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' NOTICE .

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Answers To Correspondents.

Answers to Correspondents .

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Now ready , with Index and Preface , in Twelve Imperial Folio Parts , 5 s . each , or bound in oue handsome volume , £ 3 . THE FREEMASONS' LIBER MUSICUS , Dedicated by express permission to H . R . H . THE PRINCE OK WALES , Past Grand Master of England and Wales . Edited by Dn . WILLIAM SPARK , P . P . G . O ., W . Y . —298 . This Work contains 215 pp . and 118 Musical Compositions suitable for all tlie Ceremonies of the Masonic Order ; First , Second , and Third Degrees ; Consecration and Dedication of Halls and Lodges ; Programmes , Toasts , Songs , Trios , Choruses , & c , for Banquets and other Festive Gatherings ; Laying Foundation or Corner Stones ; Installation j Mark Masonry ; Royal Arch ; Blasonic Funerals ; Voluntaries ; Marches , & c , etc . Notice from the Evening Mail . " " Our Masonic readers arc no strangers to ihe name of Bro . William Spark , tlie talented musician anil Organist of the Town Hall , Leeds . In this really great work , now completed , Dr . Spark , has shown his great tact and judgment l ) y completing and compiling for the Masonic brethren a complete library of musical , compositions of the choicest English and foreign works , ancient , traditional , modern , vocal , and instrumental , by the best composers . It comprises Masouic anlliems . installation odes , dedication music , responses , opening , closing , and intermediate music for all degrees , Thanksgivings , funeral odes , marches , songs , duets , banquet music , programmes , voluntaries , and general musical directions , arranged lor voices and organ , pianoforte , or harmonium . " The Freemasons' Liber Musicus " is issued with the concurrence of many inlluential Masonic Lodges , and under the distinguished patronage and support ofthe Most Worshipful the Grand Masters of England , Wales , Scotland , and Ireland . It forms a complete library of the choicest and rarest Masonic music , in aword . it is indispensable to all Masonic lodges . The worthy brother editor , moreover , has had the valuable co-operation and assistance of the most distinguished and experienced composers and organists , members of the Craft . It is brought out in the highest style of art , is printed from large engraved music plates , and forms a very handsome folio volume of ' nearly two hundred and twenty pages ! " lt deserves thc patronage of every Masonic Lodge , both at home and abroad , and for its merits alone it ought to he zealously prized by every brother . As a present to a lodge , nothing could be more useful , valuable , anil appropriate . HANDSOME CLOTH COVERS , witli gilt lines , and lettered , for Binding ( similar to those used for the Graphic and Jlluslrated News ) , price 5 s . each . LONDON : GEORGE KENNING . 198 , Fleet-street .

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Second Edition , Now Ready , 1 / 6 . A MASONIC MUSICAL SERVICE . In the key of C . for A ., T ., T ., B . Opening and Closing Odes . Craft Ceremonies . Royal Arch Ceremony . Consecration Ceremony . Grace before and after Meat . COMPOSED BV DR . J . C . BAKER , NO . 241 . LONDON . —Geo . Kenning , 198 , Fleet-street ; and 2 , 3 , and 4 , Little Britain . „ R . Spencer , 26 , Great Queen-street . LIVERPOOL . —Geo . Kenning , 2 , Monument-place . MANCHESTER . —E . Henry & Co ., 59 , Deansgate . DUBLIN . —C . Hedgelong , 26 , Grafton-street GLASGOW . —Geo . Kenning , 145 , Argyle-street .

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MADAME TUSSAUD'S EXHIBITION , BAKER STREET . Now added , PORTRAIT MODELS of SIR GARNET WOLSELEY , thc Three Judges in the Tichborne Trial , Cockburn , Mellor , and Lush ; the Shah of Persia , Marshal RlacMahon , M . Thiers , and the late Mr . Charles Dickens . * . dmission is . Children under ten , 6 d . Extra Rooms , fid . Open from ten a . m . to ten p . m ,

To Foreign Subscribers.

TO FOREIGN SUBSCRIBERS .

It is very necessary for our friends to advise us of all money orders they remit , more especially those from the United States of America , otherwise we cannot tell where to credit them . Several remain uncredited at the present time owing to no advice having been received .

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The Freemason , SATURDAY , MAY 23 , 1874 .

The Visit Of The Czar.

THE VISIT OF THE CZAR .

We English Freemasons are not politicians , and it never can be repeated too often , or remembered too carefully , that , with politics , qua politics , we have no concern whatever .

