The Voting At The Girls' And Boys' Schools Elections.

trongly that these figures and facts justify fully } he action of the London Masonic Charity Association .

The Grand Lodge Of Quebec

THE GRAND LODGE OF QUEBEC

We do not see that anything has occurred to change our already expressed opinion on this subject . We have read several official publications , and carefully studied the correspondence which appears in our columns , but still we adhere to our original view of the whole question . We

are quite clear , that in denying the right of the individual lodges to retain their connexion with the mother Grand Lodge , which granted to them their warrant , the Grand Lodge of Quebec was utterly wrong , and the New York Dispatch was still more wrong altogether in saying that all

American Grand Lodges would endorse the theories and action of the Grand Lodge of Quebec . The Grand Lodges of Missouri , Kansas , and ( Arkansas hold the views we have ourselves expressed on the subject , and we have also good reason to believe that such will be found to be

the opinion also of the Grand Lodge of New York . Nay , we will go further , and say that we believe that all the American Grand Lodges will eventually avow the same teaching , inasmuch as when the whole question is carefully looked into , apart from passion and party spirit , which

mark the utterances of the Grand Lodge of Quebec and its supporters at this special moment , the law of Masonic right and common sense will be upheld in America as in Great Britain . The Grand Lodge of Canada , equally , clearly takes the same view as we do , and when we

remember that the English Grand Lodge has always maintained a Provincial Grand Master at Montreal , the Masonic law and precedent on the subject seems to us to be unimpeachable . We do not see , we confess , that anything can fairly be said against the Grand Lodge of Scotland ,

except , that perhaps its action has been a little premature . The Grand Lodge of Canada appears to have waived its jurisdiction , and the territory occupied by the Grand Lodge of Quebec , but failing a concordat as between the Grand Lodge of

Scotland and the Grand Lodge of Quebec , we are not prepared to blame the Grand Lodge of Scotland because it revived its rights in abeyance , and asserted its claim of prior occupation . But yet , perhaps , " prudence , a great Masonic , as well as humanitarian virtue , might have , perhaps ,

said to the Grand Lodge of Scotland " lestina Lente , " " hold your hand . " And even now , we believe , that if instead of fiery "deliverances , " and foolish and childish Masonic excommunications , the Grand Lodge of Quebec will be reasonable in its proceedings with the Grand Lodge of Scotland , peace may be preserved , and the whole

of this untoward controversy may come amicably to an end . But to the absurd pretensions , and unprecedented claims of some of the cham pions of the Grand Lodge of Quebec , as well as of the Grand Lodge itself , neither the Grand Lodge of Scotland nor the Grand Lodge of England can ever , under any circumstances , submit .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ We do wot hold ourselves responsible for , or even approving of , the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . ]

FRENCH FREEMASONRY . To the Editor of the " FreemasM . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Having resolved on a change , with a view also to devote a little time to the study of Freemasonry , and of primary education abroad , we ventured to commence our

voyage , even with the report of the loss of the Eddysti ne , and of a rough channel ringing in our ears , but arrived at Ncwhaven , Neptune we found pacified , and that all was calm . A voyage in France reminds one of the time- ** , alas , long gone by , when first I landed on its shores anel sought the

portals of its colleges , when Louis Philippe was on the throne . A mad time my masters I when thc villages around seemed in perpetual fete , and outside barrier balls abounded , where the fun never failed , anel when to use the old phrase " Le vin de quatre JOUS " " Met le sens sous , dessus , " when the grisettes wore caps as " tie rigucur , " when

Original Correspondence.

cocottes were few , and the francs went—well , at any rate much further then at present . Then it was the polka in its original half military form , first made its appearance , exciting wonder and admiration . " Oh ! happy days of youth , why did ye pass away . " At that period , now nearly forty years since , Paris held a relatively higher position in the world of science than it

does now . Sir H . Davy had passed away , although the halo of Faraday , his successor , will ever endure , and some of our best men in the quagmire of somnambulism had become lost to science . In Paris on the contrary still existed that phalanx of working men of the school of Cuvier , who had rehabilitated the olden world of Guizot , who left the chair of his university- to guide unhappily the

destinies of Europe ; whilst in medicine and its allied sciences Orfila , Thenard , Broussais , Laennec and a host of well known names instituted the commencement of the new era in science and investigation in w hich our own country so soon participated , and which it may now be said to lead . However that maybe , although France may not always lead the van , she will never be in the rear of

science or of art . Her material good is indeed , as it were , se ured by the happy endowments which providence has afforded her , the beauty of her climate , and a people gifteel by nature with the highest intelligence and discernment , the highest which has yet been accorded to man . The enjoyments of

life , the happiness of the individual , no matter in what locality , may best be summed up in the phrase , " see France and live ! " and it stamps with truth the regrets of Beranger , in the adieu of Marie , Queen of Scots : " Adieu charmant pays de France Que je dois tant cherir ,

