A New Year's Greeting.

whelming storm . No , thanks to those who direct the affairs of Masonry in England , all is tranquil and serene , and the Craft appears under the skilful direction of its present distinguished and admirable Grand Masterto have before

, it a future of goodly work and peaceful progress . We hope then , we are not wrong in anticipating for 1874 a prosperous year for Freemasonry in England . Last year as we shall all remember , contributions

of £ 21 , 000 , in round numbers were made to our great Masonic Charities by the combined donations and free-will offerings of our brethren . What 1874 will produce time alone can fully shew . But yet we are inclined to think , that ,

so far from any evidence yet of slackness on the part of the Craft in these their charitable efforts , in this their labour of love , there is on the contrary much proof in various ways that as a Brotherhood Ave are realizing more and more , that , if Freemasonry is what it professes to be , and is Avorth anything at

all to us or the Avorld , the best evidence both of its value and vitality is to be found , in its works of good-Avill and benevolence . Certain it is , that , our Craft is largely augmenting in numbers every year , and with increasing numbers

come necessarily increasing Avants , and extended claims on our memories , our sympathy , and our brotherly relief We beg also with this New Year to tender our heartfelt thanks to those , Avho have aided us with their literary labours

, or cheered us Avith their fraternal patronage . That 1874 may witness a considerable increase to our list of subscribers is our earnest desire , and we have some well founded hopes that our expectations may be fulfilled . And Ave say it

not only with all regard for our enterprizing publisher , Avhose efforts deserve every encouragement , but Ave feel persuaded for the true welfare of our English Craft . Yes , Ave repeat , our trust and hope are , that , 1874 may

witness a well digested movement for the introduction of reading rooms and libraries more generally amongst our

A New Year's Greeting.

lodges . And with this expression of our our sincere desire for the intellectual well-being of our Order , the extension of a good Masonic literature generally amongst the Craft , we beg to reiterate our heartfelt good Avishes to all our brethren and readers , on this our first number of a New Year .

Monthly Masonic Summary.

Monthly Masonic Summary .

THE December Quarterly Communication of the United Grand Lodge of England is past and gone , and our most excellent Grand Master is again nominated for that high post during the next twelve months ,

much to the satisfaction of the Craft . Bro . Gabon has "been re-appointed by the G . M ., President of the Board of Benevolence for

the current year , and Bros . Joshua Nmm and James Brett have been nominated and approved of by Grand Lodge as vice " Presidents of the same . The twelve Past Masters who served last year in the Lodge

of Benevolence on behalf of the Grand Lodge , have been re-elected to serve this year . The rest of the routine business requires no note or comment . Since the last Quarterly Communication twenty-one

lodges have received charters from the Grand Lodge . THE Grand Lodge of Scotland held its annual Festival on December 1 st , when Sir Michael Shaw Stewart , Bart , M . P .,

was invested and installed as G . M ., and Lord James Murray was appointed Depute G . M . Lord Eosslyn , P . G . M ., mentioned that during his three years of office fortyfour lodges were chartered , and 7583

members admitted and registered in the books of Grand Lodge . THE aggregate assembly of Mark Masters terming themselves the Grand Lodge of