Festivals Of St. John, The Baptist, And St. John The Evangelist.

The motto of the Craft is " In God is our Trust ; " surely , trusting in such a poAver , Ave should venture on the discharge of duty wifcout any fear as to the result . The time was , and within the memory of some of us , when it required no ordinary degree of courage to acknowledge oneself a member of the Masonic Fraternity . In many places Masons were excluded from the jury

box , their testimony disbelieved in courts of justice , and they thrust from the sacramental board by ignorant and fanatical religionists ; their lodge halls were burned , their records destroyed , aud their property scattered to the winds . It required moral courage then and there to stand up for the old banner , even though it bore the inscription " . Friendshimoralityand brotherllove . "

, p , , y Fanaticism exhausted itself by its OAVII zeal , as it always does , audit is not unpopular now to be a Freemason . But the spirit of persecution "is not dead but sleepeth , " and men are but men . "While our own conduct , as men , is regulated by the precepts of Masonry—so long as we are " good men aud true , and strictly obey the moral law , " though Herod is

upon the throne and wears the ermine , Pilate our bitterest foe will be compelled to say , " I find no fault in him . " But let there be a lapse in our conduct , either as it regards our duty to God , our country or others , and Ave shall need all the moral courage of John the Baptist to stand up in tho midst of obloquy and reproach and persecution , and say , "I am . a Freemason . " It is said all lodges of Freemasons were dedicated to

Solomon , but in all Christian nations they are now dedicated jointly to the memory of St . John the Baptist , ancl St . John the Evangelist , because , as the books tell us , they were two eminent patrons of Masonry . In every lod ge among the symbols of the Order , there are two perpendicular parallel lines , and on the top of these rest the Holy Scriptures . These two lines are intended to

represent the two Johns , and a circle projecting from a common centre will touch these lines as well as the Holy Scriptures , beyond which a Mason is never to suffer his passions or his prejudices to lead him . The divine instructions of the Scriptures , illustrated by the precepts and examples of the two noble exemplars , furnish sufficient light on the path ivhich leads to glorious

immortality . Whether , therefore , John Avas a Mason or not , is of no particular consequence . Masonry does not depend for its character and merits upon the good names that may have been associated with it . The records of Masonry contain many illustrious names , but they are also dishonoured by some who have been a by-word and a scorn . AVe feel proud

of the membership in our Order of AA ashington and Warren , and La Fayette and Marshall , and scores of others of their day , compatriots in fame and stars of the first magnitude in the galaxy of American worthies . But , as in the list of the twelve apostles , there was the name of Judas Iscariofc , so in the long roll of the Craftsmen are to be found a few names that are synor nymous of all that is moan and covi'vint . But as , the ph waotsr af . Tnri «» J-J - ¦ - " *

- ; , - """ ' " . . o uiu HOD painii Mie iipostle College , nor make Christianity less divine , so the infamy whicli attaches to Masons Who , like Judas , were unfaithful to their trust , leaves not a stain upon the escutcheon of Masonry ; as well might the respectable and intelligent inhabitants of your bea . ntifi . il city be held responsible for an occasional crime committed within its

limits , or the civil laws of your State , or the municipal enactments of your city be deemed unjust and iniquitous because there are violators of law . No human organisation , no code of morals , no _ system of ethics can guarantee the perfection of all who belong to or profess faith in them . Perfection does not pertain to earthand not until we reach a Avorld where there

, is no evil , may we expect exemption from the tempter ' s power . No just or honourable man , therefore , will hold Freemasonry responsible for what it does not profess ; nor condemn the association because an individual

Festivals Of St. John, The Baptist, And St. John The Evangelist.

member should prove himself false to its teaching and unworthy of its fellowship . Some Masons there are , we confess , who are intemperate , dishonest , corrupt , not because they are Masons , but in spite of all that Masonry can do to make them otherwise ; just as crime and corruption have been found in the churches , both in pew and pulpit , notwithstanding the sound teaching and

solemn instructions of divine revelation . In conclusion , brethren , let me urge you to emulate the example of him whose memory we celebrate to-day ; by a virtuous and blameless life , by unbroken fidelity to your trust , by devotion to the welfare of others , by labouring until your work is done , you Avill achieve immortal triumphs and swell the ranks of the virtuous

and good , who shall , at last , be gathered unto the city and temple of God . Remember that while there is suffering to relieve or ignorance to enlighten , or innocence to protect , or orphanage and widowhood to shelter , and , may I not add , a cross to bear , you will find work still for you to do . Your work can only cease with your capacity and ability to work , and then it ivill bo finished . "

The Royal Insurance Company.

THE ROYAL INSURANCE COMPANY .

The annual meeting of the shareholders of this our leading Eire and Life Assurance Company , took place on Friday , the lOfch ult . Charles Turner , Esq , M . P ., in the chair . The actuary and manager Mr . Percy Dove , read a most satisfactory report , being the 21 st annual report of the affairs of the company to its stock holders .

EIRE BBANCH . The statements of adverse results shown hy similar establishments during the last year will have prepared the proprietors for the announcement which the directors have to make that , to some extent , the company has shared in the general" calamities of fire

insurance offices during that period . The fire losses sustained hy the Royal Insurance Company have amounted to £ 318 , 9-16 Os . 6 d ., or nearly 77 per cent , of the premiums received . This is far beyond the legitimate per centage of claims AA'hichunder ordinary circumstanceswould have

, , accrued , though less than the amount anticipated at one period of the year ; and , although the total sum is lOperceut . less than the average ratio of loss recently announced authoritatively as falling upon three other well-kuown and highly respectable establishments of large revenue during the year 1865 , this combined

experience affords , together Avith the still more disastrous results of some other cjmpanies which might lie referred to -undeniable evidence that the premium , charged upon fire insurance is < PWSW * AUiremunera tive . Passing to another subject—the progress of the

company , as respects the amount of business effected , has heen satisfactory , the returns of duty published by parliament , on the motion of the chairman of this company , exhibiting by far the largest measure of increase which the company has ever , in its most prosperous times , experienced .

The total net amount of fire premium for the year , after deducting guarantees , is £ 414 , 733 13 s ., which does not show an advance quite corresponding in comparative amount with the increase of duty . This , it should be explained , arises in some measure from the fact that the directors voluntarily surrendered a portion of their accruing advances of premium for the