To Our Readers.

TO OUR READERS .

The FREEMASON is a Weekly News paper , price 2 d . It is published every Friday morning , and contains the most important , interesting , and useful information relating to Freemasonry in every degree . Subscription , including postage : United America , India , India , China , & c .

Kingdom , the Continent , & c . Via Bnndisi . Twelve Months ios . 6 d . 12 s . od . 17 s . 4 d . Six „ 5 s . 3 d . 6 s . 6 d . 8 s . 8 d . Three „ 2 s . 8 d . 3 s . 3 d . 4 s . 6 d . ' Subscriptions may be paid for in stamps , but Post Office Orders or Cheques are preferred , the former payable to GEORGE KENNING , CHIEF OFFICE , LONDON , the latter crossed London Joint Stock Bank .

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 to ensure insertion in current week's issue should reach the Office , 198 , Fleet-street , by 12 o ' clock on "Wednesdays .

SCALE OF CHARGES FOR ADVERTISEMENTS . Whole of backpage ... £ 12 12 o Half ,, „ 6 10 o Inside pages ... ... 7 7 ° Half of ditto 400 Quarter ditto ... ... ... ... 2 10 o Whole column ... ... ... 2 10 o

Half „ 1 10 o Quarter „ ... ... ... ... ... 1 o o Per inch ... ... ... 050 These prices are for single insertions . A liberal reduction is made for a series of 13 , 26 , and 32 insertions . Further particulars may be obtained of the Publisher , 198 , Fleet-street , London .

Answers To Correspondents.

Answers to Correspondents .

P . M . —You will find all you appear to require in Kenning ' s Masonic Cyclopaedia . ATLAS . —At Freemasons' Tavern , on the 12 th proximo . W . M . —Yours is a ritual question which , we think , it is unaavisa ' ole to discuss in The Freemason . The Editor will wiite privately .

The following reports stand over : —Royal Sussex , 342 ; Mount Sinai , Penzance , 121 ; Sun , 106 , Exmouth ; Seacombe , Combermere , 605 ; Chester , Independence , 721 ; Liverpool , Ancient Union , 203 ; Hammersmith Mark , 211 ; Hemming Lodge , 1512 ; Lodge of Faith , Openshaw , c 8 i

Holmesdale , 874 ; Henry , Mark , 216 , Frizington ; Manchester , 570 ; Lodge of Temperance , 169 ; Hundred of Elloe , 469 ; South Saxon Lodge , Lewes , 311 ; Fowey , 977 ; Peace and Harmony , Southampton , 359 ; St . James's , Halifax , 448 .

BOOKS & c , RECEIVED . "The Exeter and Plymouth Gazette , " "The Middlesborough News , " " Liverpool Porcupine , " "The Fountain , " " Our Home , " " City Press , " " Corner Stone , " " Mayfair , " " Buffalo , " " Liverpool Mail , " " Australian Freemason , " " Bye-Laws of the A . and A . Scottish Rite , " Oritnt of Philadelphia , ' Impediments of Speech , by Wm . Abbotts , M . D ., " " Brief , " " Hull Packet , " " Kelet Orient , " " The

Fondon Express , " "The Erasl , " "The Scottish Freemason , " "The Hebrew Leader , " "The Broad Arrow , " "Touchstone , " "The Citizen , " " Freeman , " " New York Dispatch , " " Report of the Thirty-Fourth Half-Ycarly Communication of the District Grand Lodge of Bombay , " " Bundes Prcsse , " " Risorgimcnto , " " Der Triangcl , " " East Anglican Handbook , " " Sheldrake ' s Aldershot and Sandhurst Military Gazette , " " The Boy ' s Own Paper , " ' The Liverpool Mail . "

Births, Marriages, And Deaths.

Births , Marriages , and Deaths .

