The Grand Orient Of France.

say at once—those who value either their own Masonic character or the prestige of their Mother Grand Lodge cannot do so . If any do , depend upon it , they are utterly worthless in themselves as representatives of Anglo-Saxon Masonry , and utterly unauthorized and unaccredited

representation of the jurisdiction from which they hail . There are always queer folks who will do queer things in the . world , and Masons are not exempt from the law of " queerishness , " or any other sublunary law . But we shall not believe thc fact until it takes place , and never would the old

French saying be truer by whomsover originally put forth " Du sublime an ridicule il y n ' a qu ' un pas . " We have said this with much regret , but honestly and openly we felt bound formerly to express our opinion and we have expressed it again to day . The French Grand

Orient might , we think , however , do much to soothe the troubled waters of Masonry , ¦ —if it only retreated gracefully from the unwise position it lias taken up j if it openly stated that it gave up this childishness of innovation , that it deliberately rejects all counsels of political

propaganda , and that it holds out an olive branch of peace and good will to the Masons of all jurisdictions . For , in our opinion , the real objection to the past proceedings of the French Grand Orient lies in this , that they made no compensation for the verbal changes they introduced , or

rather they deliberately shut the door against any acceptance of their proposal—in that they positively and avowededlydeparted from the teaching of all Cosmopolitan Freemasonry . Had the French Grand Orient thought well to do what we have done , namely , to place the Charges , etc .,

" separatim , " leaving the constitution simply as a code of legislation , we s-hould have had nothing to say , and should have said nothing . But in the face of the world the Grand Orient takes out a profession of belief in God , and substitutes for it a formula whicb , at any rate ,

excludes such a belief . Ihe old form was , let us remember?— " Elle a pour principes l ' existence de Dieu l'immortalite de 1 Time , et la solidarity hunnaine " ( whatever that may really mean ) . The new formula runs thus : — " Elle a pour principes la liberie absoluede conscience et la solidarite humaine . " What then can any

honest man understand by such an alteration ? Js it not really "nous avons change tout cela , " with a vengeance . There can be no mistake about the act , or the object . It is said to be toleration , but is it not really a pure unbelieving revolution ? If , however , the French Grand Orient , ere it is too late , still wants to offer a means of conciliation , let it revise its Constitution , take

out all matter therefrom which does not concern legislation , and place under some more appropriate title what its future profession of principles is . We cannot but hope that such a manly realization of the essential difficulty of the present position of the French Grand Orient , of the

dangerous tendency of its prospective action might lead to a healthy reaction , and a formula might be devised which would harmonize with the opinions of Cosmopolitan Freemasonry , and pacify the justly agitated sentiments of all loyal Anglo-Saxon Masons . Then the French Grand Orient might truly welcome all Masons at Paris , and it

would promote harmony instead of warfare , sympathy instead of disavowal , brotherl y love and friendly union instead of growing discontent and hopeless isolation . We trust that our plainspoken words will be received in the reall y Masonic spirit in which they are intended , whether welcome or unwelcome to cur friends in France .

Initiation Fees.

INITIATION FEES .

By a slight "lapsus calami , " _^ j 5 s . was printed for £ 3 3 s . in our leader last week , on the Grand Lodge of Scotland . Practicall y the actual payment as a minimum in London is £ 4 4 s . ; in the provinces £ 3 15 s . 6 d ., which includes tbe Provincial Grand Lodge fee for registration . We

quite agree with Bro . Hughan that ^ 5 5 s . should be tho minimum in England , and we hope that it will speedily be made so , though practically very few lodges in England make it a minimum . If such a change takes place in England the pay-, ment will be £ C _ s . as a minimum in London , and in the provinces £$ 15 s . < 5 d ., ipduding the

Initiation Fees.

Prov . Grand Lodge fee . We do not quite agree with Bro . Hughan as to Scotland . £ 2 as ., would be better , we venture to think , with all deference to him , and 6 d . as a capitation payment is quite inadequate to the object in view .

London Masonic Charity Association.

LONDON MASONIC CHARITY ASSOCIATION .

