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NOW READY . VOLUME 8 OF THE " FREEMASON " from January to December , 1875 , bound in cloth , with richly embossed device on cover . Price 15 shillings . This volume forms a first class reference and chronology of the leading events in Masonry during the past year . It may be had through any bookseller , or at the office , 198 , Fleet-st ., London .

To Our Readers.

TO OUR READERS .

The Freemason is a sixteen-page weekly newspaper , price ad . 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 / - P . O . O . ' s to be made payable at the chief office , London .

NEW POSTAL RATES . Owing to a reduction in the Postal Rates , the publisher is now enabled to send the "Freemason" to the following parts abroad for One Year for Twelve Shillings ( payable in advance ) : —Africa , Australia , Bombay , Canada , Cape of Good Hope , Ceylon , China , Constantinople , Demerara , France , Germany , Gibraltar , Jamaica , Malta , Ne wfoundland , New South Wales , New Zealand , Suez , Trinidad , United States of America , & c .

COLONIAL AND FOREIGN SUBSCRIBERS are informed that acknowledgments of remittances received are published in the first number of every month . NOTICE . —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 and India ; otherwise we cannot tell where to credit them .

To Advertisers.

TO ADVERTISERS .

The Freemason has a large circulation in all parts of ihe Globe , its advantages as an advertising medium can therefore scarcely be overrated . For terms , position , & c , appiy to GEORGE KENNLM * , 198 , Fleet-st .

Answers To Correspondents.

Answers to Correspondents .

All Communications , Advertisements , '• cc ., intended for insertion in the Number of the fc . lowing Saturday , must reach the Office not later ths . r II o ' clock on Wedne'dav

morninr * -. The following stand over : —Lodge o : Fortitude , Lancaster ; Rowley Lodge , Lancaster ; Purest of D .-. m Lodge : Union Waterloo , Woolwich ; St .. James ' s Lodge , Halifax ; Pattison Lodge , Plumstead ; United Military Lodge , Plumstead ; Felix Lodge , TeddiugUm ; Hose of Denmark-Chapter , Kew Bridge ; Stuart Chapter , Bedford ; Macdonald Mark Lodge ; Whitwell Mail- Lodge , Maryport ;

Premier . Conclave , Ked Cross : Skelmersdale Conciave , Liverpool ; Joppa Lodge ; Frederick Lodge of Unity ; Dalmuir Lodge , S . E . ; "Correct Masonry : " " proposing Joining Members . " ERRATUM . —In our report of Grand Lodge Bro . Baxter Langley was stated to have seconded Bro . Simpson ' s amendment ; the seconder was Bro . W . R . Marsh ( P . M . Albion , No . 9 ; .

Births, Marriages, And Deaths.

Births , Marriages , and Deaths .

[ The charge is 2 S . 6 d . for announcements , not exceed , ing four lines , under this heading . ]

BIRTHS . BABINGTON . —On the 17 th inst ., at Clifton , Bristol , tht wife of the Rev . Basil B . Babington , Minor Canon of Bris . tol , of a daughter . BENNETT . —On the 16 th inst ., at Adelaide-road , South Hampstead , the wife of C . H . Bennett , Esq ., of a daughter . BEI . I . RINGER . —On the 16 th inst ., at Cressington , Liver pool , the wife of T . Bellringer , of a daughter .

CRAWLEY . —On the 18 th inst ., at Theyrion Bois , Essex , the wife of J . J . Crawley , of a daughter . DAWSON . —On the 16 th inst ., at Brighton , the wife o ; E . F . Dawson , Esq ., of a son . EoF . nTON . —On the 17 th inst ., at St . Gtvrgc ' s-hill . Lady Louisa Egerton , of a daughter . KINGSTON . —On the 18 th inst ., at Fit / rc . j -street , W .. the wife of Bro . S . T . Kingston , of a son .

