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ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION FOR AGED FREEMASONS AND WIDOWS OF FREEMASONS , CROYDON . Patron and President : H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES , K . G ., & c , M . W . G . M . The ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL Of'this Institution will take place on WEDNESDAY , 23 rd FEBRUARY , 1 SS 1 , . At the FREEMASONS' TAVERN , GREAT QUEEN-STREET , LONDON , Upon which occasion LT .-COL . SIR HENRY EDWARDS , BART ., R . W . Prov . G . M . for West Yorkshire , Has been pleased to signify his intention of presiding . Brethren desirous of accepting the Office of Steward upen this occasion will greatly oblige by forwarding their Names and Masonic rank , as soon as convenient , to the Secretary , who will gladly give any information required . JAMES TERRY , P . Prov . G . J . W . Herts . Secretary . 4 , Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C .

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TO OUR READERS . THE FREE MA sox is published every Friday morning , price 3 d ., and contains tlie fullest and latest information relating to Freemasonry in every degree . Subscriptions , including Postage : — United States , T ,. ^ , . . , .. United Kingdom . Canada , theOmti- ^^^^ t ^^ 13 s . 15 s . 6 d . 17 s . 6 d . Remittances may be made in Stamps , but Post Office Orders or Cheques are preferred , the former payable to GEORGE KE . VXINT ., Chief Office , London , the latter crossed London Joint Stock Hank .

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TO ADVERTISERS . THE FREEMASON has a large circulation in all parts of the Globe . In it the official Reports of the Grand Lodges of England , Ireland , and Scotland are published with the special sanction of thc respective Grand Masters , and it contains a complete record of Masonic work in this country , our Indian Empire , and thc Colonies . The vast accession to the ranks of thc Order during the past few years , and the increasing interest manifested in its doings , has given the Freemason a position and influence which few journals can lay claim to , and thc proprietor can assert with confidence that announcements appearing in its columns challenge the attention of a very large and influential body of readers . Advertisements for the current week ' s issue are received up to six o ' clock on Wednesday evening .

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to CortTSHouUimts . Will any Brother send us the " Philadelphia Keystone " for January 1 st , 1 SS 1 . BOYS' SCHOOL . —If an Old Pupil will comply with our rule by sending his name wc will publish his letter with pleasure . Owing to pressure on our columns the following stand over : — Perseverance Lodge , No . 213 , Norwich . MARK . —Hammersmith Lodge , No . 211 , Hammersmith . ,, Francis Burdett Lodge , No . 1 S 5 , 'Twickenham . Prince Leopold Lodge of Instruction , No . 1 + 15 . BOOKS , & c ., RECEIVED . "Sunday Times , " "Broad Arrow , " "Allen ' s Indian Mail , " "Jewish Chronicle , " " The British Workman , " "Citizen , " "Croydon Guardian , " "Hull Packet , " "The Colonies and India , " " Central Glamorgan Gazette , " "Freemason ' s Repository , " "Der Long Islaender , " "Charity Record , " "Universal Instructor" ( Ward and Lock ) , "Masonic Review , " "Masonic Age , " "Canadian Craftsman , " " Freemason ' s Monthly , " " Australian Freemason , " "New York Independent , " "Hebrew Leader . "

The Freemason.

THE FREEMASON .

S ATURDAY , J ANUARY 29 , 1881 . \

I HK Anniversary rcslival of the Koyal Masonic Benevolent Institution will soon be here , and wc need hardly say that wc wish for it heartily all possible success . Thc Institution itself is so needful and so useful , so well conducted , so admirably

ministered , that it deserves , as it receives , thc confidence and support of all members of our benevolent Brotherhood . The Chairman at tlie approachng Festival will be our [ distinguished Bro . SIR HENRY EDWARDS . Bart .. Prov . Grand "Master of

West Yorkshire , and under his energetic presidency we may expect a most successful jjalherinjr . His own province , ever foremost in all good Masonic work , is coming up with ill Stewards , and has already collected the promised striking amount

The Freemason.

of £ 1751 7 s . 6 d . It is but justice to West Yorkshire to say that it is never forgetful of thc other great Charities , as it has already on thc list of thc Charity Committee nine Stewards and . £ 190 19 s . promised for the Girls' School Festival , and four

Stewards and £ 27 16 s . put down for the Boys ' School Festival in 1 S 81 . These amounts and names will no doubt be largel y added to . Wc congratulate the provincial authorities , and especially thc Charity Committee and Bro .

TOMLINSON , and the energetic Prov . Grand Secretary , Bro . HENRY S MITH , on this most auspicious state of feeling , and this expression of active Yorkshire

Masonic Charity . Wc need hardl y add that we trust the Anniversary Festival of this excellentl y managed and most useful Institution may be a great triumph for all concerned .

* * BRO . BINCKES , in a neat and characteristic letter in our last impression , asks pertinently enough if a previous communication in the Freemason anent the Boys' School , and signed " P . W . M ., " was written " au serieux . " From " P . W . M . ' s "

position , respectability , and experience , wc apprehend that what he has put forward he has put forward with a full sense of its importance , and his own responsibility . On such a subject "chaff" would be alike most improper and most unmasonic . It

was exactly because we felt persuaded that we were really bound to admit such a " complaint " that we allowed the letter to appear . In thc interests of the Boys' School itself wc thought that such a " direct assertion" from a " competent critic" ought to

be met , and though wc believed , as we still believe , that there is some mistake in the matter , we yet venture to be of opinion , that it is idle on any grounds to ignore such remarks , and still worse to

suppress them . If we did so , for the purpose of pleasing some and displeasing others , we had better suspend thc printing of the Freemason . Our best sympathies go with the Boys' School , as we have often clearly and forcibly expressed .

