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

uninfluenced by mercenary or other unAvorthy motives , but solely from a favourable opinion preconceived of the Order , a desire for knoAvledge , and a sincere wish of making himself moregenerallv O Of useful to his fellow-man ; if so he comes , he will

find what he seeks ; he will find that our doctrines , far from interfering with his social , his moral , or his religious duties , tend , on the contrary , to strengthen and iuiproA'e them ; if after he has received from us the three degrees ; if after , still

further , he has the honour of being appointed to office and accepts that appointment ; if eA en beyond that he has become a ruler in the Craft , ancl then is ashamed to profess in public what he considers praiseworthy in private , ancl abandons the Order

without new cause or provocation , he must be a man of no stamina or strength of character , a man who receives our favours under false pretences , a Mason only in name . Tell these men that Masonry is a lowly handmaiden to all relig ion , is

founded upon the Word , is a beautiful system of morality , and that the height of all Masonic knowledge is the knowledge of the Supreme Architect of the Universe , ancl the conviction that the soul is immortal .

During the year some old members , Avho hacl felt compelled to withdraw from this lodge , ha \ e returned to us ; old Mason ' s for many years unconnected with the Order have joined us;—all which speaks volumes for our present position .

We have rejected various applicants , ancl our increase by Avay of initiations has been small but steady , and of men AVIIO will prove an ornament to the Craft . We have not , to my knoAvledge , made a single mistake by admissions ; and I may

safely say that this lodge may IIOAV be as proud of its members as the members may Avell be proud of their lodge . The neivly-initiated IIOAV receives from the lodge his Apron in a case bearing his name . Thus the brethren all appear diessed alike .

He also receives a copy of the Constitution ancl of the By-laws , Avhich at once instruct him iu the duties he owes to the Craft and to the lodge . All the brethren entitled to their Grand Lodge certificate have received the same during the O

year . The lodge , at the invitation of the Elgin Lodge , R . S ., attended the funeral of the late Bro . Doughty , who Avas buried ivith Masonic honours . The R . W ., the D . D . G . M ., having with that zeal which ahvays characterises all the Masonic acts of that distinguished member of the Graft , arranged

for Masonic lectures m the various lodges working iu this city under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Canada . This lodge AA'as favoured on the 1 st of March by an instructive lecture from the Rev . Bro . Gay , ancl a very interesting address from M . W . Bro . Bernard . Four hu adrecl

invitations Avere issued to members of the Craft in this city , and the lodge enjoyed a largo attendance . Shortly after I had the pleasure of delivering a lecture in Zetland Lodge . The lodge is indebted to many valued members

of other lodges for their very pleasing- ancl fraternal visits , and still more so to their Worshipful Masters , for assistance kindly rendered during the ' year . The thanks of the lodge have already been

tendered to the R . W . the D . D . G . M . for a presentation to the Craft in Montreal , through this lodge , of a rough ancl perfect ashlar presented on the 5 th day of April , aud which are UOAV before

you . The lodge has strongly condemned the unnecessary and extraA'agant expenditure of former years , and has endeavoured by strict economy to improve the finances .

The lodge has hacl occasion to suspend a number of members for nonpayment of clues ; hard as this duty appears it is nevertheless necessary . Aside of paying Grand Lodge dues for members AA'ho do not contribute , although able to do so , no

society can flourish unless it is self-sustaining ; to nourish the fruit-growing branches of a tree seems natural , but to lop off those which have become a burden and a hindrance is essentially necessary . Various charges have likewise been investigated ancl disposed of by the lodge ; one only ivas sent

for adjudication to the R . W . the D . D . G . M ., AA'ho suspended the accused brother . Au appeal taken from this decision is still in abeyance before the Board of General Purposes of Grand Lodge .

We have to thank the R . W . the D . D . G . M . for an official visit on the 31 st of May , when he was pleased to inspect our work ancl to declare himself highly satisfied therewith , and more especially with the ivork of our able Secretary . On the same evening . Ave had

the pleasure of entertaining R . W * Bro . Bull , ancl his D . G . Sec , Bro . Murray , at a banquet given by the brethren without assistance from the funds of the lodge , and I may be permitted to say , that a more pleasant Masouic re-union is not often enjoyed . On this occasion , free tickets were issued to all visitors , amongst Avhom Ave were pleased to notice a number