To Our Readers.

TO OUR READERS .

The FREEMASON is a 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 . Subscription , including postage : United America , India , India , China , Sec Kingdom , the Continent , Sec . Via Brindisi .

Twelve Months ios . 6 d . 12 s . od . 17 s . 4 d . Six „ gs . 3 d . 6 s . 6 d . 8 s . 8 d . Three „ 2 s . 8 d . 3 s . 3 d . 4 s . 6 d . Subscriptipns may be paid for in stamps , but Post Office Orders or Cheques are preferred , the former payable to GEORGE KENNING , CHIEF OFFICE , LONDON ,

the latter crossed London Joint Stock Bank . Advertisements and ether business communications should be addressed to the Publisher . Communications on literary subjects and books for review are to be forwarded to the Editor . Anonymous correspondence will be wholly disregarded , and the return of rejected MSS . cannot be guaranteed . Further information will be supplied on application to the Publisher , 198 , Fleet-street , London .

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TO ADVERTISERS . The FBBEMASON has a large circulation in all parts of the Globe , its advantages as an advertising medium can therefore scarcely be overrated . SCALE OF CHARGES FOR ADVERTISEMENTS . Whole of back page £ 12 12 o Half , „ 6 10 o Inside pages 7 7 ° Half of ditto 400 Quarter ditto ... 2 10 o Whole column 2 10 o Half „ 1 10 o Quarter „ ... ... ... ... ... 1 o o Per inch 040 These prices are for single insertions . A liberal reduction is made for a series of 13 , 26 , and 32 insertions . Further particulars may be obtained of thc Publisher , 198 , Fleet-street , London . ADVERTISEMENTS to ensure insertion In current week ' s issue should reach the Office , 198 , Fleet-street , by 12 o ' clock on Wednesdays .

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IMPORTANT NOTICE . COLONIAL and FOREIGN SUBSCRIBERS are informed that acknowledgments of remittances received are published in the first number of every month . It is very necessary for our readers to advise

us of all money orders they remit , more especially those from the United States of America and India * otherwise we cannot tell where to credit them . Several P . O . O , ' s are now in hand , but having received no advice we cannot credit them .

Answers To Correspondents.

Answers to Correspondents .

J . D . —The only emblem on the apron of the R . A . companions is thc double triangle and triple tau ; the silk or satin ground of the triangle is white for companions , crimson for Principals , and purple for Grand and P . G . Officers . No other emblem can be worn on the apron .

BOOKS RECEIVED , tec . " Scottish Freemason ; " " Broad Arrow ; " "Medical Examiner ; " " Risorgimento ; " "Hull Packet ; " " Kelet ;" " Le Moneie Maconnique ; " "Annual Register of the Grand Lodge of Perfection of South Carolina for the year 3 S 02 ; '' " Official Bulletin of the Supreme Council of the 33 for thc Southern Jurisdiction of the United States ; " " West London

Express ; " " Keystone ; " " La Voz de Hiram" Habana ; Loomis' Musical and Masonic Journal ; " " The Corner Stone ; " " The Advance ; " " Night and Day ; " " Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Gluebec ; " " Freemasons' Monthly ; " Ferret , or South Wales Ratepayer ; " " Wellingboro News ; " "Hebrew Leader ; " " Der Triangel ; " " Die New Yorker Bundes Presse ; " " The Soldier of thc Army Reserve and his Family . "

Births ,Marriages And Deaths.

Births , Marriages and Deaths .

BIRTHS . 0 lie v . —On the 23 rd inst ., at Park-terrace , Maze-hill , ene wife of E . W . Cherry , of a son . FISHEH . —On the 22 nd inst ., at Ashchurch Park-villas , W ., the wife of T . F . Fisher , Esq ., of a daughter . GIBSON . —On the 22 nd inst ., at Campden-hill-gardens , Kensington , the wife of G . M . Gibson , of a daughter .

DEATHS . COOKE . —On the 20 th inst ., at Church-street , West Ham , Mrs . Hannah Cooke , aged 83 . DUCKETT . —On the 25 th inst ., of apoplexy , R . D . Duckett , of Lodge 228 . JOHNSON . —On the 23 rd inst , at Springfield , Upper Clapton , Benjamin Johnson , in his 78 th year .

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TheFreemasoi. SATURDAY , J 29 , 1878 .

The Recent Proceedings Of The Scrutineers.

THE RECENT PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCRUTINEERS .

The untoward fact , to which we called attention last week , is one which , as it reflects great discredit on Grand Lodge and Freemasonry , we feel it to be proper to recur to-day . The returns of the Scrutineers at the last Grand Lodge have been examined , and with the result

as we stated in our last impression . The brother who was returned as head of the list had , we believe , only 54 votes , and was not returned at all •while several other brethren , who were said to be upon the Board , have been found not to have received the qualifying number of

votes . This is a most unprecedented state of things , and demands alike serious enquiry and severe animadversion . It is most discreditable and painful on every ground . We shall probably hear in the next report of the Board of General Purposes what notice that important tribunal

has taken of such premeditated and unmasonic "laches , " ( to use a law term ) , and we trust that we may never have to hear again of a like dereliction of duty on the part of Scrutineersa similar scandal in Grand Lodge . Dame Rumour , who , as the saying is , is a " lying iade , " and

always prone to exaggeration , and in addition wise after the event , has been very busy amongst us lately in regard to these recent extraordinary proceedings . Weare , however , inclined charitably and Masonically to believe that much that has been said rests upon no solid foundation of

accuracy or fact . Until authority has spoken we decline to be made the " mouth piece " of foolish "canards" or exaggerated assertions . At any rate , the evil has been discovered and rectified , and let us all hope , that Masonic justice

will be done , and mete out a proper punishment to those who have so far forgotten themselves as men and Masons as to have had recourse to a very dirty trick , and to most discreditable proceedings .

