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NOTICE .

Many complaints having been received of the difficulty experienced in procuring the Freemason in the West-end , lhe publisher begs to append the following list , being a selected few of the appointed agents : —

Black , H . J ., 47 , Great Queen-street . Jordan , G . W ., 169 , Strand . Kirby and Endean , 190 , Oxford-street . Nash aud Teuteii , Savile Place , Conduit-street . Phillips , D ., 67 , Great Portland-street . Utting , Wm ., 2 , Palsgrave-place , Strand , And at VV . H . Smith and Son ' s bookstalls .

To Our Readers.

TO OUR READERS .

Thy Freemason is a sixteen page weekly newspaper , price 2 d . It is published every Friday morning , and contains the most important and useful information relating to Freemasonry in every degree . Annual subscription in the United Kingdom , Post free , 10 / . Brethren in foreign parts , wishing to have this newspaper sent them regularly from the office of publication , should , in sending their remittances , add to the 2 d . per week the postage on 20 Z .

newspapers . The Freemason may be procured through any newsagent in the United Kingdom by giving ( if needed ) the publisher ' s address , 198 , Fleet-st . '

All communications , correspondence , reports , etc ., must be addressed to the Editor . Advertisements , change in address , complaints of difficulties in procuring Freemason , & c , to the Publisher , 198 , Fleet-st ., London , E . C .

Careful attention will be paid to all MSS . entrusted to the Editor , but he cannot undertake to return them unless accompanied by stamp directed covers .

To Advertisers.

TO ADVERTISERS .

The Freemason has a large circulation in all parts of the Globe , its advantages as an advertising medium can therefore scarcely be overrated . For terms , position , Sec , apply to GKOHGE KENNING , 198 , Fleet-st .

Answers To Correspondents.

Answers to Correspondents .

All Communications , Advertisements , & c , intended for insertion in the Number of the following Saturday , must

Answers To Correspondents.

must we not say Masonic , selfishness . The great

difference between man and woman is this —the man is selfish , woman is unselfish —man thinks first of his own enjoyment , and then of others ; woman , on the contrary , considers first the happ iness of otliers , and then her own . She is always considerate and unselfish to the last . We should

thus lessen the obvious temptation to somewhat of our individual selfishness . We are also of opinion that the refining influence of woman would be very appreciable , and ere long appreciated , at our greater banquets . The days , happily , of immoderate indulgence and hurtful

excess are passing rapidly away , but there linger with us all a very material view of things , and a sort of intense and abiding persuasion , that the knife and fork degree is for some of us the " Summum bonum " of life . Woman is , we believe , in herself , even more intellectual than man , and we know of no society where ladies much do

congregate which is not superior in taste and tone , in cultivation and refinement , to that from which woman , by some absurd prescription , perhaps of ages , is habitually shut out . In addition the presence of woman would contribute a counterpoise to our Masonic egotism .

There is always a tendency amongst us all , on these our " feasts of reason and flow of soul , " to say nothing of the flow of cooling liquids and aerated waters , to give way to a process of selfsxaltation . We are apt to think a good deal of ourselves , our work , our claims , our merits ,

and the oftener we meet and the longer we work together , this pleasing self-delusion expands and increases . Hence we sometimes select such gatherings for the unfolding of our personal grievances , because we think we do not receive

from our brethren all that we deserve , or because we consider we have a right to expect anything we desiderate , because our Masonic value is Al . Now , woman ' s presence would save us all from a . T ^ -il rlpnl . ~ f tViio i ™ u ;* .. ii p ^ lf ^^^ w ^ -c-J' - ' a"

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The Consecration Of The Alex Andra Lodge.

THE CONSECRATION OF THE ALEX ANDRA LODGE .

Our issue of last week contained a report of a very interesting meeting for the purpose of consecrating a new lodge denominated the Alexandra Lodge . This new lodge , which numbers 1 , 541 , has found a " local habitation and a name " at the Alexandra Palace , and has for its

first W . M . our well-known and able brother , J . C . Parkinson , P . G . D . Our worthy G . S . was the consecrating officer , and was assisted by Bros . R . J . Simpson . P . G . C , and R . W . Little . The ceremonies all seem to have passed over with the greatest success , and to have been performed

with much impressiveness . We published last week Bro . R . J . Simpson ' s energetic and eloquent oration , and we have perused with much gratification the speeches so well delivered by many of our brethren on the occasion . Bro . Parkinson spoke with his customary ability , and

we note the effective remarks of Bro . Fenn , and the always valuable observations of Bro . John Hervey . Bro . Parkinson especially well pointed out the true character of Freemasonry , and , in our humble opinion , took exactly the " right line " when he so eloquently demonstrated that

Freemasonry can afford to laugh at all assailants and all assaults . We need no bitter retorts and no angry recriminations , we can afford to stand on our professions and our practice , and to challenge boldly all impugners to prove one futile allegation , or to establish one hasty accusation .

Bro . Parkinson tells us , and his authority is considerable in the matter , while rejoicing that the G . Lodge of England has recognised the G . Orient of Rome , that much misconception exists as to the character of Italian Freemasonry , that it is not political , and is rather basing itself

on our good old English system . We think such an nnnounrp . ( n / = " . is matter for sincere rejoicing . We , like Bro . Parkinsorrnev'i- could understand wny freemasonry pi ... |< ci was not to flourish in Italy , or commend itself to the intellectual , artloving , cultivated , and tolerant Italian mind .

The onl y fear we had was lest that " bete noire " of foreign politics would intrude itself into Italian Freemasonry . Once free from such a possibility of danger , there is no reason why the Italian Freemasons should not soon occupy a very high " status " in the Masonic world . We

may say that we offer to the G . Orient of Rome our fraternal good wishes , and hope that all prosperity may attend Italian Freemasonry , alike in peaceful progress , and in true Masonic labours . We think that we may derive a little moral , if after the manner of Freemasons , from

our reports of repeated and largely attended consecrations of new lodges . The recent attacks on Freemasonry have certainly done us no harm , they have , we rather are inclined to think , tended to bind us closer together ! Knowing our innocence and assured of our upright intentions we do

not fear any opponent , and we utterl y disregard the complaints of the ignorant and the censures of the unjust The principles we advocate , and the truths wc inculcate , are those which commend themselves not only to our own minds , hut to the minds of

our countrymen , and to the sympathies of the age in which our lot is east . With that spirit and fearlessness which 111 . uk our Anglo-Saxon race everywhere , we as Freemasons shall not be daunted by " expartc " opinions and unjustifiable decrees . From whatever quarter the attack

may come , from Romanist or Ritualist , from Baptist or Presbyterian , we shall move on believing that intellectual li ght and the freedom of conscience , liberty of thought and teaching , and action , moral elevation and civilizing influences , are greater blessings to humanity and are more

likely to tend to the amelioration of society , than that bigotry which , though " willing to wound , " is " afraid to strike , " are more blessed by God and approved by man than intolerance which is always illogical , and persecution which never does succeed in the lung run .

The Irish Masonic Female Orphan School.

THE IRISH MASONIC FEMALE ORPHAN SCHOOL .

We have read with great interest the last report of this most useful Institution , which our worthy correspondent and Bro ., J . H . Neilson ,