Address To Our Readers.

AVIIO have not yet had the opportunity of doing so , will avail themselves of the earliest occasion to communicate the contents of that circular letter in open Lodge or Chapter and add to our obligation by advocating its object , remembering the truth of the national Belgian motto , " L'Unionfait la force . " For the twenty-third time the Right Honourable the Earl of Zetland , K . T ., & c , Avas , at the

last Quarterly Communication of the United Grand Lodge of England , held on the 5 th December , nominated as the Grand Master for another year ; Ave regret , in common Avith those present at the last Quarterly Communication , the unavoidable absence of his lordship . The learned members of the committee charged with the duty of revising the " Book of Constitutions" still continue their labours , not having yet completed the task , —one which surely ought not

to have occupied so much talent for so long a time , seeing that in the meantime they have deprived the Craft of that important book of laws , by which the Order is governed . We suggest to " the powers that be , " or those who regulate such matters in connection with Graud Lodge affairs that the recent decisions respecting the status of Past Grand Stewards in and out

of Grand Lodge , as also concerning their clothing and jewels might , with great propriety ancl equal justice be reconsidered ; and we commend this suggestion to their serious attention . The various Masonic Charities are again about to be brought prominently before the members of the Order . We wish each of those deserving institutions a still greater increase to their respective funds during the next year than they obtained during the present over the preceding year , 1865 , highly

creditable as that was to the supporters of those noble charities ; but Ave think it but right to add a word or tAvo of advice , rather than of caution . Let every one Avho undertakes the duty of Steward to one or other of those Charities remember the nature of the obligation relating thereto ancl exercise his privileges and perform his duties instead of delegating them to another , liowever . willingly the latter may be to dispense with " the interference of neAV Stewards who cannot know the business so

well as those Avho have served all the Stewardships before ; " to the former we say , " do your OAVU work , and take care too that the work that is done be done fairly and in a true Masonic spirit : to the latter , the exprienced SteAvard , Ave say , " take heed iu time lest ye stumble ; " Masonic duties should be performed in a Masonic spirit , ancl the greatest circumspection , strict justice , and propriety should at all times rule and govern .

The new Freemasons' Hall and buildings may be said to be all but complete , so far as regards the lodge rooms , secretarial and other offices ; most of those have been occupied for some months , and they have given general satisfaction to the brethren who ha \ e had occasion to use them . The new premises to be occupied by the tenants of the Freemasons' Tavern are progressing rapidly toAvards completion . The architect to the new buildings has , Ave understand , received very flattering testimony

of professional approval of his designs , and of the style ancl manner of their execution . May Freemasonry continue to flourish in this great metropolis and throughout the Avorld , and may temples dedicated to Freemasonry continue to arise throughout the land . We perceive Avith pleasure the rapid extension in the number of new Masonic Halls building and projected in England , ancl Ave feel assured that the adA'antages to the Craft Avhich the possession of

such buildings offer , commend them to the serious attention of our metropolitan and provincial brethren as being highly worthy of support ; Ave therefore wish all such undertakings the most complete success-In the present volume , for the half year July—December , 1866 , Avill be found recorded most of the Masonic events which have occurred . If some have been omitted , Ave may , Ave think , honestly attribute such omissions generally to the neglect of those who took part therein to furnish us with the

requisite information to enable us to place them on record ; but if in the future we are furnished Avith the necessary materials , Ave shall then be enabled to avoid the charge of apparent neglect , and , moreover , Ave shall feel ourselves under'a still larger debt of gratitude to a still larger number of friends ancl supporters . To our readers , one and . all , Ave Avish a happier and more prosperous UBAV year than the last , or any that have gone before it ; and to the world at large , as good Masons Ave should say Ave Avish PEACE ON EARTH AND GOODWILL TOAA ' ATCD MEN .