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

unbecoming language ; the harmony of the lodge was disturbed ; the funds spent in a reckless and useless manner ; large expenditures for refreshments from the lodge funds the order of the day ; charity and charitable feelings at the lowest ebb ;

and the inheritance left bitter feelings amongst members , dissatisfaction within the lodge , the retiring' or non-attendance of old and valued brethren , and a deficit to be paid from future

income . Such , my brethren , was the position of the lodge when the officers now retiring took it in hand . Hardly a by-law of the lodge could be had . The Lodge of Antiquity , in name at the head , was ,

in fact , at the foot of the Order , —the laughingstock of the Fraternity at large . And now to a retrospect of the occurrences of the year fast passing away . The officers now retiring proceeded early , with a vigorous grasp to

reform the abuses which had crept in . A thorough drill to perfect every officer in his duty was their first care , and the very first meeting proved that they had not laboured in vain . A new and complete set of by-laws with copious index was

next produced—all which has been honoured by the approval of some of the most learned Masons . Thereby a Committee of General Panoses was

established , who have done good service during the year ; they have met once at least every month , in various instances twice , in some three times ; they have quarterly examined the accounts of the Secretary and Treasurer , and brought in

elaborate reports at every regular communication of the lodge , when they have been amply rewarded by every report being unanimously received and adopted , and sometimes with complimentary remarks and votes of thanks . So anxious were

the officers to raise the standing of the lodge , that their attendance has been most exemplary ; the Worshipful Master , the Senior and Junior Wardens did not miss a single meeting- regular or emergent ; the Treasurer , the Senior and the

Junior Deacons missed one meeting each ; the Secretary and the Director of Ceremonies missed two each . All these few cases of absence were

occasioned by the pressing emergency of the private or public avocation of the absent brethren , were notified to the Master in writing , and by him . allowed ; and this is a rule which should ever apply —if officers cannot attend , the Master should have timely written notice , to enable him to appoint a brother capable to fill the vacant office pro tern .,

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

to prevent confusion , and that the Master may have honour and the lodge pleasure and profit thereby . ( To be continued . )

The Nemesis: A Tale Of The Days Of Trajan.

THE NEMESIS : A TALE OF THE DAYS OF TRAJAN .

By BRO . A . OXUAL HAYE , KM ., K . Gal ., Corresponding Memhev of the German Society , Leipzig ; Knight Templar , Scot . ; Author of " The History of the Ivaights Templars " " Vara Queer ; " " Gatherings in Wanderings ; " " Songs and Ballads ; " " Poemata ; " " Legends of Edinburgh . ' " 8 rc , < $ ' < . ' .. § 'c . ; Poet Laureate of the Canongate , Kilivinninrj ; P . M . St . Stephens ; P . P . Z . of St . Andrews , B . A .

Chap . ; < 5 "c .,- Sfc . ( Continued from page 207 . ) CHAPTER XXVI . THE SWOED OF JUSTICE BEGINS ITS SWOOP . " ITneapable of pityvoid and empty

, From any dram of mercy . "—Shakespeare . Lepidus , the Pontifex Maximus , betook himself in all haste to the Emperor ' s palace upon receipt of Lais' letter . Ever after the disappearance of the Vestal Sempronia her companions caused him

great anxiety . He had been severely blamed for not discovering her , and at one time he feared he would have been deposed from office . Anything- concerning the Vestals , therefore , made him shake in his knotless robes .

" How now , Lepidus , what brings you here m such haste r" demanded the Emperor , abruptly , as the Pontiff entered . " Noble Trajan , this must be my reply , " answered the priest , handing him the letter .

Trajan took it , and seemingly recognised the writing , for he muttered to himself , "What , another ? " He opened it and glanced over the letter , at first hurriedly , and then slowly , carefully weighing every word .

" Who brought this letter ? " he demanded . " That is the most extraordinary thing I ever heard of , " answered the Pontiff , plunging at once into the subject . '' So the slave disappeared ? " said the Emperor ,

" Well , it is of little consequence ; yon may go . " "But is there nothing concerning the Vestals in it ?" " Nothing but idle talk . Keep your mind easy . "

" Keep my mind easy , sayest thou ? " replied Lepidus , testily , " and these pieces of feminine under my care . They are driving me to my grave , and doubtless this is some trick of that scurvy