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Published every Thursday Morning , price ONE PENNY , and may be had from all XcAvsagents through the Publishers . 123 to 125 . Fleet Street . E . C .

Subscribers to THE MASONIC STAR residing in London and the Suburbs will receive their copies by the first post on THURSDAA ' MORNING . Copies for Country Subscribers will be fonvarded by the NIGHT Mail on AVednesday .

TERMS , including postage , payable in advance : — United Kingdom and Countries ciimpri . cd Places not in l . cni'i . il comprised in India , Postal Union . 1 ' osta . l Union . via Briudisi . Twelve Months ... 6 s . 6 d . ... 8 s . 8 d . ... 10 s . 10 d . Six Months 3 s . 4 d . ... 4 s . 6 d . ... 5 s . 6 d . Three Months ... Is . 9 d . . . . 2 s . 4 d . . . . 3 s . Od .

Post Office Orders , payable at the General Post Office , London , E . G ., to Messrs . ADAMS BROS ., 59 , Moor Lane , London . E . C . Postal Orders and Cheques should be crossed & Co . and all communications concerning Subscriptions and Advertisements should be addressed to "Manager . " All other communications , letters , & c . to be addressed " Editor of THE MASONIC STAR , 5 !) . Moor Lane . Fore Street . London . E . C . '

Publishing Offices : 123 to 125 , FLEET STREET , E . C . VOLUME I , In Masonic Cloth Cover—Now Ready —Price 3 s . 6 d .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

Without in any way hoMinsr ouivelve . responsible for . or oven npproviiifr of the opinions expressed , we freely tlirow open our columns for the proper discussion of all matters of a } reneral character relating to Freemasonry . Correspondents imtsc tie as lirief as possiljlc , must write plainly only use one side of the paper , an I cannot expect the return of rejected eontrilnuions . ' Every contribution nmst be accompanied with tlm name of the writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of pood faith .

IXFORMATIOX FOR IXTEXDIXG " CAXDIDATES FOR MASOXRY . "

To the . Editor of THE MASONIC STAR . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , I . Masonry consists of a body of men banded together to preserve the secrets , customs , and ceremonials handed down to them from time immemorial , and for the purposes of mutual , intellectual , social , and moral improvement ; they also endeavour to cultivate and

exhibit brotherly love , relief and truth , not only to one another , but to the world at large . II . Masonry offers no pecuniary advantages whatever , nor does there exist any obligation nor implied understanding binding one mason to deal with another , nor to support him in any way in the ordinarv business relations of life .

III . Masonry teaches us to remember onr common origin , but it also distinctly enjoins us to respect all social distinctions , so that whilst some must rule , others must obey and cheerfully accept their inferior positions . IV . Masonry has certain charities , but it is not in any sense whatever a benefit society , nor is it based upon anv calculations

which would render this possible . The charities are solely for those irh <> hit ring been in good cirevvn-iauces have been overtaken by misfortune or adversity , and they are quite insufficient to meet even these demands now made ; upon them . Neither a mason , his wife nor his children have any claim upon them , and it is only by the votes of the subscribers that even a proportion of the most deserving

eases can be admitted or relieved . A . Masonry distinctly teaches that a man ' s first duty is to himself , his wife , his family and his connections , and no one should join the order who cannot well afford to pay the initiation fees and subscriptions to his lodge , as well as to the masonic charities , and this without detriment in anv way to his comfort , or to that of those

who have any claim upon his support . The initiation fees are from t ' t to . 00 , and upwards ; annual lodge subscriptions , from , C 2 upwards ; clothing , from , L 2 upwards ; charities , optional , but expected . VI . Masonry recognises no distinctions of religion , but none

should attempt to enter who have no religious belief , as faith in God nmst be expressed , before any can be initiated , and 2 n'ayers to Him form a frequent part of the ritual . All . Masonry , therefore , demands that everyone before offering himself as a candidate , should be well assured in his own mind : —

( 1 . ) That he sincerely desires the intellectual and moral improvement of himself and his fellow creatures , and that he is willing to devote of his time , lis means , and his efforts , in the promotion of brotherly love , relief , and truth .

Original Correspondence.

( 2 . ) That he seeks no . commercial , social , nor pecuniary advantages . ( 3 . ) That he is able to afford the necessary expenditure without injury to himself or connections . ( 4 . ) That he is willing to enter into solemn obligations in the sight of God .

