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IMPORTANT NOTICE .

We have great p leasure in announcing that we have decided to publish THE FREEMASON —commencing ivith Volume III ., January 1 st ,

1870—on toned paper , and with old-faced type , similar to that used b y the Pall Mall Gazette and other high-class publications .

The size will also be permanently enlarged to Sixteen Pages , and , toith other improvements contemplated , THE FREEMASON will then be the leading weekl y organ of the Craft throughout the globe .

Births, Marriages, And Deaths.

Births , Marriages , and Deaths .

BIRTHS . . CALDCLKOGH . —On the 4 th instant , at 1 , Queen ' s-crescent Haverstoclc-hill , the wife of Bro . Dr . Simon Caldcleugh ( P . M . Lodge 173 ) , of a daughter . GKANT . —On the 30 th ultimo , at 182 , Broomielaw-street , Glasgow , the wife of Bro . Richard Grant ( P . G . S . Lodge Clyde , 408 ) , of a son .

DEATHS . BAIT . —On the 13 th inst ,, at Worlabye , Roeliampton , Bro . the Rev . Thomas Jack Baty , M / l .. late Fellow of Sydney Sussex College , Cambridge , ( S . W . Lodge of Harmony , No . 255 , Richmond ) , aged 36 ; and on the 14 th instant , Ettrude Laura Margaret , only daughter of the above , aged 5 years and 3 months .

LAMBERT . —On the 12 th instant , at the Hotel Meuricc , Boulogne sur-Mer , Bro . Charles Femley Lambert , of Chateau du Crocq , Samer pas de Calais , eldest surviving son of the late Francis Lambert , of 12 , Coventry-street , London , and Acton , deeply and deservedly regretted .

MACBAK . —On the 7 th inst ., at D 2 , AVest-street , Glasgow , aged 2 years and 8 months , Jean Mills , daughter of Bro . Peter Macrae , B . B . Lodge Clyde , No . 408 . WITHAIX On 11 th inst ., at Bell Cottage , Dulwich , aged 8 months , AValter Horace , youngest son of Bro . William Withall , of the Panmure Lodge , No . 720 .

Answers To Correspondents.

Answers to Correspondents .

—?—All communications for Tim PKEEJIASO . V should be written legibl y , on one side of the paper only , and , if intended for insertion in the current number must be received not later than 10 o ' clock a . m . on Thursdays , unless in very special cases . The name und address of every writer must be sent to us in conlidcncu

AV . C . —On enquiry we are informed that the dimensions of the Hall are as follows : —About SO feet in length , 83 to 35 feet in breadth , and about 30 feet in height . M . M ., R . A ., St , James Border Union , No . 421 . — If you will call at 3 , Little Britain , we may be able to introduce you into a lodge , the warrant for which has just been

granted . Bring your own , and your father ' s certificate with you . VERITAS . —AVe rejoice at your approval of our sentiments , and we arc happy to say that thousands of the Craft give us credit for expressing our views in plain , honest language upon every subject that may come under our noticft .

Cnux . —Acs ; the unfortunate Dr . Dodd was the first Grand Chaplain of the Grand Lodge of England . He expiated his offence in June , 1777 .

Books Received.

BOOKS RECEIVED .

We are indebted to the following Grand Bodies for volumes of their proceedings : — Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania , 1809 . Giaud Lodge of Louisiana , 1809 . Grand Lodge of Colorado , 1 SG 8 . Grand Lodge of Massachusetts , Report of Committee ,

1869 . Grand Orient of Franco , Bulletins for several months , 1869 . Grand Chapter of Canada , 1809 . Grand Chapter of Texas , 1809 . Grand Chapter of Pennsylvania , 18 G 8 . Graud ( ommaudery of New York , Statutes and Regulations , 186 S .

WE have great pleasure in announcing that Bro . W . J . Hughan , the eminent Masonic author , ia preparing a series of articles for THE

FREEMASON , to he entitled " Masonic Historians . No . 1 , on Bro . J . G . Findel , of Leipzig , will appear in No . 43 , the first number of our Third Volume .

Report of the Consecration of Stability Chapter , No . 217 , will appear in our next . In type : Reports of St . George ' s Red Cross Conclave , tho Cornubiau K . T . Conclave , Ipswich Victoria Chapter of Hose Croix , mid other interesting matter for which we have not space this week .

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CljcJreemasint, SATURDAY , DECEMBER 18 , 1869 .

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THB FKKBMASON is published on Saturday Mornings iu time for the early trains . Tho price of Tun FKHEMASOIT is Twopence per week ; quarterly subscription ( including postage ) 3 s . 3 d . Annual Subscription , 12 s . Subscriptions payable in advance . All communications , letters , & c , to be addressed to tho EDITOR , 3 & -1 , Little liritain , K . C . Tbe Kditor will pay careful attention to all MSS . entrusted to him , but cannot undertake to return them unless accompanied by postage stamps .

Rough And Perfect Ashlars.

ROUGH AND PERFECT ASHLARS .

