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TO OUR READERS . The FREEMASON is a Weekly Newspaper , price 2 d . It is published every Friday morning , and jontains the most important , interesting , and useful information relating to Freemasonry in every degree . Subscription , in eluding postage : United America , India , Intlia , China , & c Kingdom , thc Continent , & c . Via Brindisi . Twelve Months ios . bd . 12 s . od . 17 s . 4 d . Six „ 5 s . 3 < i . 6 s . 6 d . 8 s . 8 d . Three „ 2 S . 8 d . 3 s . 3 d . 4 s . 6 d . Subscriptions may be paid for in stamps , but Post Office Orders or Cheques are preferred , the former payable 'o GEORGE KKNN 1 NG , CHIEF OFFICE , LONDON , the latter crossed London joint Stock Bank . Advertisements and ¦ thtr business communications should 1-e Addressed to the Publisher . Communications on literary subjects and books fcr review are to be forwarded to the Editor . Anonymous correspondence will be wholly disregarded , and the return of rejected MSS . cannot be guaranteed . Further information will be supplied on application to he Publisher , 108 , Fleet-street , London .

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TO ADVERTISERS . lhe FREEMASON has a large circulation in all parts of the Globe , its advantages as an advertising medium can therefore scarcely be overrated . ADVERTISEMENTS to ensure insertion in current week ' s issue should reach the Office , 198 , Fleet-street , by 12 o ' clock on Wednesdays . . SCALE OF CHARGES FOR ADVERTISEMENTS . Whole of back page £ \ 2 12 o Half , „ 6 10 o Inside pages ... ... ... ... 770 Half cf ditto 400 Quarter ( 1110 ... ... ... ... 2100 Whole column 2 10 o Half „ ¦• •¦• 1 10 o Quarter „ ... ... ... ... ... 100 Per inch ... ... ... ... ... 040 These prices are for single insertions . A liberal reduction is made for a series of 13 , 26 , and 32 insertions . Further pniliculars may be obtained of the Publisher , 19 8 , Fleet-street , London .

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IMPORTANT NOTICE . COLONIAL and FOREIGN SUBSCRIBERS are informed that acknowledgments of remittances received are published in the first number of every month . It is very necessary for our readers to advise

as of all money orders they remit , more especially those from the United States of America and India ; otherwise we cannot tell where to oredit them . Several P . O . O . ' s are now in hand , but having received no advice we cannot credit them .

Answers To Correspondents.

Answers to Correspondents .

CORIIESI ' ONDIVSTS are respectfully requested to write thtir communications on one side of thc p .-iper only . Three letters respecting the Provincial Grantl Lodge of Hampshire are under rotisidcrati-ui , as also nre several

respecting the London Masonic Charity Association . Wc have received "lhe Well Spent Life " from our Bro . Rob Moiris , and we thank him for it . He has not sent us bis address , but we have written to him , to the care of Cook and Son .

BOOKS , & c , RECEIVED . "Hornet ; " " Comer Stone ; " "Folkestone News ; " " Der Bund ; " " West londou Express ; " "T > c . w York Dispatch ;" " Keystone ; " " | Dcr Triangel , " "Hull Packet ; " "Voice of Masonry ; " " Hebrew Leader ; " " Croydon Guardian ;"

" Risorgimeiilo ; " " British Mercantile Gazette ; " " Public Opinion ; " "Report of the Howard Association 1878 ;" " Scotsman ; " "Exporter ; " " Christmas Cards" from Messrs . Eyre and Spoltiswoode ; "Vanity Fair !* ' "Ntws of the World ; " "Morning Light ; * ' "Lincolnshire Chronicle . "

Births , Marriages And Deaths.

Births , Marriages and Deaths .

BIRTHS . CiiAhciaLon . —On the 22 nd inst ., at Aberdeen Park , Highbury , the wife of II . Chancellor , of a daughter . MoottE . —On the 21 st inst ., at Meolc Brace , Shrewsbury , tie wife of Capt . E . II . . Moore , R . M . A , of a daughter .

DEATHS . KANE . —On the njlh it st ., at 3 , Arthur-road , Holloway , Ernest William Allen , youngest child uf Rev . J . B . Kane , and F .-inny Kane , aged one jear and nine months . RAW . —On the 19 th in .-t ., George Raw , of Lodge 192 , after a long anil painful illness , aged 64 . TIIOHNTON . —On the 20 II 1 insl ., ; il The Hal / , Kaiiili '"' , Elizabeth Thornton , aged 70 .

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THE FREEMASON , S ATURDAY , S EPTEMBER 28 , 1878 .

The Progress Of English Masonry.

THE PROGRESS OF ENGLISH MASONRY .

The advance of our Order in England is certainly going on with giant strides . We record to-day the consecration of three lodges , two metropolitan and one provincial , and that of a chapter , within a few days of each other , and we have reason to believe , that many new lodges are

contemplated with our re-opening Masonic season . Our lodge roll nearly reaches 1800 , and probably by Christmas 1879 , will be as near 1900 . We are among those who look on this increase of Masonic lodges with hearty approval . Believing Masonry to be a good thing , " per se , "

in the " abstract , " and good in the " concrete ' for the brotherhood and for man , we rejoice , we confess , when we hear of its setting up its " banners , " and " strengthening its stakes , " on evt-ry side . We have , those of us , no doubt , who take a very different view of the matter . Like all

earthly associations , Freemasonry has its " croakers , " its "ill-omened seers , " who indulge in " jeremiades , " over the evils of " overproduction , " and " over extension ; " and , we have to submit to portentous shakes of the head , and emphatic assertions of the '' errors of our ways , "

and the "follies" of our " administration , " the unwisdom of " new lodges , " the "too rapid increase of Freemasonry . " Yet , still as the old song has it , " merrily goes the mill stream on , " and each succeeding week records new lodges and new chapters consecrated , and fresh

apolication for consideration and approval , both in Craft and Royal Arch Masonry . And we ourselves do not at all share in the doubts of the " very sceptical , " or the fears of the " very timid . " A season of prosperity has set in for English Masonry ; let us wisely use it , and not abuse it .

