Births, Marriages, And Deaths.

Births , Marriages , and Deaths .

DEATHS . BAXTER . —At 38 Pollock-street , Glasgow , on the 20 th inst ., Bro . Alexander Watt Baxter , first R . W . M . of the Lodge Neptune , No . 418 , and Past Master of Lodge Argyll , Dunoon , No . 335 , deeply regretted , by a large circle of brethren and friends .

LANE . —On the 20 th inst ., at the Nurseries , Great Berkhampstead , after a long and painful illness , aged 35 years , Bro . Henry George Lane , P . M ., Hon . Sec ., 504 , P . P . J . G . W ., Herts , eldest son of Bro . John Edward Lane , P . M . and Treasurer .

MORLEY . —On June llth , whilst on a visit at the residence of her father , Henry Storr , Esq ., Thorn Cottage , near Castle Howard , Yorkshire , in her 40 th year , Mary , the much beloved wife ol Bro . Richard Morley , ( Temple Lodge , 1004 , Liverpool , ) Fruit and Spice . Merchant .

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NOTICE . Owing to the rapidly-increasing circulation of © Ijc Jrmmtsoix , its columns have now become valuable channels to all who Advertise . SCALE OF CHARGES FOR ADVERTISEMENTS IN "THE FREEMASON . " Per Column £ 2 10 0 „ Line , displayed 0 0 8 „ Line of 8 words , not less than ) n 0 G three lines j Situations wanted , per 8 words ... 0 0 3 Auction and Trade Advertisements , ) n 0 5 per line ) P . O . O . ' s on Chief Office , in favour of GEORGE KENNING .

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CjrcJfrcemmn, SATURDAY , JUNE 26 , 1869 .

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THE FKHKKASOS is published on Saturday Mornings in timo for the early trains . The price of THK FBRKMISOH is Twopence per week ; quarterly subscription ( includim ? postage ) 3 B . 31 . Annual Subscription , 12 s . Subscriptions payable in advance All communications , letters , & c , to he addressed to tbe EDITOR , 3 & . 4 , Little Britain , E . G . The Editor will pay careful attention to all MSS . entrusted to hiui , but cannot umlot-lake to return thorn unless accompanied by postage stamps .

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As our next nnmber will commence the Second Volume , and as vory many of our subscribers have expressed a desire to bind THE FREEMASON , in future this Journal will be paged consecutively for convenience of reference .

we takii this opportunity of thanking all our friends and contributors , and if their kind support be continued , we hope , before the close of the second volume , to enjoy a weekly circulation of TWENTY THOUSAND COPIES .

Mutual Congratulations.

MUTUAL CONGRATULATIONS .

HALF the year has passed away , with all its troubles , its joys , its blessings , and its woes . Over the grave of buried hopes some mourn in silence , while others bask in thc rays of fortune , and triumph in the glory of success . This has

been , and ever will be , thc sum of our human life—the snn shines upon half the world , while the nether hemisphere slumbers in darkness . Our labour in connection with THE FREEMASON during the period of its existence has

been , indeed , a labour of love ; a work li ghtened and brightened by the fraternal eo-operatiou of many kind and generous friends , without whose active aid its triumphant success could not have been attained . Wo are , therefore , but

discharging a bounden duty when wc thank , most cordially , all our supporters for contributing to this great result ; and , in commencing the second volume of our Journal , let us assure them , and the Craft at large , that increased

Mutual Congratulations.

efforts shall be made to maintain the prestige of THE FREEMASON in its hig h and honourable position as the chosen organ of the Masonic fraternity . It is for us a matter of pride and satisfaction to know that our services have been

appreciated by the brethren ; to know that , in so short a period , this Journal has found its way , not only to every part of the United Kingdom , but wherever the English language is spoken or understood .

We congratulate ourselves upon having originated a Masonic paper which has met with such general approval ) and we congratulate our readers , and more especially English Masons , upon the possession of an organ which may be

regarded as a faithful reflex of the opinions of the Craft , aud an expositor of the great truths of Freemasonry . And we are prouder still in the reflection that this success has been achieved without the sacrifice of one iota of principle to

expediency . Our voice has been heard in defence of the weak , and has not been silent when imposition and injustice upreared their heads and threatened to profane the sanctity of the Order . Our utterances have been neither timid

nor uncertain when giant Wrong threatened Right . We have endeavoured to smite down the prejudices of colour and caste , and to identify Freemasonry with the cause of true reason aud progress . But while we have stedfastly

refused to bow the knee before the Dagon ot priestly rule , we have protested almost in the same breath against the adoption of those pernicious and soul-destroying doctrines—Materialism and Atheism—with which certain misguided brethren on the Continent would fain inoculate

Freemasonry . Facilis descensus Averni , —let us beware of this insidious danger , and firmly close the gates of the temple against those who would make it a den of thieves , who would rob us of our

immortal hopes , and Freemasonry itself of its greatest and holiest charms . Happily , the spoiler ' s hand has not yet dared to touch the fabric of the English Craft . Founded in truth , it has endured in strength ;

and though empires fall around , and systems decay—impregnable to all the assaults of hate and wrath , unshaken by the advancing waves of

time—it stands before all the world an object of reverence , an ark of refuge for humanity , an imperishable structure of might , majesty , and beauty .