MARRIAGES . DAVIES— J ACKSON * . —On the j ; th inst ., at St . Lukes Chelsea , Francis Pritchard Davies , M . B ., of Harmingheath , near Maidstone , to Agnes Warden , daughter of the late A . Jackson , Esq . Fox—Dovi . i :. —On the 20 th ult .. at the Bavariar

Chapel , London , Charles Henry Fox , hsq ., of Dublin , to Mary Rebecca , widow of the late J . Doyle , Esq . GILCHRIST—ONSLOW . —On the 2 ; th ult ., at Chris : Church , Byculla , Robert A . Gilchrist , " is * . Cavalry H . C .. to Henrietta Fanny , widow of the late Capt . I ! . C . Onslow . Madras Staff Corps .

DEATHS . TALBOT . —On the 19 th inst ., Bro . T . M . Talbot , R . W . Prov . Grand Master for South Wales , aged 37 . ConNER . —On the 22 nd inst ., Bro . Antonio J . Codner , at - > , ' Bulstrode-strcct , Cavendish-square , aged 40 . HENRY . —On the 16 th inst ., Sir Thomas licnrv , Bart .,

aged 69 . CHART . —On the 18 th inst ., at 9 , New-road , Brig hton , Henry John Chart , in his 55 th . year . - , 'HXWKSWO ' RTH;—On April 27 , at Alexandria , John Mason Hawksworth , C . E ., aged 36 . KERR . —On the 14 th inst ., at Bishopsjont-, ' w . os . Nixon Kerr , of Kilburn , aged * t 6 .

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The Freemason , SATURDAY , J 24 , 1876 " .

Masonic Sacrifices.

MASONIC SACRIFICES .

It is pleasant always to note in this unsatisfactory world of ours how practice and profession , deeds and words , go hand in hand . It is very agreeable , whether for the philosopher or the moralist , to realize calmly and clearly that the " outcome " of humanitarian assertions and

of mortal strivings is something a good deal better every way than " sounding brass or tinkling cymbal . " For , after all , reality is a very great thing indeed , in life and among men , and nothing is so painful as the sad awakening to the fact , oftentimes true , that after all is said and

done , the taint of hollowness and insincerity too often underlies the eloquence of the eloquent , and vitiates the efforts of the energetic , and therefore it is very refreshing to note to-day what very great sacrifices Freemasons often make for Masonic literature . Indeed , it is not

too much to say that they are very striking indeed . Editors may perplex their weary brains , publishers may draw continually on their bankers' account , in order to keep Masonic literature afloat , but these are secondary considerations—the zeal of the Order and the spirit of

selfsacrifice which Freemasonry enjoins ami Freemasons evidence in regard to literature r . < well as other matters render the progress of Masonic literature , per se , plain , easy , and lucrative . No cares attend its onward progress , no doubts or fears affect the question of its success ;

and the satisfactory balance-sheets of contemporary enterprizes in the Masonic literary world prove how incontestable Freemasons recognize the duty of supporting their own press and their own serials . Bro . Gouley , in America , could tell a sensational tale how much Masonic literature owes to the sacrifices of his brethren , and even

in England there would be no difficulty , we think , in laying a case before our readers , start ling alike in its simplicity and certainty , in the facts it evidences , and in the spirit ic illustrates . Have our readers followed us : We are not

going to-day to find fault or to complain . We do not even presume to criticize , much less to condemn . But in the interest of all Masonic literature , not ourselves alone , we do wish to point out to our many excellent brethren the absurdity of the position in which they place all

who cater for the literary tastes of the Order , and , above all , in which they place themselves . We have always been above appeals " ad misericordium , " or anything else . We ask for no one ' s support , just as we quarrel with no one who thinks Masonic literature either a luxurv or

a bore . We can hold our own against all comers , and , please God , we mean to do so , relying on the friendly suppoit and ready encouragement of a weekly increasing circle of readers and of friends . We are speaking the simple truth , in no spirit of boasting or swagger . The

advertizing business is not before us just now , and we are not writing for effect , but for " conscience sake . " We think it very hard indeed that brethren should be so careless or so apathetic , so uninterested and so little in earnest , that it is a matter of total indifference to them how here , at

home , or anywhere , in fact , Masonic literature can be supported and encouraged . Some brethren are like the idle child of old , who would not take the trouble to pick the pear , but expected it to drop into its mouth ; and many of our kind friends appear to think that out

publisher , like other publishers , is to provide a Masonic literature at almost cost price to them . They forget that , week by week , literature , like a great machine , requires oiling to go on ; that somebody must pay editors , readers , compositors , folders , kc , kc . ; and that ^ Masonic literature has no

endowments , and unless they help is not very likely to be self-supporting . Is it not provoking , though very ridiculous , not to say contemptible at the S 3 me time , for us to receive the announcement " Discontinue , I , can see the paper in the

news room ; ' " Discontinue , I am going to join with a brother ; " "Discontinue , I did not like that article ; " " Discontinue , I don ' t approve of the insertion of this letter ; " "Discontinue , I have not time to read a Masonic paper ? '' Such , we