THE choice of good material for an edifice intended to endure is an imperative duty on the part of the architect or builder . Unsound timber , ill-burnt bricks , crumbling granite , are unceremoniously rejected by the superintendent of the

¦ work , when he is , as he ought to be , a man of integrity and honour . The same principle should guide us in our selection of material for the construction of a temple , grander by far than any mansion or palace—a temple composed of living

stones , cemented together by the bond of fraternity and affection—a temple which , in a word , is Freemasonry . Now it cannot be gainsaid , that there is a lack of caution in the admission of candidates into

the Order which is painful to all thoughtful brethren , and absolutely perilous to the stability of the institution itself . A . B . proposes C . D . for initiation , because lie has met C . D . occasionally , either in business or otherwise , thinks

him a good fellow , and knows nothing against liia character . The brethren of A . B . ' s lodge knowing him to be a fair sample of humanity , accept O . D . without the slightest inquiry . C . D . is initiated , and within a brief period he figures

in the gazette as a bankrupt under " shady " circumstances , or mayhap is advertised in the " Hue and Cry , " as having levanted to parts unknown with sundry incumbrances , in the shape of pieces of gold and silver , to which other parties not

unreasonably fancy they have a prior claim . In other instances which have fallen under our own observation , tho newly-admitted brother turns out to be an incorrig ible sot , whose proclivities in that respect must , to some extent at least , have

been known to his proposer . Or if he be free from those more hideous failings , he sometimes proves to be a Marplot , a thorough cynic , an unmitigated " disagreeable , " never better pleased than when disturbing the harmony of the

lodge aud promoting dissensions amongst its members . We want stricter enquiry into the antecedents of our candidates ; we want greater discrimination on the part of . the proposers and seconders , and if the institution is to hold its

own in the estimation of mankind , inflexible rules and regulations on these heads must bo enforced by the rulers of the Craft . At present tho use of the ballot-box in many English lodges is a perfect farce ; " yea " being looked for

by the brethren witli as much certainty as they expect receipts for their subscriptions , indeed so much is this the case , that when a few bold and uprig ht men have the courage to blackball an obnoxious candidate , vague threats are held out

to them about the " Board of General Purposes , " " suspension , " aud so forth , as if they had been guilty of some great crime . This is contrary to ono of tho first principles

of Freemasonry , and although we deprecate tho improper use of the black ball as much as any one can , we must maintain the indefeasible right of every brother to exercise his own judgment in tho selection of members

Rough And Perfect Ashlars.

of his lodge , and to reject all upon whose reputation there rests a stain of misconduct or crime . On the other hand , we would rigorously punish the Mason who betrays the great trust reposed in him , for the purpose of indulging in

personal or vindictive feelings ; one , for instance , who would exclude E . F ., because he is ' proposed by G . H ., or is a friend of J . L . Such a man is simply desecrating the Masonic sanctuary by the introduction of his own base passions . "We are

taught that " perfection is not given to man , " and we can make allowances for many shortcomings and errors . We know that the high standard of morality which it is the privilege of the Masonic Order to unfold for our guidance , is one

seldom—perhaps never—to be fully attained by mortal men , but we should all nevertheless strive to conform our lives and actions to its precepts , and to avoid placing stumbling-blocks before the uninitiated world .

It ought to be our constant study to demonstrate what Freemasonry really is by our own conduct ; to show that the solemn ceremonies , the august rites , in which we have participated , tend to make us better men in every relation of

life . A great responsibility therefore rests upon the conscience of every upright brother when he proposes what our Continental freres call a " profane " for admission to our mysteries , and nothing but a thorough conviction of the moral

fitness of the neophyte should induce him to incur this responsibility . We have too many " rough ashlars , " too many warped and wormeaten planks , in the building •there are individuals in the Masonic Order now who

ought never to have been admitted , and whose continued connection with a fraternity like ours is a reproach and a disgrace . If we cannot get rid of such men , let us at least bo more careful for the future ; let us reflect that every one who

enters our portals becomes a member of a society whoso princip les are founded upon honour and virtue , and that the fact of his being a Freemason will entitle him to the recognition , companionship , and friendship of the best men of every clime and creed .

We have no right to admit men tainted with ignoble vices into a brotherhood of the free , the wise , and the good . We have no right to confer the inestimable privileges of our Order upon persons whose deeds will give the lio to all its

teachings •we have no right to lcaveu the mass of truth and integrity with samples of mental and moral depravity . The desire to increase our numbers must not bo allowed to sway our minds . Freemasonry does not depend upon numerical

strength for its influence ; nay , tho reverse is the case wlieu the material is otherwise than " perfect ashlars . " This is a subject which comes home to every Mason ; many must have seen with sorrow instances like those to which we refer ,

aud it behoves all to make a vigorous effort for reform in this direction , for let us bo assured that with true men as the pillars of our temple ,

Freemasonry can never be shaken from its loftyseat , but will remain throughout the revolving cycles of time a perfect monument of Wisdom , Strength , and Beauty .

WE deeply regret to learn ( from Pomeroy ' s New York Democrat ) that our esteemed confrere of tho New York Dispatch , Bro . R . D .

Holmes , is seriously indisposed ; but wo sincerely trust soon to hear that the G . A . O . T . U . hasrestored him to health , and to the sphere of hia useful Masonic labours .