Freemasonry In Italy.

JAM , j , '"/^ ... ¦ Supreme Council of Brazils , Valley of the Lavradio , Viscount of Rio Bianco . Greeting and Brotherhood . Or . of Leghorn on the 8 th day of the 8 th month of the year of the true light , 5873 , commonly called 18 73 .

This Respectable Lodge was deeply moved on learning from the public papers the noble conduct observed by you in resisting the overbearing of the priests against our Brethren . Your conduct was [ that of a true Mason , and praiseworthy , as by your eloquence you proved

that Freemasonry emanates from Light and wishes progress and truth . The Respectable Lodges Areopagus and Ancient Virtuosi , of the Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Scotch Rite , having its seat , in Palermo could not be indifferent to your

conduct , but unanimously decreed the resolution which we hereby cheerfully communicate to you , g iving you the pleasing intelligence that your name is already entered in the Album of the Honorary members of this Respectable Lodge , with the tr . myst . grip , whereby we fraternally greet you .

The Ven . ( Signed ) Franco Andream , 33 ° . Notary Antonio Cer , 33 , 1 st . E . Cardinali , 3 , and . Anselmo Carpi , Orator , 33 ° The Sec . Giacomo Terracine :

R . Piperno , 39 , Seal and Stamp Keeper . ( Seal ) Notary . —A . Cer , 33 ° . Extract from the Book of Architecture of the Respectable Lodge Ancient V . ' . of the G . \ & , 0 . \ of Leghorn , at the meeting held on the

I [ 24 th day of VIII . month of the year of True Light 5873 , commonlyknownas 24 September , Ii 873-* Whereas it is the duty of a true and good Mason to oppose , to the best of ^ his ability and with all his might ' the overbearing and usurpation

of the clergy . Whereas further , the clergy is doing its utmost to render the altar the seat of ignorance and superstition , and to revive the inquisition with all its horrors and excommunications , considering that the Gr . Com . G . O . and Supreme Counsellor of Brazils in the Valley of Lavradio , Viscount

of Rio . Bianco , President of the Counsel of Minsters of the Brazilian Empire vigorously defended the rights of Freemasons against . the tyranny of the clergy . And Whereas he succeeded in securing before the representatives of the country the triumph and rig hts of Freemasons , and to bring under the arm of the law the bishops , our implacable

enemies . Whereas he thus fulfilled a duty and rendered a real service to our institution . Whereas the Prov . Grand Com . G . O . Viscount of Rio Blanco , by this his noble deed Jias deserved the goodwill of the Great Widow .

The Lodge Areopago , Cap . A . V . G . O ., of Leghorn , of the Ancient and Accepted Scotch Rite , by order of the Supr . Conns ., having its seat in Palermo ,

RESOLVES , That greetings of true admiration and deep-felt congratulations be and are hereby sent to the R . and Powerful G . Com . Grand M . of the G . O . of Brazils , in the valley of the Lavradio , Viscount of Rio Bianco : —

That , as an acknowledgment of his noble conduct , this lodge is proud of inscribing him among its honorary members . That this resolution be at once transmitted to the noble Bro . G . Com ., and G . M . of Rio Bianco .

Examined aud found in accordance with the

original at the of Leghorn , this day of the VIII . month , of the year of the true light 5873 , commonly known as 1873 . October , 1 S 73 . ( Seal )

Mr . Henry Richard , M . P ., has recently sent the following reply to the address presented to him by the Lodge Anziani Virtuosi , by order of the G . O . of Palermo , in reference to his motion of 8 th July last , on international arbitration .

Freemasonry In Italy.

Hotel Bretagne , Vienna , 7 th Nov ., 1873 . Dear Sir , Owing to my absence it is only now that I have received the communication of the worthy society represented by you , wherein they congratulate me for the success of my motion in

the House of Commons on the 8 th July . Be so good as to tender my thanks to the gentlemen belonging to your Masonic Order of Leghorn , for the kind words and hearty sympathy addressed to me , and to assure them that it has given me sincere pleasure to receive such an

address after the difficulties I have encountered in the English Parliament in upholding the princip les of reason , justice , and humanity . In future my work will be weak in comparison with the support which the generous Italian nation will surely give to this principle .

