United Gkand Lodge.

de cimenter cette heureuse et noble confraternity . Nous , dont la belle mission est d ' enseigner k l'homme le progres et de lui apprendre par les vertus a devenir fibre tout en respectant les lois du pays qu'il habite , maintenons nous a la tete de toutes les institutions humanltaires , sachons par une sainte propaganda assurer Funion , et faisons d ' un commun accord briller partout Faureole de la liberty .

"Mes freres , nos relations intimes , et suiviesnotre concours actif , doivent obtenir d'immenses resultats ; votre brillant accueil , dont je vous remercie bien sincerement , me persuade que vous partagez cette opinion . " Permettez rnoi de repondre a vos chaleureuses batteries par une vive et triple batterie francaise " ( which was given ) .

( Translation . )

"Grand Master and Brethren , —The flattering and brotherly reception I have received from you has so moved me , that words are inadequate to express my feelings ; believe me , Brethren , that the remembrance of your kind sympathy will always remain engraven upon my heart . The Grand Orient of France will be proud when acquainted with the cordial reception given to its representative . Thanks—threefold thanks , for your unanimous decision in favour of our Brethren

in the Mauritius : they are worthy of it on all accounts : the deeds which have caused their persecution have been verified by us , in order to render them worthy of your attention ; they are too exact , and the most simple reasoning justifies them . If some Freemasons have forgotten the respect due to the minister of their religion , they alone merited condemnation , and the whole Order should not have suffered from so cruel a proscription .

"Is it , indeed , to be believed that we , whose religious principles are so perfectly in accordance with the blessed light of revealed religion ; that our Order , so essentially religious , could have deserved the reprobation which Monseigneur Collier has shown us ? No ! Brethren , we are innocent , and there is no fault but the error into which the minister of a religion reverenced has fallen . The recent occurrence in Belgium , where the remains of a Grand Master were refused the prayers of the Church , because , on his death-bed , he declined to abjure Freemasonry , is an irrefragable proof of the intolerant behaviour of certain Roman

Catholic priests . " The vote that you have given is of the utmost importance to the whole Order , and I attach the greatest value to it : it is a proof of the consecration of those ties which ought to exist between the Grand Lodge of England and the Grand Orient of France . Our two governments have understood that from the union of the two greatest nations would depend the progress of civilization and national liberty . At the present time , our armies , which are but one , are covering themselves with glory in defending right , and their victorious arms are crushing tyranny and destroying slavery : their generous efforts will be crowned with success , and peace will then be assured to the world , Then England and France will enjoy a more lasting and honourable glory ; one more in accordance with our principles , and

preferable to that which is achieved by conquest . This alliance of the two greatest nations of the world , based upon esteem and confidence in each other ' s good faith , can but be indissoluble . To us Freemasons , men of peace , we who ought always to bear on high the torch of true light , it behoves to cement this happy and noble brotherhood ; we to whom is intrusted the noble mission of assisting the civilization of mankind , and , by teaching them the paths of virtue , enable them to be i ' r ^ e in respecting the laws of the country they inhabit . Let us maintain our position at the bead of every benevolent institution ; let us endeavour by a holy pronagation to strengthen the union , and with one consent to cause the jdory of

liberty to illumine the whole world . " Brethren , our intimate relation , and consequentl y our lively concurrence , should obtain immense results : from your flattering reception of mo , for which I thank you most cordially , I am assured that you agree with my opinion . u Allow me to reply to your hearty congratulations by a warm and cordial French triple salute . " The French Brethren having acknowledged the greeting of the English Brethren by the French fire , the meeting separated .