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Article GRAND ORIENT OF FRANCE. Page 1 of 1 Article GRAND ORIENT OF FRANCE. Page 1 of 1 Article GRAND ORIENT OF FRANCE. Page 1 of 1 Article REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS. Page 1 of 2 →
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Grand Orient Of France.
GRAND ORIENT OF FRANCE .
ADDRESS B-. BRO . IksMosn , ORMOR . My Brethren : — Called by the Council of the Order to replace our very dear bro . Lagache , whose illness has forced hi ' m to relinquish the duties ofthe office which I now fill , I will g ive you a short resume of the work performed during the present
¦ . A happy modification in the order of our work has permitted us rapidly to organise the assembly and its several committees . We had the first day time to nominate the committees , and to repeat the reports submitted for discussion during tbe
session , so I hesitate not to say that the present assembly has shown more practical spirit and knowledge of affairs than its predecessor has done ; this we have already been able to verify , for we talk less and work more . Is this not a step in the rig ht direction ? You , my brothers , have recompensed labours
and services rendered by conferring the Presidency of this assembly upon our very clear Bro . De Saint Jean . You know him , therefore there is no necessity for ' me to spsak of his merits ; besides , it is customary for the Grand Orient of France to refrain from eulogizing a brother until after his death . Long may that event be postponed is , I am nersua led , the desire of every member present .
1 will now bring to your notice , and ask you to devote a few minutes to the important question of instruction , which has caused you to be called npon for a small personal contribution . Yon have liberally met the question and renewed the olleriug made in 1870 , which you have , charged your
President to present to the Minister of Public Instruction , and to inform him that Freemasonry has ever been in favour of gratuitous and obligatory instruction , and to tell him also that in 1870 the Freemasons signed by thousands , and transmitted to M . Jules Simon , the petition whicli thev
renew to ( layby the voice of their representatives , and in short to tell him that as lovers of order , of the Republic , and of peace , we wish by the diffusion of light , by the influence of intelligence ancl of labour , and by the pressure which French
sentiment has exercised on the world , we wish to take the only revenge worthy of us , that of making Germany comprehend that hearts yield not to force , and that sooner or later the arrival of the hour of justice will be marked on the dial of time .
But we mnst leave politics alone , my brothers , ancl return to the affairs of the Masonic Order . A serious disagreement has separated French and American -Masons . Before asking tlie continuance ofa separation so grevious you have charged your representatives to convey to the
American Grand Lodges our fraternal representations and hopes that all that has awakened the just susceptibilities of the American people v . ill disappear with the proclamation of a Republilc in France , ami the relationship momentarily interrupted be renewed . The cause of the
rupture was a question as to the regularity ofa new Supreme Council A . and A . Rite in Louisiana . You have submitted judgment in the matter to a tribunal composed ol' delegates from all the Supreme Councils of A . and A . Rite , and it will be for them to decide upon the establishment of the Council of Lousiana .
The next question brought before the assembly was , should a profane initiated , contrary to our regulations , be considered as a Mason , or should he be considered as one initiated in an irregular lodge . You have , by a severe but just application of the law , declared that you could not consider
him as one regularl y initiated , but that the door of oar Temple would be opened to him if he applied a second time in a proper and regular manner . The person concerned should not complain of the decision , but draw from it advantageous lessons . It is iu scrupulously observing
our statutes that we are enabled to keep up the dignity of our Order , and you have wisel y reminded the lodges that they should not initiate a profane without being well assured that he had not been previously admitted in another lodge , or without attending to the directions issued b y the Grand Orient of France for guidance in like cases . The examination of the votes deposited at the
Grand Orient Of France.
