To Our Readers

TO OUR READERS

The Freemason is a sixteen-page weekly newspaper , price 2 d . It is published every Friday morning , and contains the most important , interesting , and useful information relating to Freemasonry in every degree . Annual subscription in the United Kingdom , Post free , 10 / - P . O . O . ' s to be made payable at the chief office , Lon don .

Answers To Correspondents.

Answers to Correspondents .

All Communications , Advertisements , & c , intended for insertion in the Number of the following Saturday , must reach the Office not later thar . 12 o ' clock on Wednesday morning . E . H . Allgrett in our last was a misprint for G . H . Wyatt . We have received the circular from the Supreme Conseil Rite Eccosais , France , with reference to a correspondence with Bro . Albert Pike , U . S .

Births, Marriages, And Deaths.

Births , Marriages , and Deaths .

[ The charge is 2 s . 6 d . for announcements , not exceeding four lines , under this heading . ] BIRTHS . HORUOCKS—On the 20 th inst ., at Ainsworth House , near Bolton-le-Moors , the wife of Mr . J . Horrocks , of a dauehter .

HUTCHESON . —On the 30 th inst ., at Oporto , the wife of S . S . Hutcheson , Esq ., of a son . MARRIAGES . CREWE-ADDEHLEY . —On the 20 th inst ., at Lea Marston Church , Vauncey Haipur , son of Sir J . H . Crewe , Bart ., of Calke Abbey , Derbyshire , to Isabel , daughter of the Right Hon . Sir C . B . Adderlev .

DAVIS-CRAWFORD . —On the 20 th inst ., at Stratford-on Avon , Arthur Staden Davis , M . A ., of Cheltenham College , to Rose Duncombe , daughter of the late Rev . J . R . Crawford , M . A . DEATHS .

BLAND . —On the 23 rd inst ., at Worton Hall , Isleworth , Middlesex , James Sparling Bland , Esq ., aged 56 . Friends will please accept this intimation . BLACK . —On the 26 th inst ., Bro . C . W . Black , of 9 , Catherine-court , aged 67 . FAIRMAN . —On April 18 th , at Golden Cross Hotel , Havelock-road , Hastings , Bro . Geo . Fairman , aged 39 years .

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The Freemason , SATURDAY , APRIL 29 , 1876 .

Our Royal Grand Master's Return.

OUR ROYAL GRAND MASTER'S RETURN .

Since our last impression our Royal Grand Master has been to Cadiz and Seville , where he was warmly received , and assiduously visited the many scenes of local interest and attraction . The Prince of Wales and the Duke of Connaught arrived at Cordova on the 24 th from Seville .

Having visited the Moorish Cathedral and other objects of interest in the town , their Royal Highnesses dined , and subsequently left at 7 . 10 p . m ., by special train , for Madrid . The two Royal brothers reached Madrid at 10 . 45 on ^ ajth , and were received at the railway station bv

the King , accompanied by his Ministers and Chamberlains , and also by Mr . Layard , Her Majesty ' s Minister , and the members of the Legation , all of whom were in full uniform . The Prince looked in perfect health . After he had taken his seat in the Royal carriage to the right

of King Alfonso , the cortege proceeded to the Palace , which was reached at 1 J o ' clock , and where several high dignitaries were in attendance . The crowd cheered loudly when the carriages left the station , the Prince sitting on the right of King Alphonso with the Dnke of

Connaught and Prince Louis of Battenberg opposite . The other carriages followed with the suite . The full dress liveries were very handsome , and the whole equipage well appointed . The cortege was preceded by a Royal Guard on horseback , a very fine body of men . The

Royal party drove from the station to the Palace through a mile and a half of crowded streets , The people were very respectful , but there was no cheering . It is not the habit in Spain to cheer unless under excitement of a political character or of warlike demonstration . The

reception at the Palace was stately , the approaches to the staircases being lined by halberdiers in very effective dresses , cocked hats broad lapelled coats , blue and white facings , white breeches , and

Our Royal Grand Master's Return.

long black gaiters . Upon reaching the grand apartments King Alphonso presented the ladies , the grandees , and officials to the Princes , who then presented the members of their suites to his Majesty , who gave them a most gracious reception . The King and the Prince of Wales visited the

Museum m the afternoon of the 25 th . The military review in honour of the Prince of Wales was very successful . His Royal Highness was on horseback on th King ' s right , and behind were the Duke of Connaught , Prince Louis of Battenburgh , the Spanish Minister of War , and

several generals . The uniforms of the English officers in the suite of the Princes greatly attracted the attention of the crowd . The King and their Royal Highnesses drove along the front of the troops , the line extending from the Atoch Church to the Castellane fountain .

They then witnessed the march past , which lasted an hour and a half . They will go to Toledo on Thursday or Friday , returning in the evening to Madrid . After the Opera on Thursday there { will be a ball at the Palace of the Duque Ferran de Nunez , and on Friday and

Saturday balls will be given by Mr . Layard and the Duque de Bailen . The Ministers are invited to meet His Royal Highness at a tea party at the Palace . The inhabitants of Madrid have given the Prince a very hearty reception . The Prince of Wales will probably stay at

Madrid until Friday or Saturday . The Prince of Wales has telegraphed from Madrid direct to the King of Portugal , announcing that he will arrive at Lisbon on Monday , the ist of May , at three in the afternoon . He will be present at the Italian Opera on the 2 nd , and at a Royal

ball on the 3 rd . On the following day there will be a display of fireworks , on the jth a military review , and on the 6 th a grand banquet . His Royal Highness will sail for England on the 7 th of May . The Lodge of the Grand Orient of

Portugal , which contains a large number of British members , intends to make the Prince of Wales an honorary member . A Masonic deputation will wait on him with the diploma specially engrossed on vellum .

