Italian Freemasonry.

ITALIAN FREEMASONRY .

THEEE has been an unquestionably serious character attaching to the speeohes made in the Italian Parliament and Senate against the Freemasons of this country . The popular representatives who have attacked it have been in every case convinced " Unitarii , " that is , politicians whose oomplete allegiance has been given to the Monarchy and the existing order .

Thus there has been wanting every ground for a justifiable suspicion of " Clericalism " against those who have voiced the popular hue and cry at Montecitorio and in the Palazzo Madania . The Marquis di Eudini , whose integrity is recognised as standing beyond all cavil and quite independently of his ancient emblazonments , was emphatic in his reprobation

of the undue secrecy enveloping the working of the sect . What is perhaps most significant throughout every phase of this calm hut momentous attack upon Freemasonry is that little or no defence has been made of the sect in the public press , and that still less defence has been attemped in the more genuine and immediate expression of public opinion , the everyday talk of the

people . Unquestionably the Freemasons are in a minority , and though this may be to their advantage , their somewhat defenceless condition has , without a doubt , caused them a certain alarm . But it is not entirely to alarm that we should attribute the circular letter of the new Grand Orient , Ernesto Nathan , of which a summary has been communicated to the press previously

to its transmission to the members of the Order . At the outset , Signor Nathan implies the solidarity existing between the Freemason chiefs of yesterday and those of to-day , and the identity of Freemason principles in the past and in the present by paying compliments to his predecessor , Signor Lemmi . He then proceeds to say that it is time for Freemasons to put an

end to the secrecy hitherto observed , and that the members of the body should publicly declare their connection with it . The Order is neither profane nor hostile in regard to any religion whatever . Neither is it the slave of any political party . Italian Freemasonry desires to be nothing but Italian , and it regards the fatherland as the medium through which to

influence humanity . ( But it is still Freemason , and its medium is not the most effective of possible media . ) On this account men of various political creeds " lay aside their passions at the door of the temple . " Hence the Brotherhood is not a sect , because it is universal in character . It is an association for mutual help , but it is such in order to be of public and

general utility . There is a " raison d'etre " for its symbolism , whioh is not profane and which corresponds to the need of an international language . He hopes , moreover , that the day of perfected and universal freedom will soon come and make possible the abandonment of the honest secret ( " onestc segreto " ) . The scope of Freemasonry obliges it to combat a really secret and

powerful organisation , that of Temporalist ( Temporal Power ) and reactionary Clericalism . The document , of which the above is the substance , is certainly well adapted to its purpose , and is likely to influence the indifferent and the vaoillating in favour of the sect , but to Catholics it is especially valuable as a clear and precise revelation of the anti-Catholic nature of the sooiety over which Signor Nathan has been called to preside . — " Tablet . "

PORTSMOUTH CLUB PIC-NIC . MEMBEES of the Portsmouth Freemason ' s Club spent a very enjoyable day in the New Forest , on Tuesday , 23 rd ult . The pic-nic party , which numbered forty-five , left the Town Station by the 12-25 train , travelling in a special saloon carriage , and arrived at Lyndhurst Eoad shortly before two o ' clock . Luncheon awaited them at the New Forest Hotel , and in the afternoon a delightful drive was taken through the Forest , among the

places of interest visited being Sir William Harcourt ' s seat at Malwood . In the evening another call was made at the New Forest Hotel , where tea was served by Mr . and Mrs . Edwards . The return journey was commenced at ten minutes to nine , Portsmouth being reached about eleven o ' clock . The arrangements were most successfully carried out by Bro . E . S . Main , the Secretary of the Club , who was indefatigable in his efforts to promote the enjoyment of everyone .

Scraps For Spare Moments.

SCRAPS FOR SPARE MOMENTS .

MOROCCO BOUND . LODGE night to-morrow , Jones . I see your portmanteau is in the hall . Shan't be there this time . How ' s that ? My wife's dead—mourning—trouble and sorrow to forget . Very sorry indeed , old man—never heard about it , believe me—but where are you off to ?

Tangier , for the good of my health . You have , excuse me , been very reticent towards your old friends . I did not know that you were ailing either—what ' s the matter ? Well , the fact is , the first Mrs . Jones bought me , my friend . Now , I had a wrinkle yesterday ; for a ten-pound note I can buy a good-looking damsel at Tangier . I mean , of course , to marry her , and see if by reversing the old order of things , I can bring No . 2 up my own way .

Not long since , I met at Liverpool an old friend and Brother who went out to the States many years ago , had made money , and was returning to settle in the old country . Before leaving the landing-stage he introduced to me two of his compagnons de voyage , who took up their quarters in the same hotel for the next two days . By a singular coincidence I found myself in the

same railway carriage with one of the gentlemen nearly three months after , in the Midlands . After the first greetings I asked " Well , and how do you like this country ? " " The country I " he exclaimed , " oh ! that ' s all right , but I don't like the people . I ' m going back—sick of them . I'd rather be a telegraph-post in Chioago that a millionaire in England . "

Scraps For Spare Moments.

But I must not forget my promise re Lady-Masons . If this opinion does not flatter Masons and Masonry , it has the merit of being straightforward and I am inclined to think it expresses a general feeling of jealousy by no means uncommon towards the seductiveness of the Lodge . Being addressed to me , I can vouch for it as a fact , and as nearly as I can recollect in the very words used . The speaker was a prominent Mason ' s wife .