last convention has caused us to discuss the question of the desirability of suppressing all Masonic grades superior to that of Master . Our Constitutions oblige all members of chapters to belong to a symbolical lodge , so that each year thenare represented first by the Master , and a second
time by the President ot the chapter to which they belong- This double representation has long been an anomaly ancl a mistake . You haye now , by a wise and prudent measure , decided that these chapters , without ceding their rights , shall cease to send representatives , and shall
participate only through their lodges in the active administration of Grand Orient . In short , my brothers , you have terminated this laborious session by a careful examination of the financial resources of the Grand Orient , and you have ascertained that if our position is
not so flourishing as we deemed at first , yet it is sufficiently prosperous to cause us to have no fear for the future of our funds . I was right , then , to say at the commencement of my speech , that , you had usefully employed the time devoted to this session . In
returning to your lodges , you will bear to our brother ' s testimony of the utility and advantage of these annual re-unions , which unites in one common interest all the Masons under the Grand Orient of France . Strangers one to the other at first , we have learned to know ancl esteem each
other in working together . Work is the bond vvhich unites all classes of thc people . It is the origin of exchange and commerce , both of which we should be proud to be connected with ; for these necessitate labour , by means of which the intellect is sure to be
expanded . Study well Article 3 of our Constitutions ; it contains the great principles to be found in the declaration of rights and duties of the year lib , ancl you will comprehend the importance of the following formula : — " Alasonry considers the obligation to work as one of the
imperative laws of humanity , and requires from each , according to his strength , ancl condemns voluntary idleness . We set aside at once traditions which treat work as undignified , or considers it a punishment . Tlie church tells us that mankind were placed in a terrestrial
paradise ; in the midst of his joys he was cast out for having disobeyed God , and God punished man by condemning him henceforth to gain his bread b y the sweat of his brow . Thus noblemen assert that labour was not originally intended , but was the consequence of crime , and lhat all work is undignified , so all who work
forfeit their chum to nobility ; and when , in 1789 , Mirabeau , repulsed by his peers when he wished to enter the States General , presented himself as a candidate for the suffrages of the people . Before doing so , however , he opened a shop in one of the streets of the town of Aix , and placed on his sign " Mirabean , Cloth Merchant . "
For us , my brothers , who believe that man elevates and ennobles himself by work , we can have no hesitation in saying that each person owes to society all that their intelligence and strength can perform . It is the exchange of services which constitutes our social compact .
The poor man , who works all the week in order to earn a modest salary wherewith to support his famil y nnd pay hi . s proportion towards the support of the State , is far more noble than the courtier , who struts ostentatiously , but uselessly , through the Courts of Europe .
Our last Grand Master ( whose absence from our midst this year we much regret ) was trans formed into our President , anil the members ofthe Council ofthe Order b y their zeal have obliterated the stain imposed by a former assembly . AVe have , I am sorry to say , sull ' ered a grevious
loss ; two members of the Council have been snatched b y death from the bosoms of their families and their friends , two good Masons , two citizens , and two good men ; have left us all to deplore their loss , and their absence from our midst chirm" * the deliberations of the Grand
Orient . We would neglect onr duty did we not give official expression to our grief und regret at their loss . We are now about to part , my brothers . To Masons so jealous , so devoted . I say ( while wishing you good-bye for the present ) return
Grand Orient Of France.
next year to our circle and assist us in our fraternal labours . The President thanked the Orator for his able speech , which was frequently interrupted by the applause ofthe brethren . The following officers were appointed at thc third meetinrr : —
Bros . Done , W . M . Lodge Reunion O . de Toulon , Senior Warden ; Rieaue , W . M . Lodge * Union and Confidence , . Lyon , Junior Warden ; Lagache , member of the council , Orator : "Messiewis , W . M . Lodge of Knowledge , Chambery , Assistant Orator ; Poulle , member of thc council , Secretary ; Ansant dn Tresnet , W . M .
Lodge Friendship , Bovuonge , sur-Mev , Assistant Secretary ; Rediand , Delegate , Rouen , Grand Expert ; Ponzin , Delegate , Mantes , ist Expert ; Limon , W . M ., Delegate , Paris , 2 nd Expert , Bros . Dislire , Olszewski , Izembart , Lequarte , Gammas , and Ichan were appointed to the remaining ofiices .
[ We have tothank Bro . Ihevenotthecourteous ancl talented chief Secretary for the last number of the Bulletin , from which we have taken the foregoing extracts . ]
Reports Of Masonic Meetings.
REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .
( CONTINUED ) . BRVDI ' ORD . —Peutalpha Lodge ( No . 974 ) . — The installation meeting of this lodge was held on Thursday , the -jth inst . Bro . Robt . Richardson , W . M ., presided , and there was no business beyond the installation of Bro . John Ambler ,
P . S . W . 302 , as W . M ., ancl the investiture ot his officers . This done the brethren adjourned to the room , held in such high repute alter the labours of the clay , to refresh and re-invigorate themselves by partaking of the excellent clinmr there served in the style for which this lodge is
famous , the wine flowing freely as a river . Bro . Ambler , W . M ., presided at the dinner , b . 'big supported on his right by Bros . C . F . Unam W . M . 600 ; D . Salmond , P . M . 302 ; J . White , W . M . 439 ; A . Briggs , P . M . 974 ; Will . W . Barlow , W . M . 302 ; | . 1 ) . Sugden , P . M . 302 ;
Sefton , P . M . 680 , P . Prov . G . S . B ., West Lancashire ; T . Murgatroyd , P . M . 387 ; 1 . Evans , P . M . 974 , and on his left by Rev .. Bro . Iv . A . King , Chaplain of the lodge ; M . Rhodes , P . M . 502 . P . Prov . G . SAV . ; Thos . Hill , P . M . 302 P . Prov . G . l . W . ; Henri * Smith , P . M . 387 ,
P . O . Sec ; S . B . Walmsley , P . M ., 974 ; W . Ibbetson , P . M . 102 , ' P . G . J . D . ; A . Hunter , P . M . -02 ; I . Gaunt , P . M . 302 ; J . P .. Armitage , I ' . M . 332 ; H . O . Mawsim , P . M . 974 ; and C . H . Taylor , P . M . 974 . The W . M . gave the usual loyal and -Masonic toasts . Bro .