We call attention to the circular of this new Society elsewhere which it is about to issue to all the Subscribers tothe London Charities . We do not think it needful to travel over the ground again which is traversed in that exhaustive appeal , ( as well as in a recent letter to the Freemason ) ,

for the " raison d ' etre ' of the London Masonic Charity Association , but would merely add that we concur alike with its arguments and in its conclusions . We think that our London brethren will do wisely and well if thsy will at once send

up their voting papers , signed , but not filled up , to the-Secretaries , whose address will be found at the foot of the circular alluded to . A letter of Bro . Woodford's in the correspondence on the same subject in the Freemason to-day , may also be well perused by our many readers .

Perils To Excursionists.

PERILS TO EXCURSIONISTS .

We are very sorry at this time of the year , when so many are taking a well-earned holiday , to be startled by the mournful accident on the London , Chatham and Dover Railway on Saturday last close to Sittingbourne Junction , between a cheap fast train and a goods train , which had

been improperly shunted and got on to the mam line . The carriages , crowded with women and children , ran into the goods train •five or six persons were killed on the spot , thirty or forty maimed and severely injured . We can all enter

into the dread reality of the scene , and deeply feel how sad roust have been such an ending to a day ' s lawful pleasure , and how that many of the passengers will carry to their graves a memocy of that awful accident . We trust that an

immediate inquiry will affix the fault to those who are to blame for such lamentable carelessness or neglect . The Times points out that this cheap fast train , running at forty miles an hour , was not provided with continuous breaks . Why not ? It will be seen that our esteemed brother , the

Grand Registrar , represented the Company at the inquest which has been held , and has brought in a verdict of manslaughter against the two guards , Moden and Clarke . Since we have written , another dreadful accident on the river adds to the melancholy excitement of London . The " Princess Alice , " one of the largest of the

London Steamboat Company s boats , with about six hundred passengers on board , was run down just below North Woolwich Gardens b y the " Bywell Castle , " a Tyno steamer , and between 300 and 400 lives are lost . Alas what a sad ending to a day ' s innocent pleasure . But still , " even in the midst of life we are in death . " 100 are saved .

Initiation Fees.

INITIATION FEES .

[ Wc do n « t hold ourselves responsible for , or even as approving t-f , the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but wc wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . —Ep . l

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS IN NONMASONIC PAPERS . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir aud Brother . — At an earlier period of my long Masonic career , ( thirty-one years ) , I was an active , perhaps too active ,

a contributor to our journals . Experience , however , with advancing years , has made me more cautious in this respect . For once , however , I am inclined to trouble you with a few remarks , arising from a recent visit to thc Province of Devon . No doubt your next number will contain a detailed account of the provincial meeting held

at Okehampton . Allow me first to observe , that in two local newspapers on the 26 th ult . have appearetl reports of the proceedings , extending over a column and a half . Though by no means one of those who elesire our lights to be hidden

from the external world , yet the propriety of carrying publicity to so great an extent as has been the case in this instance may be fairly doubted . Masons are human , and matters of controversy must arise , which sometimes infringe upon the fraternal feeling anti courtesy which we

Initiation Fees.

profess to inculcate and practise , and which , in the main , we elo carry out . Is it prudent to make these known , beyond our own members ? Okehampton , where the meeting was held , is a wild and remote part of the province , till lately difficult of access . Recentrail way arrangements , however , have afforded greater facilities , and this fact , together with the interest

of one or two questions to be discussed , caused a large attendance . It appeared to mc that the time would soon arrive when it would be desirable to divide this large province into two portions , with their respective centres at Exeter and Plymouth , between which there is evidently at present great rivalry . I do not mean to say in an unfriendly spirit , but naturally each is anxious to secure for

i : self and district as many honours as possible , the distance between them being about fifty-three , miles . This course has been adopted with advantage in Lancashire and Yorkshire . Devon has nearly fifty lodges , and others are , I believe , contemplated . It is true that , even after such division , each of thc new northern provinces contains more lodges than all Devon , but they are more cotrpacr , e . wing

