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ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION FOR AGED FREEMASONS AND WIDOWS OF FREEMASONS , CROYDON . Patron and President : H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES , K . G ., Sic , M . W . G . M . The ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL Of this Institution will take place on WEDNESDAY , 23 rd FEBRUARY , 1 SS 1 , At the FREEMASONS' TAVERN , GREAT QUEEN-STREET , LONDON , Upon which occasion LT .-COL . SIR HENRY EDWARDS , BART ., R . W . Prov . G . AL for West Yorkshire , " Has been pleased to signify his intention of presiding-. Brethren desirous of accepting the Office of Steward upen this occasion will greatly oblige by forwarding their Names and Alasonic rank , as soon as convenient , to the Secretary , who will gladly give any information required . JAMES TERRY , P . Prov . G . J . W . Herts . Secretary . 4 , Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C .

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TO OUR READERS . THE FREEMASON is published every Friday morning , price jd . nnd contains thc fullest and latest information relating to Freemasonry in every degree . Subscriptions , including Postage : — United Kingdom . Can _ W ?& tl- l "t ^^^* 13 s . 15 s . 6 d . 17 s . 6 d _ Rcmittances may be made in Stamps , but Post Office Orders or Cheques are preferred , thc former payable to GEORGE KEXXIXG , Chief Office , London , the latter crossed London Joint Stock Hank .

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TO ADVERTISERS . THE FREEMASON has a large circulation in all parts of thc Globe . In it thc official Reports of the Grand Lodges of England , Ireland , and Scotland are published with the special sanction of the respective Grand Masters , and it contains a complete record of Masonic work in this country , our Indian Empire , ami the Colonies . Thc vast accession to thc ranks of the Order during the past few years , and thc increasing interest manifested in its doings , has given the Freemason a position and influence which few journals can lay claim to , and the proprietor can assert with confidence that announcements appearing in its columns challenge the attention of a very large and influential body of readers . Advertisements for the current week's issue are received up to sW o ' ejock on Wednesday evening .

To Correspondents.

To Correspondents .

BRO . MACKENZIE . —tWc decline to publish any more letters upon the subject . It is a great pity that "AN OLD PUPII . " will not send

his name , as it is a very fitting letter to go in . VV . S . DUNCKLEV . —The Emulation Lodgeof Improvement meets every Friday evening throughout the year at seven , o ' clock . The only exception is the occasion of the annual festival , in November , when it meets at six o ' clock .

Owing to pressure on our columns the following stands over : — Lodge of Honour , No . 379 , Bath .

BOOKS , & c , RECEIVED . "Sunday Times , " "Hull Packet , " "Keystone , " "New York Dispatch , " "Night and Day , " "Cox's Monthly Legal Circular , " " Freemason ' s Calendar and

Directory for thc Province of Oxfordshire for 1 SS 1 , " "Who are the Welsh , " "Seventh Annual Report of the Hospital Saturday . Fund , " " Jewish Chronicle , " " Der Long Islaender , " "Hebrew Leader , " "Alasonic Advocate , " " Alasonic Age , " "Citizen , " "Broad A row . "

The Freemason.

THE FREEMASON .

THE correspondence wliich has taken place anent tbe "Ancient ancl Primitive Rite , " so termed , and Bro . YAKKKK has elicited one fact , whicli has conic by surprise on ourselves and many of our friends .

SATURDAY , FEBRUARY 19 , 1881

lt i » , lhat Bro . YARKI-. I" IS not now a subscribing member of any lodge or chapter under the Grand Lodge of I . nl"l , inri . We have already expressed our views decidedly as lo the evil arising from brethren discontinuing their lodge subscriptions ,

The Freemason.

and yet coming before tho world and the Craft as Masons , and as the Freemason is published with thc direct sanction of the GRAND M ASTER of English Masonry , and has always endeavoured to support the authority and prestige of Grand

Lodge , it becomes a very serious question whether it can constitutionally or Masonically allow those to contribute to its columns who belong to no "lawful lodge , " and while they enjoy the fruits bear none of the burdens of Craft Masonry .

Unwilling as we arc in thc Freemason to appear even to limit fair discussion , or to seem in any way lo impede thc flow of correspondence , though it

would be for our interest often to check it , wc shall be g lad if some of our many able friends will assist us in coming to a decision on this really important point .

SOME warm writing has taken p lace relative lo the Hig h Grades and our Hebrew brethren . We arc anxious , * therefore , to state distinctly , though it is , as far as the Freemason is concerned , pure surplusage , that as wc began our literary career , so we

continue it to day—friends to entire , supreme , and unlimited toleration . We have no " arriere pensee" in the matter , no mental reservation of any kind . We consider that thc Hebrews arc on every ground entitled to the fullest regard , respect ,

and kindly- good feeling , whether as loyal citizens or active Masons . We object to all attempts to limit their lawful claim to be admitted on Masonic princip les to the full participation of the rights and privileges of Craft Masonry . We have always

advocated their claims , and wc shall always do so , to the sympathy of their ' contemporaries , and thc goodwill of their fellow citizens . There is no reason , a priori , why a Hebrew should not be a zealous citizen and a loyal subject , and indeed their whole

history proves them to be governed by patriotic and national considerations in the hig hest degree . If it be said , as it is said , that now that they aie a " nation within a nation , " be it