Actuated by these exalted ideas of the dignity and importance of the Order , we entered upon our duties as a Masonic journalist , and if we have been successful , tho merit is due to the response which thoso sentiments have elicited

in the hearts of all true Masons . Having no paltry interests to subserve , no petty personal feelings to gratify , in what we have done we have striven for the * ' greater good of the greater number . "

Our columns have been opened freely and impartially to the admirers of overy degree , and our denunciations have fallen only upon those pseudo-Maso nic bodies which arc by all admitted to be spurious and irregular . In other

respects our conceptions of duty are based upon a conscientious observance of Masonic law , and a strict adherence to the dictates of Masonic honour . It is part of our mission to record the

sayings and doings of the fraternity , the lights and shades of Masonic life , but our post is also akin to that of the sentinel on the watch tower , who sees from afar tho approach of the foe ; it

Mutual Congratulations.

is for us to sound a warning note against innovations which are not reforms , to repress the inroads of mistaken zeal , as well as to do battle

with the undisguised assailants of the Order . In this spirit we wield the pen , and from the past we gather confidence for the future .

Having regard to the number of active Freemasons in Great Britain , we may calculate upon a still greater measure of support being extended to our exertions : we may reasonably reckon

upon obtaining a still larger circulation . And as Freemasonry itself spreads throughout the length and breadth of the land , so may THE

FREEMASON , its chosen and accepted organ , " grow with its growth , and strengthen with its strength . "

The Earl Of Derby On Freemasonry.

THE EARL OF DERBY ON FREEMASONRY .

WE have tlie pleasure to refer our readers to the following extract from Lord Derby ' s speech on the Irish Church Bill , in which reference is made to the Masonic body . Praise from such lips as his is praise indeed ; for , setting politics aside , all Englishmen are proud of their ancient chivalry , and delight in the historic achievements of a

stalwart Stanley , or a dauntless Dundas . Although the noble Earl himself is nob a Freemason , we are glad to say his lordship ' s younger son , Captain the Hon . Frederick Stanley , M . P ., is a valued member , the gallant Captain being a P . M . of the St . George ' s Lodge , No . 32 , Liverpool , and a Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden for West Lancashire . In the course of his

speech Lord Derby said : — " To give an instance to your lordships of the subservience alike of laymen and clergymen I will refer you to what occurred the other day , when Cardinal Cullen threatened all the Catholics with excommunication ipso facto—for what ? Why , if

they should be guilty of attending a ball that was given iu honour of the son of the Sovereign , in the presence of her Majesty ' s representatives in Ireland . For this they were to be ipso facto excommunicated . It was to apply to all the young ladies who might think it a good opportunity of enjoying themselves ,

aud the excommunication was threatened on . this ground—that the ball was to be given by the Society of Freemasons . Well , I can only say that if Cardinal Cullen imagines the Freemasons of England stand on the same footing as the Carbonari or other secret societies -if he supposes that they are leagued

against the throne , it is a signal proof of the ignorance of infallibility . ( A laugh . ) I have not the honour myself of belonging to that society , but from all I have ever heard , I believe that a more loyal , a more peaceable , a more charitable , a more universally benevolent class of men does not exist on the face of

the earth . ( Hear , hear . ) Yet , because it is a secret society , all those Boman Catholics who attend any of their meetings are liable' to excommunication . ( A noble lord on the opposite benches made an observation . ) I am very much obliged to tho noble lord for calling my attention to the presence here of

the noble lord ( Lord Zetland ) who is the head of that dangerous society which is supposed to be hatching all manner of designs against the Church and State 'a laugh ) , and every one of whose associates is liable to excommunication . ( A laugh . ) Standard , June 18 .

A SAD occurrence took place last week . A respectable female was charged with loitering in the Haymarket , and on being brought before the magistrate at Marlborough-street , was immediately discharged . The young lady ' s uncle , Bro . Myers , was called up

in the middle of the night , and he thought it was an alarm of fire . The shock was so great that he was taken ill , and never rallied . His funeral took place on Sunday , and was attended by numerous friends , there being in the ftine-al procession , besides mourning coaches , about 120 cabs .

ALL that relates to the regeneration and civilization of man by Christianity is to be found in the Bible . It is the book , the historical truths of which are evidenced by the existence of the Jews . The Jews , though not now professing Christianity , yet believe in the coming of a Messiah , as professing Christians believe in the second coming of Jesns Christ . — Ellis .