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Now ready , with Index and Preface , in Twelve Imperial Folio Paits , 5 s . each , or bound in one handsome . olume , £ 3 . THE FREEMASONS' LIBER MUSICUS , Dedicated by express permission to H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES , Past Grand Master of England and Wales . Edited by Dit . WILLIAM SPAUK , 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 Thiid Degrees ; Consecration and Dedication of I lalls and Lodges ; Programmes , Toasts , Songs , Trios , Choruses , etc ., for Banquets and other Festive Gatherings ; Laying Foundation or Comer Stones ; Installation ; Mark Masonry ; Royal Arch ; Masonic Funerals ; Voluntaries ; Marches , etc ., & c . Notice from the Evening Mail . " Our Masonic readers arc no strangers to the name of riro . William Spark , the talented musician and Organist of the Town Hall , Leeds . In this really great work , now completed , Dr . Spark , has shown his great lact and judgment ' , by completing and compiling for the Masonic brethren a complete library of musical , compositions of the choicest Knglisl ) and foreign works , ancient , traditional , modem , vocal , and instrumental , by the best composers , it comprises Masonic anthems , installation odes , dedication music , responses , opening , closing , ami intermediate music for all degrees , Thanksgivings , funeral odes , marches , songs , duets , ban <] uet music , programmes , voluntaries , and general musical directions , arranged lor voices and organ , pianoforte , or harmonium . "The Freemasons' Liber Musicus " is issued with tjie concurrence of many inllueutial Masonic Lodges , and under file distinguished patronage and support of the Most Worshipful the Grand Masters of England , Wales , Scotland , and Ireland . It forms a complete library of the choicest and rarest Masonic music , in a word , 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 ! " It deserves the patronage of every Masonic Lodge , both at home and abroad , and tor its me ! its alone it ought to be" zealously prized by every brother . As a present to a lodge , aothiug could be more useful , valuable , and appvopviate . HANDSOME CLOTH COVERS , with gilt lines , and lettered , for Binding ( similar to those used for the Graphic and Illustrated News ) , price 5 s . each . LONDON : GEORGE KENNING , irjS , Fleet-street .

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Second Edition , Now Ready , j / fi . 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 1 , 2 , and 3 , Little Britain . „ R . Spencer , 26 , Great Queen-street . LivEitPooL . —Geo . Kenning , 2 , Monument-place . MANCHESTER . —E . Henry it Co ., 59 , Dcansgate . DUBLIN . —C . Lledgelong , 26 , Grafton-street GLASGOW . —Geo . Kenning , 145 , Argyle-strect .

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THE MARK MASONS' SONG . " COME , BRETHREN , OF THE MYSTIC TIE . " Dedicated by permission to the Right Hon . the Earl Percy , M . P ., 30 ° , Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master of Freemasons for Northumberland , Moit Worshipful Grand Mark Master Mason of England . Wolds by Bro . T . Burdett Yeoman , Original Mark Lodge No . 1 ., composed by Bro . Henry Parker , Original Mark Lodge , No . 1 . Office , 198 , Fleet-street .

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MADAME TUSSAUD'S EXHIBITION BAKER STREET . Now added , PORTRAIT MODELS of the CZAR OF RUSSIA , SIR GARNET WOLSELKY , the Three Judges in the Tichborne Trial , Cockbuin Mellor , and Lush ; the Shah of Persia , Marshal MacMahon , M . Thiers , and the late Mr . Charles Dickens . Admission is . Children under ten , Od . Extra Itooms , fid . Open from ten a . m . to ten p . m .

Answers To Correspondents.

Answers to Correspondents .

All Communications , Advertisements , etc ., intended for insertion in the Number of the following Saturday , must reach the Office not later than 6 o'clock on Wednesday evening .

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TheFreemason, SATURDAY , JULY 2 JTH , 1874 .

The True Mission Of Freemasonry.

THE TRUE MISSION OF FREEMASONRY .

