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To ADVERTISERS . THE Circulation of THE FREEMASON being now at the rate of nearly Haifa-million per annum , it offers peculiar facilities to all who advertise . It is well known that the Fraternity of Freemasons is a large and constantly increasing body , mainly composed of the influential and educated classes , of society ; and as The Freemason is . now the accepted organ of the Brotherhood in the United Kingdom , and also enjoys an extensive sale in the colonies and foreign parts , its advantages as an advertising medium can scarcely be overrated . For terms apply to GEORGE KENNING , 2 , 3 , & 4 , LITTLE BRITAIN , LONDON , E . C .

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NOTICE . o The Subscription to THE FREEMASON is now I or . per annum , post-free , payable in advance . Vol . I ., bound in cloth 4 s . 6 d . Vol . II ., ditto 7 s . 6 d . Reading Cases to hold 52 numbers ... 2 s . 6 d .

Births, Marriages, And Deaths.

Births , Marriages , and Deaths .

BIRTH . JOHNSON . —On the 20 th inst ., at 1 , Canning-street , Liverpool , the wife of Bro . R . H . D . Johnson , P . M . of 249 and 1094 , of a daughter .

DEATHS . ABRAHAMS . —On the 27 th inst ., Bro . J . Abrahams , P . M . Lodge of Tranquility , No . 185 . Fox . —On the 8 th inst ., aged 92 , Bro . Win . Fox , Treas . Lodge Nelson of the Nile , Batley , Yorkshire . MONAGHAN . —On the iSth inst ., at 10 , Dock-street , Hartlepool , aged 66 , Bro Thomas Monaghan , of Lodge 694 , of the town and county Monaghan , Ireland .

Answers To Correspondents.

Answers to Correspondents .

—?——All eonmunications for THE FREEMASON should be written legibly oa one aide of tk * paper only , and , if intended for insertion in the current number , must be received not later than ro o ' clock a . m . on Thursdays , unlmc in very iptcial casts . The name anil address of every writer muiit bo sent to us in confidence . BRO . J . Y . —We will insert your statement next week . ENQUIRING BROTHER — Your letter shall appear next week .

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The Freemason , SATURDAY , DECEMBEP 31 , 1870 . TUK FKKKUMON « puoVwhed on Saturday Morning * in time for the early trains . The price of THB FKEIMASON is Twopence per week ; annual subscription , xos . ( payable in advance ) . All communications , letters , & c , to be addressed to the EDITOR , 1 , 3 , and . j , Little Britain , E . C . The Editor will pay careful atteation to all MSS . entrusted to himeut cannot undertake to return them unless accompanied by postage atampt .

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I 87 O .

ANOTHER year has passed away ; another wave has rolled into the boundless sea of eternity , fraught with crimes and passions and good works , and with the lives of many

thousands of earth ' s creatures . Opening without a cloud to dim the political horizon of Europe , 1870 closes amidst the terror of war and the blood-stained darkness of

strife . The paeans which have been sung In praise of peace are now mocked by the clash of deadly weapons and the tramp of murderous hosts . The breath of mild

philosophy is stifled amid the smoke of battle-fields , and the light of progress is quenched by the lurid flame of hatred and

revenge . What demoniac spirit is abroad amongst the nations ? What accursed Eestroyer now walks the earth , kindling wrath and jealousies amongst men , and

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heaping unutterable woes upon their devoted heads ? Alas ! it is the self-same fiend , Ambition , which has ever lured its victims from the happy scenes of life to

those dizzy heights of fortune whence they are often precipitated into utter rtiin and despair . We cannot give any other name to the policy which is now filling France

with slaughter ; we cannot otherwise designate that regal pride which insists upon holocausts of human lives before its horrible

hunger can be satisfied , and which invokes Divine assistance for the triumph of its iron despotism .

