To Advertisers.

TO ADVERTISERS .

The Freemason has a large circulation in all parts of the Globe , its advantages as an advertising medium can therefore scarcely be overrated . ADVERTISEMENTS should reach the Office , 19 S Fleetstreet , London , by 12 o ' clock on Wednesdays .

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NOTICE . To prevent delay or miscarriage , it is particularly requested that ALL communications for the " Freemason , " may be addressed to the Office , 198 , Fleet-street , London .

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IMPORTANT NOTICE .

COLONIAL and FOREIGN SUBSCRIBERS are informed that acknowledgments of remittances received are published in the first number of every month .

It is very necessary for our readers to advise us of all money orders they remit , more especially those from the United States of America and India : otherwise we cannot tell where to credit them .

To Our Readers.

TO OUR READERS .

The Freemason is a sixteen-page weekly newspaper , price 2 d . It is published every Friday morning , and contains the most important , interesting , and useful information relating to Freemasonry in every degree . Annual subscription in the United Kingdom , Post free , 10 / C . P . O . O . ' s to be made payable at the chief office , London .

New Postal Rates.

NEW POSTAL RATES .

Owing to a reduction in the PosL-il Rates , the publisher is now enabled to send the " Freemason " to the following parts abroad for One Year for Thirteen Shillings ( payable in

advance ) : —Africa , Australia , Bombay , Canada , Cape of Good Hope , Ceylon , China , Constantinople , Demcrara , France , Germany , Gibraltar , Jamaica , Malta , Newfoundland , New South Wales , New Zealand , Suez , Trinidad , United States of America , & c .

Answers To Correspondents.

Answers to Correspondents .

R . E . M . —Have written privately . The following stand over : Domatic Lodge , 177 ; Aurora Lodge , 127 , Margate ; Harrington Lodge , 10 3 1 , Barrow ; Lodge of Truth , 1458 , Manchester ; Albert Edward Lodge , 1429 , Newport ; Albion Lodge , 196 , Barbadoes ; St . John ' s Lodge , 39 , Exeter ; Panmure Lodge ,

720 ; Wiltshire Lodge of Fidelity , 66 3 ; Peace and Harmony Lodge , 319 ; St . John ' s Lodge , 279 ; Walton Lodge , 108 b ; Duke of Lancaster Lodge , 1353 ; Harmonic Lodge , 216 . Scotland : Lodges AthoIc . 'Vi ^ ; Kilburne , 439 , Millport ; St . George ' s , 333 ; St . Andrew ' s Chapter , 6 9 ' . P . P . M . — " How can we improve Masonry in Scotland . " " Polish National Lodge . " " Masonic Queries . "

Births ,Marriages And Deaths.

Births , Marriages and Deaths .

[ The charge is 2 S . Od . for announcements , not exceeding four lines , under this heading . ]

BIR ' I HS . CLARK . —On the 13 th inst ., at Windsor-road , Ealing , the wife of W . Clark , of a daughter . JONES . —On the 13 th inst ., at Brighton Villa , Maindec

the wife of Richard W . Jones , of a daughter . SMITH . —On the 14 th inst ., at Mildmay-grove , Mildmay Park , the wife of E . H . B . Smith , of a daughter . SUTIIEHI . AXD . —On the 13 th inst ., at Lee-road , Blacklieath , the wife of C . Sutherland , of a son .

MARRIAGES . BRUCE—WALKEII . —On the nth inst ., at St . John's-wood Presbyterian Church , George Barclay , son of G . B . Bruce , Esq ., of Boundary-road , to Virginia Emma

daughter of J . Walker , Esq . TRENCH—CAMI ' IIULI .. —On the 10 th inst ., at Stonefield , William Thomas , son of H . Trench , Esq ., of Cangort Park , King's County , to Elizabeth Ida , daughter of C . Campbell , Esq ., of Stonefield , Argyllshire .

DEATHS . JOBDAN . —On the 13 th inst ., at Oakhurst , Hants , Charlotte Penelope , widow of the late Rev . G . W . Jordan , aged 73 . TEMPLE . —On the 14 th inst ., at Catlicart-rcad , West Brompton , Mr . Henry Temple , aged 31 .

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The Freemason , SATURDAY , JAN . SO , 1877 .

Is Freemasonry Materialism?

IS FREEMASONRY MATERIALISM ?

From the Antipodes comes to us a far-oft cry of Ultramontane folly and intolerance . The Roman Catholic Archbishop Vaughan has edified the faithful in New South Wales with a vehement lecture , and has made a notable discovery . So much so , that we are specially

informed he has " created quite a sensation in New South Wales" with an "important lecture on Masonry , " which ha called " Hidden Springs , '' and which he delivered to a startled audience " at Sydney . " He has since , it appears , published this lecture of So pages , and from the

" precis" of it , for which we are indebted to the Echo , if such account be correct , it is indeed a wonderful production , worthy the genius and literary character of a Roman Catholic Archbishop . Archbishop Vaughan " s theory is this , that the " governing principles of the past ,

present , and future" are "Paganism , Supernaturalism , and Materialism . " Historically it is quite clear that the Archbishop is utterly wrong in any such dogmatic assertion , and has jumbled up together the annals of the past , like a kaleidoscope , in " beautiful confusion . " Let us try

and realize the absurdity of any such contention , especially by a Roman Catholic Archbishop , that , looking at the history of the past and present , from our standpoint of to-day , the two great governing principles of the world , have been Paganism and Supernaturalism . What will

