Press Exchanges And Booka Recived.

NOTES FROM AN OLD FREEMASONRY PUBLICATION . —I came across a publication in book form the other day ( Avrites a correspondent ) , of the year 180 H , Avritton in a very quaint style , and purporting to be an authentic key to the door of Freemasonry . " The AA'riter is Avhat is knoAvn in masonic circles as a ' ¦ Cowan , '" but the Avork itself is entirely flattering to the order . Although an

eavesdropper , his finding on AA hat he saw and heard is : — " I am inclined to think that the chief design of the establishment is to rectify the heart , inform the mind , and promote the moral and social virtues of humanity , decency , and good order , as much as possible in the Avorld . " Among other items of interest in the book . I find that St . Alban formed the first Grand Lodge in Britain in A . D . 287 . In

' . 126 Prince EdAvin formed a Grand Lodge at York , and though through a long vista of years there is little recorded of the order , it seems to have been groAving in poAver . for in 1425 Masons' assemblies Avere prohibited by Parliament . TAventy-five years later Henry VI . Avas initiated into Masonry , and in lfj !» 0 the secrets Avere revealed to AVilliain III . privately . The Freemasons inaugurated

the building of St . Paul ' s Cathedral , London in 1 ( 557 , and completed it in 1713 . The office of Grand Secretary for England AA'as first established in 1723 , and the following year a Grand Treasurer Avas appointed . It Avas in the tAvo succeeding years that a "general fund for distressed Masons'" Avas proposed , and a " Committee of Charity" appointed , AVIIO founded a system Avhich has groAvn till

IIOAV it has assumed proportions of great magnitude . Indeed , so firm a hold has it obtained , that at a meeting held recently in London over £ 50 , 000 Avas subscribed by those present for Masonic charitable purposes . The plans for a Freemasons' Hall in London Avere approved by Grand Lodge of England in 17 ( 5 !) , but it is not till four years later that any definite steps seem to have been taken . A

Hall Committee AA'as appointed in 1773 , and the year folloAi'ing a site for the building Avas purchased . The first stone of this building A \ -as laid in 1775 , and the same year five thousand pounds tOAvards the building of the hall Avas raised by means of a tontine . The hall Avas dedicated in 177 * 5 . and the folloAving year the anniversary of the dedication AA'as ordered to be kept . It" \ vas not ahvavs merrv

Avith the Masons , hoA \ -ever . It is recorded that in 1757 fourteen persons Avere expelled the order for irregularities , and that in 17 <> 2 several others shared the same fate . In 1777 several Masons had to submit to the indignity of imprisonment at Naples , but on Avhat pretence it does not appear . His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland Avas elected Grand Master in 1782 , and during his

tenure of ofhee ( 1788 ) the Royal Cumberland Freemason School Avas instituted . At his death in 17 i » 0 . II . R . H . the Prince of AVales , initiated in 1787 , Avas elected to the A'acancy . It is Avorthy of note that at the date on Avhich the book Avas published ( I 30 ! l ) , II . R . H . George Augustus Frederick , the then Prince of AVales , filled the office of Grand Master of England , a position Avhich is held in this

year of grace . 1881 K by Albert EdAvard Prince of AVales . — Glasgow Kvening Press . SYMBOLISM . '—Among the uninitiated there are those AVIIO complain because Masonry is so symbolical , and what to us are characters in the alphabet of love and fraternity , to them is empty mummery . Yet the great brotherhood only conforms to the universal laAV . that

Avhich teaches men to express their dearest thoughts by signs and tokens . The plain golden band which encircles the finger of the young bride is eloquent in its symbolism . The Psalmist affirms : " The heavens declare the glory of God , and the firmament shoAveth His handiAvork . Day unto day uttereth speech , and night unto night shoiveth knoAvledge . " Nature is full of symbols that talk

