To The Craft.

TO THE CRAFT .

LOXDOX , SATUltDAr , . TUL 1 '!) , 185 !) .

IN commencing a new and enlarged series of tlie Freemasons' Magazine , we feel that we may be expected to address a few words to tlie Craft as to our reasons for altering its form , ancl our intentions with regard to the future . Of the past we shall only say , that during the two years the Magazine

has been under our sole control , we have endeavoured to elevate its tone ancl introduce to our readers writers on Freemasonry and the sciences with which it is , or ought to be , connected , whose united labours might place the Magazine on an equal footing with other first class metropolitan journals ; whilst at the same time we have used every exertion to

make the Masonic Mirror , or news department ofthe Magazine , as comprehensive ancl impartial as possible . How fat we have succeeded , we shall not attempt , ourselves , to express au opinion ; though we believe we might fairly point to oui : increased subscrip tion list as a proof that our labours , though not so pecuniarily successful as we could havo wished , have

not been altogether unappreciated , and that we have . suc ceeded in producing a more perfect Freemasons' Magazine than any Masonic publication which has preceded it . As regards our reasons for altering the form , we may state that it has been frequently impressed upon us that our circulation in the colonies was impeded in consequence of the

heavy rate of postage—3 d . each number—which could only be reduced by our con forming to certain regulations of the Post Office , by which we could register the publication for transmission abroad , and secure the advantage of the newspaper postage of Id . ; and this our present form enables us to donot only for the colonies but for America and other places

, of importance ; whilst through the mechanical advantages offered by the change in form , we shall be enabled to bring up tlie news closer to the day of publication , which in future will be Saturday , thus laying before the brethren the proceedings at Grand Loclge and at the Masonic festivals in the same week in which they are held .

With respect to our intentions in the future , we shall endeavour to maintain , and if possible , improve , the character the Magazine has obtained in its literary departmentadding to it the advantages of pictorial illustration . The Maga . zine will continue to be conducted by Bro . Henry G . Warren , assisted by Bros . Hyde Clarke , Thomas

Davidson , Pi , ev . J . S . Sidebotliam , J . How , Matthew Cooke , H . B . Sharman , E . J . Williams , and other well known brethren—irrespective of writers on art and . science not whicli are immediately connected with the Craft . Amongst the earlier illustrated works which will appear iu the Magazineis a series of "Lectures on Symbols "'"

, , by Bro . B . Martin , late D . Prov . Grancl Master for Suffolk , now in . the hands of an experienced artist . The Magazine will not be confined , purely to Masonic subjects , but architecture , archeology , and other sciences-

To The Craft.

will receive due attention , aud the proceedings of the various scientific bodies of the kingdom will be briefly but succinctly recorded . New books , new music , new engravings , will all , in their turn be brought under consideration , and treated with the utmost impartiality .

The charitable ancl provident institutions , of which England is so justly proud , will have their proceedings regularly recorded , and histories of their objects , progress , and position will , from time to time , be published . A short digest of the news of the week , carefully prepared will , as hitherto , form a feature of the publication ; attended to

and a record of public amusements will be duly in . order , as tar as possible , to render our Magazine acceptable throughout the Craft , and to readers generally . In addition to other attractions , we purpose to present to our readers a series of highly finished engravings of distinguished Masons—commencing with the M . W . Grand Master the Earl of Zetland , full particulars of whicli will be

dulyannounced , TO OUR COLONIAL BRETHREN . To the brethren in tlie colonies we especially appeal for support , and assure them we shall be at all times happy to receive from them notices of tlie progress of their Lodges . In order to facilitate the circulation of the Magazine in the . colonieswe to forward it ( postage free ) at the

, propose publishing price of £ 1 6 s . sterling , per annum , on the subscription being paid in advance ; and Secretaries of Lodges , or others , forwarding orders for four copies or more , will be allowed the regular agent ' s profits , which they can deduct before forwarding the subscriptions .

OUR AMERICA ! - * BRETHREN subscribing for the Magctzine , will also receive their copies for 26 s . sterling , or about $ 6 $ per annum ( English postage paid ) ; ancl we shall be happy to enter into arrangements for agencies throug hout the Union and the Colonies , TO ADVERTISERS the Mac / cosine in its present form offers peculiar advantages ;

its circulation being almost exclusively amongst the opulent classes , and from its being subscribed for by the different Lodges , possessing a larger body of regular readers than the great majority of class publications .

Stained Glass.

STAINED GLASS .

[ T HE following paper "On some Characteristic Jbeatures in Stained Glass Figures , " was read at the Birmingham Architectural Society , on Monday , March 7 th , 18 f > 9 , hy BRO . W . WIGGINTOX , F . R . LB . A . ( J . W , No . 810 , and P . G . S . B . for Worcestershire ) , having been hastily got up , at two or three days' notice , to supply a vacancy caused by the illness of tlie gentleman who was on the

list for that evening . ] In the clays of the early Christians , when the schoolmaster was less abroad than he is now , and the masses were uneducated , it was the aim and object of the fathers to present to their flocks sacred historical subjects in such a manner as