Opening Address.

the effect of Masonic influences , and an exemplification of one of the leading Masonic virtues , Faith , not in the highest sense in whieh that word is used among us , hut in the signification so well expressed in the well-known song , which recommends us to " have faith in one another . " without which Freemasonry

would be deprived of one of its hig hest and most beautiful qualities . Tet , brethren , when we look around on the members of the Craft whom we casually meet in society , conscientious scruples sometimes arise , as to whether we dare implicitly act up to our professions , by taking it for grauted that a title to the

expressive aud endearing name of brother , as conferred by admission into our Order , is a guarantee for all that is honourable , just and true . Hence arises the necessity for that careful examination into the character and antecedents of aspirants to our honours and principles , which has been lately emphatically

urged upon us by the highest Masonic authority in this realm . This is one of the points , which , at the commencement of my official career among you , I desire to impress in the strongest manner possible . It is true that in our case , as Mark Master Masons , the choice lies not among those who are as yet

unconnected with the Fraternity . Herein we evince our loyalty to the Grand Craft Lodge of England , inasmuch as we admit none who have not been received by it . Our candidates for advancement have gone

through the ordeal of admission into the chief branch of our Order , and ought to have been led to make its principles and practices conducive to the development of a higher tone of charity and moral sentiment . Alas , however , such is the frailty of human nature , that some are apt to fall away under temptation , and

to become the objects of our p ity , even while uuder the direct influence of Masonic teachings . Though we would endeavour to regard their failings with leniency , we owe it to ourselves to beware how we display such backsliders to the eternal world , as patterus for imitation , and ensamplesof our Fraternity .

Allow me to adopt the words of a Masonic writer on this point . "Am I to respect the bad man , because forsooth by forswearing himself he has gained the secrets of the Craft ? No , I will endure him ; I will try faithfully to - perform my vows to him ; but it is not iu human nature to restrain my contempt for

him . " This , iu my view , exactly represents the course we ought to pursue in regard to all who prove themselves unworthy of our Order , by forgetfulness of its high professions and of their own vows on admission to it . The several subsequent ordeals which must be submitted to after initiation , before taking the Mark

aud Eoyal Arch degrees , are thus salutary checks aud safeguards and admonitions in the Masonic career , terms of probation which it behoves us not to neglect . Let me then recommend to vou a paramount regard

for the quality , the character , the zeal of our members , rather than an estimate of our success based only on their number . Desiring not to weary you after the labours of thisevening , I shall select but one other among the variety of topics which might be advantageously alluded

toon an occasion such as this , aud it is one to which I attach much importance , under the impression that ! whatever is worth , doing at all is worth doing well . I . refer to uniformity in the rituals , correctness in the verbiage used in its enunciation , and exactitude iu themanner iu which our rites and ceremonies are

administered , aud , so to speak , manipulated . The degree which we confer in this lodge is closely allied to the Guilds and operative lodges , the predecessors of speculative Masonry , which exercised so powerful aninfluence duriug the periods when the magnificent ecclesiastical structures in this country and on

thecontinent were erected , be it observed , en passant ,. under the direct sanction of that Church which has of late vears shown itself so hostile to our claims

asa moral aud religious society . They had their secrets ,, not only of the same character and for the same purposes as ours , but others relating to different branches of trade and art , some of which have been lost since the extinction of the specific institution ; as an instance of this may be mentioned the production of

certain brilliant colours in staining glass . The details of the history of these mediaeval Guilds or lodges of operative Masons , have been inquired into and admirably elucidated iu a series of articles in the Freemasons' Magazine duriug the past year by my esteemed friend Bro . Hughan , of Truro , which I

specially recommend to your attention . Notwithstanding the connection of Mark with operative-Masonry , yet , in this branch of the modern Craft more than in the others , there has been a great , amount of loseness , a vast difference in ritual and iu .

usages , without any attempt to reduce them to a . compact and well organised system , until within a . very few years , when , owing to the unwillingness on the part of the English Craft authorities to follow theexample of Ireland and Scotland by recognising thedegree , it became necessary to establish a second

jurisdiction , under the title ofthe Grand Mark Lodgeof England and Wales and the Colonies and Dependencies of the British Crown , from w-hich we have received our warrant , and to whose authority we now held ourselves amenable . Those who , like myself ,,, appreciate this degree as a valuable and interesting

link in the Masonic chain , deeply regret a policy which , weakens both branches , when each might be made a source of strength to the other . I presume , brethren ,, from your adherance to the distinct system thus established , that you entertain a similar opinion . Let it be fully understood , however , that we work in no-