Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Foreign.
FOREIGN .
PARIS . —Bro Bertrand , M . AV . G . AL , summoned an especial Grand Lodge on the 4 th Alarch , 1848 , to condole with the friends of those Masons who fell during the days of February . At that meeting it was determined forthwith to open a list of subscriptions , the proceeds to be dividetl among the wounded . That all the lodges should be requested to assist the fund , and that five hundred francs be given at once by the Grand Lodge . That an addressof which the AL W . Grand Master
, produced a copy he had provided , should be presented by a deputation from the Grand Lodge to the Provisional Government . All these proposals were agreed to unanimously . On tbe 6 th of March , at four o ' clock , the deputation proceeded to the Hotel de Ville , where they clothed themselves in their masonic insignia , and were introduced to Bros . Cremieux , Gamier Pages , ancl A . Marrast , members of the Provisional Government , and Bro . Pagnerre , Secretary ,
all of whom wore their masonic clothing . Bro . BERTRAND , G . AL , said—In the name of the Grand Loelge of France , and of the lodges under its constitution , he begged to assure the Provisional Government of France of their entire confidence , and
determination to support it . Although the masonic fraternity of France recognised no political doctrines , and never allowed such to form any portion of their discussions , they could not allow a time of such extraordinary social and political changes to pass without expressing their sympathy with those who had assisted to promote them . At all times on the banners of Freemasonry were to be found the motto " Liberty , equality , and fraternity , " and it might be considered a gloriousinitiation
for the whole of France to stamp those words upon its flags , for they proved the triumph of the masonic principles among their countrymen . They could not but admire the courage which induces so many men to advance from their ease ancl retirement to assist in establishing freedom ancl the public welfare , while they were also using the most strenuous efforts to forward the public interest by constitutional and quiet means . Forty thousand Freemasons assembled in nearly five hundred lodges
with one heart and one idea , assured the Provisional Government of their support and co-operation , and would support the undertakings so gloriously began for the benefit of their common country . Alay the Great Architect of the Universe lend his assistance .
Bro . CREMIEUX , in reply , said—Citizens and Brethren of the Grand Orient of France , the Provisional Government receives with great gratification the assurance of your co-operation . The Grand Architect of the Universe created the sun to give light to the world , ancl freedom to maintain the same . The Grand Architect desires that man should be free . He gave us the earth that we might make it bring forth abundantly ; but this can be clone only by those who have freedom .
Freemasonry , it is true , does not occupy itself with politics . But the politics of a more exalted nature—the politics of humanity ancl of mankind—have always been the object of the lodges . There the true maxim of justice , whether enslaved by the force of tyranny in the mind , or the equally oppressive injustice upon speech—there , at all times , the love of equality , fraternity , and justice have shone forth and been triumphant . The Republic lives in the masonic creed , and therefore it VOL . vi . 3 p
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Foreign.
FOREIGN .
PARIS . —Bro Bertrand , M . AV . G . AL , summoned an especial Grand Lodge on the 4 th Alarch , 1848 , to condole with the friends of those Masons who fell during the days of February . At that meeting it was determined forthwith to open a list of subscriptions , the proceeds to be dividetl among the wounded . That all the lodges should be requested to assist the fund , and that five hundred francs be given at once by the Grand Lodge . That an addressof which the AL W . Grand Master
, produced a copy he had provided , should be presented by a deputation from the Grand Lodge to the Provisional Government . All these proposals were agreed to unanimously . On tbe 6 th of March , at four o ' clock , the deputation proceeded to the Hotel de Ville , where they clothed themselves in their masonic insignia , and were introduced to Bros . Cremieux , Gamier Pages , ancl A . Marrast , members of the Provisional Government , and Bro . Pagnerre , Secretary ,
all of whom wore their masonic clothing . Bro . BERTRAND , G . AL , said—In the name of the Grand Loelge of France , and of the lodges under its constitution , he begged to assure the Provisional Government of France of their entire confidence , and
determination to support it . Although the masonic fraternity of France recognised no political doctrines , and never allowed such to form any portion of their discussions , they could not allow a time of such extraordinary social and political changes to pass without expressing their sympathy with those who had assisted to promote them . At all times on the banners of Freemasonry were to be found the motto " Liberty , equality , and fraternity , " and it might be considered a gloriousinitiation
for the whole of France to stamp those words upon its flags , for they proved the triumph of the masonic principles among their countrymen . They could not but admire the courage which induces so many men to advance from their ease ancl retirement to assist in establishing freedom ancl the public welfare , while they were also using the most strenuous efforts to forward the public interest by constitutional and quiet means . Forty thousand Freemasons assembled in nearly five hundred lodges
with one heart and one idea , assured the Provisional Government of their support and co-operation , and would support the undertakings so gloriously began for the benefit of their common country . Alay the Great Architect of the Universe lend his assistance .
Bro . CREMIEUX , in reply , said—Citizens and Brethren of the Grand Orient of France , the Provisional Government receives with great gratification the assurance of your co-operation . The Grand Architect of the Universe created the sun to give light to the world , ancl freedom to maintain the same . The Grand Architect desires that man should be free . He gave us the earth that we might make it bring forth abundantly ; but this can be clone only by those who have freedom .
Freemasonry , it is true , does not occupy itself with politics . But the politics of a more exalted nature—the politics of humanity ancl of mankind—have always been the object of the lodges . There the true maxim of justice , whether enslaved by the force of tyranny in the mind , or the equally oppressive injustice upon speech—there , at all times , the love of equality , fraternity , and justice have shone forth and been triumphant . The Republic lives in the masonic creed , and therefore it VOL . vi . 3 p