French Masons.

to its present ranks of "Hautoa Grades . " Besides , a Supremo Council is a Supreme Council , and should remain so , but with all the usual paraphernalia . If tho Supreme Council of England aud Wales , though comparatively of recent date—( its definitive formation in London dating from 1845)—now flourishes and works successfully , by tho side of the

Grand Lodge , its splendour and success are , no doubt , mainly attributable to the English enthusiasm for all Capitular and Chivalric Degrees , and , consequently , thoir natural leaning towards Orders of distinction . But , in Franco thero no longer exists any such feeling or disposition ; and a revival of it , at any timo , must at onco be considered an impossibility . Moreover , tho Supreme Council of England

owes a great deal of its present influence to tho circumstance of its having exalted iu tho Cfficos of tho "Hants Grades" man } ' of the High Dignitaries of Grand Lodge , and thus mado with tho latter the close connection—now so happily felt—that most of the great offices are filled by officers of Grand Lodge . And it is , then , under such auspicious circumstances that tho Supremo Council can best

afford to make to its adepts tho well-known declarationwhich wo find in our R . Croix Constitutions running as follows : — " This Council does not interfere with or militate against tho authority of tho Grand Lodgo governing the Throo Symbolic Degrees , but distinctly recognises such authority , admitting none to tbohigher Degrees unless previously raisjd as Master Mason in somo regularly

constituted Lodge . Now , could or would tho Supremo Council of France , after tho organisation and chartering of a Grand Lodgo composed of all the Lodges at present under its rule , make on behalf of tho newly created Grand Lodgo a similar declaration . The answer to that question goes of itself , without saying—as the French phrase would have it .

However , it must bo observed that thero cannot bo any Grand Lodge proper without such exclusive rights and sovereign power as claimed . And it might bo objected that the Supreme Council conld , in no way , forfeit its rights and privileges , nor alternate tho power and prerogative of its M . P . Sov . G . Com . who rejoices also in tho title of Grand Master , ad vitam , is , tie jure , tho head and chief of auy Grand Lodge

that may bo chartered by him , or allowed to be formed with tlio subordinate Lodges now under his rule . Under theso circumstances thero may bo some excuse for us to look for a practical solution of tho difficulties of the situation . And we think , wo may venture hero to suggest , without in the least presuming to give counsel , such opinion as history itself seems to point to us ,

and the conclusion at which the very facts of the case irresistibl y bring ns . The institution of the Supreme Council , with all its apparent anomalies , has already lived upwards of seventy years , and now , if it does not languish , it is , ab least , charged with failing short of fulfilling tho just expectations of the brethren under its rule . Exercising co-ordinate jurisdiction with the Grand Orient of France , it seems , despite

the zeal and emulation shown at different times , that its progress and development , when compared especially to that of tlio latter , have been really imparled , its onward march checked . In fact , it has remained a much smaller body , though it may boast of having had , arid still possesses at its head brethren of groat ability , mon of hi" -h

social position . Well , looking for the causo of that striking difference in tho respective prngrnss of theso two co-r-xistenfc French powers , we aro inclined to attribute it solely to tho question of organisation . The evidence of tlio present movement , and that of similar agitations for reforms nnd constitutional changes v . ill fully justifV then our thinking so . Ilnwever , lie the causo what it nny , wo are , eon .

corned only about nsolioct ; the glaring and undeniable fuels . Now , why should not an alliance , or- amalgamation , embodying tho two powers , like that mado in 1813 , between tho two English Grand Lodges , and since by somo American Grand Lodges , bo made , at once , under auspices as favourable as at tho present timo , between these two French jurisdictions ? Why the Supremo Council , without

losing anything of its authority , influence , or credit , would , on tho contrary , turn tho tables , and put an end to tho strifes and intestinal troubles , and , increasing its strength and prestige , by tho adjunction to its ou-71 of all Chapters and Councils under the Grand Orient's rule , become presently , as it shon / d long bo , tho acknowleged chief of the " Hants Grades" of Masonry for Franco and all

its Dependencies . Why , then , settling with true fraternal amity all difficulties , and wiping out of memory all past questions of dissension , should not the Grand Orient , by tho free will and accord of the Lodges of tho Supreme Council , ancl with its friendly concurrence , become a Central Power , the Head , as naturall y it would be , of all the Lodges , working tho Three Symbolic Degrees in France

and its Dependencies . Thus tho Supremo Council would indeed havo done a good work , and would realise the greatest achievement that might be left for its own furtherance as a French Masonic Institution in tho present day , by affording to its brethren , without disparagement to itself , that Grand Lodgo and those rights and privileges which they insist upon

so sternly , and by procuring them , at the samo time , the much coveted advantage of living henceforth under a Masonic constitn * ion adapted to their- wains and aspirations , and bearing , in the spirit and conception of its mode of government , the national democratic stamp . Thus fully resolved to "dwell in nnity , " French Masonry would grow wiser and more powerful , both jurisdictions alike ; the term would be

universal , and its works aud deeds uniform under one banner and one governing authority . It is surely a matter of special and momentous inroiest to French Masons as a body , and perhaps also , in some measure , to Freemasonry at large . But it is no novelty ; tho wish arid desire of such a unification has long since been expressed , and great efforts towards I his

commendable end ba .-o , at different epochs , been made . Since ISO ! it has been the almost constant aim of tho Grand Orient to gather into its midst all tho French scattered members of the fratornitv , and to give : o French Masonry " unify in all . " Most French Masons are favourable to that idea , the realisation of which has long been considered only a question of timo . We believe that the time ° has at last come , and the opportunity is now very propitious . Bnt there