English to us . Individuals and nations are constantly expressing some great idea by the use of symbols . —lluv . J . AV . RICHARDSON , in the Xew York Dispatch : AVOKTHY AND AVELL QUALIFIED . —Among the prerequisite qualifications for admission into Masonry , there is none more important than that a candidate should be Avorthy and Avell

qualified . He is so declared to be by the SteAvards at the door of the lodge before he is permitted to enter . In his passage through the several degrees the question is often asked , " Is he Avorthy and Avell qualified . '" and it is always answered in the affirmative . AVhen he first stands before the altar of Masonry , it is asserted that Ave receive none knOAvingly into our ranks AVIIO are not moral and

upright before God and of good repute before the Avorld , and this point is emphasized in all the lectures and charges of the Avork . It Avould seem almost impossible , Avith such an examination and safeguards at the entrance to Masonry , that any who are not AA'orthy and Avell qualified could gain admission . So it Avould be , if the letter and spirit of these Avere always observed and carried out .

If the moral and mental qualifications of a candidate Avere scrutinized as closely as his physical ones ahvays are ; if the heart and head were subjected to the same test as the hands and feet , there Avould be less chance for a bad man to cross the threshold of a lodge . Physically it is required that a candidate must be able to comply literally with all the ceremonies of Masonry , and mentally

he should be able to comprehend and comply Avith the obligations he assumes , and to display in his life the tenets of his profession and to practice the cardinal virtues of Masonrj-. The Aveak point in this examination of the fitness of candidates to become Masons , AVC apprehend , is that it is too often regarded more as a matter of form than of real inquiry . Committees on character arc too often

derelict in their duty . They perhaps have a slight acquaintance Avith the candidate , and as his general reputation in the community is fair , they Avithout further investigation , take it for granted that he is all right , and report favorably . The Lodge is poor and needs the initiation fee , and the Avork is needed to keep up an interest by bringing the members out to Lodge meetings . A Mason is thus often made , hoping that no harm Avill result from his admission .

AA'hcn the better judgment of many of the brethren told them that the Lodge Avoiild be better off Avithout him . Such mistakes have proved fatal to many Lodges AVIIOSC charters IIOAV repose in the archiA-cs of the Grand Lodge . AVhen a candidate is said to be Avorthy and Avell qualified it should not only mean that there is nothing special against him , but that there is something in his favor Avhich recommends him as Avorthy to become a Mason . —Masonic Advocate .

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Recommended to the Subscribers to the "Masonic Star . " HOTELS OTAE AND GARTEB HOTEL , KEA \ r BRIDGE , KD Bro . Jonx Baii . i ,, I ' runrietitr . Seven Lodges and Chapters held in the . Hotel , which possesses Special Facilities for Concerts , Evening Parties and Baminets . Scale of Charges on Application .

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MAYO'S CASTLE HOTEL , EAST MOLESEY , Hampton Court Station ( adjoining the Railway and facing the River ami Palace ) . Bro . JOHN MAYO has amide accommodation in Urn new wing for Banquets for any number up to Kill . . Spacious landing- to River . Specimens of Menus , witli prices , sent on a ^ nliratimi . Three Lodges meet : U the Castle Hotel , and ^ reference may lie made to the respective Masters as to the catering , & c .

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BRIDGE HOUSE HOTEL , LONDON BRIDGE , S . E ., PEAIICK & Sox , Proprietors . Dinners , AVedding Breakfasts , Balls , Soirees , Concerts , Masonic , Public , or Private Meetings , & c . The Snitc of Booms for Balls and Concerts includes the Ball Room , Ante-Boom , Refreshment , and Supper Rooms and Ladies' Retiring Rooms . The Masonic Temple will scat , 4 < J . Terms on Ajn ^ Rcation .

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BOURNEMOUTH . Board and Residence , south aspect , close to the Sea , Pleasure Gardens : centre of Town ; Home comforts Terms , 30 ' -. Apply M . A . Hood . Cavcrsliam , Poole Hill .

