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SPECIAL NOTICE

COSMOPOLITAN CALENDAR , DIARY AND POCKET B OOK FOR 1874 . We have forwarded , addressed to the

Secretaries of every Lodge , a form that requires lo be filled in , lo show any alterations and additions that may be

needed for the Cosmopolitan , Calendar , Diary and Pocket Booh for 1874 . As the Calendar will be published early next

month , il is respectfully requested thai the form m a 1 / be filled in at once , and relumed to the Publisher , George Kenning , 198 , Fleet-street . The latest time for receiving corrections will be October 4 th ,

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NOTICE .

The Subscription lo THE FREEMASON is now ios . per annum , post-free , payable tn advance . A'ol . I ., bound in cloth .,. ... 4 s . Gd . Vol . II ., ditto 7 s . 6 d .

Vol . III ., ditto J . is . od . Vol . IV ., ditto 15 s . od . Vol . V „ ditto 5 s . od . Reading Cases to hold 5 2 numbers ... 2 s . fid . Ditto ditto 4 do . ... is . 6 d .

United States of America . THE FHEEMASON is delivered fiee in any part of the United States for 12 S . per annum , payable in advance . The Freemason is published on Saturday Mornings in time for the early trains . The price of the Freemason is Twopence per week j annua !

subscription , ios . ( payable in advance . ) All communications , letters , tic , to be addressed to the Editor , tgS , Fleet-street , li . C . The Fditorwill paycarefnlaltention to all MSS . entrusted tohim , but cannot undertake to return them unless accompanied hy postage stamps .

Answers To Correspondents.

Answers to Correspondents .

Tint UNITED OIWEHS OF THE TEMPLE ASD HOSPITAL . — We cannot afford the space for an > further conespondence upon tbis subject . The following stand over : —Communications from . ] . H . VV . ; Relation of Sts . John to Freemasonry , by Uro . Jacob Norton ; Laying the Foundation-stone of St . Mark's Church , South Shields ; Reports of Lodges 1326 , 1225 ; Mark Lodge iyj ; l- ' rutcr . s Rosicruciante Societa-tis in Anglia .

Births, Marriages And Deaths.

Births , Marriages and Deaths .

MARRIAGE . GATEHOUSE . —STEVENS . —On the 20 th inst ., at Holy Trinity Church , Clapham , by the Rev . VV . E . F . Green , William Ackfteld Gatehouse , third son of Thomas Gatehouse , Ksq ., of Bosham , Chichester , to Harriet Elizabeth , eldest surviving daughter of Bro . James Stevens , l ' . M . 720 , 1216 , and VV . M . of the Great City Lodge , 1426 , tec .

Liverpool Theatres, &C.

LIVERPOOL THEATRES , & c .

Week ending October 27 . ROYAL ALEXANDRA Tl ILATRF ., Lime-street . —Lessee Uro . K . Saker . Miss llatein . m in " Medea . "

ROYAL AMIT 1 ITI 1 KATRK , Oreat Charlotte-street . —Lessee Hro . II . Leslie . " Tlie V \ aiideiinu . Heir . " PRLNCii OF iV ' AUiS 11 fl ' i .-V 1 KT-. " , ~ T : i . i 7 ioii-i . ijii . ire ^ - " l . e , see iMr . . Helton furry . lJuniainl ' s IJiulesijue , '' Ki-, > i Ki-, M . " T ' TlKATKIi ROYAL Williamson-square . —Lessee , Hro . De Freeee . "tiraiul Duchess . "

ST . JAMES'S HALL , Lime-street . —1 'vupricuir , Bro . S . Hague Special Artistes and rnieT . -imiiie . TVTKW STAR MUSIC HALL , \ Viiii .-imsnn-s- ) -. iare . — : vlana- ; e " r -l >» Uro . Sauiideis . Opera and Special Attractions ,

ROTUNDA TllliATKIC anil . MUSIC 1 I \ LI .. — I ' roprieior , Mr . D . 'irannell . Miscellaneous Kntcrtaiiiineuls . QULLN'S HALL . —" liineral . l Minstrels , lluinorLls . and Uancers . " i p ONCliKT HALL . —Mr . ' F . Maccabe . S'i ' . TlAMF . S's ' Mi ^ Lntcrtuimncm ,

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NOTICE .

All Communications , Advertisements , & c , 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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The Freemason , SATURDAY , SEPTEMBER 27 , 187 , 5 .

Masonic Literature.

MASONIC LITERATURE .