Cardinal Manning say ta such a proposition as this , most startling in its naked simplicity r That Paganism and Supernaturalism , or rather Supernaturalism or Paganism , have played a great part in the past ages and present history of man is true , with some careful limitations ; but

that the whole of the past and present is to be summed up in those two words , and in such an order of thought and action is the most preposterous contention we have ever listened to , even from a Roman Catholic Archbishop , and is really too ridiculous almost for controversy or

consideration . But the truth is , that the Archbishop only uses these high-sounding expressions , this precious bit of abstract and concrete nonsense , to influence the minds of his hearers , already seriously alarmed at such hard words , and to pave the way for a " bonne bouche , " as

the French say , viz ., his pet argument , that Freemasonry is another word for Materialism , and that Materialism is to be the "hidden spring , " the controlling law of the future . And so he goes on to say that the " prime movers " in this dreadful materialistic movement are the "

members of the International Society of Masonry . " As the writer in the Echo well says , " We who are ignorant and innocent of the mysteries of the Craft have thought that Masonry is a cosmopolitan combination of men animated with good intentions towards each other in particular , and

towards the human family in general . If what Archbishop Vaughan says be true , we have been labouring under an extraordinary delusion . " Most true is this remark from a " non-Mason , " inasmuch as we who are Masons utterly deny the correctness of the Archbishop ' s

unwise words . But how does he prove such an astounding statement , do you ask ? Listen carefully ! The Archbishop goes on to prove his little proposition by asserting , first , that the " iield of operation" of this "Masonic International Society" is as " wide as the human family

itself "—this surely is a very remarkable fact ; secondly , that " it adopts many instruments to promote its end ; " thirdly , that " its ambition soars to the highest class and foremost intellects , and embraces all ages and conditions , from the philosopher to the artizan , from the statesman and civil ruler to the roughs in a country town "

( most correct Archbishop !); fourthly , that the " pen and tongue are its two main engines , " and that it " strives with sleepless energy to enlist in its service those who can work them with the most powerful effect . " Marvellous fact ! Our contemporary leaves us to say " whether this is a correct representation " of our Order , if indeed as Freemasons we " think it worth while

Is Freemasonry Materialism?

to say anything on the subject . " And most certainly we have no hesitation in replying , that a more meaningless and childish attack never was made on Freemasonry . Freemasonry has nothing to do with materialism , and knows nothing about it whatever . Freemasonry , as the

Archbishop must perfectly well know , has no concern with the passing affairs or political questions of the world ; it is simply a philan thropic sodality , based on reverence to God and love for man . As for interfering with the

current course of human matters , the social or political life of nations , it is absolutely neutral as regards everything outside of Freemasonry , even everything in which , as men and citizens of the world , we might naturally take an active interest . As for " wielding * the forces o £ other

societies for malignant ends , ' the charge is as untrue as it is unjust , for we cannot too often repeat , that , as Freemasons , we know absolutely nothing in our lodges , either of the aims of politicians or the contests of party . Such attacks defeat themselves through their own patent

absurdity and unfairness . They are , however , a very sad proof not only to what lengths educated and kindly men will go in their desire to malign and to harm their fellow creatures , for the good of a so-called infallible faith , but demonstrate only too surely what rubbish will now best tickle the Ultramontane palate , and what

turgid nensense and untruthful assertions can be palmed off upon the " faithful " as the product of scientilic argument and historical truth , as the result of faithful study or profound wisdom . So important is the general subject , however , in its wider aspects , and special bearing on the age in which we live , that we shall conclude our considerations on this topic next week .

The Boys' School.

THE BOYS' SCHOOL .

At the Quarterly Court on Monday , the J . 'jth , after the usual routine and other business , Bro . John Symonds in the chair ( Bro . Clabon having had to leave for another meeting ) , Bro . Snow brought on his motion to increase the accommodation at the School for fifty boys , by altering

the present playground , etc . It soon became quite clear , however , that our worthy Bro . Snow had not gauged fully the real bearing of his important motion , as there were grave objections "ii priori'' and " a posteriori , " as the schoolmen say , to what Bro . Jesse Turner called Bro .

Snow ' s " Utopian scheme . " But though Bro . Snow ' s proposal could not be supported , Bro . Snow ' s theory of increase has a good deal to say for itself . And it , moreover , became equally clear , as the discussion progressed , that the necessity and desirability of increase were

generally admitted ; the only question being , the " how , " and " where . " As a " set-oft , " so to say , against any such proposal "in pr .-esenti , " allusions were made to a proposed preparatory school for 100 boys , but as Bro . Symonds observed , any such scheme was unofficial , no

such proposal having yet been formally made to the House Committee or General Committee . The result of the meeting was unanimously to refer the consideration of the question of increased accommodation to the House Committee to report upon to the General Committee . Thus ,

then , the whole question will probably now be carefully considered , and in due time submitted to the subscribers . In the meantime , it may be well to bear in mind that these questions are in themselves of grave importance , and must seriously affect in one way or other the future and

finances of thelloyal Masonic Institution for Boys . They cannot be lightly dealt with or hastily treated . If £ 10 , 000 are to be spent on the accommodation of 100 new boys , as has been said , with staff , & c , we shall have unavoidably an annual increase of at least £ 5000 per annum ,

while the great school will only contain rSp boys . The estimate of £ , COO to build a permanent school for 100 boys seems open to animadversion , and every such proposition ought to be supported by detailed information

and architectural details . There is indeed , as was said at the meeting , another alternative of increasing the present accommodation at the Boys ' School up to 200 , or even ¦ ., 300 , and then , and not until then , commencing a preparatory school . Of course a great deal must depend on the