Masonic Sacrifices.

venture to say , is unfortunately the feeling of utter indifference by which too many are actuated everywhere at home and abroad as regards Masonic literature , and no wonder that it has to wage a very uphill battle nearly everywhere . If it is important that we should have from time to time

trusty accounts of our Masonic progress , if the words of eloquent speakers are to be reported , and the acts of higher and humbler Masonic bodies duly chronicled , if it is a duty incumbent on Freemasons to give a generous and fraternal hand to Masonic literature , then we all of us

need a reform and an amendment , alike in our views and ways on this subject . We began in a "" lighter tone , we have become more serious as we have gone on ; but we do not wish to be misunderstood . If Bro . Potter likes to read his " Freemason " in the news room , instead of

having his own independent copy—price 2 d . — let him do so . If Bro . Peppercorn prefers to read his " Freemason , " or any other paper , with Bro . Bloxam , pray let him do so ; if good Bro . Flurrey , that eloquent old P . M ., sees the "Freemason " at his lodge , " a la bonne heure " we

don t complain . Only we wish to say this , that while such facts are amusing per se , as showing the value some brethren put on Masonic literature , the effect of it all is to render Masonic literature more and more independent in itself , and perhaps after all it is as well . Cliqueism ,

like many other wars , has done more to ruin the Masonic press than anything else , in our opinion , and we rejoice to feel and to know that despite the fluctuating interest and necessary vicissitudes of all Masonic literature , the very independence of the " Freemason " seems to be more and more acceptable to a liberal-minded Craft .

With a hearty laugh thus at the idiosyncraciesof some of our good correspondents and readers , we pass from this tempting subject , like the French Assembly , to tlie }'" ' 6 rder of the day , " and hoisting manfully our old and honest flag as an independent Masonic paper , stand upon our own merits , claiming favour or subsidy , partiality or patronage , from NONE .

The Present Tendency Of Freemasonry.

THE PRESENT TENDENCY OF FREEMASONRY .

We must not and should not shut our eyes to the fact , and a very serious one it is , that there is growing amongst us a very low state of feeling as regards the intent of Freemasonry . With many it is openly assuming the theory of a benefit Order , with others that same idea , if not

publicly avowed , is privately and practically held . A great many new members join us , it is to be feared , for the material position and prospects of the Order . Not a few put down their money to-day freely enough , but with the expressed ^ look out for a rainy day for themselves and theirs .

Now this , we venture to think , is entirely wrong , and if not checked must lead to the degradation and ruin of Freemasonry . Freemasonry is in no wise a benefit Order , and cannot be ; it offers no " quid pro quo , " it promises no return for money invested , it says to no one , pay in so

much now and you shall have so much out hereafter ; it knows nothing of the position or principles of a monetary society , taking so much and repaying so much . Lord Zetland warned the Order years ago that Freemasonry had nailing in it akin to a benefit society , and his

warning seems to be needed even at this hour . Many of our brethren talk as if Freemasonry was a great treasury , so to say , from which Freemasons were to draw " ad libitum , " and that having paid in so much they had a right to claim its assistance , and share in its good things . Now

we have always contended , and always shall contend that there is no " contract , " so to speak , in the matter . All that Freemasonry gives , and does , in the way of eleemosynary help , Freemasonry gives and does on the great broad

principle of true Masonic compassion and benevolence alone . For the " decayed Freemason , " for the widow of a brother , for the orphan sons and daughters of deceased members of the Craft , it has at way words of sympathy and deeds of love . But it is to be feared , that even in this , its

generosity is abused , and its aid is sometimes unduly obtained . Many it is to be feared are placed in our schools , for instance , whom friends and relatives might well support and educate at