Evans , P . M ., iu apt and curt terms gave , " The Clergy , * ' which was responded to in a rather long speech b y Rev . C . L . Thomas , P . Prov . G . C . The W . M . then gave " The Army , Navy , and Reserve Forces . " Bro . A . Briggs , P . M . ( Captain Artillery ) in , response , alluded to the great
Battle of Waterloo , being won by a lorce mainly ol" raw recruits , but that the glory ol arms was mainly owing to small battles , and that the most scientific war ever waged was that of Abyssinia . He considered that the commander of that exploit would compare
favourabl y with Moltke in the recent war with France . He had every confidence that the military and naval forces of our country would be ever ready for any emergency , and on their behalf he begged to thank them for the honour done them . Bro . D . Salmond , P . M . ( Major Volunteers ) ,
endorsed all Bro . Briggs had said , and could add still more , he thought , of officers and commanders of former times , such as the Duke of -Marlborough , the memorable Nelson or Blake , and saw our navy , instead of tiers of guns , with walls of steel , such as the " Woolwich Infant , "
they would be astonished ; and it was quite likel y the implements of war would come to something quite annihilating . Bro . Barraclough , I ' . M . ( Captain Volunteers ) , when called upon , said he could not make a speech—great
commanders never could make speeches ( much laughter ) . Nelson never could , nor Wellington , whose most famous speech was , " Up lads and at them . " A brother suggested " guards , " but Bro . Barraclough said history had it " lads . " He would conclude bv thanking them for the oppor-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Grand Orient Of France.
GRAND ORIENT OF FRANCE .
ADDRESS B-. BRO . IksMosn , ORMOR . My Brethren : — Called by the Council of the Order to replace our very dear bro . Lagache , whose illness has forced hi ' m to relinquish the duties ofthe office which I now fill , I will g ive you a short resume of the work performed during the present
¦ . A happy modification in the order of our work has permitted us rapidly to organise the assembly and its several committees . We had the first day time to nominate the committees , and to repeat the reports submitted for discussion during tbe
session , so I hesitate not to say that the present assembly has shown more practical spirit and knowledge of affairs than its predecessor has done ; this we have already been able to verify , for we talk less and work more . Is this not a step in the rig ht direction ? You , my brothers , have recompensed labours
and services rendered by conferring the Presidency of this assembly upon our very clear Bro . De Saint Jean . You know him , therefore there is no necessity for ' me to spsak of his merits ; besides , it is customary for the Grand Orient of France to refrain from eulogizing a brother until after his death . Long may that event be postponed is , I am nersua led , the desire of every member present .
1 will now bring to your notice , and ask you to devote a few minutes to the important question of instruction , which has caused you to be called npon for a small personal contribution . Yon have liberally met the question and renewed the olleriug made in 1870 , which you have , charged your
President to present to the Minister of Public Instruction , and to inform him that Freemasonry has ever been in favour of gratuitous and obligatory instruction , and to tell him also that in 1870 the Freemasons signed by thousands , and transmitted to M . Jules Simon , the petition whicli thev
renew to ( layby the voice of their representatives , and in short to tell him that as lovers of order , of the Republic , and of peace , we wish by the diffusion of light , by the influence of intelligence ancl of labour , and by the pressure which French
sentiment has exercised on the world , we wish to take the only revenge worthy of us , that of making Germany comprehend that hearts yield not to force , and that sooner or later the arrival of the hour of justice will be marked on the dial of time .
