Address To The Officers And Brethren Of The Lodge Of Antiquity, Montreal.

Master has shown his good will towards him by raising him to the office of Junior Warden . Since , however , he has returned his salary by donations , the lodge still owes him a debt of acknowledgment , which will , I trust , not be overlooked . To the

brethren , one and all , let me say that I will ever cherish the affection and courtesy by them extended towards me -during the whole year , which has , I assure you , rendered what might otherwise have been burthensome , a labour of love . And now ,

before entering upon the new year , which I purpose doing in very feAV words , let us , with all reverence and humility , return our manifold and sincere thanks to God , the Great Architect of the Universe , for all favours already received ,

and may He continue to protect our lodge by adorning it with every social and moral virtue .

Here , my brethren , my remarks , intended as a retiring address , should have closed , but for your kind partiality in re-electing me to the proud position of Master of this lodge , it becomes me now to add a feAV initiatory words concerning the

approaching Masonic year . I hope I have thus far not said too much about myself , nor do I intend to say more than to express my great pleasure and gratitude for the tribute you have paid to my very humble exertions . To be elected the Master

Antiquity by its present members is a high honour ; to be re-elected affords proud satisfaction , but to be re-elected Avithout a dissenting voice—nay , even after having for good and weighty reasons refused—to be still unanimously

re-elected raises the recip ient of such favour in his OAvn estimation ; so , you are aware , have I been re-elected , and I shall not soon forget the forbearance and kindness of the brethren shoAvn in their manifest affection towards me ever since I

occupied the chair , and in the acknowledgment they have kindly tendered me , for what they pleased to call my services . That I have done my best I will not deny : that I shall endeavour to do better , the future will , I trust , disclose to you .

You are aware I left Masonic obscurity , in which I intended to rest in Montreal , solely at the request of a Committee from your lodge , Ton are aAvare that my private avocations leave me little time to work for the Order . Such is the

reason I at first declined to serve . You have , however , forced me by your kindness to forego my individual wishes : we are once more wedded ; you have again taken me for better for worse—relyupon

it for better my best endeavours shall be used ! Theretiring officers have worked Avith me faithfully , and from the personnel of the officers elect , I doubt not the dignity of the lodge and of the Master will be fully sustained . I shall again endeavour to

attend regularly . I shall again endeavour to rule the lodge without fear or favour but with all affection . I again claim from my officers a punctual attendance at lodge meetings , better be five minutes too soon than one minute too late . It

should be the pride of the officers to receive the W . M . ; not the W . M . to receive them . In case of unavoidable absence , notice in writing must be given , stating the cause , at least as early as the morning of the day of meeting , to enable me to

appoint a well skilled brother to act pro tern . The officers are expected , and the brethren are requested , as far as practicable , to appear in full dress as heretofore , and no member can be admitted without the Masonic clothing appropriate

to his degree . The Committee of General Purposes are required to give as heretofore monthly reports on all matters within their province , or which may be sent before them by the lodge or the Master .

I am unable to give you even a synopsis of matters which may be brought before you during * the ensuing Masonic year . Masonry , as you are aware , is in its tendency Conservative—a lodge cannot legislate for the Order . Indeed , the

fundamental laws of Masonry can never be changed or altered by any human power . I may , however , be alloAved to allude to two projects—¦ local ones of course—which are in contemplation . First , that refreshments shall be served at every

regular communication in the Ante-Room to be partaken of Avhen the Master may see fit to call the lodge from labour to refreshment , .. Avhich has been heretofore done pro forma only . This , aside of being a relief to laborious meetings , will have a-

tendency to prevent brethren from adjourning topublic places after lodge , which has been the principal reproach often urged against us by the uninitiated .

The second project is to raise the initiation and admission iees to 100 dollars and 25 dollars respectively , so soon as the lodge has out of the General Fund discharged all liabilities , and so soon thereafter as a By-laAv can be introduced , carried ,

and approved to that effect . That the low fees have done great injury to the Craft in this province is patent to every Mason , and requires neither