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To ADVERTISERS . THE Circulation of THE FREEMASON being now at the rate of nearly 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 the 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 . — — On and after October 1 st , the Subscription to THE FREEMASON will be xos . pet annum , post-free , payable in advance . Vol . I ., bound in cloth 4 s . 6 d . Vol . II ., ditto 7 s . 6 d . Reading Cases to hold 52 numbers ... 2 s . 6 d .

Births, Marriages, And Deaths.

Births , Marriages , and Deaths .

DEATH . AUSTIN . —On the 9 tb inst ., at 86 , Milton-road , Stoke Newington , suddenly , Lucy , widow of the late Bro . Job Austin ( of Lodge S 90 ) , surviving him but one month , aged 64 , deeply regretted .

Answers To Correspondents.

Answers to Correspondents .

—?—All communications for THE FREEMASON should bc written legibly , on one side of the paper only , and , if intended for insertion in the current number must bc received not later than 10 o ' clock a . m . on Thurdays , unless in very special cases . The name and address of every writer must be sent to us in confidence .

P . M . 40 . —Thc greater part of the R . A . lectures ( excep ' the long illustrations ) refer to the ceremony of cxalta * tion , and any one with a fair memory can easily mastei the questions and answers . Attend the R . A . Chapter of Improvement once , and form your con judgment .

A Correspondent respecting the Charities is informed that we intend writing upon the subject specially . In the meantime , for information respecting visiting , & c , application should be made lo the Secretaries of the Institutions , directed Freemasons' Hall , Great

Queenstreet . A PROTESTANT REPEALER . —AA ' e cannot insert political songs . BRO . C . I . PATON . —Your article on the " Antiquity of Freemasonry " is not only too lengthy for our columns , but it is written in a spirit which we regret to say , is too prevalent among Masonic writers , and we have therefore determined lo give 110 further countenance to unmasonic dissensions , under the guise of discussion .

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The Freemason , S ATURDAY , O CTOBER 22 , 1 S 70 . THE FREEMASON is published on Saturday Mornings in time for the early trains . The price of THE FREEMASON IS Twopence per week ; annual subscription , 10 s . ( payable in advance ) . AH communications , letters , & c ., to be addressed to thc EDITOR , 2 , 3 , and 4 , Little Uritain , K . C . The Editor will pay careful attention to all MSS . entrusted to him * but cannot undertake to return them unless accompanied by postage stamps .

Truth.

TRUTH .

TRUTH is one ofthe great principlcsof Freemasonry—not simply as a symbol , but as a reality—not as a shadowy abstraction , but as a potential rule of life . Humanity has suffered so much from thc devices of

falsehood and fraud—the world has borne so long the tyranny of Avrong and hatethat truth is usually disguised in robes that are bordered Avith error and coloured

with thc tints of deceit . From the days of Pilate doAvn to the present time , the interrogation , "What is truth ? " has been asked

Avith more or less sincerity in every era , and this momentous question has met Avith various responses . In religious systems it has been fearfully ansAvered by appeals to

Truth.

the gibbet and the stake ; and this is a charge from which , unfortunately , few or none of the prevailing creeds can be absolved . The primitive Christians fell

before the worshippers of Jove , and the latter , also , in due time had to weep over their ruined altars and deserted shrines . Arians and Trinitarians , Gnostics and

Manicheans , each in turn furnished fresh victims to grace the roll of martyrs , and the early records of Christianity teem Avith dismal spectacles of " man ' s inhumanity to man . " The soldiers of Mahomet Avere not

behindhand in the Avork of persecution ; although , to do them justice , their mode of operation Avas more summary and less cruel than that of some of their Christian

contemporaries . With them , the stroke of the SAVord solved all mysteries , and those Avho rejected the doctrines of Allah and his prophet Avere speedily relieved from the

cares of life . The Jews , the Albigenses , and the Vaudois are later examples of the same intolerant spirit ; and Ave need hardly remind our readers of the aAvful

sufferings inflicted on the Reformers by their opponents during the nascent struggles of enlightenment in the sixteenth century . Nor are the folloAvers of Calvin or Beza

