Freemasonry In Portugal.

Bro . Gordon , to establish a lodge in Lisbon , but of tin efficiency mid fate of this Lodge nothing whatever i . ' known . Some years later , Brothers Coustos , a Protestant , jeweller of Berne ; Alex . J . Monton , a Paris jeweller Th Brasle , with a few other brethren , boldly attempted to

establish a lodge in Lisbon , but their work was hardly yet begun when Mouton , and shortly after , Coustos , in March 1743 , found themselves in the clutches of the Inquisition . The former , being a Catholic , was released , after having been put to the torture , and sentenced to banishment . The

snfferinsrs of Coustos need not be described at length , for , doubtless , most of our readers have read the sufferer's own narrative . Suffice it that after having been racked several times , he was , at length , condemned to the galleys for four years . Through the intercession , however , of the

English Ambassador , our Government were enabled to obtain his release . We hear nothing further of any lodges in this country , the one fact of note that is recorded for many years being that in 1776 , Major d'Alincourt and Don Ayres de Orvellas Peraoao , were seized at Lisbon and sentenced to

fourteen months' imprisonment . In 1792 , the Queen ordered the Governor of Madeira to deliver up all Free masons to the Holy Inquisition , an order which was punctually carried out . The order , however , contrived to maintain its ground in the country in spite of the

many persecutions , as at Oporto in 1795 and in Lisbon 1796 ) . Lodges continued to spring up , as in Lisbon , Coimbra , and other cities and towns . Moreover the officers of foreign ships helped greatly to promote the Order by allowing Masonic meetings * and initiations to take place

on board , the frigate " Phoenix , " in particular , being mentioned as one on board which the Lodge " Regeneration " was constituted in 1797 . The chair of this Lodge was successively filled by Bros . Pope , An dr . Ign . da Costa , and Jose Maria d'Asruilar Cordova . In its turn it constituted

five other Lodges . But in spite of the secresy observed , and the unusual precautions taken to prevent discovery , the brethren were not nnfrequently molested , their most violent oppressor in 1800 being the General Superintendent Diego Tgn . de Pina Manique . At length , and in spite of

all these difficulties and dangers , the year 1806 witnessed the establishment at Lisbon , of the Grand Orient of Portugal , Bro . Egnz-Moniz , according to other authorities Bro . Seb . Jose de Sampajo , being chosen Grand Master , an office he continued to hold till 1809 .

When , in 1807 the French troops under Genera Jnnot entered Portugal , the brethren besought his protection , which was accorded . However , this good understanding was subsequently disturbed though it cannot have been of long duration , as in 1809 , Bro . Fernando Romao d'Alaide Teioe was chosen Grand Master . Further

persecutions followed the third invasion by the French under Massena , and in 1810 thirty of the most distinguished brethren in Lisbon were put in chains and shipped off to the Azores . This lessened the activity of the Lodges , yet we read that , in 1812 , there were thirteen Lodges in Lisbon ,

the mother Lodge holding its meetings in the Convent of St . Vincent of Fora . Under a Constitutional Monarchy the Order flourished , but when , in 1823 , John VI . was reinstated on the throne he issued a decree against Freemasonry , five years' transportation to Africa being the

penalty incurred . Don Miguel was also a most violent opponent of the Order . After the return of those emancipated in 1834 , Lodges were again formed in the chief towns in the kingdom , those in Lisbon acknowled ging Bros . Carvalho and Saldanha as Masters : while those in

Oporto acknowledged Bro . Manuel da Silva Passos . In 1837 an attempt was made to settle all differences among the Portuguese Orients , but it failed . These all worked according to the French rite , but in 1837 the Scottish rite was introduced , and , after 1840 , became more general , the

number << i Lodges working under it in 1845 being seventeen . Thus there came to be four Grand Orients : the Lusitanian , more properly Provincial G . L . of Brazil ; the Irish , under G . L . of Ireland ; the G . O . of Passos-Mamiel ,

and the G . O . of Costa-Cabral . Amongst Masonic Institutions the Central Benevolent Council is especially noticeable , both by the extent and energy of its labours . At present there is only the Grande Oriente Lusitano at Lisbon , which is the head of all the regular Lodges in Portugal . These

are fifteen in number , six in Lisbon , six at Oporto , two iu Spain ( Seville and Cadiz ) , and one at Augra do Heroismo , Fayal . During the last ten years Masonry has made great progress ; the Grand Orient recognises the three symbolic

Freemasonry In Portugal.

degrees , and four higher ( Elect , Scotch Master , Knight of the East , Rose Croix ) . The authorities we have consulted are Findel chiefly , and Thory .

