Address By Bro. J. P. Schtutz, W.M. Of The St. John's Lodge (No. 919), Of Alexandria.

ADDRESS BY BRO . J . P . SCHTUTZ , W . M . OF THE ST . JOHN'S LODGE ( No . 919 ) , OF ALEXANDRIA .

LONDON , SATURDAY , MABCS 24 , 1866 .

Bro . Schutz , having been elected W . M . of the St . John's Lodge , on the 27 th December last , delivered an address in French , of which the folloAving- is a translation : — Permit me , beloved brethren , to once more

thank you most heartily for haAang chosen me to preside over your proceedings . You are well aware how very dear the honour and reputation of this lodge are to my heart ; and I need not assure you that all my efforts will be devoted to

the promotion of its welfare during my term of office . The responsibility devolving upon the latter is doubtless very great , the more so as the power of the W . M . is absolute , and does not admit of any appeal in all questions of order . I shall endeavour

to discharge my duty to your entire satisfaction , both by impartiality in conducting the labours and by strictly adhering to the special regulations of the lodge , the constitutions , and mainly that

sacred book of the law , which is the guide of our faith , so that good order , peace , and harmony may never cease to prevail throughout our transactions . Notwithstanding my earnest intention of doing the best , it may happen that I err , and for that

event I will at once bespeak your forbearance and indulgence . Though strictly adhering to the conventional forms and usages , I shall give all due consideration to what observations you may choose to make to me personally on involuntary mistakes

I may have committed , Avith a view to amendment . I need not tell you that straightforAvardness and fail-play should aiivays prevail in our proceedings , but I may add that , in the interest of our lodge , I fully rely on the co-operation ,

zeal , and assiduity of every one of you , and chiefly ' of the officers , so that Ave may realise , morally ancl physically , the ' object of our Institution .

It has pained and chagrined me to notice , at the last meetings of our lodge , that there exists a tendency to uphold certain national peculiarities ( esprit de nationalite ) . If you are good and true Masons and have the welfare of our lodge at heart ,

keep aloof from propensities of this nature , Avhich can lead only to trouble and disorder , contrary to all precepts of Freemasonry . Remember , that ag

Masons we are all equal , to whatever nationality we may belong . Let us offer to each other the hand of a brother , Avithout pride , without deceit ; let us not forget those solemn obligations Ave have assumed in this enclosure , in presence of the Great Architect of the Universe . It is true that most

of you , beloved brethren , have received but superficial instruction as to your Masonic duties , and thence it seems to follow that the idea you had formed of our Institution previously to being initiated , has become changed . On the other

hand , many of you may think that you had nothing more to learn than what you had been taught ; but in this you are " greatly mistaken , for it is not sufficient that you should attend the meetings , with a A ieiv to join in the discussion of one motion

or another , and contribute your alms towards the support of the poor . To become acquainted with the true principles of Freemasonry , you should try in your leisure hours to improve yourselves by the reading of Masonic works , which you may

easily procure , and as far as I am concerned , I shall always be happy to respond to the desires of brethren Avithin the limit of my knowledge , besides the instruction Avhich I purpose giving you at our special meetings . I exhort you not to lose sight of my suggestions .

and I hope brethren who have but a superficial knoAvledge of Freemasonry will try in future to imbue themselves Avith its real object , AA'hich , though having virtue and charity for its aim , does not stop there , for Freemasonry , to all intents and

purposes , is a public benefit , by Avhich the people of all countries and all religious persuasions are held together . Its language is understood in all parts of the world , and nations Avho Avere ignorant of our Masonic principles for centuries , do honour

now-a-days to the praiseworthy object of our Institution ; and ive see our ranks increased daily by fresh recruits drafted from all classes of the community . Freemasonry , identical Avith Virtue , seems to have been established to dry the tears

of the unfortunate—to console him and minister to his Avants according to our means . This has always been the practice of Masons , ancl I shall add , besides , that our Institution Avas created in remote times to improve and moderate men ; to give them a standard for their conduct , and check their passions and vices by its moral poAver .

I need not tell you , for it is the first thing you have been taught , that as Masons Ave must believe in the existence of a Supreme Being and the