There never probably was a time in the annals of our Order , when the material prosperity of Freemasonry was so great as at the present hour . The roll of lodges under our English

Grand Lodge is continually lengthening out , and our excellent Grand Secretary is continually welcoming the advent of another interesting " Little Stranger . " Indeed , there seems at

present no possible limit to be placed either to the expansiveness or development of our English Freemasonry . Simultaneously with this steady increase of

our lodges , and this great prosperity of our Order generally , there has also grown up a considerable taste for nesthetie adornment . No longer confined to the public-house , or

busy tavern , however respectable or well conducted , no longer exposed unavoidably , to those incongruities which the hotel system always subjects our lodge meetings to , as a general

rule , —our brotherhood has sought for refuge in private lodge-rooms in the well arranged Masonic Temple , or the stately Masonic Hall . And the same feelings , and the same tastes

seem just now to be distinguishing our Masonic brethren in America . In Philadelphia , for instance , they have recently , at the cost of one million three hundred

thousand dollars , raised what , so far , is the largest Masonic Hall in the world , and which in its architectural character , its outward appearance , and its inner arrangements , rellectSj

from the description of it , the greatest credit , as well , on those who planned , as on those who paid , for so magnificent a structure ! Indeed ,

wej in England may well feel somewhat startled , as we read in the Times , at home , of what our brethren are doing in the " Far West . "

Now this is one peculiar phasis of modern Masonry , which we must not overlook , when we seek to realise what Freemasonry is " about , " so to say , at the present hour amongst us .

A taste , as we before observed , for " aesthetics " has sprung up in the Ortler , and everywhere we see a tendency to more ornamented rituals , and more adorned accessories , in all our lodge-rooms ,

and lodge assemblies . And in this , no doubt , we are quite right , so far as we do not as is too often the case in changes and movements of the same kind , in the Craft and out of the Craft , fall into excess .

For it very often happens , that , in our ardent desire for improvement , we forget the golden rule of moderation , the " via media" of what is

true , between the two extremes of carelessness on the one hand , or extravagance on the other . Hence , though it is most advisable , and is most proper and becoming , to encourage the move-

Masonic Literature.

ment for lodge ornamentation , to throw around our meetings all that good taste can suggest , or thoughtful ingenuity can supply , in order to make our halls and our ceremonies beautiful ,

impressive , and affecting , yet , we should always keep this , as all other tendencies of a similar kind , in due bounds , and within proper limits !

We quite agree with those who hold , that , new life is often thrown into our Masonic arrangements , that a spirit of awakened zeal antl interest is infused into our routine Masonic

existence , as well as a new li ght cast upon our Craft ceremonies , by the happy addition , and liberal aid of a well decorated and properly ornamented lodge-room .

Some of us , who remember the carelessness and the indifference which characterised our earlier experience of our lodge meetings , must rejoice to see , on every side of us , halls and

buildings springing up , specially set apart for Masonic services , and on which the Architect has exerted his skill , and in which the " Ornamentor" if one may use such a word , has put

forth his graceful strength , in order to render the erection , within and without , alike creditable to Freemasonry , and conducive in the highest degree , both to the comfort and delight of the brethren .

But while we commend sincerely this state of things , truly tobecommended in itself , for the highest interests of our Order , we must repeat , as we said before , that we must not be content

with the mere outward display or even the mere inward ornamentation of our lodges ! We require something more than all this to

prove to us , and to the minds of all reflecting brethren , that Freemasonry is in a thoroughly healthy state amongst us .

Two great " indicia : " of such a condition always characterise Freemasonry , when thoroughly acting up to the teaching it unfolds , and the obligations it avows .

The lirst is the devlopment of a charitable spirit in the Craft , the carrying out in practice of what we so often , and so solemnly , profess in theory .

Whatever else may be said about English Freemasonry no one can venture to deny that , of late years , it has been remarkabl y distinguished by a most open handed obedience to its own

constraining principles . Independently of the sums raised for our Masonic charities , in the last few years , and the large amount given periodically month by month from our various

funds of benevolence , the simple fact that , during this very year , our brotherhood has contributed £ 21 , 000 to the Masonic Charities , is a reality of active and energetic benevolence , which we

cannot dwell upon too much , or in truth praise too highly . And with the material prosperity of our brotherhood , there come of necessity , the corresponding claims for aid and relief .

The sun does not always shine upon us ; "It is not always May , " says the old proverb , and amid our numerous confraternity there are many

year by year , who pass away , leaving their widows and orphans destitute , or who , from unforseen calamity , which may aifect us all in an unexpected moment , are reduced from affluence and