Berceau di mon heureuse enfance Ah ! te quitter-e ' est mourir . " I arrived here last Saturday , and rising the next morning my wife desired to visit the chapel of Dr . Pressence , in the Rue Madame , and enquire of the welfare of thc Medical Mission , whilst I myself , too little calm for quiet worship , finally listened to a discourse addressed to

the Divinity Students at St . Sulpice . On thc Monday I took my way to thc Grand Orient de France , Rue Cadet i 6 . It is the third story , but English Masons must not be surprised at French simplicity . A Tyler was arranging a Chapter when I entered , but I readly obtained all the information I required with this aeldition " Come here , monsieur" every evening at 8 o ' clock ,

except Saturday and Sunday , and you will always find a working loelge to receive you . " On my asking him to explain thc difference between themselves and the Scottish Rite ? bis reply was " well we are Red . " To which I replied , " that is , you go in for the Republic . " Having promised to return at 8 p . m ., I went to the Grand Bureau of the Scottish Rite in the Rue dela Victoire ,

somewhat more pretentious than the Grand Orient , but still unpretending , although admirably arranged with a series of Masonic rooms . I was received there with much friendship by the officers present , who gave me the programmes of several lodges , offered me gratuitous tickets for the fete in the Trocadero on the 24 th inst ., whilst I gladly purchased a ticket for the

banquet . "Now , " said I , " tell me the difference between yourselves and the Grand Orient e . f France ? " Thc reply was , " we are White . " "That is , " I remarked , " you go in for royalty ?" "It is so , " said he , " but you know we are all brothers . " This is probably the explanation of the difference between the two bodies , — they will nevei

coalesce—however their orbits may approach , tbe one will always hold to the symbol of legitimate kingship— " Oh 1 Richard , oh mon Roi , " whilst the symbol of the other will ever remain " EgaliteS and the Republic ; " and when any allusion is made to a passing event , viz ., the invitation to our Royal Grand Master , this grand distinction must always be in mind ; one means

Henri V ., the other the Red Republic . Light and darkness can present no greater divergence . The same evening I repaired to the Lodge L'Amiiie , working under the Grand Orient , rather too late for the opening , but on sending in my Masonic diploma was immediately received in the first Degree . The W . M . received me with kindness , and politely invited me to a seat

on the dais beside him . The walls , the cushions , all were red . Three candidates were for proposal , most careful enquiries respecting each had been made , and three reports for each candidate were read , and one of the " profanes " proposed was a me ' eanicien , the second an artizan , the third a cabinet maker . Their character and principles were carefully discussed . The last of the profane , a

cabinet maker , had just finished his time of service as a soldier , he was born in La VendeSe , his opinions were stated " very advanced , " his ideas " socialist , " his age twenty-eight . After much discussion all candidates passed the ballot , but none were initiated , the W . M . present being only a depuiy . Of those present the W . M . and another had medals , i . e ., jewels ; all wore collars , few had aprons , and one

wore a red scaif . There is an officer in the Grand Orient unknown to us , called the Orator . He has charge of the Book of Constitutions , and as politics and religion are forbidden , it is his duty to declare what discussion or what proceeding is legal , and he really seems well read in the Constitutions . As to the officers , thc W . M . was a kind-hearted , friendly genial man , of middle age , such as one would feel at home

with anywhere ; the Secretary was also , I should say , a nice fellow ; the Orator—not Cassius' self was so lean or apparently so devoid of " sleep-a-night . " His eyes , his hands , his limbs , seemed docmed never to know repose . In the usual manner he proposed a question that " collections for thc families of the political prisoneis be continued until the amnesty should be declared , " which the Secretary opposed . On the question being decided against him he succeeded in getting a seconel ballot , and in his

Original Correspondence.

own favour , the legality of which the Secretary in his turn opposed , and left the lodge . The Orator ' s style was rapid and dictatorial , very different from the reasonable style of the other brethren , his opinions , evidently very advanced , and indeed he did not seem as one liked by the other brethren , of whom about thirty were present ,