BIRTHS . BROWN . —On the 13 th inst ., at Durham Hall , Bootle , near Liverpool , the wife of R . Brown , P . M . 241 , Hon . Sec . of the West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution , of a son . BUSHELL . —On the 14 th inst ., at 24 , Wakefield-st .,

Liverpool , the wife of Samuel Bushell of a daughter . NICHOLSON . —On the 22 nd inst , at Old Bank , Otley , the wife of J . H . Nicholson , of a daughter . PURVIS . —On the 17 th inst ., at Dale-st ., Liveipool , the wife of James Purvis , of Lodge 823 , of a daughter .

SHEEN . —On the 15 thinst ., at 54 , Grove-st ., Liverpool , the wife of Councillor T . H . Sheen , S . W . 241 , of a son . WILKINSON . —On the 17 th inst , at 17 , | Erskine-st ., Liverpool , the wife of Fred . Wilkinson , S . D . Dramatic Lodge , 1609 , Treas . of the Royal Alexandra Theatre , of a daughter .

MARRIAGE . OXI . AUE-STANTON . — On October 13 th ., 1878 , it the Cathedral , Nelson , New Zealand ,, R . Oxlad' ^ , of Sydney , to Sara , eldest daughter of W . M . Stanton , W . M . Loilge 725 , Nelson , New Zealand .

DEATHS . BAUTI . E . —On the 20 th inst . at 236 , Lancaster-rd ., Notting-hill , Bro . W . H . Bailie , only son of Bro . H . Bartie , aged 26 . J ACKSON . —On the 16 th inst ., at 29 , Addington-road , Bow , Mrs . Ann Jackson , aged 62 . Deeply regretted ,

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I NOTICE . Owing to the great pressure on our columns of Installation Reports , kc , the Publisher will issue next week ( Feb . est ) four extra pages , in which he hopes to include much matter that unavoidably stands over .

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THE FREEMASONSATURDAY , J ANUARY 1 $ , 1879 .

In Memoriam.

IN MEMORIAM .

As week succeeds to week we have to deplore the loss of worthy brethren , whose place in the lodge knows them no more . We announced in our last the death of Commander Scott , R . N ., J . P ., of Strathroy , Omagh , Ireland , and we call attention to it with deep regret . He formed one of that too limited number of enquiring Masons

who sympathize with Masonic literature and hail Masonic Investigation . A kind hearted and friendly brother , he was always anxious to extend the teaching and influence of Freemasonry , to raise its intellectual character , to uphold its civilizing influences . We condole with our Irish brethren on the loss of so true a brother and so good a Mason .

An Error Corrected.

AN ERROR CORRECTED .

A correspondent very kindly calls our attention to a prevalent error , which may do some harm to the Educational Charities , unless pointed out , namely , that lady Life Governors are deprived by the amended rules of their votes in General

Committee . Thatis not so , and was so distinctly decided on Monday last . By the wording of the amended law , as quoted by our correspondent , Lady Life Governors have the same right they had previously under the laws of the two Schools .

The London Masonic Charity Association.

THE LONDON MASONIC CHARITY ASSOCIATION .

We are glad to call attention to the first report of this Association for 1879 , which we were asked to publish last week , and which we think both by its ' modest words and simple statements , and straightforward explanations will commend itself to very many of our London brethren .

We ask the London voters for the Chanties not to be led away by childish canards or personal feelings , but simply to read the report , to think it over carefully , and we have no fear of the result . Moderation and good sense , right reason

and straight running are generally commended by men , and , we feel sure , will be by Masons . Indeed , the need of the Association is so obvious to all who will only condescend to look beneath the surface , that we think the Association is destined to be a great success .

The Origin Of Freemasonry.

THE ORIGIN OF FREEMASONRY .

