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To ADVERTISERS . THE Circulation of T HE FREEMASON being now at the rate of nearly llalf-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 .

Births, Marriages, And Deaths.

Births , Marriages , and Deaths .

BIRTH . GlLLING . —On the 19 th inst ., at Ripley , Derbyshire , the wife of Bro . John Gilling , of a son .

MARRIAGE . O'SIIEA—WHITE . —On the nth inst ., at the bride ' s own residence , 22 , Mall , Tralee , by the Rev . Patrick O'Leary , Bro . John O'Shca , of Mariners' Lodge , 249 , Liverpool , to Marianne , second daughter of the late Mr . John White , of that town .

DEATH . MANN . — -On the 15 th inst ., at Baildon , Yorkshire , Bro . John Mann , for many years Tyler in the Airedale Lodge , No . 3 S 7 ; aged 64 years .

Answers To Correspondents.

Answers to Correspondents .

All communications for THE FREEMASON should he written legibly , on one side of the paper only , and , if intended for insertion in the current number must be 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 .

A LODGE CHAPLAIN . —You can be advanced to the Mark Degree for one guinea , and wc can propose yov , if ' you wish . The clothing ( apron and keystone jewel ) is not expensive , and can be obtained at Bro . Kenning ' s Masonic Depot , Little Britain .

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NOTICE . —?—On and after October 1 st , the Subscription to THE FREEMASON will be ios . per annum , payable in advance . Vol . I ., bound in cloth ... ... 4 s . 6 d , Vol . II ., ditto 7 s . 6 d . Reading Cases lo hold 32 numbers ... 2 s . Cd .

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TheFreemason, SATURDAY , SEPTEMBER 24 , 1870 .

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THE FKF . EMASON' is published on Saturday Mcnvngs in time for the early trains . The , price of Tin-: FRKKMASON is Twopence per week ; annual subscription , ios . ( payable in advance ) . All communications , letters , & c , to be addressed to the EDITOR , 9 , 3 , and 4 , Little llntain , E . C . The Editor will pay carcfid attention 10 all MSS . entrusted lo himbut cannot undertake to return them unless accompanied by postage gUinps-. •-

Freemasonry In America.

FREEMASONRY in AMERICA .

THERE is no country 111 the world where Freecmasonry is more thoroughly organised than it is in the United States of America , and there is none where its principles arc

more deeply rooted , or its advantages more thoroughly understood . Doubtless much of this success is attributable to the freedom of thought , and the liberty of conscience

which have prevailed since the establishment of the Republic , because Freemasonry harmonises best with political institutions , which admit the right of every man to

enjoy his own opinion , cither in religion or politics . But the vast proportions of Freemasonry in America are comparatively little known in Europe . Even in England , with a common language , and a kinship in

Freemasonry In America.

blood , we are far from realising the colossal strides with which the Masonic Order is advancing throughout the American continent , and especially within the limits of

those territories where the flag of Columbia waves . It will therefore , we consider , he both interesting and instructive to our

readers if we give them , as brief ! 3 ' as possible , a few facts and figures relative to the Craft in the United States .

In the first place it may be mentioned that every state has its own Grand Lodge , a body which holds supreme sway within its own jurisdiction , there being no

General Grand Lodge for the entire nation , but these State Grand Lodges are as a rule governed by similar laws , and promulgate an almost identical ritual . A notable

exception is Pennsylvania , where the brethren work the ceremonies exceedingly well , according to the ancient English mode , and consequently not at all in unison with the

clarified system introduced by the celebrated American teacher , Webb , and his coadjutors or disciples . The oldest of the American Grand Lodges is that of Massachusetts , which

dates , from 1733 , when a Provincial Grand Lodge under British authority was first established in the State , then , of course , a dependency of England , and we may add

that the determination shown by the men of Boston in resisting the iniquitous tax on tea , was the prelude to the War of Independence . General Joseph Warren , the

Provincial Grand Master of Massachusetts , in 1776 held a command in the Republican army , and fell at the battle of Bunker ' s Hill . At the present time Freemasonry is flourishing

at Massachusetts under the sway of a very able Grand Master , Bro . William Scwall Gardner , while the fame of its venerable Grand Secretary , Bro . Charles W . Moore ,

both as a Masonic writer and an exponent of Masonic law , is as wide-spread as it is deserved . Virginia claims our attention as the birthplace of Washington , himself a Mison and an active member of the Craft .

