To Our Readers.

TO OUR READERS .

TYTHEN these few remarks appear the season of VV Christmas will , to all intents and purposes , have begun . Many of the theatres will have a kind of dress rehearsal in public of the pantomimes they have been

preparing for during the last few weeks . The festive arrangements are about complete , and the Christmas presents have been bought and are ready for distribution to the intended recipients , or , perchance , are already being conveyed by post or carrier to their respective destinations . The

youngsters are home from school , and are filled already with glorious visions of plum pudding and minc 3 pies . Houses and churches look bright and cheerful with their floral decorations , and the misletoe hangs temptingly in its appointed place , no doubt many having already anticipated

its osculatory virtues . Indeed , it only needs that the clerk of the weather should show himself just a little more considerate than he has done of late , and the cup of most people ' s pleasure will be filled to the brim , if not to overflowing . There are also abundant signs that , in tho

midst of all these preparations , the needs of the poor are not being lost sight of . Everywhere dinners are being provided for the less fortunate amongst us . The usual liberal

contributions are finding their way into the different poor boxes . Christmas clubs are distributing coals and warm clothing . In short , whatever is possible is being done , so that the force of Sir Walter Scott's words may be

realized" A Christmas gambol oft would cheer A poor man's heart through half the year . " For ourselves , we take leave to join in the general congratulations and hearty good wishes , and in all sincerity we trust our friends and readers will enjoy a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year .

By a coincidence which , by the aid of a little mental calculation , can easily be accounted for , the present is tho first number of ' our Fifteenth Volume . We are consequently in a position to combine our customary Christmas greetings with the cordial thanks we owe to our readers for

their long-continued support of this journal . During the seven years we have been before the Masonic public - \\ have , of course , experienced those vicissitudes of fortune which , more or less , hefal every publication of the same or a similar character . We have had our " downs " as well

as our " ups , " our disappointments as well as successes , that were in a measure unanticipated . In and out of season , however , we have striven to the best of our ability to make the FKEEM . \ . SON ' S CiiuONrcr . E an impartial exponent of Masonic opinion , as well as a fair medium for the dissemination of Masonic news . We have some reason to

believe these efforts have not been wholly unsuccessful . We judge so , at least , from the continuance of most of that support which was extended towards us at the outset , as well as from the periodical additions that have been made to our subscription list . Wo have had those losses which

are inevitable from death and other causes ; but these have been sufficiently compensated by the new friends that have taken their places , so that we enter on our now volnmc with the sense of having done our part to tho host of our ability , as well as with a determination to make , if

To Our Readers.

possible , still stronger the claim we have succeeded in establishing on the goodwill of tho Craft . To one point , however , we would draw attention . Regrets have occasionally reached us from different quarters as to the absence from our columns of a report of this

or that Lodgo . Now , we invariably observe one uniform rule as to visiting . If wo receive an invitation , we make a point of being represented ; if no official invitation reaches us , Ave carefullv avoid oven tho semblance of being thought

intrusive . Under these circumstances , we wish it to bo clearly understood that wherever and whenever our presence is desired at a Lodge meeting , an official intimation to that effect shonld be forwarded to our Offices at 23 Cheat

Queen-street , and it will receive attention . We trust our readers will receive these and our foregoing remarks in all kindliness of spirit . It is in this sense we offer them , and ifc is in this sense that wo ropsafc our earlier greeting of a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year .

Voting In Grand Lodge.

VOTING IN GRAND LODGE .

THE motion which Brother C . J . Perceval has brought before United Grand Lodge ( and which has been referred to the Board of General Purposes for their report ) , relative to the alteration or mode of voting on divisions , has excited considerable interest and comment in Masonic circles . And there can be little doubt that upon the report

of the Board , when it is presented , great diversity of opinion will be expressed before the matter is finally settled . Without wishing in the slightest degree even

to suggest to the General Purposes Committee , there are two or three points which ifc may bo desirable should be explained , as they are freely exercising the minds of a no inconsiderable section of the brethren .

Brother Perceval suggests that when divisions occur on any question under debate in Grand Lodge , two tellers on either side shall be appointed , to record the votes as members pass out- No doubt that would be tho most satisfactory method , if it could be made practicable and

convenient ; but are there not many formidable obstacles in the way , which it would be wise to consider before any solntion of the question is arrived at ? Those who know the difficulty which frequently happens in the way of seating : members in Grand Lodge will see at once what con .

fusion might arise in the egress and ingress ofthe brethren upon divisions . When the Hall was first designed , it was amply sufficient for the requirements , not only of the time , but of a period far in advance , according to the ratio at which Freemasonry was then increasing . But it must

be recollected that , more especially since the accession of our M . W . G . M ., the Institution has made giant strides , and consequently the attendances at Grand Lodge have far outgrown anything that could have boon anticipated when Freemasons' Hall was built . Hence the crowding

of brethren at each successive meeting , and the increasing lack of seat accommodation—a fact which was painfully apparent at last Grand Lodge , when so many brethren were compelled to stand during the greater part of the proceedings . The question , then , comes , when the brethren file out of the hall , and are noted by the tollers , whero are

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