It has been truly said that the name of God has fenced about all crime with holiness — " the smoke of burning towns , the cries of female helplessness , unarmed

old age , and youth , and infancy , horribly massacred , ascend to heaven in honour of His name . " Happily for us in England we are removed from participation in this

hideous drama of blood ; but , nevertheless , our sympathies are stirred and our hearts bleed for the miserable sufferers , whose every hope in life has been thus rudely

shattered . As for the dead , they are beyond our ken—we can but mourn their loss ; and for those who died in open fight we have a requiem befitting the fallen

brave . It is the living who suffer ; and not only those within the dreaded track of war , but the wives and children , and other loved ones of the slain . Then , again , look at the

long files of the wounded , maimed , and mutilated , racked with pain and riven with keenest agonies , is their fate a pleasant one to contemplate , their new year a happy era

to be ushered in with smiles and gladness and rejoicings ? It is reflections like these that will bring home to our minds the

sorrowful realities of glory , and induce us to extend to our less fortunate fellowcreatures the aid of which they stand so bitterly in need .

So far as Freemasonry is concerned , and more especially as regards the Craft in England , its progress has beenundiminished —nay , rather accelerated during the past

year . The several Masonic institutions have been well supported at their annual festivals—one in particular , the Boys ' School , having had the advantage of the

presidency of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , an event which was signalised by a magnificent list of subscriptions amounting to about ten thousand

pounds . The Prince has also , as we recently announced , consented to preside at the forthcoming festival of the Girls' Institution in May . Last year the formal inauguration

of the great Temple of Freemasonry in Great Quecn-strcct was accomplished , and 1870 will be remembered as having witnessed the retirement of the Earl of Zetland

from the post of Grand Master , which lie had so long and so worthily filled . Of his lordship ' s successor , the Earl dc Grey and

Ripon , we have previously placed our opinion on record , and need only add that he has in every respect sustained the high expectations then formed of his ability ,

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suavity , and dignity in the government of the Craft . Our brethren in Scotland have also , as we lately noticed , elected a new Ruler ; but as Lord Rosslyn is a

wellknown Mason and an enthusiastic admirer of the principles of Freemasonry , there can be no doubt that his accession to office will be a gain to the Fraternity at large . In

Ireland , the Order partakes more of the character of a secret association than in any other portion of the United Kingdom . This is mainly attributable to the

opposition of a large section of the population , who , under the influence of priestly terrorism , are ready to denounce any and every idea which is not sanctioned by Papal

authority . In the United States , theCraft has found a kindred home among free men , and its career , so far , resembles more the march of a Titanic army than the quiet advance of

a moral and philosophical sodality . The foundation-stone of a great temple has been laid in New York amid the plaudits of

assembled thousands , and the array of Craftsmen upon that occasion became a perfect demonstration .

Returning to Europe , we find Spain shaking off its ancient lethargy ; Italy brimming over with lodges '; Austria , even , with a Masonic society held in her capital ,

Hungary with a Grand Lodge and several subordinate bodies . Unhappy France groans and writhes beneath the heel of her conqueror , and the columns of Masonry

arc shaded , and the labours of love have ceased . Nor is Germany , we fear , much better situated , for the flower of her sons have gone forth to do battle , and some

of the best Masons of the Fatherland have already perished . Of other countries , we have little to record ; Switzerland , Belgium , Holland , Portugal , Denmark , Sweden and

Norway , have long possessed Grand Lodges , or at least recognised bodies of Freemasons within their limits , and their names have therefore long been cherished as links in

the bright chain of Universal Brotherhood . On the whole , we may fairly congratulate ourselves that the principles of Freemasonry are slowly but surely making way all over

the world , and we may also rest assured that nothing can shake the solid foundation of the Order if we are but true to those principles . A great moral responsibility

rests upon the members of the Craft ; the fabric reared of old has still all the elements of stability and success , but if we replace

the good material with specimens of workmanship , unhewn and unpolished , we cannot hope to preserve the beauty of the edifice .

In closing these remarks , we desire to take the opportunity afforded by the closing year , of thanking all our subscribers and supporters for the assistance and aid

which they have rendered to our efforts during the memorable year 1870 . Though "King ' s crowns" have " gone down" ii ^

war , and monetary crises have arisen , THE FREEMASON still bears aloft th * . banner which it loves , still sings the praises