so—that fact only proves the reality of their position , thc truth of their wondrous annals , and in no way entitles those who seem still to have a grudge against Hebrews , qua Hebrews , to deny their absolute right to all that

toleration would sanction , or goodwill enjoin . Ihe persecution of the Hebrews in various parts of the world to-day is a disgrace to the age in which our lot is cast , just as thc proscription of God's ancient people in the years lhat are past is a bitter

reflection on the profession and practice of Christians themselves . The anti-Semitic persecution in Germany is indeed both a subject of surprise and wonder , when we remember the good genial tolerant German mind , and we rejoice to think that

our Bro . H . R . H . thc C ROWN PRINCE IMPERIAL OF GERMANY has spoken out in such sensible and manl y and truthful words on a subject which must be a deep sorrow and humiliation lo all who believe in the progress of the tolerating principles of

improving civilization . We quite agree with our correspondent , who signs himself " One who is Englishman , Jew , and Freemason" that any personal reflection on the Hebrew race or on Hebrew brethren are alike a proof of

"bad form , " worse taste , and most unmasonic feelings , and wc regret if by a little punctiliousness as regards correspondence any remarks should have appeared which should have given the slightest pain to any Hebrew brother .

That the Hig h Grades arc essentially Christian is a matter about which we think there cannot be , and ought not to be , any controversy . They arc Christian , absolutel y and entirely Christian , in their idea , their ritual , their esoteric teaching , and their

outcome . We cannot profess to understand how any possible question can arise . In France , and to some extent elsewhere , the Rose Croix Degree and ceremony may be altered and pared down to a philosophical ceremonial , lo a nihilistic

performance ; but the Rose Croix is the most entirel y Christian Grade in existence , and Dr . LEESO . V once contended that it was derived from thc "Disciplina Arcini " of thc early Christians .

Thereought to be no doubt on this subject , no hesitating words , and no slipshod utterance .., as it is an injustice to the Rose Croix Grade lo say otherwise , and is actually opposed lo what every mem-

The Freemason.

ber or student of the Grade knows to be a matter of fact , impossible to be ignored , or explained awa )' .

* * How far a Hebrew could conscientiously assent to the teaching and formula , of the Rose Croix Grade seems to us to be a matter which can onl y be settled by the authorities of the Ancient and Accepted Rite

on the one hand , and the candidate on the other . We do not , "prima facie , " ourselves see how any Hebrew , with honest convictions and clear opinions on certain subjects , as Hebrews mostty have could enter into the Rose Croix Grade ; and

we are , therefore , sorry that the question has been raised at all in our columns , and beg to suggest at once , in a pleasant , friendly , and

fraternal way , the termination of a discussion which can do no possible good , can be of no practical value , and may seriously hurt the feelings of many worthy brethren on one side and thc other .

. * * * FREEMASONS arc lovers of peace at all times , bu - they are also patriots , and at this time their sympathies will go with those gallant ofiicers and soldiers of ours who , on the far Transvaal , are fighting so

gallantly under their colours , and upholding the Q UEEN ' S authority and thc prestige of England among the insurgent Boers . It is well to remember that at the bottom of this desperate struggle lies

the question of slavery of thc native people , which was in existence , and with great oppression and cruelty , under the Boer regime , but which has been wisely and righteously suppressed under the beneficent sway of QUEEN VICTORIA .

* * THE Doverand Calais Submarine Tunnel promised once to strengthen the promise of peace , and to advance the progress of civilization , b y rendering war between France and England again all but

impossible . We regret to see that our able contemporary the Builder , whose words we subjoin , takes a gloomy view , financially speaking , of this really humanitarian , if wondrous , undertaking : — " Precedents " as to cost would hardly justify an engineer in

esti" mating a tunnel under the Channel at less than " £ 200 per yard , or £ 352 , 000 per mile , being less " than half the cost of the Metropolitan lines , of " the cost of which , however , we must remember " that the price of land formed an important

" though undistinguished portion . To pay 5 per " cent , on £ 352 , 000 per mile requires a traffic of " about £ 35 , 000 per mile per annum , or more than " five times that of thc South-Eastern Railway . No " English Railway approaches the quarter of this

" figure , with thc exception of the two Metropolitan " lines , which take respectively £ 38 , 600 and " £ ZA > Z °° P mile . These , it is well known , " are entirely exceptional cases , fed by constant

" local urban traffic , with stations little more than " half a mile apart . In the Channel Tunnel there " can be no local traffic . " Let us hope for better results when this great work of skill and of international connection and comity is accomplished .

* * * WE rejoice to learn , from what Bro . TERRY said at the Aldersgate Lodge on Mond . iy , that there are now 363 Stewards'for the approaching Festival

of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , and that the returns promise to be even be 3-ond precedent . It seems there arc ninety candidates , and , so far , only twenty vacancies , so that our best wishes go with this excellent Institution .

* * * WE were glad to note that the Aldersgate Lodge voted £ 10 ios . for the list of Bro . KENNING , W . M ., for the Boys' School Festival for 1881 .

* * * THE meeting of thc Aldersgate Lodge on Monday last , as by our report elsewhere , was a very successful one , and the re-election of Bro . GEORGE KENNING , well known throughout the Masonic

world , was hailed with acclamation by his many friends and brethren . Thc Aldersgate , though a young lodge , and of limited numbers , has set a most laudable example to our lodges in its ready and remarkable support of the Masonic Charities .