Two DOLLARS per annum, (in current bills,) IN ADVANCE. Any Brother residing in a town where no Agent has been appointed, can obtain the work through the Post Master; who is authorized, by a regulation of the General Post Office, to receive and forward his name and the amount of his subscription, free of postage. No subscribers received for a less term than one year.-And no order for the work, ex- cept from Agents, will be answered, unless accompanied by the amount of one year's subscrip- All communications and letters must be addressed to the Editor; and, when not from Agents, must be post paid, or no attention will be given to them. Secretaries of Lodges are requested to act as Agents in receiving subscriptions and making remittances. The seventh copy will be allowed them for their services. Received between the 25th September, and 25th Oct. BUSINESS.-T. Henchcliff, Fourch Dumas, Ark.-I. M. Gainesville, Ala.-B. T. Kava- nough, Kaposia, Wis. Ter.-P. M. Springfield, Arks.-C. M. Bradford, Arrow Rock, Mo.- J. D. McCabe, Richmond, Va.-T. Andrews, Montgomery, Ala.-J. H. Hough, Trenton, N. J. CONTAINING REMITTANCES.-Alex. T. Douglass, St. Charles, Mo.-J. M. Marsh, New York City, N. Y.-J. A. Williamson, Baykin's Depot, Va.-P. M. Paris, Mo.-Alex. Mosely, Curdsville, Va.-W. Tannehill, Nashville, Tenn.-W. Duncan, Savannah, Geo.-H. Slone, WITH the present number, commences the second volume of this Magazine. The experiment,-for such in some measure it was, has been eminently successful. The work is firmly established. Its reputation is good. And with bright hopes for the future, we proceed to "fresh fields and pastures new." The character of the work differs from that of any Masonic Magazine ever before published in this country. Unlike all its predecessors, (with a single exception,*) it is exclusively devoted to the interests of the Craft,to the discussion of Masonic principles and the spread of Masonic intelligence. It is, in letter and spirit, a Masonic work. The volume just closed, is a volume on FREEMASONRY, and nothing else. The Brother who would consult it, is not required to wade through an ocean of miscellaneous selections, to find, scattered here and there among the obsolete and worthless, a few articles of Masonic interest. Let him open it where he will, and his eye falls on a Masonic page. It differs, likewise, from its predecessors, in that it furnishes foreign, as well as domestic, intelligence. undertaking never before attempted in this country. The reason for it, perhaps, is to be found in the great expense and labor attending the establishing and maintaining an extensive correspondence. With us, the labor is not an admissible objection. To meet the expense, we rely on the patronage of the Fraternity. This is an We respectfully, but confidently submit, that we have faithfully redeemed whatever pledges were given at the commencement of our labors; and, we trust, the expectations of all have been realized. We do not fear contradiction, when we say, that no event of importance or of special in *The " Amaranth, or Masonic Garland," by the editor of this Magazine. terest, has occurred in the Masonic Fraternity, during the last year, either in this country or in Europe, that has not been noticed in the Magazine. We are aware of the force of this remark. But it is not a mere gasconade. It is justified by the extent of our means of information. We have spared neither labor nor expense in this respect. Our aim has been to make the Magazine a universal organ of communication, for the whole Fraternity, wherever dispersed. And although our arrangements are not yet fully perfected, our facilities at the present time are greater than at any former period. They may readily be made equal to our wishes. They must, however, be graduated by our means. As the patronage of the work increases, they will be extended. The geographical extent of the circulation of the Magazine, is equal to that of any other periodical published in the country. It embraces every State and Territory in the Union,--the British North American Provinces, and the Republics of Texas and Hayti. In all these we have regular subscribers. In addition to which, the work is regularly sent to correspondents in England, France, and other parts of Europe. But its numerical circulation, though it has more than realized our anticipations,—is not equal to that of the miscellaneous Magazines; nor is it in proportion to the labor and expense bestowed on its preparation. We rely, however, with entire confidence, on the continued exertions of our agents, and the co-operation of our Brethren, in removing this cause of inequality in the comparison. If there has ever been a doubt of the utility of a work like the present, we may safely say, that it no longer exists; or, else, that it is confined to the passive members of the Fraternity. The general approbation with which the Magazine has been received, not only by individual Brethren, but by most of the Grand Lodges in the country, is the best evidence that we can desire, or offer, on this point. We therefore confidently ask the co-operation of our Brethren in extending its circulation; believing, that in so doing, they will not only oblige us, but subserve the true and best interests of the Institution, by diffusing among its members correct Masonic intelligence, and a more general knowledge of the principles and usages recognized by the Brotherhood throughout the globe. Our labors, the past year, have been arduous; but they have been lightened by the cheering approbation of our Brethren,-by the spontaneous and warm-hearted expressions of approval and encouragement, that have reached us from all parts of the country. We will not particularize. They all demand our thanks. We will endeavor to merit a continuance of their favorable opinions. If we shall be successful in this, our fondest wishes will have been gratified. PROFICIENCY OF CANDIDATES. WE are gratified to notice that the subject of the proficiency of candidates, in passing from an inferior to a superior degree, is beginning to receive the attention which its importance demands. Among the proceedings had at the late meeting of the Grand Lodge of Tennessee, we find the following resolution : "Resolved, That all candidates, before being passed and raised, shall be examined in open Lodge, as to their proficiency." The phraseology of this resolution is a little obscure; but it is evidently intended to be understood as referring to the proficiency made by the candidate in the degrees which he may have already received, before he shall be advanced to a superior degree. And although it is not so expressed, the inference is, that, if on the examination, it shall appear that he has not made satisfactory improvement, his further advancement is to be deferred until such time as he shall have attained the requisite proficiency. If this be not intended, then we do not perceive the particular benefit which is to result, either to the candidate or the Lodge, from the examination. But if this be the intention, and the candidate is made to understand that he cannot, under any circumstances, (without dispensation,) be advanced to a superior degree, until he shall have attained the required proficiency in those he has already received,-the good advantages of the measure would soon manifest themselves, not only in the character of the members, but in the activity and prosperity of the Lodges. The Lodges generally, in this country, are too lax in their method of conferring the degrees. It is not an uncommon occurrence,-indeed it may be said to be usual,--for them to confer two degrees on the same candidate in one evening; and, in cases of emergency, the three are frequently given. But we take it for granted, that no intelligent Mason will presume to say, that this is doing justice either by the candidate or the Institution. Nor is the practice consistent with the ancient usages and regulations of the Fraternity. The Constitutions of the Grand Lodge of England, contain the following article:- "No Lodge shall, on any pretence, make more than five new Brothers in one day, unless by dispensation; nor shall a Lodge be permitted to give more than one degree to a Brother on the same day; nor shall a higher degree in Masonry be conferred on any Brother at a less interval than one month from his receiving a previous degree, nor until he has passed an examination in open Lodge in that degree." No dispensation can be granted to suspend the operation of this law. A similar regulation was formerly in force in the Lodges in this country, but it has now fallen into very general disuse. There are, however, some exceptions. We believe that under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge |