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TO OUR READERS . THE FREEMASON is published -very Friday morning , price 3 d ., and cont ains the fullest and latest information relating to Freemasonry in every degree . Subscriptions , including Postage : — ,,,. „ . , r-, ^ i ?^ '„ f- India , China , Australia United Kingdom . Canada . ttic ^ Conti- Nc ' Zealand , & c . 13 s . 15 s . 6 d . 17 s . 6 d . Remittances may be made in Stamps , but Post Oliice Orders or Cheques are preferred , the former payable to GEORGE KENNING , Chief Office , London , the latter crossed London Joint Stock Bank

To Correspondence.

To Correspondence .

Owing to pressure on our columns the following stand over -. — Avon Lodge , No . 1633 , Manchester . Kirkdale Lodge , No . 1756 , Liverpool . Metropolitan Lodge of Instruction , No . 1507 . Cranbourne Lodge of Instruction , No . 15 S 0 , Hatfield . Duke of Connaught Lodge of Instruction , 1624 . Mount Calvary Chapter , A . and A . Rite . Rose of Sharon Senate K . H . P ., No . 6 , A . and P . Rite .

BOOKS , 8 zc , RECEIVED . "Broad Arrow , " "The Builder , " "The Pictorial World , " "The Whitehall Review , " "JewishChronicle , " "Citizen , " "Glass of Fashion , " "Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic News " ( Christmas Number ) , " Allen ' s Indian Mail , " " Keystone , " "Hebrew Leader , " "Moore ' s Masonic Messenger . "

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THE FREEMASON . SATURDAY , DEC . 4 , 1880 .

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WE think that in the best interests of Masonic courtesy and comity , as well as for the patience of our readers , the controversy in our pages relative to the Ancient and Primitive Rite , versus the Ancient and Accepted Rite , had better cease . It is ,

however , but fair to observe and remember that the Ancient and Accepted Rite have taken no part in the discussion . They have thought it more compatible with dignity and propriety to preserve a rigid silence . Bro . SANDEMAN has been kind

enough to explain in our pages the object of a particular circular , and to state that it was solely addressed , clearly within his competence , to the chapters of his own body . We print this week one or two letters which had come in last week , and

then the discussion must close , and cannot be reopened , except as a dry matter of history under " Masonic Notes and Queries . " We think it well for ourselves to say that our remarks in our leader were written in answer

to Bro . HILL ' S appeal , who , though we differ from him and he from us , has very Masonically thanked us for our courtesy and fair play . We went out of our way to gratify a correspondent who asked us a simple and open question , but we had

no wish officially to pronouce an opinion on subjects naturally out of our range , except as we said as Masonic students of "facts" patent to and available for all alike . We are not , we think , called upon to notice some ingenious " cruxes " raised by

Bro . YARKER , and which , we have never even alluded to , and which from the position we took up are really nothing to the point . We are sorry if in what we have said we have ruffled any feelings or antagonized any cherished little vanities , but as

we were asked our opinion historically we gave it . And we repeat it , with all deference to Bro . YAR - KER and the friends of the Ancient and Primitive Rite , that whatever else may be alleged against the Ancient and Accepted Rite its date is clearly

older on every ground than that of the Ancient and Primitive Rite . But in saying this we express no opinion of the Ancient and Primitive Rite . And here , as far as we are officially concerned , the animated contest must close .

* * * OUR contemporary the New York Dispatch very kindly takes us somewhat to task for changing our " long essays " into " short notes , " but as he does 'is the honour at the same time of filling a column

ivith extracts from our paper and expressing his lgreement with them , We are not at all disposed to find fault with his " comments , " though we may not agree with his conclusions . His principal

complaint seems to be that it is not so easy to grasp the views we venture to propound in a brief " summary" as in a long "leader . " With all due deference to our kindl y confrfcre and critic ,

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the change was not made unadvisedly or hastily . As far as the Freemason itself is concerned , it has been a complete success . Never at any previous period was its circulation so large at home and abroad as it is at present , and that circulation is

steadily increasing . We have had many expressions of approval and none of dissatisfaction . As we have before taken occasion to point out , long essays or leaders in an hebdomadal print like the Freemason seem in the present temper

of men and Masons to be too great a tax on the time , and attention , and patience of our readers . What they appear really most to desiderate are crisp , succinct , light , and straig htforward statements which they may grasp in a moment of mental

cogitation , and carry away with them in their memories . They cannot afford the time to read and master long articles , even the clearest and most logical ; while they can afford , and do afford , to run through and run over a periodical which gives

them at a glance the Masonic news of the week , the gist of passing controversies , or a sketch of Masonic history , archaeology , and aestheticism . It is a mistake to suppose that it is easier to write a short article than a long one . In one sense ,

indeed , it is easier , in that it takes up less space of type and less manual labour . But short articles which are inane and jejune will be read no more than long articles of the same calibre , and , therefore , to be worth

anything such articles must represent a careful condensation of thought and fact , or else they cease to be valuable , or even useful . It is amusing sometimes to note the difference between the writer who will spin out his words and cover a certain

amount of space , " willy nilly , " and the writer who seeks to put into the fewest possible words what he thinks he has to say to others . The one is all weakness , all " leather and prunella , "

beating ' of the wind , unconnected , incoherent , illogical ; the other presents to the reader in a few telling words all that he needs to know , or all that he cares to hear .