I have the honour to remain , dear Sir , Yours very respectfully , ( Signed ) HENRY RICHARD . A . Carpi , Esq ., Speaker of the Lodge Anziani Virtuosi , Leghorn .

Visit Of The Provincial Grand Lodge To The Portsmouth Lodge (No, 487).

VISIT OF THE PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE TO THE PORTSMOUTH LODGE ( No , 487 ) .

There was a large gathering of Freemasons at the Masonic Hall , St . Mary ' s-street , Portsmouth , on Monday , 22 nd ult ., to celebrate the opening of the premises of the Portsmouth Lodge , No . 4 87 , after their restoration . The

new lodge room is generally admitted to be one of the finest in this part of England , both for the convenience of its arrangements and its acoustic properties . In the restoration of the building the present W . M . of the Portsmouth Lodge ( Bro . George S . Lancaster )

has been untiring in his exertions , and it is mainly to his energy that the lodge is indebted for its completion during the present year . In order to give additional eclat to the ceremony of Monday , the W . M . had invited the attendance of the Provincial Grand Master , ( Bro . W . W .

B . Beach , M . P . f ) and the officers of Provincial Grand Lodge , besides several other distinguished Masons of Portsmouth and the neighbourhood . The lodge was opened at 4 . 30 ., the W . M . presiding , with Bros . J . Astridge , A . S ., as Senior Warden , and J . Maltby , Junior Warden , the other officers of the lodge present being Bros .

Ubsdell , I . P . M . ; E . M . Wells , F . M ., and Treasurer ; M . E . Frost , P . M ., Secretary ; T . Moore , S . D . ; E . Bunting , J . D . ; W . Barnes , Organist ; George Bond , I . G . The Provincial Grand Master was accompanied by the following officers of Grand Lodge : —Bro . J . R . Stebbing , D . P . G . M . ; the

Hon . Somerset Calthorpe , No . 175 , S . G . W . ; Henry Cawte , No . 106 9 . J . G . W . ; M . E .-Frost , No . 488 , G . T . ; W . Hickman , No . 130 , G . S ., P . G . A . D . C , Eng . ; J . E . Le Feuvre , No . 130 , G . S .,- G . H . De Fraine , No . 257 , G . S . D .,- E . Sheppard , No . 76 , G . J . D . ; Dyson , No . 394 , G . S . W . ; Sleeman , W . M ., No . 903 , G . S . B . ;

G . Stewards : Bros . Moore , No . 487 ; C . Cox , No . 394 ; R . J . Rastrick , No . 1 , 069 > anc ^ H . F . Cox , No . 804 . The Past Provincial Grand Officers present were—Bros . J . Ogburn , P . P . G . W . ; H . Ford , P . P . G . W . ; S . D . Forbes , P . P . G . W . Essex ; J . Morgan , P . P . G . R . ; Bradbear , P . P . G . R . ; W .

H . Ford , P . P . G . W . ; J . J . Gait , P . P . G . D . ; E . G . Holbrook , P . P . G . D . C . ; Tuohy , P . P . G . D . C . ; G . Rake , P . P . G . Supt . of Works ; A . Cudlipp , P . P . G . D . C ; T . Batchelor , P . P . G . Supt . of Works . The lodges in the locality were represented by Bros . Lcgh Bailey , W . M . 20 : S . R . Ellis , W . M . 342 ; Cant . Trower ,

W . M . 1428 ; R . Brown , W . M . 106 9 ; Francis , W . M . 804 ; [ Martin , W . M . 1461 ; C . B . Whitcombe , P . M . 903 ; and among the other brethren present were Bros . R . D . King , 447 ; J . Thompson , 6 54 ; Bradford , 106 9 ; Bourke , 3 $$ ; J . J , W . Moody , 106 9 ; H . J . Guy , 106 9 , and others . The attendance of the members of the