The meeting lasted three hours , no refreshment was taken , fifty concert tickets allotted to the lodge , to be sold for Masonic orphans were disposed of , and a collection for indigents having been made , the lodge was closed . In looking over the book of Constitutions , printed only in 1877 , I found that part of the first article , which affirmed belief in " the existence of God , and the immortality

of the soul" crossed out with a pen . I tried to talk it over with the Orator , but he somewhat sulkily observed that it was decided . I was , however , evident that some of these worthy people were not quite at their ease , and when I asked the W . M . what meaning he attached to the letter G attached to his Star in the East , he seemed puzzled , and made no

clear , reply . The meetings 1 found were monthly , but that fifteen days after each meeting the lodge met in Committee , to which visitors were not aelmitted . It would occupy too long to go further into the evening ' s work . It is to be feared that English Masons and those of the Grand Orient may become wider and wider apart ,

Still the break is not quite hopeless . Let us hope for the best . " Deal gently with our sister ' s fall . Who knows but tender love May win her at our earnest call The surer way to prove . " Tuesday evening , October t . tjth , I took my way to the

Lodge Eccossaise L'Alliance , No . 70 , Rue J . J . Rosseau . Seven o ' clock being underlined on the summons , I kept my time , but on arrival was desired to return at 8 . 30 , for the lodge never opened before that time . Returning as desired , I sent in my diploma , and was received in a kindly manner by the W . M ., who invited me to a seat on the dais by his side . He then commenced raisin g eight F . C's .

to the Third Degree . I may remark that the " working " is not done with the same neatness and precision as with us , the W . M . and each Warden had books before them , and so little did they know that each lost thc place repeatedly , and fell into confusion . The ceremony closely resembles our own , th « signs only partially so , while the eight being all raised

teigether produced an effect very different to that of an English lodge . As the W . M . gave the recapitulation , I , myself gave tfce five points to one of thc candidates in the English way , and they seemed much pleased with it . The lodge was then closed down in the Three Degrees , in the name of the Great Architect of the Universe , but no invocations ,

previous to which , however , the W . M . read a manuscript address , the excellence of which could not be exceeded . A vote of thanks had been proposed to the visitors , to which I had the honour to rcsp ; nd , my remarks , especially as to the U . A . U ., were kindly received with much cheering , whilst subsequently most of the brethren came round me to shake hands .

It strikes me that some enlightened English brother , adapting himself to French manners and ideas , would establish a modification of the English Lodge of Instruction , he would be well supported , and that he might have a most beneficial influence on the future of the Scottish Rite

in France , and give a confidence in its principles to the outside world , which at present it can hardly be said to possess . I attend a lodge in " grande tenue " this evening , and as I shall not continue my journey until after the Trocadero tmte , hope to study further this very interesting , and to Masons even important subject . W . VINER B . BEDOLFE , M . D ., P . M ., P . Z . 1329 .

THE BOYS' AND GIRLS' SCHOOLS ELECTIONS . ^ To Ihe Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — The October elections for the Boys' and Girls ' being over , the result has been to teach the brethren in general the great uncertainty and needless expenditure of voting power , and the London brethren in particular , the

increased and very urgent necessity for the step taken by the London Masonic Charity Association . In the present instance , the members thereof woiked very bard to secure the return of three candidates with their last applications , and were only successful in one , the other two being first and fourth on the unsuccessful list , whilst West Yorkshire returned two on the first application , one with four , and the

other with three more chances , East Lancashire returned one on the first application , with eight more chances , and Warwickshire returned one , first application , seven more chances . The great uncertainty of the elections was most strikingly shown by the result fcr that of the girls ; the first candidate " Brasier , " with 4741 votes , was in a majority of

192410 the next , and 3 6 37 to the fourth and last applicant , the London Masonic Charity Association were here fortunate , even beyond their expectations , in returning one out of the four vacancies , but I am inclined to think that a more judicious management would have secured the return of the second that it supported ; at the same time , I do not regret the result , as the successful case "Hill" was , perhaps ,

more urgent and equally deserving . How truly may the old adage , that " a prophet is not without honour save in his own country , " be applied to the London Masonic Charity Association , for where it might naturally have looked for help and support there it found its strongest opponents , who maele assertions against it , without a single fact or particle of evidence to found them upon , and where it mig ht have reasonably expected opposition , viz .,