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Contents . PAGE . The Public Aspect of Freemasonry 1 The Mark Degree—By Reitam 2 The Rose Croix—By Dnalxo 3 A Banquet at "Ours "—By J . A . H 5 Ancient Lod ji » ii £ 2 > 8

. ges .. .., MasonicNotes and Queries rf ^ ASSSv . 9 Correspondence y ^ k ^ Ti 7 T 7 ^ i &> ., 10 The Brett Testimonial <^/ ... Qa ....,. \ J . \ ..... 12 Masonic Mems < £ L .. „ . ? . ? i ND .. X > Y ... 13 CRAFT LODGE MEETINGS : — j ... [ O D Q P | pj Metropolitan i "' . Liw *> ? .. Jjrrl ... 13 Provincial MiS ^ . ^ MHy . JisJ ..... 14 Ireland XftjV / .. ' . ' / . IS

Isle of Man SrCt ^^ .. )!/ . 16 Turkey 3 SN £ * £ 17 New Zealand 17 Royal Arch 17 Mark Masonry IS Masonic Festivities 18 List of Lodgo , & c , Meetings for ensuing week 20

The Public Aspect Of Freemasony.

THE PUBLIC ASPECT OF FREEMASONY .

LONDON , SATURDAY , JULY 1 , 1869 .

There are symptoms that Preemasonry is about to attract more of public attention . The notice given to the initiation of the Prince of Wales is only one of these indications ; but if the Prince should be elected Grand Master , then such a result

would be unequivocal . There are many who will regret that any greater degree of publicity should be given to our institution , there are' many who would clamour for it , and it is certainly worthy of consideration how

far Masonry may be affected by such external influences . Masonry has been public enough before , it is public enough elsewhere than in London , and yet to a great number of Masons there is no conception of Masonry beyond the lodge-room . There are London and other Masons who have

never been to a festival dinner where ladies sit down with their partners , the W . M . presiding ; many who have never been to a Masonic ball . There are , however , many parts of the country where there is the yearly procession to church ,

there is a ball , and there is the occasional celebration of a funeral , all this apart from great gatherings for laying a corner-stone . In the beginning of the last century the G . M . proceeded , in public state and in procession , from

the West-end to . Grocers' Hall , or whatever city hall wherein the Grand Lodge and Grand Pestival were holden ; but this has been so long discontinued as to appear a celebration unmasonic . The neglect of Masonry , indeed , has been a cause for

peace and quietness , as neglect is apt to be ; and returning prosperity may be the provocative to more noise . The charity festivals have become

less familiar . Formerly non-Masons were admitted , but for some years their exclusion has been rigidly enforced , and ladies in the gallery alone represent the general public . All has contributed to seclusion in the metropolis . Except the square

and compasses on a public-house , which is as often as not un-Masonio , there is no public placarding of Preemasonry , while in a country town each member is as well known as if he were legally registered with the clerk of the peace .

This being so , some of the consequences of publicity may be already measured . The W . M . is as well known by his place in the procession and in the pew in the church as if he were announced in the London Gazette . Each individual

Mason remains as unmolested in his Masonic opinions by the community at large as he may doin his religious opinions . This consequence will accrue , that , whenever the Prince of Wales is mentioned , there will be certain obtrusive persons—whose membership is no distinction to the Order—who will announce

themselves as brother Masons of the Prince of Wales . It is some consolation to believe that the Masonry of such persons has seldom shut up or caused the dissolution of a single country lodge , and that the public have rather chosen to

judge of Masonry by the good men within its ranks than from its inferior constituents . Still , there will be more public attention bestowed upon Masonry , a greater canvassing of its claims to respect , and a sterner criticism of its

composition and constitution . Of course there will be the usual answer to this , " The Charities , " and this will satisfy very few . A member of the Merchant Taylors' Company , or the Mercers ' , will make no great account of our schools in

comparison with his own , and will be little inclined to admit such a title to superiority . It may , perhaps , be that some Masons may be led to question their Masonry . Dinners will stand for little in the account , as the Fishmongers or the Clothworkers can make out a better case .

Mysterious insinuations that Masonry is something very sublime will come with very little effect from one who is better known as a boon companion than a hierophant of philosophic pretensions , and whose port wine is sounder than his learning .

There will be a stirring up , such as in the late dull times of Masonry , self complacent Masonry has been little accustomed to , and this may be not without very good fruit for the Craft in general .