Portsmouth Lodge was also unusually numerous , and included Bros . Sherman , J . E . Ivimry , G . Wendover , H . Threadingham , F . N . Cunningham , C . Groom , E . Lancaster , Anderson , R . W , Beale , J . Clay , Ahronsberg , and others . A P . M . ' s jewel , of the finest workmanship ,

—» - ' ¦ . -. » . *— 1 . 11 i » . ' . 1 M was presented to the W . M . ( Bro . Lancaster ) in the lodge , by the Prov . G . M . In making the presentation the R . W . Prov . G . M . spoke of the lodge room , as now restored , in terms of the highest praise , and said it was a credit , not only to the Freemasons of Portsmouth , but to the province generally . He then referred to the

services of the W . M . during the past year , which were deserving of the gratitude of his lodge , and said it afforded him great pleasure to be present on that occasion . He then presented the jewel to Bro . Lancaster , amidst the applause of the brethren . The jewel bore the following inscription : —

" Portsmouth Lodge , 487 . Presented to Bro . G . S . Lancaster , P . M ., by the brethren of the Portsmouth Lodge , 4 87 , as an acknowledgment of his zeal and constant attention to the duties of the lodge during his year of office , 1873 ; also to commemorate the restoration of the lodge

premises , of which he was mainly instrumental . Bro . Lancaster acknowledged the presentation in feeling terms , and said he had endeavoured to carry out the duties of his office to the best of his ability .

The lodge having been closed , a recherche banquet was served in the new supper room , which was attended by about 80 of the brethren , and was presided over by the W . M ., who was supported by the P . G . M . and the other distinguished visitors .

"The Queen and the Craft , " "The Most Worshipful Grand Master , the Marquess of Ripon , K . G ., " " H . R . Highness the Prince of Wales , P . G . M ., " and "The Right Worshipful the Deputy Grand Master , the Earl of Carnarvon , and the Officers of Grand Lodge , " were given

from the chair by the W . M . r , In responding to the latter toast , Bro . . W . Hickman , Prov . G . Sec . ( P . G . D . C of England ) , said Lord Carnarvon was well known to most of the brethren present as one who was highly esteemed in every relation of life , whether they

regarded him when performing his high functions in Grand Lodge , or when coming amongst them and adding lustre to their assemblies in the provinces , or when fulfilling his important duties in the Imperial Legislature , or when coming among them to promote the arts and

sciences and the general welfare of the people . Everywhere he was welcomed , and he was one of those who added lustre to the kingdom over which our gracious Queen reigns , and added stability to this great Empire . He believed that the other officers of Grand Lodge endeavoured

to fulfil their respective duties to die best of their ability , so that Masonry might . not only advance , but influence the minds of all who came within its sphere . He believed that in this province Masonry was advancing , and was now placed upon a very solid basis . Their Prov .

Grand Master , took very great and earnest care of all that concerned the province . The Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master , Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P . " was next proposed by the Worshipful Master , who remarked that the brethren took it as a great

compliment that the R . W . Prov . G . M . had honoured them with his presence . He had distinguished himself , not only in the Masonic fraternity , but as a member of the greatest institution in the country—the House of Commons—and when they found a brother like him in the position of

Provincial Grand Master , who was willing to give up a certain amount of time to the benefit of Masonry in general , they ought to be very grateful to him . The R . W . Prov . Grand Master , Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., who was greeted with much

heartiness , said he begged to express his sincere and warm thanks to them for the very cordial manner in which they had received his health . It gave him the greatest gratification to attend there , and , indeed he should be most unmindful of the interests of Masonry in that province if he did not take an opportunity , when it was in

his power , of attending an important lodge in such a large centre of Freemasonry as Portsmouth . The W . M . had alluded to his public duties , and , no doubt , they took up a great deal of one ' s time and rendered it , perhaps , impossible to devote so much time to Freemasonry , however much one might desire to do so , as he otherwise would . But if they managed their