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"rTIHE BEDFORD" FAMILY AND COMMERCIAL JL HOTKb , PORTSMOUTH . Proprietor , R . P . BIUANT . CT . ELMO ( BOARDING HOUSE ) , No . 13 , LOCH > 0 PROMENADE . DOUGLAS . ISLE OP MAX . Incomparably the Queen of Northern AVatering Places . Bro . P . T . SCRKKCH begs respectfully to offer to intending visitors to this charming health and pleasure resort the comfortable advantages of a Home from Home . This establishment , Avith an old connection ( 17 years ) , is conveniently situated on the margin of the beautiful Bay , and Avithin tAvo minutes' Avalk of the landing Pier—the arrangements being personally superintended by Miss SHIMMIX and Mrs . SCREECH . First-class Cuisine—Terms moderate . Particulars on application .

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QEA HOUSE HOTEL , MIDDLE ST ., BRIGHTON . kD - -THOMAS Gums ( hue Supt . Brighton Police Fire lh-igadcj . Choicest AVincs and Spirits , Fine Foreign Cigars , Billiards , Private Apartments .

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( LARSON'S HOTEL , RIO DE JANEIRO , BRAZIL . \ J English home comforts , and all information about Brazil , will be found in this Hotel . AV . M . 11 . C ' Ausoy , Proprietor .

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ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS . WOOD GREEN , LONDON , N . Office—6 , Freemasons' Hall , IflT . C . GRAND PATRON HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN . PRESIDENT- H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES , K . G ., M . W . G . M . A Quarterly General Court of the Governors and Subscribers will beheld at Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen Street , Lincoln ' s Inn Fields , London , on Friday , the 2 <; th day of . Inly , 1 SS <) . for the transaction of the ordinary business of the Institution . To receive and approves list of Slx ^ y-u ' . uj Candidates ( or Seventy in the event of a deferred case being accepted by tlu Court ) on the recommendation of the General Committee , from Avhich Sixteen Boys shall be elected on Friday , 25 th October next , to fill that number of A acaneics . The Chair will betaken at Four o ' clock in the afternoon precisely . Bif O'uler , FREDERICK BINCKES . ( P . G . Sfd . ) , Y . Pat ., IGlh July . 188 G . Secretary .

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TO ZBIE LET . TO THE TEA TRADE . Anyone requiring a Fine First Floor , situated close to Leadenhall Street , and Avithin H minutes of Mark and Mincing Lanes . Rent £ 50 . Apply—BLANO & CAMPION , 15 , Fenchurch Street , E . C . TO FOUNDERS OF LODGES , CHAPTERS , PRECEPTORIES , & c . The AVindsor Castle Masonic Temple to be let . Replete Avith every conA'enience ( including Organ ) for Craft Lodges , It . A . Chapters , Encampments , Preceptorics , ko . Resident Tyler . Apply to E . GuiSBitooK . Windsor .

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F » OST CARD COMPETITION . PRIZE VALUE ~ 30 s ^ ]~" PARIS EXHIBITION . The French are annoyed because the English and Americans close their stands on Sundays . For further particulars see July number of " HOPE . " Do you " approve " or " disapprove " of the action of the Anglo-Saxons ? Write word "approve" or " disapprove" on Post Card , put your name and address , and guess the number of Post Cards you think will be sent in . Prize 30 s . for nearest guess . Post Cards to be sent to J . N . MA STEPS , before July 15 th . " Post Free . ] " " HC 6 < jpWs [ Onei Year ^ T 6 ~ J . N . MASTEES , Jeweller , EYE .

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AARON , SONS & Co ., WHOI . KSAUO . MANUI'ACTUKKIIS OK UMBRELLAS , SUNSHADES , WALKING STICKS . WltlTK i-oi : THICK LIST TO 18 , JEWIN STREET , FORE STREET , LONDON , E . C .