Obedience To The Law Necessary On The Part Of Every Freemason.

OBEDIENCE TO THE LAW NECESSARY ON THE PART OF EVERY FREEMASON .

BY A PAST MASTER ( English Constitution ) .

THERE is nothing more indispensable to the character of a good and worthy Freemason , nothing more strongly insisted on in the ancient charges than obedience to Law . A Freemason can be held worthy of respect and esteem amongst his brethren , and of being permitted to continue in the enjoyment of the privileges of the brotherhood ,

only whilst his conduct shows that he has a regard for , and strives to obey in all things the moral law , which is the Divine law , and also the law of the land in which he lives , the obedience of which is indeed required by the Divine law itself , and thus ultimately rests upon the same authority

with that of the most strictly moral precepts . The charges of 1722 begin with the words : — "A Mason is obliged , by his tenure , to obey the moral law ; " and the second charge says : — " A Mason is a peaceable subject to the civil powers , wherever he resides or works . " No man who lives in

habitual disregard of any precept of the moral law is worthy of a place in tho Masonic brotherhood . His life is inconsistent with the very first principles upon which it is constituted , and at variance with the very purpose for which it exists . Flagrant violation of the moral law

exposes a Brother to Masonic censure , and if persevered in to the punishment of suspension or of expulsion . Nor is the case otherwise with regard to the law of the land . It has , as has been said , the sanction of Divine authority . " Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers , " says

the Apostle Paul . " For there is no power but of God : the powers that be are ordained of God . Whosoever therefore resisteth the power , resisteth the ordinance of God . . . . wherefore ye must needs be subject , not only for wrath , but also for conscience sake , " ( Rom xiii . 1-5 ) . "Put

them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers , to obey magistrates , " says the same apostle to Titus ( Titus iii . 1 ) . " Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord ' s sake , " says the Apostle Peter , " whether itboto the king , as supreme ; or unto governors , as unto them that are

sent by him for the punishment for evil-doers , and for tho praise of them that do well . For so is the will of God , that with well-doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men , " ( 1 Peter ii . 13-15 ) . Freemasonry , then , is in exact accord with the Book of the Law , the Holy Bible its

great Light , when it requires obedience of the law of tho land as an essential condition of membershi p in the Order and of a full enjoyment of its privileges , censuring and punishing violations of that law . Even although the things enjoined or forbidden by the Law of the Land may

be otherwise in themselves things indifferent with regard to the moral law , yet the law is to be obeyed , and every good and worthy Freemason will sincerely endeavour to obey it . He may think that it would be better if some special enactment were repealed , and he is quite entitled

to use all constitutional and lawful means to get it repealed , but meanwhile he will submit to it , and not transgress it . The brotherhood cannot countenance any one in transgression even of a law concerning the wisdom and utility of which great doubts may prevail . A distinction ought

certainly to be made as to the degree of censure or punishment to be inflicted between one case and another ; and the transgression which does not in its own nature imply any immoralit y beyond that of not rendering due submission to the authority of " the powers that be , " is not to be

dealt with so severely as one in which the immorality is gross , and would be so if there were no law on the subject in any human statute book . But if the particular law of the laud which is transgressed is one enforcing by penal sanctions a Divine law , if the transgression of thai human law

is at the same time a gross and flagrant violation of the moral law , then Masonic censure ought to be severe , and punishment ought to be inflicted , that the high character

of the brotherhood may be maintained , and a brother persevering in such iniquity ought to be expelled , that reproach may be wiped away . To receive him , his guilt being known , as if he were of immaculate reputation , or to screen