French Masons.

has been , and we are sorry to say thero aro still , great influences at work to prevent so pleasing a consummation . Tho love of power ancl office which is inherent to all human societies , and which often clothes itsolf in popular form , and does great homage , and pays all honours to the principles of liberty , eqnality . and fraternity , if not for it , takes occasion to betray them , at least if by so doing it can servo its own

selfish design and interest ; thoso petty jealousies about influence and success ; about individualities and names , all these miserable motives havo done , for many years , a great deal to engender bitter feelings and create a spirit of dissension between tho Supremo Conncil and the Grand Orient , thus preventing constant harmony and stifling

concord and progress . Therefore , what a matter for mutual con . gratnlation it would bo if the unpleasant struggle between the Supremo Council and its subordinate Lodges was to resolve itself , ancl happily end in tho delightful consequence of tho " reunion " under tho samo banner of all French " Sons of tho Widow ! " And

for them with double propriety to apply , bnt feelingly to tho occurrence , that verse already borrowed by Masonry : — '

Eccc quant , boiiwin , ecco quani jacimdivut . With reference to that great idea of amalgamation or union of tho two rites , in order to gather all French Masons under tho samo government , and thus produce for them a bond of Adamantine qualities with national currency , wo may appropriately , wo think , copy hero an extract from a report mado by the Grand Orient in 1805 to its Grand Master , which document we find printed in a

pamphlet published by the Grand Secretary . That report , which is also a respectful protest , from the Grand Orient , refers to a decree suppressing the Supremo Council as a Masonic body , which decree was then issued by Marshal Magnau in his capacity as Grand Master of French Masonry , so appointed to tho office by tho Emperor ' s dictum , ns affirmed above . In this historical and authentic writing it is said : —

" Tlio existence of tho Supreme Council is not a question of Masonic ^ tenets , but simply ono of organisation ; not an affair of dogmas , bnt solely ono of individnalities . So much so , that no principle different from ours would prevent tho Lodges of tlie Snpreme Council coming and taking their placo nnder our obedience in the Masonic family of tho Grand Orient , should tho courso of time and

events deprive thorn of their present central power . And we have no hesitation in saying that they would thon find therein ( as evidenced by the subjoined historical notice ) tho real elements that constitute the true Masonic Family : — ' An organisation moro liberal , under a discipline more fraternal , an application moro complete of tho principles of brotherly lovo and equality , together with tho exercise of

more real ancl direct rights , left to individual initiative , and all that under the solo obligation of never failing io tho binding duties of solidarity , and , therefore , never to compromise by any un-Masonic action tho common responsibility . When tho opportunity will present itself , it shall bo thou timo ( aud a meritorious work to do ) to put all theso incontestable truths under the eyes of all French

Masons m order to got them back , but entirely out of their freo will and accord , to the parent family , from which thoy had no cause to bo separated , no fundamental reason to live isolated . And , for that moment , wo can already point to Peace and Concord coming back to all our temples doubly adorned by Strength and Beauty ; our works resumed with Force and Vigour ; our minds and hearts filled with

Masonio zeal , and our columns guided by true Light . May they soon seo also our inheritance reconstituted and secured by tho ellorl . s of a wise and firm will ; onr symbols embellishing temples , tho undisturbed possession of which being secured to us . "Then , the moment will have como , M . 111 . G . M ., to make a solemn appeal to our brethren of tho Supremo Council , and to

cordially open our ranks to them , wherein are beforehand marked out their places . Arrd what a memorable date for French Masonic History ; what a retl-lcttor day for its annals , tho day in which , setting a great and noble example , by giving up all thoso pompons titles created after tho hour by tho vanity of men , added to tho simony of powers , the Grand Orient shall then call back tho Great

Masonic Family to the fraternal simplicity of our former days , and thus finally link the whole fraternity in ono and the samo bond of union . " In conclusion , wo can only repeat , while watching passing events with a careful eye , that in our opinion tho moment to carry out tho desirable FUSION has definitely come , ancl very cordially do wo hopo that it will soon prove most available . M . B .

General Assembly Of The Grand Orient Of France.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE GRAND ORIENT OF FRANCE .

rilHE Annual Convent of the Grand Order or General Assembly of " tin ; delegates of all tho Lodges nnder tho Masonic jurisdiction was opened on Monday , tho Stir instant , at cine o ' clock in tho morning , about two hundred Lodges being represented . Grand Lodge was opened in tho usual manner , tho delegates sworn in , and the assembly divided into nine Bureaux or Committees , for the

expedi ' ion of business . At tho afternoon meeting tho assembly proceeded to the election of its President , who , according to article 34 of the Constitution , mnst bo taken from among its members . Bro . Led 16 was elected , by l : > 2 votes , President of tbo Assembly , owing to the fact of the Excellent and most esteemed Bro . De Saint Jean requesting tho brethren to kindly release him from the arduous work

ot office this session , ou account of his present bad health . Tho compli-nctifcit is customary to pay annually to the President of tho Council of tho Order ( or G . M . ) was dispensed with , all of them , out of deference for Bro . De Saint Jean having declined to stand as candidate , so that tho brother elected as President is simply tbe Venerable of tho Lodgo l'Avurn of Paris . The meeting of Tuesday was exclusively devoted to the reading