Chapter Committee, In The Room Of The Late Lamented

Masonic toasts were given , aud at the hour of ten o clock the assembly rose , and departed to their several honi"s . A few words as to the financial condition of the Grand Orient , and wo have clone . The accounts opened on the 1 st March " 1875 , with a balance in hand of Fr . 2053 . 10 ,

receipts to end of February 1870 , "Fr . 214 . 280 . 40 . Total receip ts , Fr . 210 , 933 . 50 . Expenditure , Fr . 212 , 209 . 05 , leaving a balance on the right side of Fr . 4723 . 85 , which , added to tho amount already to tho credit of the Grand Orient , in the Credit Fourier , of Fr . 8278 . 25 , gives

the very respectable sum in hand of Fr » 13 , 002 . 10 . This is a very healthy evidence of the state of Freemasonry in France , as regards , at least , its financial interests , the more especially as not many years since tho Grand Orient was largely in debt .

In Germany the progress ot 1 rceraasonry has been marked by many vicissitudes of fortune . Nor has there always been that harmony of feeling among the different Masonic organisations Avhich might have been expected . We believe , however , AVO are fully justified in saying that

now , at all events , the Craft is firml y set , and if its chiefs continue to be animated b } ' Avisdom aud that conciliatory spirit which alone Avill hold the various sections together

we doubt not its present stale of prosperity will be enduring . Afc the beginning of the year there were in all Germany no less than 3-5 Lodges , Avithan aggregate of over 30 , 000 members . Of these the Grand Loilye of the Three Globes

at Berlin comprised 112 Lodges , Avith 12 , 265 members ; the Grand Countries' Lodge , Berlin , 81 Lodges , with 8 , 702 members ; and the Grand Lodge Royal York of Friendship , the third Berlin Grand Lodge , 43 Lodges , and 5 , 387 members . The Hamburgh Grand Lodge numbered 23

Lodges , and 1 , 818 members '; the Bavarian 22 Lodges , Avith 1 , 673 members ; the Grand Lodge of Saxony 18 Lodges , Avith 2 . 908 members ; the Eclectic Union , Frankfort-on the-Maine , 12 Lodges , aud 1 , 390 members ; the Grand Lodge

at Darmstadt , nine Lodges , 890 members . In addition there were five Lodges , independent of tho above Grand Bodies , and mustering among them 1 , 'JOU brethren . There aro various funds and societies for the relief of Masons '

WUIOAVS and children m different parts of ' . lie country , aud there are , too , a number of Masonic Clubs , as well as a Central Masonic Educational Union in Berlin , to Avhieh some 40 Lodges pay each an annual contribution . But while AVC readily concede that Freemasonry has done , and

is doing its appointed task on the whole satisfactorily , there is . ono signal blob on the escutcheon of . the German Craft . They aro not , or at least all of the existing organisations aro not , true to the fundamental princi ples of Freemasonry as rcgaids freedom of conscience . While

our Lronch brethren err in excess of freedom , and allow members to believe or not believe in the existence of a God ; on the other hand the German Lodge .-, or , as wo have said , certain of them , hold extremely circumscribed views upon this point , in so far as

this , that they set their faces obstinatel y against the admission of Jews into the brotherhood . Once alread y the subject has been brought under the notice of our Grand Lodge , and Ave believe a remonstrance , based , if wo remember rightly , on the refusal of a Berlin Lodge to admit a visiting

English brother of the Jewish persuasion , Avas made to the ruling Masonic authorities . Latterly , hoAvever , AVC understand the question has been again brought forward , and report lias it that more than one of the Berlin Grand Lodges has decided that Jewish applicants are not admissible into

the Society . This , as every one acquainted with the Soci : ty is aware , is directl y opposed to the princi ples of Freemasonry . The matter Avas lately mentioned in one of our Lodges—AVC think it was Tranquillity , No . 185—and wo trust some measures may be taken to remonstrate Avith

the offending Grand Bodies ; or that the latter will , Avithout such remonstrance , recognise the propriety of folloAving strictly the old and sound laAv of Freemasonry , Avhich requires that all its members shall Avorshi p God , but leaves the manner of that worship to the conscience of each

individual . We may further add , and it is in the hi ghest degree creditable to those German Lodges Avhich have adopted the system , that lectures are frequentl y given and published , for distribution among the Craft generally . This shows , at all evenbs , that Germany does not lose

sight of the intellectual business ; AVC have already pointed out that it does nob neglecb the Benevolent . \ In other countries in Europe there is little to record ¦ which is not subject for congratulation . In Jul y , our Dutch brethren celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of the accession

