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To ADVERTISERS . THE Circulation of THE FREEMASON being now at the rate ointsxly Half-a-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 She influential and educated classes of society ; and 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 , & 4 , LITTLE BRITAIN , LONDON , E . C .

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NOTICE * The Subscription to THE FREEMASON is now i as * , per annum , post-free , payable in advance . Vol . I ., bound in cloth 4 s . 6 d . Vol . II ., ditto 7 s . 6 d . Vol . III ., ditto 15 s . od . Reading Cases to hold 52 numbers ... 2 s . 6 d .

Births, Marriages, And Deaths.

Births , Marriages , and Deaths .

DEATHS . HACKETT . —On the izthinst , at his residence , Dugdalestreet , Chilvers Coton , Bro . Dacres W . Hackett , ofthe Midland Bank , Nuneaton , J . W . of Abbey Lodge , 432 , in the 29 th year of his age , deeply regretted by a large circle of Masonic friends . HAIGH . —On the 9 th inst ., at 429 , Oxford-street , Bro . Charles Haigh , late of the Rose of Denmark Lodge , No . 975 . LACEY . —On the 26 th ult ., at his residence , Eugina Villa , Hammersmith , Bro . Edward Lacey , P . M . Lion and Lamb Lodge , 192 .

Answers To Correspondents.

Answers to Correspondents .

All communications for THE FREEMASON should be uritt . n legibly n one side of the paper only , and , if intended for insertion in the current number , must be 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 .

VV . GAREY . —Thank you for the extract ; it will appear . R . W . Bro . KELLY , Prov . G . M . Leicester . —Your contribution will appear next week . F . L . E . —The J . W . is to examine visitors , mostly accompanied by a P . M . The laws and regulations as to lodges of instruction are all contained in the Book of Constitutions .

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The Freemason , S ATURDAY , F EBRUARY 18 , 1871 .

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TH _ FUKMASON il published on Saturday Mornings in time for Ike tally trains . T _ e _ price of THE FKKKMASON is Twopence per week ; annual ¦¦ hscription , los . ( payable in advance ) . All communications , letters , & c , to be addressed to the EDITOR I , 1 , and 4 , Little Britain , E . C . The Editor will pay careful attention to all MSS . entrusted to him wt Manot undertake to return them unless accompanied by postace

England And America.

ENGLAND AND AMERICA .

THE departure of the Earl de Grey and Ripon for America upon a most important mission , cannot fail to have been noticed by our readers , and we believe there is

scarcely a member of the English Craft who does not wish success to the message of peace and conciliation which the Most

Worshipful Grand Master of England conveys to the citizens of the great Transatlantic Republic .

It is no business of ours , as a Masonic journalist , to discuss the political bearings or the moral justice of the Alabama claims j nqf Is It within our province

England And America.

to pronounce any oracular judgment upon the point of disputed fishery rights ; but as the representative of a vast organization of peace-loving men , we hail with

unfeigned delight the prospect of an immediate settlement of those vexed questions which have for some time past disturbed , and almost imperilled , the harmony which

should ever prevail between the two great branches of the Anglo-Saxon race . It is also our privilege to rejoice that the olivebranch has been confided to a statesman

who holds so high a rank in the Masonic fraternity of England , and who will , doubtless , pursue his difficult but honourable task in a spirit of candour , equity , and

truth . Moreover , we believe that the same spirit will actuate the distinguished men who are associated with Lord de Grey as the

exponents of English views , and that the Commissioners who have been selected to act on behalf of the American Government

will likewise be guided by a far-reaching perception ofthe lasting advantages to be derived by both nations from the results of

the forthcoming conference . A great deal has been said and written about the common origin of Englishmen

and Americans—about their community of faith and identity of language—but the world's history proves that these links are in themselves insufficient to bind men

together in the bond of friendship unless strengthened by kindly acts and tokens of mutual affection . Again , it must not be forgotten that ,

although the Anglo-Saxon element still prevails in the United States , there is a powerful and rapidly-increasing Teutonic element , and an equally powerful Celtic

element , which may eventually obtain great sway in the Republic ; and it may be added that neither of those elements is particularly friendly towards England .

We do not , however , wish to descend to the low stand-point of mere policy ; but we say deliberately that the goodwill and alliance of our American friends ought to

be courted by every honourable means , because they are allied to us , not only in blood , but in the exercise of those principles of civil and religious liberty so little

known and practised by other nations . The time may yet come when the earth shall witness a final struggle between the powers of despotism and the champions of

freedom , and in that day the might of America will count for much . A people now numbering forty millions , and increasing at the rate of 20 per cent , in each

decade—a territory of almost boundless extent , rich in resources of every kindsuch is the prospect presented to our view by the American Republic ; and it is one

which may well make us ponder over the probabilities of the future . The alliance of Albion and her giant-child Columbia will

ever be a guarantee of the world ' s liberties and of civilisation—a stumbling-block to tyrants and slaves . Fortunately , there is no reason to dread the outbreak of such a calamity as war

England And America.

between two such powers ; but we want more than this negative satisfaction , we desire to see the most intimate and cordial relations established between the two

countries , so that both shall march side by side in the van of human progress . The cultivation of feelings of amity and mutual respect should therefore be the constant aim

of all enlightened statesmen on either side of the Atlantic , and the mission of the Lord President of the Council may be accepted as an evidence of this sagacious policy .

Turning to the Masonic aspect of the question , it cannot be doubted that the truehearted Freemasons of the " States" will readily come forward to greet the Grand

Master of England with genuine enthusiasm upon his auspicious visit to their shores ; and the influence of such an event will be felt in the land long after our Most

Worshipful Brother ' s return to Englandan influence for good , a remembrance which will cement , let us trust for ever , the union of two free and mighty nations . It may

not be amiss to mention that Lord de Grey is accompanied by a zealous Mason in the person of Lord [ Tenterden , who will act as Secretary to the Lord President . As plain

Brother Abbott , Lord Tenterden has long been known to the London Craft , and especially to the members of the Lodge of Harmony , and the IrisChapterat Richmond ,

in both of which bodies he has occupied the principal chairs , and now holds the respective offices of Secretary and Scribe . Lord Tenterden is a really hard-working Mason ,

as a proof of which it may be mentioned that he can not only confer the various degrees of the Order with great accuracy and precision , but can also deliver that

very difficult lecture on the " Platonic Bodies , " which we had almost fancied appertained exclusively to the province of one of our best known and most respected Preceptors in Freemasonry .

Our Most Worshipful Grand Master will also be assisted in the adjustment of the delicate questions involved between England , Canada , and the United States , by

the Premier of the Dominion , Sir John Macdonald , a brother of eminence , and who fills the exalted position of representative of the Grand Lodge of England at the

Grand Lodge of Canada . Our best wishes have already been expressed for the success of their mission , and we may conclude with a hope that our Grand Master ' s stay

in the States may combine pleasure to himself personally , with profit to the international interests , which it will be his ambition to consolidate and

maintain . He will , as we have said , receive a hearty reception at the hands of American Masons , and may expect on his return a most cordial welcome from the

brethren over whom he rules ; for , however much we may differ in politics—and the political opinions of Masons differ as widely as the poles—we are all , at least , convinced

that the honour of old England could not have beenconfided to a statesman of greater sagacity or more unimpeachable integrity than the illustrious Chief of the English Craft .