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The Freemason , SATURDAY , SEPTEMBER 9 , 1871 .

THE FREKMASON is published on Saturday Mornings in time for he early trains . The price of THK FREEMASON is Twopence per week ; annual ubscription , ios . ( payable in advance ) . All communications , letters , Sic , to be addressed to the EDITOR 158 , Fleet-street , E . C . The Editor will pay careful attention to all MSS . entrusted to him llut cannot undertake to return them unless accompanied by postage stamps .

The Grand Orient Of France.

THE GRAND ORIENT OF FRANCE .

IT is announced that the authorities of the Grand Orient of France have issued a circular to other Grand Masonic Bodies , with the view of removing an impression which

widely prevails as to the participation of certain Parisian Masons , as such , in the revolutionary acts of the insurgent Communists . The Grand Orient denies that the

attitude of the Masonic Fraternity in Paris during the recent troubles was at any time inconsistent with the teachings and traditions of the Order , and it is further averred

The Grand Orient Of France.

that deviations from the neutral line prescribed by Masonic law have occurred amongst the lodges in Germany . With respect to the latter assertion , we

can only say that we hear it for the first time , and as no instances are quoted , or proofs set forth , we take the liberty ' of stigmatising it as a most uncharitable

surmise , unworthy serious consideration . But the denial by the French Masonic authorities of all complicity in the miserable doings of the Commune cannot be so lightly

dismissed . Does the Grand Orient ignore the f act that ten thousand so-called Masons fraternised with tlie men of blood , and planted their lodge banners on the ramparts

of Paris ? If these men were spurious Masons , owing no allegiance either to the Grand Orient or to the Supreme Grand Council of France , it merely proves that

Freemasonry in France must be terribly effete to allow impostors to assume its symbols and degrade its name . But if , on the other hand , we take the more probable

hypothesis , that the mountebanks who paraded their ribbons and jewels through Parisian streets were actually members of

Masonic lodges working under the Grand Orient itself , or the Supreme Council , what becomes of the authoritative contradiction

now given to the world ? Are we to believe that not even ten regular Masons took part in the celebrated "demonstration " of which Henri Rochefort became the

enthusiastic historian ?—that every man who wore an apron or carried a sword in the vast procession did so under false pretences , usurping a title to which he had no just claim ?

If this be the case , the clandestine bodies of Masons in France must be far more numerous than the regular brethren ,

and the utmost caution should be exercised by English lodges , accordingly , before they admit a French brother . Ten thousand

men marching as Masons , and identifying what thcyarc pleased to term the "Masonic programme " with the theories of the Commune ! and yet we arc gravely told that the

Masonic Body kept aloof from the hideous politics of the time . We want further information as to those men , and why such

a formidable host of soi-disaut Masons should have been permitted to spring up side by side with the peace-loving adherents of the Grand Orient ? Cannot even one

man be identified as a quondam believer in the rue Cadet , and the Napoleonic Grand Mastership ? Who were the Freres Monicre and Terifocq , whose names were

reported by Rochefort in his Mot d' Ordre as prominent Masonic orators on the day of the demonstration ? We have a right to demand if , after all that has been said ,

these men turn out to be subjects of the Grand Orient , and consequently traitors to their Masonic vows , that signal and condign punishment shall be inflicted upon them .

Let them be solemnly expelled— their names blotted out for ever from the roll of the Craft , and only the record of their treason and theirshamc remain as a warning

The Grand Orient Of France.

to future ages . The whole system of Continental Freemasonry must be purged and purified , ancl the dangerous practice of allowing political or religious discussions in

the lodges must be at once and for ever abolished . In this respect , not only French Masons , but many others , especially amongst the Latin races , have grievously erred .

Dreams of social reforms and plots for organic political changes have alike , been ventilated under the protecting shade of Masonry , and with the most demoralising

and destructive effect upon its fair fame , and its hoped-for progress . We are glad to find that the heads of the Craft in Belgium have sternly enjoined the lodges under

their jurisdiction no longer to countenance this baneful and unmasonic practice , and we hope the Grand Orient of France will see the necessity of adopting a similar

course . Since we commenced this article we have received a copy of the Monde Macoiiniquc ,

in which the text of the circular issued by the Grand Orient is given , and we are happy to notice that the statements made as to its

contents in several journals are to some extent erroneous . Bro . Babaud Laribiere , the Grand Master , repudiates the action of the unworthy men who forgot the true

principles of Freemasonry during the civil war ; but the question still remains , as we have put it—Who were these men ? and are they still acknowledged as Masons ? Now

that the attention of our French brethren is directed to ' the subject , we are satisfied that stringent measures will be adopted to prevent the recurrence of such a scandal , and

in the reorganisation of their system we trust they will not forget to prohibit the discussion of political or religious matters in all the lodges under the jurisdiction of the Grand Orient .

Fair Or Foul.

FAIR OR FOUL .

THE debate upon Brother Matthew Cooke s motion in Grand Lodge , last Wednesday evening , acquires importance from the fact

that one of the primary laws which govern not only Freemasonry , but all associations of just men , was deliberately violated by that member of the Craft . The

Constitutions state , most distinctly , that if brethren have complaints to prefer , those complaints must be made to the Board of General Purposes , and that the accused party should have clue notice of the same .

Now , on Wednesday night Bro . Cooke brought forward charges of venality and corruption against the executive officials of Grand Lodge , without having given the

slightest previous intimation of his intention , either by notice of motion or otherwise . A constitutional right is imperilled by this proceeding , apart entirely from the merits

of the case . The amendment of Brother Bennoch , by which the whole subject is referred to the Board of General Purposes for investigation , was carried , and , under the circumstances , wecan easily understand the