Address

lodge government . The members must commence by committing the government of the lodge only to those who are duly qualified to rule , direct , instruct , and show the way , being influenced in their selection neither by the claims of priority ,

nor by fear , favour , nor affection ; they , in their turn , submitting to be ruled and instructed , and being- resolved to follow in the right way when it is pointed out to them . As our brethren , we may sure , satisfied themselves that their architect was

-competent to perform the duty assigned him , and ; as he , no doubt , in his turn , called to his aid skilful and expert craftsmen , to give light , ornament , and proportion to the building ; as he looked to the security of the foundations and the solidity of

the walls , by which alone the permanence of the building could be secured , so does it concern the brethren more vitally still to satisfy themselves ¦ that the Master to whom they commit the government of themselves and the honour of the Craft

is morally , intellectually , and physically fitted for the task . Better were it that the lodge should meet in a barn , a garret , or a cellar , with working tools sharp , bright , and fitted to the performance of their Masonic duties , than that they should

assemble in the most gorgeous temple ever erected by human skill , unnerved and unfitted for their task , from want of an efficient Master to govern and direct them . As Ms rule is supreme within his lodge he should be one who is courteous and

kind in manner ; yet , as he has to defend the ( landmarks of the Order against encroachment , he should be clear-eyed and clear-minded to ¦ observe , slow to decide , but resolute to maintain . In the selection of his officers he , too , should feel himself bound to observe the strictest impartiality ,

nor should he appoint any who will not pledge themselves to be constant in attendance , zealous in duty , and strenuous to support him in his authority . As he should be prepared himself , so should he insist on his oflicers performing their

part in our ceremonies with that ease and fluency which can alone impress a candidate with a favourable opinion of the ceremony ot his initiation . He should examine most minutely into the moral character , intellectual capacity , and worldly

position of every candidate and joining member . He should resolutely reject all in whose favour the tongue of good report has not been heard . He should accept none from a distance , or from another province , without the most satisfactory reasons why they havo not been received into one

or another of the lodges most convenient to their residences , as without such satisfactory reasons it may fairly be concluded that they have sought admission into those lodges , and sought it in vain , because there they were better known than

esteemed . A lodge thus guarded and purified will reflect more credit on its Master , even if his caution has rejected every candidate during his year of office , than will attach to one , who to feed his own importance or to swell the muster roll of

his lodge , admits indiscriminately all who offer themselves . Within the lodge the Master should seek to interest and instruct his brethren by appropriate illustrations of our beautiful degrees , and thus lead them to reflect on the great and " vital truth of which our various degrees , our working tools and jewels , are the outward symbols .

Nor , without the lodge , will his duties cease , as he should be an example , in his own life and conversation , of the precepts of Freemasonry , so should he exhort the members of bis lodge to imitate , and , if possible , excel him . However

disagreeable it may be , his duty is obvious to rebuke an erring brother for his faults , aud earnestly to exhort him to an amendment of his life ; he should remind him that he had voluntarily sought our company , and was , therefore , bound

to comply with our regulations , and that he had no right to disgrace the Order by conduct which falsified the solemn obligations he had taken upon himself . If , unhappily , long and patient forbearance , remonstrance , entreaty , and exhortation , prove of no avail , it is better that the offending member be removed rather than that the whole

body should suffer , and however painful the task , the Master who shrinks from its performance fails greviously in his duty to the Master ' s chair . As temperance is one of the peculiar virtues on which Freemasonry lays great stress , it is the

bounden duty of every Master of a lodge to observe and maintain among his brethren obedience to this golden rule ; neither in the amount of indulgence at the festive board , nor in the hour to which it is prolonged , should the means of the

lodge or of the individual members be wasted , nor their families have reason to complain . Above all , both by precept and example , the Master should ever keep before the eyes of his brethren the great watchword of the Order , Charity ! He

should be ever ready to suggest and to afford relief , not only for the wants of his brethren and fellows , their widows and orphans , but , as far as