Chapter Committee, In The Room Of The Late Lamented

to the Grand Mastership of tho Netherlands of His Royal Highness Prince Frederick . A large gathering of the Craft were present to Avitncss tho interesting ceremony , among them bung the Imperial Crown Prince of Germany , and many distinguished members of the Fraternity . In honour

of the occasion , a gold mallet , set with diamonds , Avas presented to His Royal Highness . We also hear that Prince Alexander , the younger son of the King " , Avas initiated into Freemasonry in the summer , by his great uncle , the Grand Master . In Denmark the Grand Lodge held its annual

Festival in January , when Grand Master H . R . H . tho Crown Prince presided . Prince Hans , the King ' s brother , and some four hundred brethren were present . A most heart y reception Avas accorded to the Grand Master , and the meeting passed off most successfully . In Hungary a very

noteworthy increase of Masonic strength is perceptible . There is now a Grand Orient , as well as a Grand Lodge , and both interchange representatives Avith our Grand Lodge . Ono of our representatives there is Bro . Dv . Herman Beigol , a Past Master of onr Lodge of Tranquillity , No . 185 , and

editor of a new Masonic journal , Dec Freimanrer , the first number of Avhich appeared in January . These tivo grand bodies number together 33 Lodges , of Avhich 21 aro under the Grand Orient , and 12 under the Grand Lodge . Of the former , six are located in IJuda-Pesth , and nine in the

Provinces . There are , in addition , four other Lodges in foreign parts , holding under the Grand Lodge . A remarkable occurrence must be mentioned in connection Avith Hungarian Freemasonry . It appears that a lady , a certain Countess Hiidick , having studied the literature and history

of our Craft , conceived a strong desire to be made a Mason . Sho accordingly sought admission into one of the Lod ges subordinate to the Grand Orient , and , strange to . say , iu spite of her sex , was not rejected . The ceremony of her initiation Avas duly performed , and tho lady obtained

a knowledge of , at all events , the secrets entrusted to a Masonic novice . Ou hearing of this , the Grand Orient declared the initiation A oid and of no effect . Tho case stands thus , therefore , —Tho Countess Hiidick having been solemnly initiated into Freemasonry is , ipso facto ,

a hreemason . The Grand Orient , however , by a stroke of the pen , has deprived her of all her Masonic privileges . The matter is one of considerable difficulty , but , Avith all due deference to tho Grand Orient , Ave fail to see how its action has in any Avav mended matters .

The Craft in Spain has this year sustained a serious loss by the death of Bro . Calatrava , Grand Master of the National Grand Orient . The vacancy has been filled by tho appointment of Bro . the Marquis de Seoanc . Under this Grand Orient there were , at tho beginning of the year ,

six Lodges in the important Spanish West Indian Dependency of Cuba , Avhile ab the same time there Avas a Grand Orient of Colon in the same island , with no less than twenty-five Lodges under its jurisdiction . It is almost needless to say that Spain ignores the existence of

the latter Grand Body . However , iu August , a new Grand Lodge of Cuba Avas formally established . Nine Lodges , Avhich had been Avarrantcd by the Grand Lodge of Colon , met together , iu the persons of their Masters , Wardens , and Deputies , and passed a series of resolutions ,

to the effect that henceforth they hold themselves free and independent of the Supreme Council of Colon , Avhich had usurped an absolute authority over tho Grand Lodge of the same , that they no longer recognise the latter as a regularly constituted Grand Lodge , and that they have

constituted themselves an Independent Grand Lodge , AA'ith the style and title of" Grand Lodge of the Island of Cuba . " Ifc Avas further determined , that only the three degrees of Craft Masonry , together Avith that of Past Master , should he granted by tho neiv Grand Lodge , aud that , till its code

ot laws had been promulgated , they would take Bro . Dr Mackey ' s Masonic . Jurisprudence as their guide . The assembly then proceeded to the election of Grand Officers , Avhen Bro . Enrique Verdeja AA'as chosen Grand Master , and Bros . Arvelio Almeida and Gregorrio Gonzales

Amador Grand Wardens , Bro . Em . Mola Grand Treasurer and Bro . Carlos Ruiz Grand Secretary . The Grand Officers Avero then solemnly installed , by the oldest Master present , and Grand Lodge took the oath of obedience and respect to the Grand Master aud his Wardens . A circular ,

hearing date the 22 nd August 18 / 6 , AA'as then ordered to be sent bo bhe various Grand Lodges and Grand Orients , aud the proceedings thus terminated . Portugal is lamenting one of its foremost chiefs in Masonry . It is onl y a very short time since that we recorded the death of the