An Oration

not enable me to speak positively , but I infer that he was present on that occasion as a newlyinitiated journeyman mason . On the 14 th of February following , when Alexander Russell was

the Right Worshipful Master , he was proposed as a member of the benefit society connected with the lodge , by Alexander Burn , Senior Warden , and Andrew Mailler , Junior Warden , and at the quarterly meeting in May , he was put on the roll

as a full member . At that time the lodge was in a state of great prosperity . A large portion of the operative masons of Edinburgh were connected with it . The building trade was prosecuted with extraordinary vigour . Whole streets in the New

Town were simultaneously springing up with most wonderful rapidity . Everybody connected with the Craft was fully employed , and in the receipt of good wages . Money was circulating in abundance , and men were living in a state of

luxury and extravagance , as if these days of prosperity were to last for ever . But the year 1825 had not been ushered in when a terrible crisis

came . Disasters and bankruptcies followed on the back of each other . Building operations were almost entirely suspended . Many persons were reduced to a state of beggary . Hundreds of operatives were thrown idle , and were forced to

scatter themselves over the land in search of employment . The Journeymen Lodge shared in the ffeneral crash . Its financial affairs were still further O embarassed by an arrangement made in the heyday of its j 31 ' 03 ? 61 ' ^ 7 , t ° give an increased allowance to members when on the sick-roll . The

lodge lingered on for a number of years , and made little improvement . At length , Bro . Andrew Kerr was promoted to the chair in 184-2 , and had for Wardens , Bro . Tliomas Scott—the worthy successor of him whose sudden removal we are

met this evening to deplore—and Bro . John Dickson , who has been in his grave for a number of years . The Treasurer at this time was Bro . Alexander Sudden , who had previously been R . W . M ., but he only held the Treasurer's office

six months , and died on the 20 th of January , 1843 . On the 9 th of February following , Bro . Smith was elected as his successor , and he continued to hold the office till his death , a p eriod of fully twenty-four years .

On the manner in which Bro . Smith discharged the duties of his office I need not greatly enlarge . This is well known to you all . He was attentive , painstaking , and methodical . He studied

accuracy with the most scrupulous care . It was rare ,, indeed , that any error or omission was found in his accounts . When his health would permit hewas always at his post on quarter-nights ,

gathering in the cash , and he was equally punctual in discharging the liabilities of the lodge . No mem- - her on the sick-roll , no relatives of a deceased , brother , no tradesman that did work for the lodscehad reason to complain of tlie want of attention

on his part . The house property of the lodge , in , Clyde-street and Rose-street , was the special , object of his care . He waited on the tenants ^ , drew the rents , attended to repairs , and , in fact ,, acted in every way as if the property had been his own . He was a most careful custodier of

thefunds . lie looked suspiciously , I may say adversely , on any project that did not appearlikely to augment them . I remember well tha some years ago he received coldly the proposalsfor renewing our Masonic clothing , and repairing ,

and embellishing onr Masonic hall , just beoausethey entailed expenses that were not directly and immediately , counterbalanced by any pecuniary gain . But when these proposals were carried into execution , he was not the man to keep up

grumbling and discontent . On the contrary , ha felt proud of the increased comfort ancl respectability that were thereby obtained , ancl he lived to see and acknowledge that they were not without their effect in promoting the prosperity of the

lodge . Bro . Smith's heart was indeed set on the jirosperity of our venerable Association . When he took office the funds were at a low ebb . The

account in the bank was all but exhausted . The accessions to the ranks were not numerous . A considerable torpor had come over Freemasonry generally , and the prospects of future wealth and stability were rather gloomy and discoui-aging . It

was fortunate that at this juncture , at this depressed epoch of the lodge ' s history , Bro . Kerr was elevated to the chair , and Bro . Smith invested with the care of the purse . The careful and complete stylo in which Bro . Kerr performed the work of iviitia «

tion was the theme of general remark among the Craft in Edinburgh , and gave a tone and standing to the lodge , which it posscses to this day . The consequence was , that numbers repaired to the lodge to receive instruction and qualification to

take their place in the great brotherhood of our Order . By a prudent and economical management of the funds , extravagance was checked ., and a confidence established that every brother ;