* * THOUGH wc are told that we have not done full justice to the important question of Masonic trade marks and Masonic circulars , we venture to be of opinion that we have dealt with it in the only

sensible and satisfactory manner . There is always a tendency in the human mind , and equally among Masons , to resist a dogmatic dealing with matters of controversy . We should only in the late case of the " Masonic Brand " have aided the astute

advertizer had we said more than we did say , though none are more alive than we are to the evil in the abstract and concrete of using Masonic emblems or organization for the mere purposes of trade . As a general rule , as we before showed ,

all such commodities have a " market price , and soon find their level . If they are not what they profess to be , if they are sold at 100 per cent , profit—if , professing to be something very superior , they are all the time something very

inferiorwhere they once succeed they never will be sought for a second time ; their sale is hindered and stopped , and they lose the market they improperly sought to obtain . This is a truth , of which we all know many examples in our various walks in life ,

and , therefore , we adhere to what we have already said on the matter , and leave it where it is . In such discussions "high falutin" of all kinds ought to be most strictly eschewed , as fine writing and frothy verbiage do more harm than good .

* * * WE must all be struck with the persistent " per" sonality " which Masonic discussions of all kinds , important and unimportant , general or local , habitually evoke and lay bare . There is ,

however , nothing surprising in the fact after all . Freemasons are but men , and men " in print " are different animals altogether to men " out of print . " The prudent become violent , the cold warm , the restrained , irrepressible , the moment

they indulge in the luxury of appearing in the press ; and it is a curious fact , however , we may explain it psychologically , that , whereas at home and in society we are often the most courteous and placid of beings , the first time we use our pens in

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controversy we lose our temper , and become personal , aggressive , and abusive . Some of us will have been pained with some recent exhibitions of personality in our peaceful pages , and will be ready to say , "Why not exclude all such matter ? " It

is easier said than done , —far . It is almost impossible to excise passages from communications without destroying the pith and purport of the letter j and , week by week , we have that most disagreeable portion of an editor ' s work to

performto take out " passages " which are both " personal " and scandalous" in the highest degree , and might involve , if they appeared , the Freemason in an action for libel . There is only one thing to be said , that when our correspondents are interested

or excited they often write without gaugeing the exact force of their words , without measuring fully all they say , relying on the calmer judgment of the Editor to keep out what is improper to appear . We can only once more , therefore , impress upon

all our correspondents the absolute need of caution and control , in all they aver , in all they impute , and in all they repeat . It is one thing to be able to make a " telling hit , " or return a crushing

reply , it is quite another thing to do so . without any consideration for the feelings of others , our own Masonic principles , and the prestige and prosperity of Masonic journalism .

* * IT seems to us , from what we hear , that the best policy , in respect of the Boys' School , will be to appoint a " Committee to enquire into the possi" bility of increasing the existing buildings , " but

with full powers of consideration and freedom of action , unpledged to any particular course . It might be well to arrange to take a certain number of additional boys in after the April election , and to hire the needful accommodation for a " junior

" school or a " preparatory school , " until the larger building is ready . Grave objections exist , and will no doubt be stated , to the adoption in London of a " capitation grant" for school purposes alone . The one great point to be kept before

us is the long list of unsuccessful candidates , which , unless reduced in some way now , will in another half-year or so assume inordinate proportions , when it will be much more difficult , if not impossible , to deal with . As we ventured to remark

before , no other feelings or objections or petty jealousies should be allowed to obtrude themselves in the present discussion ; it should simply be

treated as a matter of duty and responsibility , affecting the best interests of the Boys' School , and the present and future welfare of many helpless orphans .

* * * OUR Publisher has determined this year , encouraged by the cheerful support of last , to issue a Christmas Freemason on the 10 th , and which will also appear as the supplement to the

usual Freemason of the 25 th ( Christmas Day ) this year . We trust that all our kind readers will approve of this friendly enterprise by giving the pleasant support of their hearty and cheerful patronage . It is believed , and not without good

reason , that the Christmas number will afford pleasure and gratification to a large circle of readers , will be welcomed by young and old ,

and will be an agreeable companion for the Christmas season , both in its literary merit , its artistic appearance , and its thoroughly Masonic tone .

* * WE hear indirectly that the Annual Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution is fixed for the fourth Wednesday in February . We have no doubt that under the distinguished presidency of

Bro . SIR H . EDWARDS there will be a goodly gathering . We hear with pleasure that the list of the Stewards is a very long one already , and will no doubt be greatly augmented before the eventfu l day arrives .

* * As a proof how Masonic Charity interests and affects the Craft , we are also informed that the number of Stewards promised for the Girls' and Boys' School Festivals is unprecedently large .