Address.

ADDRESS .

I N closing the first volume of the Freemasons' Magazine in its present form , we cannot do otherwise than return our most grateful thanks to the brethren for the support we have received , and the favour with which the alteratiqn bas been greeted . That all should approve of the change , was not to be expected—old associations had led many to regard tlie octavo form as the most convenient ; but those readers were probably unaware that there

wore mechanical difficulties connected with that form which rendered it unfitted for a weekly publication , and limited our power of bringing up the news to as late a period as we desired , - whilst at the same time the book postage was so heavy as to be a great hindrance to our circulation in the colonies . These considerations determined us to make the change , and we are happy to feel that it has met with general approbation , as evidenced by our growing circulation— -both at home and in the colonies .

Our career as Masonic Journalists bas been from the commencement beset by difficulties—difficulties which , thanks to the kind and liberal support of our friends , are rapidly passing away ; and we hope that when , at the close of 1860 , we again address our readers , we shall be enabled to congratulate ourselves on the circumstance that the Freemasons' Magazine has become a commercial success , and confidently to look forward to receiving in the future a more solid reward of our labours than it has yet been our lot to secure .

To make the Magazine worthy of the extended support of the brethren will ever be our most earnest endeavour ; and without making any promises with regard to the future , we think we may fairly refer to our present volume as a proof that we have not been wanting in our exertions to render the Magazine equal in literary excellence to its contemporaries ; and whilst steadil y keeping in view the main object of the Magazine—of

supplying the fullest possible information on every point connected with the every day business of tlie Craft , we have neither lost sight of those scientific adjuncts of the Order which we are enjoined to study and disseminate ; or neglected to vary our columns occasionall y with articles belonging to the lighter branches of literature . This we can say without egotism—that there never was a period in tho history of the Magazine when so large a staff of

literary gentlemen was connected with it—each in his peculiar department aiding towards the general unity of design—the combining the Magazine and the Newspaper so as to interest the largest number of readers and render it a welcome visitor at every table ,

Neither havo we omitted to call into requisition the talent of the Artist ; and we can fearlessly refer to the portrait of the Grand Master as a proof that wo act upon the maxim—that what is worth doing at all is worthy of being done well . We hope in the future to be enabled to present to tho brethren many other specimens of the Engraver ' s skill ; whilst even the Photographer shall be called into our assistance so that we may place before our

friends the very embodiment , so to speak , of some ofthe more distinguished members ofthe Craft in the very form in which they live and move and have their being ,

We will not pursue the subject further , lest we should be led into suggestions which if not fulfilled might lay us open to the charge of breaking faith with our friends—but once more thank them for their kind support during the past year . We have now only to wish them most fraternally the compliments of the season , trusting that next week the first number of I 860 will be as favourably received as any ofthe numbers which have preceded it ,