Address To Our Readers.

their mite to the exertions making to alleviate the suffering caused by the cotton famine , but that is only as a drop in the ocean , and UOAV , as the period of the annual festivals ancl installations are upon us , Ave hope that all will lend a helping hand to the good cause . Passino- from subjects of general interest to those more immediately appertaining to the Craft ,

we have but little to report upon of moment as having taken place during the last six months . The consideration of the future appropriation of the Grand Lodge Property has been taken out of the hands of the Board of General Purposes , and remitted to a small select Committee , which we hope will ere lono- be in a position to lay a report before Grand Lodge acceptable to the brethren at large ,

ancl lead to our becoming the possessors of a Temple for the accommodation of the Craft , both in ancl out of loclp-e , to AA'hich Ave can point ivith pride and pleasure , and ivhere we can assemble as often as we please Avithout being brought into contact with those of the Avorld AA'I IO are not Ereemason . A law has been passed by Grancl Lodge , under AA'hich Provincial Grancl Masters arc to make

annual returns of the proceedings of their Provincial Grand Lodges to the Most Worshipful Grand Master—and AA'hich , AVO belieA'e , AA'ill be found of essential service in promoting uniformity of procedure throuo-hout the various provinces ; , checking irregularities which Avill , hoAveA'er unintentionally , creep into practice amongst any body of men AA'hen there is not sufficient supervision to check them ;

and brum- more immediately under the notice of the Grand Master the sendees of those brethren Avho devote themselves earnestly to the business of the Craft , and thereby assist him in the distribution of

its honours . For ourselves , either as regards the past or the future , Ave have but little to say . We have endeavoured to act AA'ith the strictest independence ancl impartiality , ancl to expose abuses , Avlierever Ave have found them , without fear or faA our . If , in doing so , Ave have sometimes given pain to any brother , Ave regret it ; but public duty is paramount , and ive haA'e the proud consolation of knowing

that AA e have been the means , in more than one instance , of directing attention to irregularities and abuses , AA'hich have met Avith prompt attention from the Grand Master and his Officers , and AA'hich , but for THE P EEEMASONS' MAGAZINE , might have escaped notice , and been drawn into precedents in the future .

As respects our course in the volume to commence with our next number , it will be regulated by the same determination to do our dutj r as has guided us in the past . Beyond that we "have little to say , especially as AA-C shall shortly address the brethren throughout the various lodges a scheme for bringing THE FKEEMASONS MAGAZINE into more general and closer communion Avith the "brethren , and thereby increasing its usefulness to the Craft throughout the Avorld .

To those brethren at home , in the colonies , ancl abroad , AA'I IO have supported ancl cheered us in our exertions , Ave . have IIOAV only once again to express our best thanks , and to Avish them the compliments of the season—a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Tear !