West Ihbies.

received with all the honours of Freemasohry ^ and the most enthusiastic demon stration of fraternal love and respect . ^ With the welcome of heart and of hand , That soul-burst of feeling that never departs , Like the queen of our valleys , but lives in our hearts . "

The W . M . having been cohducted to his seat on the throne , and some preliminary business having been gone through , the members again formed into procession , andj through their Brother Senior Warden , presented a suitable address to the Worshipful Brother ^ after which be was invested witb the Jewel and Apron . After the reading of the address , the honours of Masonry were given , and a salute from the guns df the Lodge fired . The Worshipful Brotherthen made the following reply : ^ - il

Brethren ,- —Youhave this day been pleased to present me with ah address accompanied by a jewel and apron . The former breathes sentiments which cannot be other wise than most gratifying to my feelings , whilst the latter is a substantial proof of your attachment to wards me as a ruler in the Craft ; . These acts of your disinterested affection will be lastingly engraved on the living tablet of my memory . I pray Almighty God to so guide me in this transitory world , and to afford me

health and strength as to enable me to continue in the path ol righteousness , and to wear the handsome Masohic emblems now presented to me with credit to myself and honour to the Graft . For twenty years I have been a steady member of this Lodge , six of which I have had the honour to he the Master- ; this in itself is a sufficient proof of your good-will towards me . I shall ever look upon these years as the sunny moments of my life , the green spot in the Waste of existence . You are pleased to observe that you have been . * cheered by my

example , and enlightened by my instructions . ' Believe me that I do hot conceive that I have merited such ^ encomiums , as I hold it to be the bounden duty of every man who becomes a Freemason to make himself thoroughly acquainted with our Mystic Art , so that he may be enabled to impart bis knowledge therein not only to his Brethren , but for the general benefit and welfare of our time-honoured institution . Nay , further , I would fain receive the eulogies that have accompanied your gifts as a tribute to Freemasonry rather than to any merit of my own .

To be a good Mason you must be a good man ; hence the desirableness of Masons ever bearing in mind that they appertain to a Society the oldest on record , and one which demands that they should ever be firm and faithful in their allegiance , and walk uprightly in the world , respecting themselves , and thereby insuring the respect of others . I address those with whom I have long worked together ; many of you I have initiated into the Order , a pleasure much greater than any gift ; that could have been awarded to me ; and T feel proud in being able to state

that , from your zeal and indefatigable exertions for the good of your Lodge , and your sound knowledge of the mysteries of the Order , I can , without reserve , point to you as worthy examples of what Freemasons ought to be . Rest assured , my Brethren , that , to my last hour , and in whatever country and in whatever clime it may be my lot to be cast ., I shall be consoled by the recollection that I have this day received a most glorious tribute in the spontaneous expressions of your regard and approbation of my feeble services . The love I hear

to Freemasonry will always encourage me to interpose in its protection , and you may rest assured that the attacks of the ' insidious' will , as far as my humble efforts will permit , he ever repelled in manner deserving . In conclusion , permit me respectfully and fraternally to invite your constant attention to that hook which is ever ' open to your view in Lodge . Yes , the Holy Volume expanded invites us to peruse its sacred pages , because in them are the words of eternal l

life , —in them we learn that we are the children of Him who said , Let there be light ,, and there was light ; ' at whose fiat the universe arose , decked with every beauty , adorned with every perfection , proclaiming amid the shouts of angelic hosts its Creator ' s praise . In them we learn that He is the source of all our comforts , the foundation of all our hopes ; in them we learn that we are not forgotten , nor neglected , amidst the immensity of His works , but that His mercies are new to us every morning , His lovingdundness every moment of our lives ; in them we