Indeed so careful are we to maintain the golden mean of neutrality , between external parties that we should not allow in The Freemason , political addresses on one side or the

other to appear , even as paid advertisements , because such a proceeding would be utterly alien from the true principles of entire Masonic neutrality , in respect of the passing political

transactions of the day . But though this be so , and we trust ever will remain the distinguishing feature and bond of English Freemasonry , there are some events in

the world ' s history which seem to lift themselves above the domain of mere party r politics , and which we may fairly deal with , though we be Freemasons , on the broader ground , and with the

blameless sympathies of citizens ofthe world . Now it appears to us that the visit of the Emperor Alexander II . to this country , is just one of those events in which we all have

equally a concern , and which interests us all alike , so much so that , it may be fairly noticed in the pages of our hebdomadal Masonic paper , which is alike cosmopolitan in its teaching , as it

is cosmopolitan in its circulation . And , therefore , Freemasons though we b e and proud are we for every reason of being so , and of our good old Order , we hail with an

entire people , nay with two great nations , with every expression of gratification and rejoicing the advent of so exalted a visitor to our friendly and hospitable shores .

For in truth the Emperor Alexander II . comes to us invested not only with that Sovereign rank which as loyal Englishmen , we have beeu taught to value and revere , but also distinguished

markedly by those many and genial qualities of the mind and heart , and person , which lend such a charm to ] cultivated humanity , and are so strongly prized ever by our English people .

His whole career has been a signal instance , in all his public acts , of earnestness and consideration , usefulness and justice , patriotism and benevolence , united with a . singular love of home

life and family association , and with an entire absence of needless ceremonial or profitless parade . He succeeded to that mi ghty empire at a time of great national anxiety which the genius

of Peter the Great had practically founded , which the mental powers of Catherine II . had consolidated , and which , despite all shallow opinions and prophecies to the contrarylhas con-

The Visit Of The Czar.

tinued to grow in greatness and expand in power . On the Emperor Alexander the Second was imposed the solemn responsibility of

emancipating the serfs of Russia , and of completing that gigantic undertaking which his uncle and his father had initiated , and he has succeeded

happily in having his name handed down to posterity , as the emancipator and benefactor of countless myriads of a toiling but grateful people .

Latterly , by the marriage of his only and cherished daughter with a member of our Royal family , the personal interests and the national sympathies of Russia and England have

been greatly strengthened and cemented . And we who have lately welcomed as an entire people with one heart and voice the arrival of his charming daughter amongst us , rejoice in

welcoming , to day , the father of the Duchess of Edinburgh , and the august ruler of all the Russias ! Happily , too , a firm and honourable peace now unites our two great Empires in the

bonds of friendly rivalry and civilizing progress . Time was , even in our own generation , when the two firm friends of olden days found themselves in hostile array .

But now that the loud echoes of war are hushed , and those unbrotherl y feelings which war evokes are forgotten , let us hope for ever , we , in this country , and with that

praiseworthyfrankness characteristic of our fine army , and our gallant [ neighbours , " La Belle France , " have not failed to offer our tribute of admiration

to the fighting qualities of the Russian soldier to the skilful disposition of Prince GortschakofF , and to the historic fame of Todleben .

And so in this auspicious visit , and at the time when all the feuds of former days are forgotten in the happier association of the present , and in bright anticipation of the future , we offer our

humble Masonic welcome , in unison with all our countrymen and countrywomen of every rank and condition to the Emperor Alexander the Second . In so doing , we believe that we do but express

the universal feeling of our ever'loyal Order , and that we most entirely represent the entire brotherhood to day when we offer our most heartfelt congratulations to the Emperor

personally , and our most sincere wishes for the welfare of that great country , over which he has been called by God ' s providence to reign , and with

which we entertain so many close connexions , and such important and needful commercial relations .

May the visit ofthe Czar be one alike of happiness and satisfaction to our sovereign and himself , of much family enjoyment to the united imperial and Royal Families , of renewed

gladness to the Duchess of Edinburgh , and may it tend to unite closer the bonas of society and good will between Russia and England , to confirm the

peace of Europe and advance the tranquil pro gress of mankind . One word more before we close .

Once upon a time Freemasonry existed in Russia , having had its ori gin exclusively from England , and our English Grand Lodge . For a

time all went on well , until the introduction of the ceremonies andsystem of the '' strict" or loose " observance , " call it which you like , led to many