Address To Our Readers.

opinion—are removed , it is quite clear th ? t the progress of Freemasonry must labour under great disadvantages in that countiy . To the Most Worshipful , the Grand Master Mason of Scotland , the Rig ht Hon . the Earl of Dalhousie , we are greatly indebted for his patronage and personal kindness , and likewise to the members of the Grand Lodge of Scotland who have never failed to afford us valuable aid and

assistance in carrying on the MAGAZINE , and extending the sphere of its usefulness . The Most Worshipful the Grand Master of Freemasons in England , the Rig ht Hon . the Earl of Zetland , was for the twenty-fifth time installed in that high and distinguished office on the 29 th April last ; it has been proposed to mark the completion of the twenty-fifth year of his prosperous reign by some great commemorative ceremony or festival . If that event is to be successfully

carried out on such a grand scale as the occasion warrants , it can only be done by greatly extending the proposed Committee for that purpose , and by no means limiting it to officers of Grand Lodge , the wearers of " purple and fine linen . " As the project is viewed with great interest , and universally with favour amongst the members of the Craft in England , the mode of carrying it out will be watched with jealous anxiety by a very large number of Provincial and Metropolitan Masons ;

anything like the usual exclusiveness , or hole-and-corner action on the part of those who take upon . themselves the initiatory steps for giving effect to the proposition , will , we feel assured be promptly and energetically resented . The Masonic Charities during the past half-year have received a fair share of support from the members of the Craft . The Boys School , in debt to the extent of £ 10 , 000 prior to the last Festival Meeting , received on that occasion nearly £ 4 , 900 in aid .

The Masonic Life Boat Fund has recently made some progress , and so soon as a sufficient amount ( of contributions ) has been received , or promised , to justify the projectors troubling the members of Grand Lodge and others to act upon a committee , it is stated that steps will be taken , to confer with the Committee of the National Life Boat Institution for the purpose of carrying out the object .

A very important association , in exclusive connection with Freemasonry , recently projected , has met with very extensive support , and the Council are now making arrangements for an early meeting for the election of members . We learn that the Right Hon . the Earl of Dalhousie , the G . M . M . of Scotland , and P . D . G . M . of England , is one of the patrons . The " May Testimonial" might have been a much greater success than it was , had there not

been defective management and blunderings . Personal animosities and petty jealousies ought never to be allowed to interfere with the success of a good cause . The necessity for filling up the several vacant Grand Masterships of provinces , and of putting all Provincial Grand Lodges into perfect working ordez-, demand serious attention . Some of the

Provinces might be divided with considerable advantage , and the earnest attention of the " powers that be " will shortly be called to the subject , unless some voluntary action be promptly taken , in the matter . The same observations apply to P . G . Superintendents and their R . A . Provinces . The creation of a Province in Middlesex beyond the Metropolitan radius , would now be a wise and well timed act .

A Grand Lodge of Emergency has been called for Wednesday , the 1 st of July , when amongst other important matters to be disposed of is a proposition by Bro . H . G . Warren which deserves the unanimous support of the Craft . We are glad to know that mainly through the ability and high Masonic feeling of the chairman ofthe Building Committee , Bro . J . Havers , with the assistance of Bro . H . Grissell , on behalf of

Grand Lodge , and of Bro . F . W . Truscott , the chairman of the Freemasons' Tavern Company , the differences which existed between the two bodies have been arranged to the satisfaction of all parties . The laying of the foundation stone of the Royal Albert Asylum for Idiots , at Lancaster , on the 17 fch inst ., with Grand Masonic honours , went off with great eclat .