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

argument nor lengthy remarks . Whether the time has arrived to render the amount or schedule of fees UOAV proposed expedient ancl beneficial , is worth a trial at least . It will probably take six months before such a by-law can fairly take effect ,

thus giving * ample time to every good man desiring to join our lodge to make his proposition ; as to numbers , I hold that too many are not desirable . A lodge , although the members belong to the universal Masonic family , should form in its OAVU

members a small family of itself , consisting" of brethren who can fairly fraternise without as well as within the lodge , who are ready to assist one another in any emergency to the best of their ability , who take a pride in the fact of being

associated , tendering" nevertheless all the AA'hile the right hand of fellowship to all brethren hailing from other lodges , who may confer the favour of a visit . And here let me say that , Avhile it is un-Masonic to persuade any man to join our Order ,

it is glorious by our precept , by our conduct , and by our example , to enjoin good men to connect themselves with the Fraternity .

In conclusion , brethren , permitme to recommend that the Lodge of Antiquity ( the first on . the register of the Grand Loclge of Canada ) should be the . first to take steps to enable Grand Loclge to carry out the long projected scheme of erecting a

monument of the Order in this province , and let me hope that that monument may not be only a Masonic Asylum for aged and infirm Masons , but may have added thereto a hospital and a boys ' and girls' boarding-school , where indigent Masons may be enabled to educate their children free of

expense , and those who can afford an outlay may contribute such a sum as their circumstances in life , may fairly warrant . To accomplish this desirable and most beneficent object , I would recommend that the brethren of this loclge should

enter into a subscription in accordance with their several means , and that the loclge shall add such an amount as may be deemed advisable as a donation to the so-called Asylum Fund ; not doubting that every lodge hailing -under the jurisdiction of

the Grand Lodge of Canada Avill gladly follow our example , and thus enable Grand Lodge at an early period to lay the foundation-stone of a building which will surely prove the greatest ornament and the greatest blessing to the Fraternity in Canada .

Brethren , Ave have SOAVII our seed this year ; let us not relax our labours , but endeavour to reap our harvest in the next . I firmly believe that the

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

Lodge of Antiquity may now look forward to years of prosperity . Let us stand shoulder to shoulder , man to man , brother to brother , and Ave will hand over to our successors the Lodge of Antiquity in that proud position which it ought to

occupy in the Craft of the laud . Brethren , once more I thank you for your confidence ; once more I shall assume the chair with the most sincere wish that my work may prove beneficial to the Lodge of Antiquity , a lodge Avhich , believe me , will remain

dear to me throughout the course of my existence . Aud I again pray the Great Architect of the Univez'se that our labours for the ensuing year may be commenced in order , continued in peace , and closed in harmony .

Lodges Of Instruction.

LODGES OF INSTRUCTION .

It with regret we hear that several of the Metropolitan Lodges of Instruction , which formerly were well attended aud in good working order , have lately been in a very unhealthy condition , or have altogether fallen into abeyance . Now , considering the very great increase that has taken place in the numbers

forming the ranks of Freemasonry , which has often been commented upon and pointed to as an honour to our Order , it does seem strange that the converse of this should be the fact with respect to lodges of instruction , in which the true principles of the Graft

are taught and the members instructed in the performance of their duties . It is well known by every Mason who has attained " the highest honour that the Craft or the lodge can bestow upon its members " that above all things , to enable him to carry on the " business of Freemasonry with order and decorum , " it is essential that those officers who are appointed to

aid him should be well instructed in their duties , or the solemnity of the ceremonies soon degenerates into a farce and a sham , and may tend to bring scandal upon our Craft . How is this state of things to be avoided unless it is by diligent attendance at lodges of instruction on the part of those seeking

appointments , for it is Avell known that they cau never properly be learned unless that course be adopted . It is too much the practice to adhere to a system of seniority iu making these appointments , and the result is that officers are chosen on that ground who

have no qualification whatever , and are utterly unable to perform their duties . This is not only prejudicial to the interests of the loclge where such appointments are made , but it sets at defiance , and completely ignores , one of the most important rules of the Book of Constitutions , which explicitly declares that " all preferment among Masons should be grounded upon