Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
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
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
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