The Anti- Masonic Congress.

a second book in which he proves that it was all an infamous lie . The whole thing would be a defeat of the Catholics and Anti-Freemasons . " This speech was interrupted by indignant cries from several persons in the assembly , especially from a French priest who is known to be an intimate friend of the man

who writes under the pseudonym of Leo Taxil , and who , in Monsignor Kratzfeld ' s opinion , is the author of Miss Vaughan ' s revelations . To-morrow the Abbe de Bessoine will attempt to show the reality of Miss Vaughan , but only to eleven persons of confidence . — " Daily News" ( Vienna telegram of 1 st October ) .

The International Anti-Masonic Congress , which was opened at Trient yesterday , is attended , among others , by twelve archbishops , twenty-eight bishops , some 500 clergy of various sorts , and about fifty of the clerical aristocracy from Italy , France , Austria , and Germany . On one point all the orators agree , and

that is in their vituperation of Freemasonry . Prince-Bishop Valussi no doubt gave expression to the opinion of many present when he described Freemasonry as " a serpent from hell . " For the purpose of attacking the Craft , an international committee has been formed . The Congress gravely discussed the question of ¦

the genuineness of the rumoured discoveries of Miss Vaughan and the Abbe Bessonie , of Paris . Although the cock-and-bull stories narrated by Miss Vaughan , even supported by the documentary evidence she produced , are not taken seriously by the bulk of the clerical party , the silly fables were again laid before this distinguished assembly . — " Daily Chronicle . "

Pope Leo XIII . appears to be fired with the ambition of setting the world * to rights . Having just decided that Englishmen have no true Church , he has turned his attention to Freemasonry , and convened a Congress at Trent for the purpose of exposing and combating its iniquities . That is no new thing ,

of . course . Just a hundred and sixty years ago Masons were excommunicated by the Pope of the period , and Pius the ninth again formally condemned the- Craft and its adherents in 1865 . It is a pity , for the sake of his own reputation , that the present incumbent of ' ¦ ¦ the Holy See should have been persuaded into a

repetition of the folly of his predecessors . The Congress has not , indeed , been a striking success , even from the point of view of numbers , while its composition stamps it as a failure . Out of 800 members , more than 600 are ecclesiastics , mainly , it would appear , Italian priests . Nothing could emphasise more strikingly

the indifference of the Eoman Catholic laity to Papal pretensions to rule in secular affairs . Educated Eoman Catholics know as well as Protestants that the Craft against which the Holy Father has set his face is neither a rebellious , nor atheistic , nor immoral society . The . attempt to identify it with the vagaries of Devil

worship , as that crazy cult has lately been developed in France , is too ridiculous to impose upon any but the most ignorant . It seems to have been resented even in the Congress itself , the delegate of the Archbishop of Cologne protesting against discussion of the sensational tales put forth by the lady who

calls herself Miss Diana Vaughan . That alleged prophetess of the Evil One has , it appears , given a wonderful account of her interviews with Lucifer , who is "both handsome and young , " and men , presumably sane , are asked , at the close of the nineteenth century , in the name of morality and religion , to take

her seriously . The gathering . is a grotesque anachronism , which can have no sort of influence even in the : most benighted countries which acknowledge the Pope ' s authority . Elsewhere , of course , if it has any result at all , it will tend rather to the advantage of the society which it is its purpose to discredit and destroy , — " Globe . "

Freemasonry is a potent force in France , and on occasion is quite ready to exert its strength and influence . An occasion of this kind has just come about . One M . Monteil , an official of the Ministry of the Interior , was recently transferred to a post which he considered beneath his dignity . M . Monteil , who is a

leading Freemason , communicated the fact of his translation to the Brethren of the Masonic Lodge with which he was connected , and now the whole body of Freemasonry in France is in arms

against the Minister of the Interior and the Government . Freemasons openly state that unless justice be done to M . Monteil they will use their best efforts to turn out the' existing Government . —Arthur Lynch , in the " Daily Mail . "

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

"A SPRIG OF ACACIA . "

' pHE funeral of Bro . T . M . Hamer took place on the 23 rd -L ult ., at Tamworth Cemetery . The Brethren of the two local Masonic Lodges , to the number of about thirty , joined the procession from the church to the cemetery . They wore sprigs of acacia , which they deposited on the coffin .

Reports Of Meetings.

REPORTS OF MEETINGS .

— : o : — CEAET : METROPOLITAN .

