The Freemasons' Magazine And The Craft.

THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND THE CRAFT .

LONDON , SATURDAY , MARCS . 7 , 1863 .

"We have to call tbe attention of the Craft to a prospectus , which appears in another page , of a projected Company ( under tlie provisions of the Joint Stock Companies Act of 1862 ) with limited liability , for continuing the publication of THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR , which is now generally

acknowledged to be a necessity of the Craft , so that the brethren may become fully acquainted with everything that is passing in connection with Freemasonry , as the best preservative of their privileges and corrective of abuses , when any exist .

It is now nine years since the present Editor first became connected with a Masonic Magazine , and for nearly seven years of that period the present publication has been under his entire control , during five of which it has been published as a weekly serial .

The MAGAZINE has met with considerable success , but from the want of adequate capital properly to make it known in the various lodges throughout the Craft , or secure sufficient literary assistance , it has not yet taken the position which , we believe , it is destined to occupy .

It has long been felt that that capital , which it could scarcely be expected one brother should risk to provide an organ for the Craft , might be obtained by an appeal to the brethren at large , the difficulty being bow properly to limit the liability of each subscriber .

This has now been overcome under the provisions of the Joint Stock Companies Limited Act ; and as tbe amount required from each lodge to place the publication on a sure and firm foundation is not more than , on an average , five shares of £ 1 each , it is

confidently anticipated that the brethren will determine to make THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIEEOR their own property , and thus ensure its future prosperity . Should the necessary capital be provided , it is proposed , as early as possible after the Copyright of THE MAGAZINE has been transferred to the

Directorson Dehalf of . the Company' to reduce tlie price to THEEEPENCE —an amount which it is hoped will bring it within the reach of all , and be consistent with the general price of the literary organs of fe day . A reference to the prospectus will show that , in

addition to an influential Board of Directors , we have alread y received the patronage of several of the leading Grand Officers and D . Prov . Grand Masters—who ^ commend THE MAGAZINE to the support of the ^ raft ; and it being impossible personally to apply

The Freemasons' Magazine And The Craft.

to every brother who may feel disposed to help us ' we shall be obliged by brethren of position throughout the Craft allowing us to add their names to the following memorandum : — " AVe , the undersigned , believing that it is indispensable

that the Craft should possess an independent , truthful , and temperately conducted journal , with the view of securing the continuance of THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE , and under the conviction that that journal will continue to be conducted in a fair and impartial manner , do agree tcrthe publication of our names as Patrons of THE FHEEMASOSS' MAGAZINE COMPANY ( Limited ) , and do recommend the same to the support of the Craft . "

Grand Lodge.

GRAND LODGE .

The scene on the dais of Grand Lodge on Wednesday evening was one of the most brilliant we have witnessed for a long time , from the number of distinguished brethren by whom the Grand Master was surrounded , including the Earl de Grey and Eipon , D . G . M . ; Earl Dalhonsie , P . D . G . M . ; Lord de Tabley ,

P . G . W . ; Lord E . Grosvenor , P . G . W . ; and several Provincial Grand Masters and other brethren ; whilst below the dais , Grand Lodge was somewhat thinly attended . The first business was the re-election of the Grand Masterwhich was proposed by tlie Eev . A . P . A .

, " Woodford , P . Prov . G . W . for West Yorkshire . The noble Earl was re-elected , and proclaimed amidst loud cheers . His Lordship briefly and appropriately acknowledged the compliment , and assured the brethren that ifc would ever be , as it had ever been , his

endeavour to promote tbe interests of the Order to the best of his ability . On a motion for making a grant of £ 50 to a

distressed brother , a somewhat lively discussion tool place , it being generally felt that the grant recoup mended by tlie Board of Benevolence was inadequate to the ease—a feeling in which we fully participate , having heard the particulars in the private lodge of wliich our unfortunate brother was at one time a

member . It appears that , some twenty years since , a young man of good fortune was initiated in the Lodge of Antiquity , and subsequently joined the George and Corner Stone Lodge ( No . 5 ) . For four years he was evidently a most enthusiastic Mason ,

having become a Vice President of the Girls' School , three times a Life Governor of the Boys' School , and a Life Governor of tlie Old Man ' s Annuity Fund ( the " Widows' Fund was not then in existence ) , besides serving the office of Grand Steward . During

this time he gave about £ 100 to the Charities , besides spending fully half that amount in serving the various stewardships—then much more expensive than they are in the present day . Shortly after this period , from some change ia fortune , our brother had to seek a profession ,