But we mnst leave politics alone , my brothers , ancl return to the affairs of the Masonic Order . A serious disagreement has separated French and American -Masons . Before asking tlie continuance ofa separation so grevious you have charged your representatives to convey to the
American Grand Lodges our fraternal representations and hopes that all that has awakened the just susceptibilities of the American people v . ill disappear with the proclamation of a Republilc in France , ami the relationship momentarily interrupted be renewed . The cause of the
rupture was a question as to the regularity ofa new Supreme Council A . and A . Rite in Louisiana . You have submitted judgment in the matter to a tribunal composed ol' delegates from all the Supreme Councils of A . and A . Rite , and it will be for them to decide upon the establishment of the Council of Lousiana .
The next question brought before the assembly was , should a profane initiated , contrary to our regulations , be considered as a Mason , or should he be considered as one initiated in an irregular lodge . You have , by a severe but just application of the law , declared that you could not consider
him as one regularl y initiated , but that the door of oar Temple would be opened to him if he applied a second time in a proper and regular manner . The person concerned should not complain of the decision , but draw from it advantageous lessons . It is iu scrupulously observing
our statutes that we are enabled to keep up the dignity of our Order , and you have wisel y reminded the lodges that they should not initiate a profane without being well assured that he had not been previously admitted in another lodge , or without attending to the directions issued b y the Grand Orient of France for guidance in like cases . The examination of the votes deposited at the
Grand Orient Of France.
last convention has caused us to discuss the question of the desirability of suppressing all Masonic grades superior to that of Master . Our Constitutions oblige all members of chapters to belong to a symbolical lodge , so that each year thenare represented first by the Master , and a second
time by the President ot the chapter to which they belong- This double representation has long been an anomaly ancl a mistake . You haye now , by a wise and prudent measure , decided that these chapters , without ceding their rights , shall cease to send representatives , and shall
participate only through their lodges in the active administration of Grand Orient . In short , my brothers , you have terminated this laborious session by a careful examination of the financial resources of the Grand Orient , and you have ascertained that if our position is
not so flourishing as we deemed at first , yet it is sufficiently prosperous to cause us to have no fear for the future of our funds . I was right , then , to say at the commencement of my speech , that , you had usefully employed the time devoted to this session . In
returning to your lodges , you will bear to our brother ' s testimony of the utility and advantage of these annual re-unions , which unites in one common interest all the Masons under the Grand Orient of France . Strangers one to the other at first , we have learned to know ancl esteem each
other in working together . Work is the bond vvhich unites all classes of thc people . It is the origin of exchange and commerce , both of which we should be proud to be connected with ; for these necessitate labour , by means of which the intellect is sure to be
expanded . Study well Article 3 of our Constitutions ; it contains the great principles to be found in the declaration of rights and duties of the year lib , ancl you will comprehend the importance of the following formula : — " Alasonry considers the obligation to work as one of the
imperative laws of humanity , and requires from each , according to his strength , ancl condemns voluntary idleness . We set aside at once traditions which treat work as undignified , or considers it a punishment . Tlie church tells us that mankind were placed in a terrestrial
paradise ; in the midst of his joys he was cast out for having disobeyed God , and God punished man by condemning him henceforth to gain his bread b y the sweat of his brow . Thus noblemen assert that labour was not originally intended , but was the consequence of crime , and lhat all work is undignified , so all who work
forfeit their chum to nobility ; and when , in 1789 , Mirabeau , repulsed by his peers when he wished to enter the States General , presented himself as a candidate for the suffrages of the people . Before doing so , however , he opened a shop in one of the streets of the town of Aix , and placed on his sign " Mirabean , Cloth Merchant . "
For us , my brothers , who believe that man elevates and ennobles himself by work , we can have no hesitation in saying that each person owes to society all that their intelligence and strength can perform . It is the exchange of services which constitutes our social compact .
The poor man , who works all the week in order to earn a modest salary wherewith to support his famil y nnd pay hi . s proportion towards the support of the State , is far more noble than the courtier , who struts ostentatiously , but uselessly , through the Courts of Europe .
Our last Grand Master ( whose absence from our midst this year we much regret ) was trans formed into our President , anil the members ofthe Council ofthe Order b y their zeal have obliterated the stain imposed by a former assembly . AVe have , I am sorry to say , sull ' ered a grevious
loss ; two members of the Council have been snatched b y death from the bosoms of their families and their friends , two good Masons , two citizens , and two good men ; have left us all to deplore their loss , and their absence from our midst chirm" * the deliberations of the Grand
Orient . We would neglect onr duty did we not give official expression to our grief und regret at their loss . We are now about to part , my brothers . To Masons so jealous , so devoted . I say ( while wishing you good-bye for the present ) return
Grand Orient Of France.
next year to our circle and assist us in our fraternal labours . The President thanked the Orator for his able speech , which was frequently interrupted by the applause ofthe brethren . The following officers were appointed at thc third meetinrr : —
Bros . Done , W . M . Lodge Reunion O . de Toulon , Senior Warden ; Rieaue , W . M . Lodge * Union and Confidence , . Lyon , Junior Warden ; Lagache , member of the council , Orator : "Messiewis , W . M . Lodge of Knowledge , Chambery , Assistant Orator ; Poulle , member of thc council , Secretary ; Ansant dn Tresnet , W . M .
