Masonic Newspapers And Literature.

sonic Press , as the most effective agents in such a wished-for consummation of things and of events . And though we can perhaps in this old

country , hardly follow our able and eloquent brother in his flights both of imagination and hope , we yet can heartily go with him , alike in the belief and the expectation , that , much intellectual and

moral good will accrue to the world and to Freemasonry , by the wider diffusion , and the permanent success of a sound Masonic Literature .

In the United States , the Masonic journals are many , and the readers are counted in large numbers , while here in England , one solitary Hebdomadal journal , and one unpretending

magazine , make up the sum and substance of any efforts in favour of Masonic intellectuality . And even these alike in their cheapness and character , we venture to say , most creditable to

their enterprising publisher , somewhat resemble those unfortunate persons , who are kept up , amid the surging waves , by the help of a safety belt .

It never seems to occur to some of our good brethren , who expect to have a Masonic periodical supplied to them , somehow , that , such an undertaKing entails necessarily a considerable

outlay on the publisher , and that whether they g ive to his efforts to afford the Order a good , a sound and a welcome literature , all the support they can , and all the patronage he has a right

fraternally to look tor at their hands , printers must be paid , and a staff of workers must be kept up . We are led into these remarks by the

remembrance , that , while the Freemason , is the only Masonic paper in England , and while at the same time its publisher , after some years of sacrifice , has evinced a laudable desire to increase

its power and efficiency in every way , some of our good brethren , forgetful of the past and regardless of the future , simply send the

excessively flattering and encouraging message " discontinue " We then would once more beg to remind our readers of the claims The Freemason has on

all members of our . Order , and ask them kindly to use their influence , in lodge and out of lodge , in seeking to extend its support , and increase its circulation .

It is undoubtedly true , that , of late , we have bean favoured with much increased sympathy and countenance everywhere , and that , " discontinuing" subscribers have been happil y

overbalanced by new friends and zealous supporters ; but still we look forward to a greater measure of fraternal encouragement than wejhave ever yet received , and we hope that our numerous

subscribers and correspondents will add to their fraternal favours , by urging others to follow their good example . Were the support of the Craft at all

commensurate with the sacrifices entailed on our publisher , no effort would be wanting , and no expense would be spared , to make The Freemason still more worthy of such kindly support

and patronage . It is somewhat curious to remember here amid the singleness of our Masonic journalism , the general aspect of the newspaper and serial literature of England ,

Masonic Newspapers And Literature.

From the Newspaper Press Directory for 1874 , we extract the following , on the present position of the newspaper press : — There are now published in the United Kingdom 1585 newspapers , distributed as follows :

, —England , London , 314 ; Provinces , 915—total England , 1 , 229 * Wales , 58 ; Scotland , 1495 Ireland , 131 British Isles , 18 . Of these , there are 95 daily papers published in England , 2 in Wales , 14 in Scotland , 17 in Ireland , and 2 in

British Isles . On reference to the edition of this useful Directory for 1854 , we find the following interesting facts—viz ., that 1854 in there were published in the United Kingdom 624 journals ; of these 20 were issued daily—viz .,

16 in England , 1 in Scotland , and 3 in Ireland ; but in 1874 there are now established and circulated 1 , 585 papers , of which no less than 130 are issued daily , showing that the Press ofthe country has very greatly extended during the last 20

years , ancl more especially so in daily papers , the daily issues standing 13 o against 20 in 1854 . The magazines now in course of publication ,

including the Quarterly Reviews , number 639 , of which 242 are of a decidedly religious character , representing various religious communities ofthe United Kingdom .

As Bro . MacCalla hopes , so do we sincerely , that , a brighter day is yet to be , for Masonic literature in our good old Craft .

The Masonic Charities.

THE MASONIC CHARITIES .

Strangely enough with our leader of last week , came an advertisement for the next Boys ' School Festival , which appeared in ovir last issue , and is repeated in our impression of to-day .

We are very glad to acknowledge it , and call attention to it , as we think this resolution of the Stewards to advertise in our columns a step in the rig ht direction . We trust , that , the spirit of

our last remarks on the subject will be fully understood and appreciated by the Craft . They were not penned , we feel sure we shall be credited when we say so , from any selfish

considerations , or a mere anxiety for paid advertisements , but they were 2 > rompted , by a sincere and heartfelt anxiety to promote the interests of our great charities .