IT is very remarkable , how of late years , the the popular estimation ol Freemasonry has be-en clearly rising in the great open market of

English thought and opinion . As long as our useful and excellent order took the form to a great extent of a secret and social assembly , as long as it bore among men in general the reputation

of a harmless , but mainly convivial fraternity , so long , for the most part , with the exception of those who had the courage to lift the veil of our Masonic Isis , the greater part of society took the

easy but general explanation of what it was , and what it professed both to be and to do . In short , they accepted our own valuation of ourselves . But when , gradually , Freemasonry , so to say ,

detached itself from its social character , the merely convivial aspect , ( though sociality must always be a great characteristic of our Order , and , we will add , innocent conviviality ) , from the hour

that Freemasonry exhibited clearly to the world , that , its profession and practice went hand in in hand , immediately , many saw good in Freemasonry who had never seen it before , and the

world , which is generally guided , as is society , to a great extent , by the opinions of the many , rather than the few , chimed in at once with expressions of admiration and of praise . And hence ,

as we arc inclined to think that the world is sometimes right—that is , it is not always wrong , — in the views it entertains of things , and persons , and events , we wish to

impress upon our readers , that , this active manifestation of our great principles , which has so struck men and society , is , after all , the true mission of Freemasonry . We have nothing to do

with politics ; that is quite clear . We have no concern with the polemics of c ' enominationalism , or that "odium theologicum , " which , some writers , tell us , is the bitterest of all hatreds . We have

little interest in tlie passing frivolities of the hour and less in the outward exhibitions of folly or fashion . But , as Freemasons , we profess to be tolerant and kindly , large-hearted and fraternal ,

looking beyond the narrow limits of local , or national , or sectarian divisions , and regarding with sympathy and interest , every " brother of the dust . " Yet as we also know that true cha-

The True Mission Of Freemasonry.

rity begins at home , we equally believe , that , that is falsely called true charity , which , indulging in high-flown sentimentality or unreal emotions , neglects those who have the first claim upon

its heart and means , and leaves them to suffering or privation , while it relieves with an overstrained zeal those who are far away , and who might fairly look to their own friends for succour and

support . So Freemasonry , first of all , cares for her own . And we , in England , have of late years shown how fully we value the privileges of Freemasonry and enter into the spirit of

our teaching , as loyal members of our beneficent Order , that we have munificently aided every form of Masonic benevolence and utility , which seemed to have a fair claim on our

liberality , to call for our ready assistance , or to invoke our cheerful support . Thus we have , both in the metropolis , and by our provincial grants , by large sums from our benevolent funds ,

by constant donations from our lodge pedestals , alike assisted increasing indigence or failing old age , relieved the widow and the unfortunate , and educated with an unsparing liberality the

orphan daughters and sons of our deceased or less prosperous brethren . Whatever opinions some may still entertain of Freemasonry , however some foolish prejudices may still linger , however

unfounded impressions may still survive , however the mistaken views of earnest religionists , may question the propriety of our broad platform , or the expansiveness of our unsectar ian

teaching , none will venture to assert that our works of charity and utility are not alike deeds of and labours of mercy and love . Above the din of human controversy , over the

strife of tongues surmounting the Babel of wildly struggles and confusion , there rises , so to say , as once again angelic voices sweetly singing , " Glory to God in the highest

and on earth , peace , good-will towards men . " This is everthe true motto of Freemasonry . For in relieving distress , in succouring old age , in providing for weakness , in mitigating misfortune

in training up the young orphan children of our brotherhood , and fitting them as well as we can for the sterner battle of life , we are indeed showing that we love our neighbours as ourselves * that we are alive to the true mission of

Freemasonry , that we are intent on practising its unchanging precepts , and that we have indeed realized how true it is , that " Chanty like its divine sister Mercy is twice blessed , in that it

blesses him who gives , as well as him who receives . " How beautiful is the picture thus presented to the mind's eye of the reflecting Freemason . Freemasonry is endeared to us by manr

warm and active memories of the past . It recalls happy hours and faithful friends , summons up even now , amid prevailing sorrow , or depressing care , a vision of " cari luoghi" of

days of yore , when we found in the select circle of a genial friendship , many a pleasant and refreshing season , amid the trying calls of duty , or the continuous exertion of business , and of toil .

But beyond this , and above this , Freemasonry is invested for us witlt even still more radiant lures of beauty and of grace , when it comes to us

clothed in the garb of charity . Then we feel how great and good a thing Freemasonry really is , how admirable the Institution , how wise its