of aiding the sick and Avounded is one in Avhich ALL can assist , and we have now the gratification to announce

that the Grand Lodge of England is prepared to do its duty . Our estimable Deputy Grand Master will propose , at an especial Communication this Aveek , that the

sum of five hundred pounds—an amount identical Avith that contributed by Her Majesty the Queen — shall be granted towards the relief of the " victims of Avar . "

Would it Avere more ; but Avhen Ave take into consideration the necessarily enormous expense of our new buildings—an outlay partly met by a loan from the Fund of

Benevolence , Avhich is still unpaid—it will be generally conceded that no larger amount could , Avith propriety , be voted at the present moment for any object not strictly Masonic , however praiseworthy .

We Avrite these lines before the brethren assemble for this beneficent purpose , but Ave feel as assured as though the event had

passed that the representatives of English Masonry Avill , with one mind and voice , sustain the Earl of Carnarvon in the

initiative Avhich he has assumed , and cheerfully vote the sum he has named to a " Society " which is doing the good Samaritan ' s Avork among the maimed and shattered soldiers of

Germany and France . Doubtless the Grand Lodges of Scotland and Ireland will folloAv suit , and beyond question an impetus Avill

bc given to private lodge subscriptions throughout thc empire by this action of the parent body .

Happily , secure ourselves , atprcsent , from the dreadful calamities of Avar , let us pity those Avho suffer in other lands . No one can , however , foretell the future , and it

may yet be thc painful lot of Englishmen to experience those AVOCS Avhich they HOAV view at a distance , and Avhich they are anxious to soothe and alleviate . This epoch

of enlightenment has vomited forth blood and tears—this era of education and progress has astounded us Avith scenes of unparalleled slaughter—but , notwithstanding

so vast a retrogression of civilisation , may it be said that , in the midst of all , the spirit of humanity still glided on its errand of

mercy , and that thc light of fratcrnitynever quite died out . Every lover of peace throughout thc