We think at _ the same time , and we fancy our brethren will agree with us in the opinion , that , when there is one Masonic paper like The Freemason , it deserves all the patronage that can be

g iven it , all the fair fraternal encouragement that can be offered it , instead of having to witness , as we often do , such support and encouragement so valuable to us , tendered to non-Masonic

papers . We should not have adverted to the subject at all , but , that , it seemed desirable that a change should be made , in the customary system of our

chanties in this respect , the more so , as they require all the support the Order can render to them . Our pages have always been open to reports of

their proceedings , reports which could not be obtained without expense , and we therefore thought it ' well to call attention , once for all , to what we felt to be unjust to ourselves , and in itself a

great mistake , as regards the interests of the charities . We feel sure , that , such " penny wise and pound foolish " policy only requires to be

pointed out , to be at once amended , and while we thank the Stewards of the Boys' School for their remembrance of The Freemason , we beg leave to express our hope , that henceforth what-

The Masonic Charities.

ever other papers may be favoured with the notice of our charities , we may be e . nabled t & disperse the same advertisements , much to thc advantage of the charities themselves , in those localities Freemasons most do congregate , and where The Freemason is habitually read .

Weekly Summary.

WEEKLY SUMMARY .

Her Majesty has returned from Osborne to Windsor Castle , where she remains for the present . The Prince and Princess of Wales are still at St . Petersburg , but it is understood they leave this week . Prince Arthur has reached this

country , and arrived at Windsor Castle on Saturday . The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh are expected at Gravesend March 7 th . His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales will hold a levee at St . James' Palace , on behalf of her Majesty , on Wednesday , the t ith of March

next , at 2 o ' clock . Mr . Gladstone t 5 signed his office of Premier to her Majesty on Tuesday the 17 th , and Mr . Disraeli was charged by the Queen to form an administration . His Cabinet is as follows : —

First Lord of the Treasury Mr . Disraeli . Lord Chancellor ... ... Lord Cairns . Lord President ofthe Council Duke of Richmond . Lord Privy Seal ... ... Lord Malmesbury . Foreign Affairs ... ... Lord Derby . India ... Lord Salisbury . The Colonies ... ... Lord Carnarvon .

War Mr . GathorneHardy Home ... ... ... Mr . R . A . Cross . Admiralty Mr . Hunt . Chancellor of the Exchequer Sir S . Northcote . Postmaster-General ... Lord John Manners . They were sworn in on Saturday at a Privy

Council , held at Windsor Castle , when their respective predecessors in office resigned their appointments . The following appointments have also been made : — FirstCommissionerof Works Lord H . Lennox . Chief Secretary for Ireland Sir M . Beach .

Vice-President of the Council ... ... ... Lord Sandon . Attorney-General Sir J . Karslake . Solictor-General ... ... Sir R . Baggallay . Under Home Secretary ... SirH . Selwin-Ibbetson Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs Hon . R . Bourke . SecretariestotheTreasury { £ W . H Sna ith .

THE ROYAL HOUSEHOLD . Mistress ofthe Robes ... DuchessofWellington Lord Chamberlain ... Marquis of Bath . Master of the Horse ... Earl of Bradford . Mr . Gladstone has recommended that peerages should be granted to Mr . Chichester Fortescue ,

Mr . Cardwell , Mr . Hammond , Sir J . Fremantle , and Lord Enfield , and that baronetcies should be conferred on Sir C . Trevelyan , Mr . C . Foster , M . P ., and Mr . Matthew Wilson , M . P .. Mr . Reed , M . P ., Chairman of the London School Board , and Mr . Charles Alexander Wood have

received the honour of knighthood . Sir Louis Mallet is appointed Permanent Under Secretary at the India-office , in place of Mr . Merivale , and several changes have taken place at the South Kensington Exhibition in consequence of the retirement of Mr . H . Cole , C . B . Sir Francis

Sandford , Secretary of the Education Department , will also be Secretary of the Science and Art Department ; Major Donnelly , R . E ., Official Inspector for Science , will be Director of Schools of Science and Art and affiliated institutions ; Mr . Norman MacLeod will remain Assistant

Secretary of the Science and Art Department ; and Mr . Philip Cunliffe Owen , Assistant Director of the South Kensington Museum , will be the Director of that Museum . Mr . F . W . Burton will it is understood succeed Sir W . Boxall as Director of the National Gallery .

It has been announced that the Marquis of Westminster has been created Duke of Westminster ; Lord Enfield , Lord Stratford ; and Sir John Pakington , Lord Hampton . The Rev . Sir Jex Blake , D . D ., Principal of Cheltenham College , has . been chosen Head