The Queen's Return.

THE QUEEN'S RETURN .

By the time these lines meet the eyes of our readers Her Majesty the Queen will have been for some days back again in old England . We are among those who think that a great deal too much has been said , and unwisely said , about the Queen ' s visit to Germany . It was alike , we

venture to think , both natural and reasonable , and in itself as an act of simple family life and detail , to be greatly commended instead of being criticized , to be praised instead of being questioned . It was a little holiday to the Queen , a domestic and seasonable arrangement , by which

cherished souvenirs might be renewed , and affairs of business regulated . We never could understand why any remarks should have been , made in Parliament , or out of Parliament , upon what was alike clearly a personal act of duty and affection , contributing some few hours of

relaxation and retirement , both from the ceremonies of a Court ; and the unavoidable claims of public business . The late Prince Consort , with his rare prescience , saw years ago that , in England at any rate , the position of the Crown , always exceptional , was rendered easier as a fact

and the prestige of tho throne was increased , by the careful develepement of the inner side of private and family life . The English are , happily , a home-loving people : } the associations and sympathies of all classes , high and humble , are bound up with the quiet discharge of social

duties and the elevating tastes and gentle virtues of family relationship . No public life is worth anything which does not rest on the home circle as its solace and strength , its charm and comfort , amid the " whirligig of time" and the strange conceits of mortal men in their mundane struggle . A Court has its attractions and

its greatness , its splendour and its allurements , but it has also its dangers and its drawbacks , its snares and its sorrows . Hence the only counterpoise to the wearing toils and overweening influences of a merely public life , arising from the fact that Sovereigns are always " en evidence , " and have but little spare time for self-refreshment and self-reflection , is to be

The Queen's Return.

found in the safe path and restraining sympathies of family association , interest , and affection . How well and wisely the Prince Consort judged , time has alreadv surely shown , and we regret that , misled by a little * ' mirage " of that perversity which often comes over society , any should ever

have thought it well or befitting to criticize the Queen going to Germany , or her visit to Baden or to Cobourg . We shall all be glad to think that , amid all the greatness of the greatest of sovereignities , amid all the splendour of the English Court , the Queen , the daughter of a

Freemason , retains her intense love of home and family life , and , bound deeply by those ties of personal and intimate relationship which constitute , we may say , the best guarantee for the happiness of home , the peace of nations , and the progress of mankind , leaves the great realm

of England for a short " retraite , " and some few simple moments of peaceful and unartificial family intercourse . Who can venture to blame her , or any one in her exalted position , who seeks , amid scenes and memories very dear , to

strengthen herself for the duties of her great rank , and to live out that happy inner life of domestic sympathy and attachment , which has brightened even the enduring grandeur of her diadem with the noblest and tenderest sympathies of this earthly existence of ours ?

English Freemasonry.

ENGLISH FREEMASONRY .

Well ! they may say what they like , Ultramontane accuser and intolerant defamer , but this good old English Craft of ours is going on its way to-day , impelled by a very prosperous " trade wind , " over a tranquil sea , and under a blue sky ! Time has run on since , say , Lord Lovel was installed in succession to the Duke of

Norfolk , on the 19 th of March , 1731 , very nearly 150 years ago , and these small beginnings have led to wonderful results . A very able brother of our Order once observed that the Craft was a very remarkable institution , and that , considering all the unavoidable drawbacks and weaknesses of

humanity , it was a very noble Order , and did a great amount of good . We feel strongly the truth of his ; forcible words as we sit pen in hand to-day . What other Order can boast such a career of usefulness , kindliness , benefit to

others , good to mankind ? We may well remember to-day that the revived Grand Lodge of 1717 is the mother of all speculative Masonry , and that if Cosmopolitan Masonry exists at all , it is owinsr to those humbler brethren of ours

who met at the Apple Tree Tavern , in Charlesstreet , Covent Garden , in February , 1717 . They probably little foresaw to what a mighty tree the petty seed they planted there Masonically would grow , neither could they estimate the effect and influence that Freemasonry was to exercise over

individuals and nations . For we may lay this down as a fact , that wherever Freemasonry , in its true principles , is at active work , there peace and toleration , home life , and national well-being are pretty sure to be found abounding on every side . And English Freemasonry has always

kept , even amid most troubled times , the even tenour of its way , it has never turned to the right hand or the left , it has never been seduced by party cries , or passing applause , to let go its ancient landmarks , it has remained moored safely to its own unchangingprinciples , amid the follies ,

and frivolities , and perversities , and blunders of other portions of the Masonic family . Hence in the eyes of some writers English Freemasonry is alike in a sleepy and comatose state , obstructive and retrograde , insensible to the awakening theories of more ardent minds ! Be

it so ; but we in England prefer this very state of " coma , " if you like , to that fictitious life which Masonry here and there is living , to that pretentious and ever-lurid glare which seems to fall as if with menacing mien , alike on the protestations of some , and the public proceedings of others who claim to be lik'i us , brethren of the

Masonic Order . For in England certain characteristics have marked our good old Order along the dusty highway of time , and have preserved it , happily , from the quack " nostrums " of the empiric , have saved it from the " facilis descensus Averni " of the unreasoning reformer . English Freemasonry has ever been religious and reasonable , liberal and loyal , tolerant and truth-