OUR readers will see elsewhere that Bro . YARKER impugns , under the head "Notes and Queries , " the historical correctness of a recent account of the new Cerneau Council which we published in the

Freemason . We will only add that it rests upon the authority of one of the most distinguished High Grade Masons in America , and one incapable of making fictitious statements to subserve any purpose , or support any body . We have ourselves entire confidence in the fairness and truthfulness of

his assertions in our pages . At the same time in thc conflicts which have ensued , and the discussions which have been carried on , somelittle possible " inaccuracy of quotation " on either side ma } ' be allowed and expected .

* * WE call attention elsewhere to a " Review " of the " Bulletin du Grand Orient de France " for October and November . By this it seems that the Grand Orient of France has formally recognized

the schismatic " Grand f . ogc Symbolique , " which has seceded from the " Rite Kcossais . " We deeply regret to hear it . It is thc beginning of troubles of various kinds , and a precedent of a most dangerous and destructive character . Our

Reviewer points out that the French Grand Orient objects at thc same lime to a Grand Orient for Uoumania , " straining at a gnat lo swallow a camel , " and which , if it is a real Masonic movement , deserves , on the avowed principles of the

French Grand Orient , and , indeed , upon true Masonic principles of recognition , lo be commended and sympathized with . But then , " consistent in its inconsistency , " the Grand Orient acknowledges a spurious body in Paris with

readiness , an act we do not hesitate to characterize as utterly unprecedented and unwarranted by MasSnic comity , courtesy , and law . We agree with our Reviewer that the alleged " concordat" of the

" Rite of Mizraim with thc so-called I . oge Symbolique is absolutely inexplicable . The French Grand Orient bases its action on the following ground , " to hasten the fusion of the rites and unification of Blue Masonry . " But what has the

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" Rule of Mizraim " to do with Symbolic Masonry ? As our Reviewer adds , as thc French diplomatist said , " e ' est unc raison comme unc ( autre ) , " that is o say , it is no reason at all .

* * The Alpina , thc organ of Swiss Freemasonry , according to the " Bulletin du Grand Orient , " gives the following account of Masonic proceedings in Buenos Ayres , and in thc Argentine Republic ,

which wc think deserves notice and perusal . " It is announced from Buenos Ayres that on the 20 th of May last , the 100 th anniversary of Bro . BER - NADINO RIVADARIA , who , as president , citizen , and Freemason , was well known lo his contemporaries ,

in the procession , which took place in his honour , 600 Freemasons were seen , all dressed in black , with white gloves , and a white rose at their buttonholes . The Masters of thc Ceremonies wore white and blue scarfs . The lodge of Buenos Ayres has

been actively employed in humanitarian efforts during the recent revolution . On the proposition of Bro . LANGENHEIM , whom the Alpina terms "Grand Master , " a Masonic society for the help of thc wounded has been founded . As all parties

have agreed to recognize it , it has been productive of much good . Its members when actively employed wear white caps with a ' square' on them and a ' compass ' in red , a white overcoat with thc same 'insignia . ' After the combat of Tunc 21 st , the

Freemasons offered succour to the wounded of both sides . " The writer seems to attribute the pacification of July 14 th to these proceedings of thc Freemasons . Be this as it may , we think the humane proceedings of the Freemasons of Buenos Ayres deserve recognition and remembrance .

* * * OUR old friend the Bauhiitte , according to the " Bulletin du G . Orient , " gives us the text of the address of the anti-Masonic candidate , GENERAL PHELPS , in the recent Presidential contest in

America . We have before expressed our opinion as to the absolute absurdity and childish intolerance of the proceedings ; but some of our readers may lilcc to know what he had really to say against our excellent and friendly Order . Listen , oh ! ye

incriminated Masons ! " I he North and the South " ought tounitc in forming one uniform opposition " directed against the Masonic lodges , in order to " give to the country an American fraternal feeling . " The lodge is an English invention , dating from

" a barbarous age , and professing tendencies e . x" clusivcly aristrocratic , and is entirely opposed to " all Republican institutions , which , nevertheless , " it dominates , controls , and corrupts . An oppo" sition against it offers the best possible reasons

" for a political union in all the countries of thc " Union . Freemasonry is , so to say , one of those " grains of seed , not yet destroyed , of that exotic " malady against which the United States sus" tained the war of seven years . ( It seems that

" the General commanded in 1 S 61 the Union " army in Virginia . ) Freemasonry has become " that political power which direcls things with us " since the power of slavery has been broken , and " it is more dangerous than thc'Slaveocracy' itself

" was . In the firm persuasion that a reform in " this direction is one of the first necessities for " the country , and that all reforms arc impossible " so long as the public offices are filled by the Free" masonsorgivenawaybyihem , lam readytoaccept

" the banner you offer me , and to carry it on high , " whether few or many follow me it matters " nothing , and whatever may be the result of the " struggle in which we are now engaging . " It

almost seems incredible to us English Masons that 76 , 000 votes can have been given to such a " monomaniac . " But so it is . We can only hope that his friends will look after him .

# # UNDER the heading " Duty , " the following little paragraph appears in thc Times of Saturday last , and seems to suggcs ' . somcnol useless considerations

to many of thc readers of the Freemason . We , therefore , reproduce it for the information and instruction of us all alike . — " About two years ago " a heroic act was performed by CAI ' TAIN SHARP " and J M'INTOSH ( ship ' s carpenter ) , of the