There is danger in over-prosperity , just as there is danger in over-everything , nay , in everything of earth , but by prudence , care , and moderation , prosperity will have for us its good things , just as , no doubt , adversity always has its salutary warnings , and its hidden blessings for us all .

Never at any time was our Grand Lodge so peaceful and so prosperous , nor its affairs so well managed , and so efficiently directed , as now . Some foolish persons have passed reflections on the fact , that a portion of our funds was lost in the bank of Willis , Percival , and Co ., but those

persons , if they know anything of banking , which it is clear they do not , must be aware that at one time no bank stood higher in the opinion of the commercial world . If those amiable critics knew the fact before hand , it is a pity they did not warn tho authorities . It

is idle , nay , impertinent , to be wise after the event , and then to blame the authorities in a matter utterly beyond their control . No doubt the question of security of the Treasurer is a veryproper one , per se , but formerly it was very difficult , legally , we apprehend , to obtain it , or make

it valid under the arrangements of Grand Lodge iinance . We should-not have said this but for certain remarks we have read on this head . With this exception , who can find fault with our Grand Lodge management ? We have as its working head , a most hard-working , zealous , and courteous

official , our esteemed Grand Secretary , Bro . John Hervey , always available , always attentive , always accommodating . His habitual kindness of heart and manner makes him always attractive to the brethren , while the skill with which he performs our ceremonies , and the sound advice he

always tenders , render him most useful to our Order , and cause him to be alike looked up to and deeply valued by us all alike , by all who have the privilege of his private acquaintance , by all who know him only as the kindly Grand Secretary , or Consecratinif Officer . If any little

anomalies exist , ( as in all institutions / , they are altogether in detail , and are such as reasonable change and seasonable improvement can easily adjust and comfortably rectify . We have every reason to be proud of English Masonry , and when we consider the position of other bodies , of

The Progress Of English Masonry.

" side issues , and " extraneous organizations , " we may rejoice to think that we are under that good old Grand Lodge of ours , which has successfully weathered so many a gale , and stands to-day before the world confessedly the mother of all existing speculative Masonry . Distinguished

by its wise laws , its sage administration , its conciliatory counsels , its kindly acts , and its zealous efforts in the sacred cause of charity , it holds a position occupied by no other Grand Lodge in the world , having earned the hearty confidence of its own loyal brotherhood , and the warm appreciation of foreign jurisdictions .

The Grand Lodge Of Scotland.

THE GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND .

It will be seen , by our leader of last week , and by Bro . Inglis ' s letter of this , that he declines to be nominated as Grand Master , so that there is no opposition to the re-election of the present distinguished Grand Master for Scotland . We trust that one " burning question " being happily

disposed of , all the others may be as speedily and as sagaciously settled , so that the Grand Lodge of Scotland may at once take up , for calm and careful consideration , several questions of salutary internal reform , in order to promote its own efficiency , to increase its own activity , and to

gratify its many friends . But , as we have ventured to point out all along , reform is one thing , revolution is another ; carefully considered proposals of amendment are both reasonable and seasonable ; angry agitation is alike unreasonable and unseasonable in the highest degree . In all

agitations it is difficult to separate the honest reformer from the mere agitator , and , above all , to steer clear of that curse of Masonry , personal idiosyncrasies and private interests . AU such proposals for alteration of the Constitutions should come " ab intra , " not " ab extra , " and we know

enough of our Scottish brethren , though writing at a distance , to be well aware that there are amongst them many most able men and good Masons , who are quite competent to manage their own affairs , and quite willing to give a hearing to all . sensible and well adjusted proposals for welcome changes and practical reforms .

The Quebec Question.

THE QUEBEC QUESTION .

Our contemporary , the New York Dis / ialc / t , under the guidance of our esteemed confrere , the editor , has laid down as the law of all the American Grand Lodges , in respect of tlie Grand Lodge of Quebec , what we venture respectfully

to demur to , as really laid down by any Ameiican Grand Lodge , absolutely and officially . We have lead their pioceedings , and we cannot call to mind any such " deliverance . " Undoubtedly , as a fact , and we do not object to it as a fact ,

when a New State Grand Lodge has been formed in America , the previously chartered lodges , being the" constituted body , " have taken out renewed charters from the new Grand Lodge . But we wonder that our able contemporary does

not see that what he contends for proves our position , and that the force of his own logic squares exactly with our contention . We do not object to the fact , for the sake of " peace , " "harmony , " or " uniformity " we approve of it , and have

always said so . But that is not exactly the point in question . We contend that a Grand Lodge cannot take away Masonic life from a private lodge , which it did not [ even give , without the consent of that lodge . The American Grand

Lodges , by the very resolution of the constituent lodges forming the Grand Lodge , admit the previous and legal life of such lodges , and not from their authority , but from that of another jurisdiction . That is a very easily understandable

position . But what is going on at Quebec ? It is here we think that our contemporary has missed his way , for he certainly does not realize , ( we say it in all deference ) , the point we are contending for . When Canada set up its Grand Lodge , Lord Zetland in acknowledging it , stipulated for the

existing life and rights of English Lodges . This was at once properly admitted by the Grand Lodge of Canada , and was , we believe , extended to Irish and Scottish Lodges . Most of the lodges in our opinion sensibly acknowledge ihe Grand Lodge of Canada , but one or two led ges , still kept up their allegiance to their old