A French Invasion.

A FRENCH INVASION .

TJ ^ HE present is not the first occasion on which we have JL been called upon to use this heading in dealing with the Masonic topics of the time , but , happily , Craftsmen in England are so loyal to their obligations that hitherto the bark of threatened invasion has been far worse than its bite , and up to the present it may fairly be said that a foreign Masonic

power has not had even a remote chance of establishing itself in our midst . As will be seen from the circular letter from the offices of Grand Lodge , of which we now publish a copy , a French Lodge has recently been established in our midst , and very naturally our rulers resent the intrusion ; not

only because of the illegality of the action , but also on account of the edict regularly formulated by Grand Lodge , which prohibits English Masons having any intercourse with members of the Grand Orient of France , on account of the latter ' s action in removing from its Constitution those paragraphs

which assert a belief in the existence of T . G . A . O . T . U . The matter under notice has been very rightly most rigorously dealt with by our Masonic authorities , and in helping to make

known the decisions arrived at we hope we are adding our trifle towards ultimately securing that fraternal unanimity that should prevail among all sections and classes of the Masonic Brotherhood throughout the Universe .

The circular , which by direction of the Most Worshipful Grand Master has been sent to the Masters of all Lodges under the Grand Lodge of England , is in the following terms :

Freemasons Hall , London , W . C ., 13 th December 18 99 . WORSHIPFUL MASTER , —It has been brought to the attention of the Most Worshipful the Grand Master that a printed "Address , " emanating from a Body styling itself the

"Hiram Lodge of London , " under the Grand Orient of France , has been issued to Lodges under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of England , and an invitation is therein given to members of English Lodges to visit the said Body meeting in London under the Grand Orient .

I am , therefore , commanded to bring to your attention and to the attention of your Lodge , the fact that the Grand Orient of France has no jurisdiction to establish or warrant any Lodge of Freemasons in England : nor can anv member

of the Craft under the Grand Lodge of England visit the said irregular Body calling itself the "Hiram Lodge of London under the Grand Orient of France , " or any similar Body , without incurring the penalty attaching to a grave Masonic offence .

I am further to inform you that no member of the said irregular Body , or any similar Body , can be admitted as a Visitor to any Lodge under the Grand Lodge of England ; and that any infraction of this regulation might entail the penalty of the erasure of the offending Lodge .

I am further to direct your attention to the Resolutions respecting the Grand Orient of France , adopted by Grand Lodge on the 6 th March 1878 , a copy of which I enclose , and to request that you and your Lodge will do your best to carry

out the spirit of the Resolutions , by exercising that care in the admission of foreign Brethren as Visitors , which is enjoined by the third Resolution , and by refusing admission to all those who seek to evade that Resolution in the manner suggested by the aforesaid printed "Address . "

It is particularly directed that you cause this Communication to be read at the first meeting of your Lodge after the receipt thereof , and that it be fully entered upon the Minutes .

I am , yours faithfully and fraternally , E . LETCHWORTH Grand Secretary . The following are the resolutions of March 1878 , referred to above : 1 st Resolution . —That this Grand Lodge views with

profound regret the step taken by the Grand Orient of France in thus removing from its Constitution those paragraphs which assert a belief in the existence of T . G . A . O . T . U ., because such an alteration is opposed to the traditions , practice , and feelings of all " true and genuine " Masons from the earliest to the present time .

2 nd Resolution . —That this Grand Lodge , whilst always anxious to receive in the most fraternal spirit the Brethren of any Foreign Grand Lodge whose proceedings are conducted according to the Ancient Landmarks of the Order , of which a belief in T . G . A . O . T . U . is the first and most important , cannot recognise as "true and genuine " Brethren

A French Invasion.

any who have been initiated in Lodges which either deny or ignore that belief . 3 rd Resolution . —That in view of the foregoing Resolutions the W . Masters of all Lodges holding under the Grand Lodge of England be directed not to admit any foreign Brother as a Visitor

unless—1 st . He is duly vouched for or unless his Certificate shows that he has been initiated according to the Ancient rites and ceremonies in a Lodge professing belief in T . G . A . O . T . U ., and

2 ndly . Not unless he himself shall acknowledge that this belief is an essential landmark of the Order .

4 th Resolution . —That a copy of the foregoing Resolutions be transmitted to the Grand Lodges of Scotland and Ireland , to each Grand Lodge with which this Grand Lodge is in communication , and to the W . Masters of all Lodges holding

under the Grand Lodge of England , and that it be an instruction to the W . Master of each Lodge to read these Resolutions at the first meeting of his Lodge after the reception thereof , and to direct that they shall be entered upon the Minutes .

Bro . William W . B . Beach Provincial Grand Master of Hants and the Isle of Wight has been advanced to the honourable position of a Privy Councillor . We tender our

worthy Brother our most cordial congratulations , and trust the G . A . O . T . U . may spare him for many years yet to enjoy the dignity .

The Christopher Lodge , No . 2309 will meet on Monday , at five o'clock , at the Christopher Hotel , Etonj under the presidency of Bro . Edward D . Everard W . M . The agenda of business includes one raising , the balloting for a candidate and his subsequent initiation if accepted , the election of

Worshipful Master , Treasurer and T y ler for the ensuing year ,, and the appointment of an Audit Committee . The new member is proposed by Bro . Trigg , and seconded by Bro . Manlove I . P . M . Secretary .

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