The Secretarial Election For The Girls' School.

THE SECRETARIAL ELECTION FOR THE GIRLS' SCHOOL .

The struggle grows in vivacity as we approach July nth . Other candidates have come forward than those who have publicly avowed themselves , it seems , and despite the clear words of the advertisement , two cr three are excluded by the age line . We publish elsewhere

a report of the meeting of the General Committee by which we learn how manv received candidates are before the subscribers ' , and for whom their votes will be asked and recorded on J uly 11 th . We do not think that we can add much to our remarks of the two last

preceding weeks , further than to say that the election is still practically in the hands of the subscribers . The number of unpledged votes is very large indeed , and it is difficult on any safe ground of calculation to forecast now what tlie final response of the subscribers will be to the

various appeals made to them . To use a sporting expression , the " betting is nearly even all round , " and whether one of the "favourites " or a " dark horse " may make the " running " is a matter which can only be satisfactorily determined on the '' course " on July 1 ith .

A Quid Pro Quo.

A QUID PRO QUO .

Our esteemed and excellent friend Bro . James Terry , the indefatigable Secretary of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , made some amusingly sarcastic remarks , " more suo , " at the consecration banquet of the Lod ge of Perseverance , with respect to some recent observations in a leader in the Freemason , relative to " Masonic

Mendicancy . " We pass over to-day any little " skits" which our good brother " in the exuberance of his playful imagination thought well to direct against the Freemason , " as to "whether it will be read or not , " " perhaps not , " and to its price being " 2 d ., " with respect to which latter remarkable announcement , we

A Quid Pro Quo.

beg to say , that it is not a new fact , nor any "factor" in the discussion at all . As we understand Bro . Terry ' s objection to our remarks—it is this , put into simple words , as an easy proposition . " Without this going about of the Secretaries , the Institutions cannot be kept up .

It would be better no doubt if it were not so , but it is a necessary evil . " Such we apprehend to be the exact force of our versatile and amusing friend ' s remarks , for whose untiring labours vve have the greatest admiration , and of whose many qualities of head and heart , we in common with

his many friends , have the warmest appreciation . Few brethren have worked harder than Bro . Terry has done for Masonry , and the efficiency and lucidity which mark the performance of his duty as a " Consecrating Officer , " are both very remarkable and very impressive . But we think

a statement of our worthy brother will come upon the Craft very great surprise , will affect them , as it did us when we heard it , very deeply , and is in itself great as a condemnation of the existing system as can well be imagined . Nothing that we have as vet said surpasses the

effect on all thinking minds produced by the following admission of Bro . Terry himself . He declared with much pathos , before a most sympathetic audience , th t " labouring , as he was , to earn his livelihood by the sweit of his brow , he had for 290 evenings during the

last twelve months attended lodge meetings , and given up the quiet and happiness of home , 290 nights out of-311 working days . We need hardly remark that anything more condemnatory of the present mischievous system cannot well be conceived . Multiply 290 by three , as

representing the three Institutions , giving an equal amount of activity , and we all know that Bro . Binckes is not inferior inactivity to Bio . Terry , and supposing " all things equal , " the Secretaries have to make 870 visits to lodges during the year . No wonder that brethren are complaining ,

no wonder that some lodges sternly refuse to allow charity appeals in their social circle , no wonder that the whole fabric of our charity stands upon a very insecure and fragil-j foundation . For what is the effect of this unnecessary ( we hope we do not use an offensive word )

Masonic Mendicancy r Only this , nothing more , and we beg all our brethren to note ; it . The great bulk of our lodges and chapters , as well as the brethren and companions , do nothing for our charities . No , their support is left to the zeal of the liberal , and to the repeated efforts of a few

large-hearted individuals—all honour to them be it said . This is not a satisfactory nor a safe state of things , and as Masons , always professing charity , we should not allow it to continue . Therefore it is that we appeal to lodges and chapters , and the brethren generally , to come

forward and strengthen the cause of the charities and lighten the labours of the Secretaries . It cannot be right that any one of our Secretaries should have to pay 290 visits in one ye * ar to obtain Stewards and support . Of course there are certain gatherings and festivals and the like , when

it is most advisable , nay needful , that the Sectaries should be present , but why , in addition to their hard work in their offices , we are to deprive them of home life an 1 domestic comfort we cannot , for the life of us , conceive . With all due deference to our excellent Bro . Terry , we ,

therefore , beg to repeat to-day , that we are convinced abstractedly of the justice of our previous remarks , ( whichhe does not apparently contest ) , and that in practice we apprehend that with much greater support on the part of lodges and chapters and brethren , Bro . Terry ' s fears as to the di minution of the annual income for the charities

will be found to be unreal . Our remarks were penned with all good feeling to the Secretaries , in the first place , with a livel y interest in the charities in the next place , and we fancy that , above all , in all that we have said , we express the feelings of a very large number of the most thoughtful and intelligent of our brethren .

The Consecration Of The Lodge Of Perseverance.

THE CONSECRATION OF THE LODGE OF PERSEVERANCE .

This interesting ceremony , as a full report shews our readers elsewhere , took place last Saturday , and was carried through under the happiest auspices and with the best effect . Our excellent and esteemed Grand Secretary , Bro .