exempt from the plague-spot of persecution , as the death of Servetus will amply prove , not to mention the penal laAVS of Great Britain and Ireland , Avhich Avere specially

directed against priests of the Romish faith . The measurement of human progress from those days of darkness and blood is something truly wonderful , and yet but a feAV

years have passed since such evil deeds were not only possible , but defended on high moral authority . Yet , although we have happily emerged from the horrors of

religious strife , it is to be regretted that thc old spirit of persecution still sur-A'ives — thc snake is scotched , but not killed . The diversities of belief amongst

professing Christians have been , A \* C believe , fostered into successful development mainly by the unreasoning and bitter opposition originally evoked against the founders of

the various sects now in existence . Ideas that Avould otherwise flit across the mental horizon , like summer-clouds , are photographed on our memories by the mad

activity of zealots , and speculations comparatively harmless thus derive a factitious importance from thc unwise fury of a few intolerant minds . Now , AVC arc far from

counselling a passive acquiescence in every new dogma—on thc contrary , let every opinion , Avhcther it appertain to science or faith , be subjected to the dominion of

reason—but in the language of Masonry be it added , of " charity " likewise . This is the rock upon Avhich many theologians split ; impatient of contradiction upon points

which they consider clear as the sun at noon-day , instead of arguing thc matter calmly and deliberately , they adopt the

weapons of intimidation and , in other words , become persecutors of all who differ from their views . Freemasonry detests this ignoble spirit

Truth.

and endeavours to utilise those vague impulses of the soul , which incline men to search after truth . Freemasonry teaches her children ideas of the broadest and most

comprehensive nature . She presents to their vieAv doctrines that are impervious to the assaults of scoffing theorists . Freemasonry

offers them TRUTH , and awakens in their breasts the noblest feelings of honour and virtue . When a man becomes a

Freemason , he is confirmed in all that is good in the tenets of the belief which he professes ; his hope and trust in his Maker , and his pervading sense of the soul's

immortality , are but strengthened and expanded by the precepts of the Craft . He is , therefore , simply a better J , or a better Christian after his initiation than he was

before , ahvays pre-supposing that he is a man capable of appreciating the esoteric revelations of symbolic knoAvledge . Far from having his sympathies contracted to

a narroAver compass by admission into our Order , he is taught to regard the lodge only as an epitome of the Avorld , and is enjoined

to do good to all , and to encourage the practice of every virtue that can dignify and ennoble human nature .

He thus becomes thc chosen servant of Truth , and illustrates its most precious attributes by a life of self-denial and devotion . That there are many members of

the Fraternity Avho fulfil all these conditions it Avere idle to assert , but we know that there are many Avho strive earnestly to do their duty , and to aid the development and

triumph oi Truth . Tolerance and charity arc but visible fruits of their labours ; our schools and asylums are but the tangible evidences of their desire to walk uprightly

These arc thc men whose deeds shine like stars in the firmament of Freemasonry , Avhosc lives are guided by a consistent belief in the dictates of honour and morality .

And it may be fairly said that brethren such as these are the real salt of the earth , and thc veritable regenerators of a corrupt social system .

Our ancient fellow-craftsmen therefore did well and Avisely Avhen they placed Truth in thc trinity of Masonic virtues , and even reckoned it as the consummation ofthe

other two—Brotherly Love and Relief . For he Avho is subject to the just influence of truth is in harmony Avith the holiest feelings of the soul ; his heart and his intellect

arc in accord , and throughout life , with its chequered drama of mingled joy and AVOC , his faculties are directed to the accomplishment of those tender tasks of philanthropy

Avhich have ever been associated Avith thc Masonic name . Possessing this great virtue , a Mason stands upon the pinnacle of true glory , and is enabled to survey with

undisturbed equanimity the trials and vicissitudes of our mortal career . More than this , with thc eye of faith he penetrates the veil , and beholds thc mystery of mysteries

revealed in thc future , when darkness shall bc swallowed up in light , ancl falsehood and fraud flee for ever from this refulgent presence of eternal truth .