Lodge Friendship , Bovuonge , sur-Mev , Assistant Secretary ; Rediand , Delegate , Rouen , Grand Expert ; Ponzin , Delegate , Mantes , ist Expert ; Limon , W . M ., Delegate , Paris , 2 nd Expert , Bros . Dislire , Olszewski , Izembart , Lequarte , Gammas , and Ichan were appointed to the remaining ofiices .
[ We have tothank Bro . Ihevenotthecourteous ancl talented chief Secretary for the last number of the Bulletin , from which we have taken the foregoing extracts . ]
Reports Of Masonic Meetings.
REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .
( CONTINUED ) . BRVDI ' ORD . —Peutalpha Lodge ( No . 974 ) . — The installation meeting of this lodge was held on Thursday , the -jth inst . Bro . Robt . Richardson , W . M ., presided , and there was no business beyond the installation of Bro . John Ambler ,
P . S . W . 302 , as W . M ., ancl the investiture ot his officers . This done the brethren adjourned to the room , held in such high repute alter the labours of the clay , to refresh and re-invigorate themselves by partaking of the excellent clinmr there served in the style for which this lodge is
famous , the wine flowing freely as a river . Bro . Ambler , W . M ., presided at the dinner , b . 'big supported on his right by Bros . C . F . Unam W . M . 600 ; D . Salmond , P . M . 302 ; J . White , W . M . 439 ; A . Briggs , P . M . 974 ; Will . W . Barlow , W . M . 302 ; | . 1 ) . Sugden , P . M . 302 ;
Sefton , P . M . 680 , P . Prov . G . S . B ., West Lancashire ; T . Murgatroyd , P . M . 387 ; 1 . Evans , P . M . 974 , and on his left by Rev .. Bro . Iv . A . King , Chaplain of the lodge ; M . Rhodes , P . M . 502 . P . Prov . G . SAV . ; Thos . Hill , P . M . 302 P . Prov . G . l . W . ; Henri * Smith , P . M . 387 ,
P . O . Sec ; S . B . Walmsley , P . M ., 974 ; W . Ibbetson , P . M . 102 , ' P . G . J . D . ; A . Hunter , P . M . -02 ; I . Gaunt , P . M . 302 ; J . P .. Armitage , I ' . M . 332 ; H . O . Mawsim , P . M . 974 ; and C . H . Taylor , P . M . 974 . The W . M . gave the usual loyal and -Masonic toasts . Bro .
Evans , P . M ., iu apt and curt terms gave , " The Clergy , * ' which was responded to in a rather long speech b y Rev . C . L . Thomas , P . Prov . G . C . The W . M . then gave " The Army , Navy , and Reserve Forces . " Bro . A . Briggs , P . M . ( Captain Artillery ) in , response , alluded to the great
Battle of Waterloo , being won by a lorce mainly ol" raw recruits , but that the glory ol arms was mainly owing to small battles , and that the most scientific war ever waged was that of Abyssinia . He considered that the commander of that exploit would compare
favourabl y with Moltke in the recent war with France . He had every confidence that the military and naval forces of our country would be ever ready for any emergency , and on their behalf he begged to thank them for the honour done them . Bro . D . Salmond , P . M . ( Major Volunteers ) ,
endorsed all Bro . Briggs had said , and could add still more , he thought , of officers and commanders of former times , such as the Duke of -Marlborough , the memorable Nelson or Blake , and saw our navy , instead of tiers of guns , with walls of steel , such as the " Woolwich Infant , "
they would be astonished ; and it was quite likel y the implements of war would come to something quite annihilating . Bro . Barraclough , I ' . M . ( Captain Volunteers ) , when called upon , said he could not make a speech—great
commanders never could make speeches ( much laughter ) . Nelson never could , nor Wellington , whose most famous speech was , " Up lads and at them . " A brother suggested " guards , " but Bro . Barraclough said history had it " lads . " He would conclude bv thanking them for the oppor-