AUDI, VIDE, TACE. THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR. VOL. XVIII. (NEW SERIES) JANUARY TO JUNE, 1868. PUBLISHED FOR THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE COMPANY, LIMITED, AT THE OFFICE LONDON: PRINTED BY THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE COMPANY, LIMITED, AT THE "SCIENTIFIC PRESS," 3, RUSSELL COURT, BRYDGES STREET, COVENT GARDEN, W.C. In accordance with "time-honoured custom," the completion of the 18th Vol. of the New Series of the FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR is now availed of to address our readers. With a view to carry out the proposal some time ago started for enabling the publishing price of the MAGAZINE to be reduced, and its circulation greatly increased, the preliminary steps have been taken, and it now only remains for our friends and the well wishers of the MAGAZINE to come forward and aid us in completing the project, in the successful carrying out of which, all the members of the Masonic fraternity, whether holding under the English, Scottish, or Irish constitutions, are interested to a much greater extent than those who have hitherto been connected with the MAGAZINE as a property. Now that the course of transferring the future publication of the MAGAZINE to a Joint Stock Company with "Limited Liability" has been determined upon, we earnestly invite the co-operation of its friends and supporters; and, as it is not thought desirable to parade our Order and its only recognised Organ before the public, and as it is not believed to be necessary to appeal to the public to take shares in the Company, it is not proposed to issue any advertisements or public announcements; it is therefore hoped that any application further a field for the remainder of the capital required, will be unnecessary. The capital is £3,000, divided into 300 shares of £10 each. It is proposed to select the Directors and the Committee of Management and publication (in whose hands the editing will then be) from the Shareholders, at the first meeting, which it is intended shall take place at an early date; in the meantime any further information may be obtained upon application by letter (prepaid), addressed to the Secretary of the FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE Company, Limited, 19, Salisbury-street Strand, London, W.C., and we also refer our readers to our advertising columns. Having devoted thus much space to matters more immediately affecting our MAGAZINE, and its weekly production hereafter, at a reduced price, we must not neglect the opportunity now afforded of tendering our best thanks to our Subscribers, and also to that numerous and important body of talented and zealous Masons in all parts of the world, and under various Constitutions, who, by their valuable aid and assistance, have so largely contributed to the increased interest now unanimously acknowledged to attach to the weekly publication of the MAGAZINE. Again we thank them all most cordially. During the past half year our order has again made rapid progress. Into Craft Masonry, under the United Grand Lodge of England alone, about 8,000 initiates are annually admitted. The last warrant issued by the Grand Lodge of England, is to the Upton Lodge to meet at Upton, in Essex, the number whereof is 1227. These facts speak volumes. In Scotland and Ireland, Freemasonry likewise flourishes. In the latter country it might flourish still more if it were better understood; it will, however, never be rightly understood and fully appreciated as a great moral institution in Ireland, and until certain restrictive and repressive regulations quite antiquated, exhibiting, as they do, illiberality and the fear of meeting public |