to the large populations of contiguous manufacturing towns , whereas Devon extends over a very wide agricultural area , something lite seventy miles each way , and hence it is difficult to manage . The venerable Prov . Granel Master is , perhaps , the oldest officer of that rank in England , and is so beloved and respected that so long as he desires to maintain his position , it would be unwise to disturb it , but

it may be well to look forward to the time when , in the ordinary course of events , a change must be made . It is probable that , even now , his advanced age and diminished phy sical powers would render a decrease of labour and responsibility welcome to him . Considering that , owing to the great number of lodges , each one cannot expect to furnish a Grand Officer oftener

than once in four years , I was rather surprised to find the chairs of the Grand Wardens given to brethren who had previously been invested with the purple . The Prov . G . M . stated that in Devon there are about 400 P . M ' s ., many of whom are skilful , zealous , and deserving brethren , who have not had provincial appointments , since there are only about fifteen collars to be disposed of in each year ,

and the number of such unrewarded Masons must , of course , rapidly increase , whereas , in smaller provinces , such as Hereford ( 4 lodges ) , Bctlfoid ( 3 ) , Oxford ( 8 ) , Nottingham ( 9 ) , Cambridge ( 4 ) , Bristol ( 8 ) , Jersey ( 7 ) ; many who have not even attained to the first chair of a lodge , have receivcel such distinction . There seems to me a ready way of obviating this anomaly , by giving the purple to

the Stevvarels , or at least allowing them to wear it-after their year of office , eluring which they sport the red , and by apportioning the number of Stewards in each province to the number at lodges it contains , say one to every four lodges . This would increase the number of honours to be disposed of where elesirablc , anel would decrease them where they are already too numerous .

A very important question was discussed at great length and with much warmth , which may have a great effect on the existing large and valuable Institutions near London for thc education of Masons' children , and the support of the aged and distressed , of which our body is justly so proud . In Devon , as in other provinces , there is at least one local charitable institution , co-existent with and

independent of those already named , which are supported by the whole country . On Monday last it was deteimineel to adopt measuies which have a tendency to withdraw all help from the latter , and to limit the funds so appropriated to the formation of local benevolent institutions confined to tbe relief of distress within the province . This seems a very questionable proposition , and if the example

be followed extensively by the larger and more wealthy provinces , it must lead to serious results , and the ultimate abandonment of our great institutions , which can hardly be supported by the smaller provinces . No doubt this step will receive the attention of Masons throughout the

country , anel especially that of the authorities of the Order , as tending to disruption and thc consideration of individual rather thau of general interests . In case of the possible separation of North from South Devon , as two provinces , it must also lead to further serious complications there . Yours faithfully and fraternally , H . H .

CAN ATHEISTS BE ADMITTED INTO THE ENGLISH LODGES ? IF NOT WHAT JUSTIFIES

THE GRAND LODGE ? To the Editor ofthe " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Though want of space prevented a verbatim report of Bro . Darley ' s oration , on the 17 th ult ., at the Surrey Masonic Hall , we give in particular the following sent by him . " No irreligious libertine dare to tread within the sacred

precincts of a Masons' Lodge . At his introduction anel admision to the lodge he is given to understand that Freemasonry is based on the purest principles of piety ami virtue ; hc declares openly , in the presence of all , not only his belief in God , but his trust in Mis divine Providence . The first duty hc is called onto perform is to bend before thc Great Architect of thc Universe in prayer . He is adviseel to proceed with confidence , for no danger can ensue where Gotl ' s

name is mentioned ; the Volume of the Sacred Law is the first object presenteel to his view as the great light of Masonry , on which he is obligated , and he is advised to make it his guide of faith and practice , teaching his duty to God by never mentioning His name but with due reverence . And every progressive step to the climax of Masonry seems increasingly to magnify God ' s Holy name and cuhivatc veneration .

The Atheist , it is possible , may get access by dishonour and falsehood , as a thief or burglar follow nut their objects ; should he , however , get in he is net happy there . True , he rnay be a professed atheist from limited intellect or conception , though idiots arc known to have some idea ol