Address To Our Readers.

over the Craft , a position he has held with so much dignity , and with as much honour to himself as it has been of advantage to the Craft in general . The recommendation of the Board of General Purposes that for the future some distinctive mark Be set upon Past Grand Stewards , was carried in Grand Lodge ; but the details as to how the

recommendations are to be carried out were referred back to the Board for consideration . One of the propositions that Past Grand Stewards must wear at least tivo collars and two jewels when in Grand Lodge deserves to be rejected as unnecessarily oppressive at any time , but particularly so during the summer . "No doubt the distinctive jewels should be worn conspicuously , and those whose highest rank in Grand Lodge is that of a Past Grand Steward should wear the collar belonging to that office ; the siguatnre in

the book kept outside the Grand Lodge for the purpose , will enable any P . G . S ., who is either W . M . or Warden of a private lodge , to record his attendance to his duties by his presence at Grand Lodge Quarterly Communications . The question of whether a gold or a silver cord shall be employed as an edging to the collar was warmly discussed , and the general opinion , both in Grand Lodge at the time , and out of Grand Lodge ever since , is in favour of a gold edging as the more appropriate . The R . W . Bro . C . H . Gregory , in the course of the discussion , made some very excellent suggestions anent the question , and well worthy of the early and earnest consideration of " the powers that be "

Certain alterations in the " Book of Constitutions have been recommended an the Repoi't of the Board of General Purposes , and submitted to Grand Lodge at the last meeting , by which the better woi'king of Provincial or District Grand Lodges abroad will , it is hoped , be secured . The new Masonic Hall and Buildings are progressing but slowly towards completion ; those

portions , however , that have been completed do credit to the Architect , the Building Committee , and the Contractor . What we may have to say hereafter on tbe question of cost must remain until such , time as we are in a position to state with , accuracy what we now only hear whispered about , and vaguely hinted at , as likely to be forced upon our notice at no very distant date . Alterations of plans , changes of opinions , and differences of views as to what should and what should not be done , and how this or that which had been previously agreed to and estimated for should be ultimately carried out , invariably increases the cost of building constructions , and delays their completion . Well , we shall see !

The commencement of the annual campaign in aid of the various Masonic Charities is about to be inaugurated by the Festival of the Royal Benevolent Institution for Aged Masons and their Widows , and will be followed by the festivals in aid of the Boys' School aud the Girls' Schools . The sums subscribed on the last occasions of the festivals in aid of those charities amounted to about £ 12 , 000 , in the previous year the total sum was only aboiit £ 9 , 500 ; we trust sincerely the proportional increase will be as gi'eat during the coming Masonic Festival season as it was in the last .

Freemasonry is now , moi * e than ever , extending its benificent influences throughout the world , not only by the increasing numbers and influence of its members , and in the higher social position and moral worth of the Candidates who voluntarily offer themselves for initiation into its mysteries , but also by the greatly increased amount of recognised benefits it has conferred , and is daily and houi'ly conferring , in and by its humanising effects on all nations and kindreds

of the human family ; and let us never forget that where the genuine principles and tenets of our Order are strictly adhered to and practised—no blustering , bullying , or blaspheming , by Pope , King , or Kaiser , can injuriously affect the institution of Freemasonry , which , whilst it is of as ancient a date as Kingcraft , has withstood the wasting and devastating hand of Time and the wrecks of mighty empires , and will continue to abide and flourish in the hearts of men when existing dynasties , empires , and peoples shall have passed away—be of the things that were—or "be forgotten and lost in the abyss of Time . "