"Il Tegame," Or A Mason's Holiday.

"IL TEGAME , " OR A MASON'S HOLIDAY .

^ 1 H 0 SE travel well , thoso who stay at homo do bettor , since they aro certain to avoid much labour and many vexations . Still there aro times when the feeling described by

Chancer" Then longon men to go on pilgrimage , " steals o'er tho senses and all other considerations are given to tho winds which waft us away . Should , liowover , any goon brother desire to travel late in tbe Autumn , aud yet havo fine weather , let him not begin his journey on a Friday . Whother another day would havo been better , my

experience does not tell , thero may bo no connection between the two circumstances , in which case it would be only what is called a post hoc , or it may bo dependent upon it , in which case it is a ' propter hoc . This is indeed often a knotty doubt to decide , for small as it seems , this question of post hoc and propter hoc has been an object of debate from the beginning of time until now .

There are thoso claiming to be endowed with reasoning faculties , havo faith in the Mother Hubbard stovio 3 attributed by nescient men to King Solomon , and hence believe their quasi Masonic institutions to be a propter hoc of that epoch . There are also others who , believing Freemasonry to be a most valnable institution long established amongst ns ( as our now authenticated and published

annals abundantly prove ) , know it to be a post hoc , and regard with indignation those who seek to misload our younger brethren by idle narrations devoid of truth . I have in another place spoken of the two French Grand Lodges , also of tho private Lodges of Paris , and that work accomplished , still lingored amid its pleasant scenes to enjoy the charming

hospitality so peculiar to Fronch home society , and which is not always accessible to strangers . I had also full opportnnity for discussing tho different economical and othor subjects which at that time so occupied their minds , and among othor things of visiting at his country house , ten miles from town , a gentleman who had gained a gold medal .

The country house of a French citizen differs mnch from that of his English brother . This was a largo and handsome villa with stabling and snitable offices , surrounded by about three acros of land or four hectares , having one part in wood , to supply tho family with fuel , another part in vines viynoble , to afford wine , and a third part in wheat and vegetables , including a vivier or fish pond . We felt

the influence of tho wood , wo drank of the vine , and eat of the goat cheese which this little microcosm afforded ; a true epitome of France which claims in . VI things to suffice for its own modest requirements , in contrast to England , to whom is necessary the aid of tho world to support its colossal existence In this case , howover , my friend had not forcotten tho outer world , since by his now crowned ingenuity

his fnture labour will bo to reap that golden harvest which Europe is already laying at his feet . Our invitation was to Vendangor , to gather grapes afc tho harvest home . The ladies dressing iu enps something betweon a Charlotte Cordny and a nuu's Cornette , sabots on the feet , and aprons , good gracious , w !< ich would have clone credit to Mother Hubbard , or , save

tho mark , to any othor sham Masonic historian . How we laughed » nd talked , eat , nnd worked , danced and played billiards after , I will not describe , surely a merrier day , from dewy morn to night , was never spent since Noah planted bis vino and drank of tho juice thereof . Short as was my intercourse with tho brethron at Paris , it was sufficient to show the high estimation in which they held tho English

Craft , and in this thero was no difference , the Grand Orient vied with tbeltito ( de la Maronnerie ) Ecossaise , and the Rite Ecossaise with the Grand Orient . Tho only object seemed to be to bind still closer those ties which wc aro tangbfc should symbolically embrace the world , teaching man to have faith in his fellow man , and in that glorious human nature with which God has endowed him .

Bnt , my brethren , these men , our ether selves , have , perhaps unfortnnately , decided to vary a formula , a formula which varies for every country and for every Masonic system , adopting another which is equally binding on their consciences . For doing this , from England has gone forth the fiat of Anathema . Henceforth the hand offered as a pledge of trnth wo aro forbidden to touch , but must avoid it

as pollnted . The word of confidence must be whispered in their ears no more . In daily lifo the look of scorn must declare them degraded beings , wo are to turn from them and pass by . Already against all snch has been hissed out the word " sceptic , " whilst " atheist" seems the favourite term of more sapient scribes . Where the persecution of freedom of conscience began it

would be hard to tell and long to trace , but it has always been considered as abhorrent to Freemasonry . With feelings of deepest respect , I cannot but think it most unfortnnate , that without snfficiently debating so important a snbject with the Craft at largo , our Masonic authorities havo boon induced to take this I trust not irreparable step . It was such a resolution that formally severed in

twnin the British empire , and it was such unconstitutional conduct on the part of a minister which caused a statesman to exclaim , that could he "find the adviser of such an unconstitutional act he would drag him even from behind the throne . " Thero is evidence which goes to prove that the very highest

Masonic authorities do not partake of this spirit , and I call npon my brethren , and especially upon that great and independent body below tho chairs , to consider this important subject well in all its bearings . Shall or shall not our Masonic bond of union with the Craft of Europe be broken or retained ?