STRONG MAN LODGE , No . 45 . THE regular meeting of this Lodge was held on Thursday , at the Guildhall Tavern , Gresham Street , when there was a large attendance under the presidency of Bro . W . S . Mills W . M ., who was supported by Bros . J . Guer S . W ., T . Taylor J . W ., S . Symons Treas ., P . Burgess Sec , D . ALangdon I . P . M ., P . W . Driver P . M ., J . C . Cobb P . M ., E . H . Done P . M ., T , Ockelford S . D ., E . J . Stafford J . D ., Armfield I . G ., T . L . Dennett

Organist-John Jenkinson , Emerson and C . Pond Jones Stewards , E . Mullett P . M . Tyler , Longridge , Berry , Inchbold , Sedgwick , G . Smith , O . T . ' Brown , W .-Eake , A . Davies , W . Sammes , A . Preeger , A . Whitley , Pidlor , Atkins Smith , and several other members , with the following visitors : James Taylor P . M . 753 , W . Hollingshurst , Sutton Abbott , D . A . Shepperd , Munday , Wynman , and others .

The Lodge was opened in due form , and the minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed , after which the W . M . advanced the Lodge , and proceeded to raise Bro . J . J . Berry to the sublime degree of Master Mason . Bro . W . Bassitt was passed to the Fellow Craft degree , this ceremony and tbe preceding one being worked in an excellent and most impressive manner by the Worshipful Master , who had the great advantage of able assistance on the part of his Officers .

Other items of business being concluded , including the proposition of two Brethren as joining members and two gentlemen as initiates , the Lodge was closed in regular form , the company adjourning to the banquet room , where an excellent repast was awaiting them . The service was under the supervision of Bro . James Mar-chant , and everything in connection with the dinner was of the usual excellent oharacter for which this famous old Masonic house has long enjoyed a reputation .

At the conclusion of the banquet the Master gave the usual toasts , specially referring to Her Majesty ' s long reign when submitting that of the Queen . This toast , together with that of the Grand Master , was cordially received , and followed by musical honours . The I . P . M . proposed the health of the Worshipful Master , and in doing

so spoke of the way in which the present ruler of the Lodge managed its concerns , and the ability he displayed in the work of the Craft on this , the first meeting' night after his installation . He predicted that the Lodge would lose none of its old reputation while under the guidance of Bro . Mills .

The Brethren received the toast with hearty enthusiasm , wishing the W . M . the best of good health . Bro . Mills replied , thanking the Brethren for their continued manifestations of approval , and promising . to do all that lay in his power to further the interests of the Lodge and advance the welfare of its members . The visitors were welcomed in a hearty toast , and each of them acknowledged the compliment .

Other toasts followed , including that of the I . P . M ., who , in his response , hoped the W . M . might have a successful year while in the chair . He also had much pleasure in mentioning that the Lodge had provided the necessary funds to secure the admission of a son of a late Brother into the Orphan School , at Watford , and he had hopes they would be able to achieve a like result for a girl at no very distant date .

The pleasures of the evening were greatly increased by the vocal efforts of-several of the Brethren , among those who contributed songs being Bros . Whitly , Spencer , Tom Burgess , and others . The Tyler ' s toast concluded a most successful gathering .

REGENTS PARK LODGE , No . 2202 . A VEEY large attendance of members and their friends took place on Thursday , at the Frascati Restaurant , Oxford Street , W ., under the presidency of Bro . George Clampitt W . M ., who was most ably supported by the following Officers : —Bros . Ward S . W ., Adcock J . W ., Pointer I . P . M ., Dr . Goodchild P . M . Treas ., C . Sheppard P . M . Sec , Wilson S . D ., Bowles J . D ., Sims I . G ., Edmonds Tyler .

The Lodge was opened , and , after a few preliminaries , the W . M . proceeded to pass Bros . Frederick Day , John Taylor and Walter Lloyds , which work was followed by the initiation of Messrs . Charles Schneider , Henry John Bowles , Charles William French , James Brown and Herbert Edward Inker . Great praise is due to the W . M . for his excellent and perfect rendering of these ceremonies .

After the transaction of other business , including the proposition of new members , the Lodge was closed and the company adjourned to the banquet room , where a splendid repast awaited them , the service and everything connected with the dinner being of the customary " Frascati " excellence . After the banquet the W . M . submitted the usual toasts , specially referring to the record reign of the Queen , which toast was received with musical honours , as also was that of the Prince of Wales .

The health of the W . M . was submitted by the I . P . M . Bro . Pointer , and the W . M . responded in his usual eloquent manner . The toast of the Past Masters was given from the chair and duly responded to , this being followed by the toast of the Initiates , who expressed their gratification at joining the Lodge . The Visitors were not forgotten , but were heartily welcomed from the chair , and they suitably responded .

Other complimentary remarks followed , the usual list being brought to a conclusion by the Tyler ' s toast . An excellent musical programme was provided , several of the Brethren giving capital songs and recitations . A most enjoyable evening was spent .

CHOUGH LODGE , No . 2264 . * T"IHE installation meeting was held on Thursday , 24 th ult ., at the Cannon I Street Hotel , the Worshipful Master Bro . William Close Smith presiding . The Master initiated five gentlemen into the mysteries of the Craft , and afterwards installed as his successor Bro . James Frederick Percival , says the " City Press . " A very handsome Past Master ' s jewel was presented to the Master of th ^ past year .