Washington was a Past Master of Alexander Lodge , and has left on record his high appreciation of the value and importance of Freemasonry . New York , as might have

been expected , " shines out from the bright galaxy of her Masonic sisters in numerical strength . This gigantic jurisdiction alone reckons 700 lodges , and over 70 , 000

brethren ; its annual increase in membership now surpasses that of the Grand Lodge of England , although the latter has nearly twice the number of lodges . Illinois comes

next in numbers , and Kentucky , Indiana , Georgia , Missouri , Ohio , Texas , Tennessee , and Alabama arc also powerful organisations . The total number of "blue" Masons

iu the States is estimated at about 550 , 000 , divided into over 3 , 000 lodges , and there are probably 20 , 000 more in the British possessions .

Grand Chapters of Royal Arch Masonry arc also to be found in every State , and these bodies confer the " Mark , " " Past Master , " and " Most Excellent Master " degrees as pre-rcquisitcs to exaltation .

Freemasonry In America.

The titles of the officers also differ from those used in English chapters ; thus , the three presiding officers are termed " High Priest , " " King , " and " Scribe , " and they

have also "Captains of the Host" and "Grand Masters of the Veils "—appellations which are now obsolete in the revised English ritual . There is a General Grand

Chapter for the United States , but it is hardly popular , and many chapters ignore its existence , while others dispute its utility . The membership of American chapters shows us the formidable aggregate of

100 , 000 . The next governing body is one to which we in England have no equivalent , and , indeed , the degrees over which its

jurisdiction extends have never been worked in this country . We refer to the " Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters , " tp which the grade of Super-Excellent Master

is added in some councils . This branch of Masonry is also very prosperous , and there is hardly a State in the Union without a Grand Council of its own . The " Royal

Master" is the preliminary step to the " Select Master , " and the latter degree bears unquestionable internal evidence of its having been stolen , almost bodily , from

that of " Intimate Secretary in the Ancient and Accepted Rite . It certainly accords well with the legendary accounts of the origin of the Craft , and is more

sensible than many of the fanciful grades introduced into the Masonic system by the ritualmongers of the eighteenth century . We now come to the " Order of the

Temple and the Knights of Malta , who form one chivalric fraternity in America . These worthy fratres are drilled and manoeuvred like regulartroops ; they march

and counter-march , wheel into line , form squares and triangles , and all sorts of geometrical figures , to the admiration of all beholders . Nay , more , as our respected

contributor , Bro . Hughan , of Truro , himself a Knight Templar , recently pointed out , our knightly brethren in America gallantly enter the field , not of warfare , but of

encampment , where they remain for a week together practising military exercises , and otherwise enjoying their martial proclivities to the very fullest extent . The Templars

arc likewise very numerous , and could place an army of 50 , 000 well-equipped and disciplined men at their country ' s service , should any unforeseen emergency arise . The

Ancient and Accepted Rite we must reserve for a future article , merely premising that , with such men as Bros . Drummond , of Maine , and Pike , of Tennessee , at

its head , it is likely to rival all other " rites " or orders in prosperity and usefulness . We do not include the spurious " Rite of Memphis " in the category of American Masonic

degrees , nor yet the various androgynous grades comprised in the " Eastern Star " system ; but in every other respect we see

much to praise , and little to blame , in the manner in which the Masonic Institution is developed and supported in the United States of America .