" Felices terqne felices quos copula irrupta tenet . " " nappy , aye thrice happy tbey Whom chain ne ' er broken binds . " Can it be sustained ? A Machiavellian policy hag been adopted , but destitute of Machavelli ' s lofty and godlike aim .

"Il Tegame," Or A Mason's Holiday.

The foreign Masonio press has demanded to be hoard , yet in spite of this almost general and grand declaration of the European Craft , our English Masonio press has striven , unfortunately , to throw obscurity rather than enlightenment over tho discussion . It may be said why protest when ifc can do no good , ov only expose you to most harsh remarks . To that I reply it may be so , yet still it is a duty ,

" The bvother'a blood crioth from the ground . " Scelusqne fraternal necis . " Aro recorded protests and will live for over . Wo shall resume the subject . Digressions , however , like halts must come to an end , so let our chat proceed . All that interests mankind may rightly interest

Masons whether travelling or otherwise , so after seoing tho Masonio Lodges I had the satisfaction of visiting tho Lunatic Asylums , institutions most admirably managed and worked , the municipal and clergy schools , tho former by permission of tho Prefect of the Seine ; the hospitals , & o ., all of whioh afford great opportunities of insight into French ideas and character , especially as in all these things

Europe at largo has more or loss followed or perfected the initiative of Franco . The presont struggle for Jesuitical supremacy in teaching I fear will not be settled now , sinco for good or ill that order has established an ascendency in the higher class of instruction not easily to bo broken down . Under the second Empire the imperial influeuce waa

used to support the Civil Lyceums ; and tho Marats , Neys aud othor Bonapartists sent their sons there for education , yet tho country gentry adhered to the Jesuit colleges , aud do so still . Tho Benedictines claim during tho middlo ages to havo afforded an asylum to ancient learning in their cloisters and monasteries , and there to have kept burning the sacred lamp . After tho Renaissance

it waa probably tho Port Royal influence that first successfully established tho now teaching in Frauce and drove out the fifteen sections of that day , the Trivinm and Quadrivium . It was then that in rivalry the Jesuits took it up , especially cultivating classical erudition , as our Delphine editions of tho classics even now show . Their aim , however , was to advance in literary culture and investigation

only so far as compelled to meet the demands of tho time , and this influence is evident in all tho clergy schools I have visited on the Continent . They are , however , devoted teachers and refined mon as a rule , and their refining influence on tho minds of their pupils is probably more prized than more strictly educational objects . It has not been difficult in Italy to sequestrate their countless monasteries

and scatter the inmates becanse they fulfilled no admitted requirements ; but who , regarding some of their gigantic piles of collegiate buildings , such as thoso of Bordeaux for example , can find places and trusted teachers for the scattered classes ? It is a complicated quostion of national policy and freedom of conscience that will tax the powers of the wisest men .

The worst of it is that Rome herself practically allows no con . science clause . Well do I recollect the working at a certain hospital iu a large city of France ( itself built under tho influence and largely at the cost of an Englishman ) , where the management was placed in Ultramontane keeping . I shall ever speak of all connected with ifc with reverence and esteem , but should never again care to

visit another institution subject to Ultramontane influence and an Ultramontane conscienco clause . Yes , Paris is certainly a fine town . " Seo Paris and live , " says the proverb ; and if I were asked what is its special endowment , I should say it is a town where the Empire of the Senses is supreme , each of which in turn it claims to havo elevated and refined , to have rendered

it a more perfect organon more capable of appreciating the stimulus peculiar to each . This perfection of tho organon in certain of the senses contributes to the savant formation of what is called taste or gout . It is pro . bably this exquisite perceptibility , this high capacity for developed aud refined sensation , constituting gout , that accounts for muoh of tho

characteristic versatility , and renders tho long continuance of any one influence , whether political or social , too much for the sensibility of its nerves to sustain . Die of a rose in aromatic pain may be only a poetical expression , but in this case it would no doubt express a real truth . How deeply soever adored may be the object , the time soon arrives when satiety sets in , when the lover tires ,

" Dum plenua languet amator . " Thesystem whether social or human which does best for this worka-day world , is one whose organisation is not too highly perfected , such a constitution better bears the chain of every day duty , and more accords with that best of companions , a mind conscious of recti , tude . Both , however , have excellent qualities , and each may learn from the other .

A social intercourse in its higher form 3 , which is only a form of sensuous enjoyment , is claimed by the French as not the least of their peculiar sciences , and doubtless it enters into all their social relations , softening where it cannot elevate , and charming even when it stoops to conquer . Howover that may be , France through Paris has established that social sensuous influence to which we all readily bow , and reigns an Empress" Pleased with herself whom all the world can please . "

W . VINEK B . BEDOLFB , M . D ., P . M . 1329 . Athenroum Club , Suffolk-street , Pall Mall , W . ( To be continued . )

Having purchased the copyright of David Roberts's Holy Land , Messrs . Cassell , Petter and Galpin are about to publish the work in monthly parts . Great care is being taken to secure an accurate reproduction of the plates , for which purpose tho illustrations aro being re-drawn from tho original folio edition .