" Don t tell me , she exclaimed confidently , " that any Mason ' s wife wants to be a Mason I Old-maidish woman ' s-rights-orators may care to discover some novelty in having similar Lodges to yours , but like a good deal they prate about , they know little of the subject . Shall I tell you what I do know about you Masons ? You are a jealous , uncharitable , envious lot I You address each other as Brothers , and no sooner leave your Lodge than you vilify and say all sorts of spiteful things of those Brothers whom you

suspect to be dead against your having all your own way . And in order to have it , you get up oliques tbat only little minds would conceive , and edify your wives by letting them hear the fraternal sentiments the conspirators feel , every time they meet in your own homes I Nice Freemasonry this , isn't it ? You delight in your fine jewelled clothing , and strut about in it like gutter-knights to whom a little brief authority over betters is soothing . " " But , " I insisted , " why condemn all for the sins of a few ? For

instance , did you ever know me to belong to a clique , or guilty of backbiting ? As to clothing , my ideas have always been quite the other way , and— " " I know all about that , " she interrupted ; " I am not referring to you , nor to my husband . I do not object to him being a Mason ; he has the same abhorrence of the un-Masonic traits I spoke of , but some day he will abandon it altogether , and feel all the better for it . I have had far too many opportunities of knowing Masons . Before taking credit for charitable deeds

Freemasons want teaching what charity is . Perhaps some women are curious to know why men without a spark of charity in their nature subscribe large sums to the Boys and Girls Schools . I know , and other Masons' wives must know ; and not from my husband have I gathered the knowledge . The ' Lady Mason ' movement isn't even a ' craze' yet , and never will be . It is a mere ' find ' of the new woman , whose mind is never

at home , encouraged by Eoman Catholic tirades against Freemasonry . Whatever inquisitive female admirers may think of the possible benefits concealed beneath the secrets of the Craft , I believe abuses have crept in unperceived , and grown until the evil overbalances the good ; but of one thing I was never more certain than of this , that Masons' wives will have nothing to do with the new idea to form Lady Mason Lodges . "

" Bro . Bright , " asked a P . M . who is inordinately fond of conundrums , but very apt to retail them very imperfectly , " can you tell me why a hardworking Secretary like you reminds me of Bro . P . M . —' s prize pig ? " "No , " I said as usual , quite expecting some extraordinary solution . " Because it is not likely that either will be cured until after death . " So .

according to our contract I owed him one . But this had to be put off until the Lodge was closed , when he came to me having a silk handkerchief pressed over his eye . " What's the matter ? " I enquired . " Oh , nothing I I've got a little sand in my eye , " he responded . " Then can you tell me why that grain of sand is like Bro . — 's cane ? " ( the latter is a schoolmaster ) . " Could not guess in a week I "

" Because it hurts the pupil . He walked away in a brown study , but half-an-hour after , at the supper table , he stood up convulsed with laughter , and , forgetting all propriety , shouted to me across the table " Eureka ! " to the intense astonishment and amusement of the Brethren . GENIAL JAMIE .

The Theatres, &C.

The Theatres , & c .

Covent Garden . —Eoyal Italian Opera . This evening , Tristan und Isolde Monday , Mefistofele . Tuesday , Carmen . Lyceum . —8 , The School for Scandal . Globe . —8 , The Journey ' s End . 9 , Charley ' s Aunt . Matinee , Saturday , 3 . Prince of Wales ' s . —8-30 , On the March . Matinee , Saturday , 2-30 . Hay market . —Monday , Tuesday , and Wednesday , 8-30 , Trilby . Thursday .

Friday , and Saturday , 8-30 , Henry IV . Matmee , Wednesday , 2-30 ; Saturday , 2-15 . Duke of York's . —8 , The Gay Parisienne . Matinee , Wednesday , 2-30 . Lyric—8-15 , The Sign of the Cross . Matinee , Wednesday and Saturday , 2-30 . Savoy . —7-40 , After All . 8-20 , The Grand Duke , or the Statutory Duel .

On 11 th July , The Mikado . Comedy . —The Mother of Three ( Last day ) . St . James ' s . —8-30 , The Prisoner of Zenda . Matmee , Wednesday , 2 . Princess ' s . —8 , The Grip of Iron . Daly ' s . —8-15 , The Geisha ; A story of a Tea House . Matinee , Saturday , 2-30 . Garrick . —3-30 , The greatest of these . Matinee , Wednesday , 2-30 .

Vaudeville . —8-15 , Papa ' s wife . 9 , A night out . Matinee , Wednesday , 3 . Criterion . —8-30 , Eosemary . Matinee , to-day , 2-30 . Court . —8-15 , Uncle Thatcher . 9 , Mam ' zelle Nitouche . Royalty . —8-0 , Dearest Mamma . 9 , The Queen ' s Proctor . Matmee , Saturday , 3 . Opera Comique . —8-30 , Second Edition of The New Barmaid .

Alhambra . —7-45 , Variety Entertainment . 9 , Irish Ballet Divertissement . 10 , The Animatpgraphe . 10-35 , Blue Beard . Empire . —7-45 , Variety Entertainment . New Ballet Divertissement , La Danse . Cinematographe . Second edition of Ballet Faust . Palace . —7 ' 45 , Variety Entertainment , Tableaux Vivants , & c . Royal . —7-30 , Variety Company . Saturday , 2-30 . Oxford . —7-30 , Variety Entertainment . Matinee , Saturday , 2-30 .

Olympia . —Grand Pleasure Gardens . Cycle Eaces , Concerts , & o . Crystal Palace . —Varied attractions daily . Exhibition of Motor Carriages Royal Aquarium . —Open at 10 ; close at 11-30 , Constant Amusement . Tivoli . —7-30 , Variety Entertainment . Saturday , 2-30 also . The London . —Grand Variety Entertainment . Mohawk Minstrels . —( Agricultural Hall . )—Daily . Egyptian Hall . —3 and 8 , Mr . Maskelyne ' s Magical Entertainment . Madame Tussaud ' s ( Baker Street ) . —Open daily