The origin of that remarkable society , to which it is our privilege to belong , is still a " vexata qutetio " amid Masonic students and non-Masonic enquirers . So peculiar is its organization , and so undoubted its existence , that numerous most contradicting , and even absurd

theories have been broached , from time to time , with dogmatic certainty , as to its rise and progress , its first beginning , its later developement . We may pass over a host of puerile and ridiculous suppositions , and confine ourselves to-day to those within the domain of credibility , evidence , common sense , and even possibility . A

modern magazine writer , ' so late as this last year , propounds this new theory , or rather an old theory in a new dress , in the following words ' - — ' ¦ Saracen architects became scattered during a considerable epoch through Greece , Italy , Sicily , and other countries ; a considerable number of Christian artificers , chiefly Greeks , joined them , forming a corporation , which had its secret laws

The Origin Of Freemasonry.

and statutes , and whose members recognized each other by signs , this was the origin of Freemasonry . " We prefer on this head the theory of Bro . Fort , of " Byzantine Revival , " so to say , but we allude to this passage to point out how , from time to time , such explanations are given of the

orig in of our mysterious brotherhood , and how they should be noted by all , who , not blindly prejudiced by foregone conclusions , are still open to historical evidence and matter of fact , while they are equally unmoved by fantastic explanations or childish and uncritical suggestions . It

may be well to remind our readers here , with the commencement of 18 79 , where we stand in the progressing road of " Masonic investigation . " The theories of Masonic origin , which really deserve attention and study , may , we think , be

safely reduced to three , ist the Guild Theory ; and the Hermetic Theory ; 3 rd the Adaptation Theory . If we wish to study the Guild theory in its past or complete developement , we must read the works of Preston , Findel , Steinbrenner , and above all Fort . Neither must we overlook the

remarkable labours of Bro . David Murray Ljon , the contributions of Bro . Hughan , and other modern writers on the same subject , whose papers are still only to be found in Masonic journals and magazines . The Hermetic theory is mainly to be gathered by implication , as we are

aware of no writer who calmly arrays all the evidence in favour of it . The Adaptation Theory , started by Bro . Buchan , has recently gained a new ally in Bro . Findel and one or two other well known Masons , but we apprehend , " pace " such authorites , that it cannotjface the fire of a

remorseless and destructive criticism . It is altogether hazy and unsatisfactory , and entirely based on " ex post facto" assumptions and preposessions . " It is because it is . " We have often before expressed our view in favour of the Guild Theory , though we have never for one moment shut our eyes

to its many and salient difficulties . It is still , however , the most simple , the most rational , and proceeding more than any other on historical evidence alone best answers to the needful requirements of " cause and effect . " But it is fair to observe , that latterly a good deal of evidence has

" cropped up which seems to give some " colouring" at any rate to the Hermetic view . We say nothing here of the old view of Oliver which links our Freemasonry to the mysteries , or to the skilful use which Bro . Fort has made of this theory , in his remarks on the

Scandinavian mysteries . That is a separate question , and may well even be admitted in part , at any rate by those who accept the guild theory . But what we wish to point out is this , that we have to m odify certain views , which have to this time been universally held as correct , by all modern

critical students of Masonic history . The high grade movement , with its Hermeticism and speci he " colouring matter , " has generally been ascribed to Ramsay , alike in as its first " fautor , " and in its later development under these German mysteries which did such harm to Freemasonry .

Thus Masonic Hermeticism dates from 1750 or thereabouts . But now we have the fact , that in 1721 a Hermetic Society , connected too with Masonry , was apparently existing in London , of which all previous writers have taken no account , being seemingly ignorant of it , and which ,

therefore disturbs all existing calculations and disquisitions on this " moot point . " What this Hermetic Society was we are not told . It may have been the Royal Arch , or it may have been a traditional re-adaptation of the Rosicrucian Hermeticism , which in the times of Lily and

Ashmole , seems to have had many " adepts , " and to form the basis of "Nicolais' " untenable theory of a Baconian - Caroline politico - Hermetico fraternity . We can never too often repeat that the Rose Croix of the A . and A . S . Rite has nothing to do with Rosicrucian Hermeticism ,

though it may be the use of a name . Thus it will be seen how " open " is still the question , and how much ground there is for investigation and , above all , "tolerance , " as regards diverging views and contrasted schools . Freemasons , who are always preaching toleration , should not be

" intolerant " in respect of differing schools of Masonic history , and , as Freemasons , not being too " dogmatic , " above all we should welcome all honest theories and differences , and " agree " to " differ , " if need be harmoniously , sincerely , and fraternally .