Ihe above , in a leaflet form , I would suggest should be in the hands of every secretary , and when any name is about to be proposed , it should be his duty to hand it to the candidate for perusal . I am certain this would be the means of preventing many well meaning men from entering our order , who find they have made a mistake when too late to remedv it . and who entered with an idea .

of some ill-deimed pecuniary or other advantage which masonry was never intended to bestow : and who cannot afford the necessary expense , unless it were to a benefit society , which wo all know dees not exist in masonry . I am gratified to se •, from your editorial remark to my letter in

last week ' s publication , that you regard this subject as of the same vital importance as I do , and only hope much good will result from your kindly having allowed me to call attention to it in your valuable pap < r . Yours fraternally , Februarv 23 rd , 1 SS'J . - IN STRENGTH . "

BOARD OF IXSTALLED MASTERS .

To the Editor . (/" THE MASONIC STAR . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER . AVith reference to the question of opening a Board of Installed Masters , may I be allowed to point out the immense inconvenience of a general custom not being adopted . In Xovember last , I , an absolute stranger , and uninvited , was told enough to pay a visit to

the Temperance Lodge at Birmingham , and . as a passing remark , I shall never forget the welcome and kindness received . AA'ith regard to the matter in question you may imng ' ne my embarrassment on finding a Board of Installed Masters was to be formally opened up , when I tell vou it was entirely new to me . and I was almost as

ignorant as an entered apprentice . In closing the Board I experienced a still more trying ordeal , feeling I was actually being observed by my more enlightened brethren . Fraternally vours , Eton . Feb . 26 th . 1880 . THOS . PAGE . I . P . M . 771 ,

THE GRAND TREASURERSHIP .

To the Editor of THE MASONIC STAPV . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , May I venture to ask you to allow me , through your columns , to remind the 426 brethren-who had kindly promised their support to Bro . Augustus Harris , P . M ., of the Drury Lane Lodge , when he retired from the present contest , as well as the members of the .

Craft generally , that Bro . Harris will be a candidate for that high office at the election which takes place in March , ISilO . I take the earliest opportunity of doing this in order to avoid any possible misconception on the subject . Faithfully and fraternally yours , Drury Lane Theatre , A . M . BROADLEY . 26 th Feb .. 1880 . P . M . 1717 & 1835 : P . D . D . G . M . Malta : Sec . 2127 .

To the Editor of THE MASONIC STAR . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , A resolution is carried at a regular meeting—certain members wish to rescind . Question—Is it in order to move that the minutes , or any part , be not confirmed ; or to allow the minutes to be confirmed , and then give notice to rescind ? Yours fraternally ,

Plymouth . P . M . 223 . % * We hold that " CONFIRMATION of minutes ^ means that a , second , meeting shall agree with the rcsolutv its if the former , until when such resoltiti ns canii't become law ; but others cmsider that ' •minutes put fr cenfirinat . ii n" mean only that they shall , be read a ml accepted as cerrect . ln entered . —ED , M . S .

Answers To Correspondents.

Answers to Correspondents .

M . Jf .- —AW should like to know who calls us to account ; send your name and you shall have reply by letter . . I . C .. P . M . 17 S 7 , lias not sent addressed stamped envelope for " private instruction ., " and we , cannot , depart from the , condition we have made . Ills letter was not addressed to our Editorial Of lice . ( r . S . It ., Sec . 1700 . —Have done our best- for you . In future , please do not let ¦ it fortnight pa . s over ; and , above all things , condense . S . W . We have thought it advisable In the interests of our Subscribers to discontinue . Our City Article . S . P .. P ... f' . l ' . G . i :., DcmsET . —Vour letter has been forwarded to A ' KKITAS .

THE PROPOSED TESTIMONIAL TO

Biro . E . F . GOULD . It is an undoubted fact that , Avith the best intentions in the world , Freemasons as a rule do not x'ut into practice so readily as they might the lesson which they are taught , " to be swift on foot " in rendering those , acknowledgments and that assistance which . they may admit are due to such of their Order as haA e faithfully

served them . AVe know of many cases in which projects for helping Avorthy brethren have either come to nought through the apathy and nevde . t of committees or honorary officials , or have been worse than fruitless through the decease of the intended recipient , whoso ' •hope deferred" has embittered his declining days , notwithstanding the desire of the fraternity to make them comfortable . AVhy need this be . ' Surely , the merits of a suggestion

for extending reward to a good and faithful servant cannot require very close examination or anxious consideration , and the mind can readily lie brought to a decision thereon . That done , Avhy should there be delay ' . ' Jiis dot qui eit . o tint , and a speedy gift , if gift th , re is to 1 ) 0 , should follow the operation of mental determination . To hasten slowly " may be at times a good injunction to follow ; " but we much prefer that which tells vs to be " swift on foot to execute benevolence . "