THE FREEMASONS MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR. VOL. XXI. (NEW SERIES) JULY TO DECEMBER, 1869. PUBLISHED FOR THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE COMPANY, LIMITED, AT THE OFFICE LONDON: PRINTED BY THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE COMPANY (LIMITED), AT THE "SCIENTIFIC PRESS," HEATHCOCK COURT, STRAND, W.C. THE present number completes the twenty-first volume of the quarto series of THE FREN MASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR, and the first at the reduced price of Threepence, a measure which has opened to us a wider field of usefulness-a result which it has ever been the aim of the proprietors to accomplish, beyond mere considerations of pecuniary profit. The year just completed makes a new era in Freemasonry in Great Britain. Having once more connected with our Order a member of the Royal Family, in the person of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, we may expect a large addition to our ranks from the higher circles of society, and, in consequence, additional prosperity to the Order, both in numbers and in influence; and no doubt, from the expected accessions to our ranks, the charities will meet with that increased support which they so eminently deserve. Although the pleasure anticipated at his reception amongst Masons was not entirely unalloyed (from the fact of his having been initiated abroad) English Masons having long looked forward to the honour of initiating him), his very cordial reception amongst them left nothing to be desired. Such a course is not unprecedented, for on former occasions Princes of the Blood Royal have, in several instances, been initiated in foreign countries, and have afterwards presided over Grand Lodge, or held high rank in it. It became our duty to announce in the same number which chronicled the installation of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales as a Past Grand Master, the intended retirement of the M.W.G.M., the Earl of Zetland, from the position which he has held more than quarter of a century, during which time he has gained the personal esteem of every member of the Order whom Masonic business has brought him in contact with, as well as of the whole Craft, for the firm yet beneficient rule that he has exercised. That his position was one which required the nicest powers of discrimination cannot admit of doubt, and that our M.W.G.M. has exercised that discretion is evidenced by the harmony which has prevailed generally in Grand Lodge under his sway. Every measure brought forward for the good of the Order, when he could conscientiously concur, has met with his hearty support, while at the same time he has unflinchingly opposed every measure which, in his mind, was not calculated to forward the interests of the Craft. Although in some instances his policy has been opposed by the conductors of this MAGAZINE, they have never for a moment imputed to him any other than the most conscientious motives. There is one consolation, that, although he alleges advanced age as his reason for relinquishing his post, we have his assurance that, as long as the Almighty shal] spare his life, he will continue to take the greatest interest in all that concerns Freemasonry. In announcing the retirement of the M.W.G.M. we ventured to hope that "the election of a successor to so estimable a Mason as the present Grand Master should take place in the same cordial and unanimous way that has, almost without exception, marked the annnal re-election of the Earl of Zetland for the last twenty-five years; and as no one more able, or more distinguished as a |