Freemasonry In Portugal.

be materially assisted by intercourse with other nations , rather than to have pushed into the unfriendly interior with badly organised supports in the rear ; now the administration of the Grand Orient is so perfectly organised , we may confidently

hope for great things . The Grand Orient of Lusitano is composed of the following Grand Officers , and of the remaining Masters and delegates of the subordinate lodges . Grande Mestre—Grand Master .

Grande Conservatorio—Gi'and Conservator . Primiero Grande Vigilante—Grand Senior Warden . Seconde Grande Vigilante—Grand Junior Warden .

Grande Orador—Grand Orator . Grande Secretario—Grand Secretary . Primeiro Grande Experto—Grand Senior Deacon . Secondo Grande Experto—Grand Junior Deacon . Grande Thesoureiro—Grand Treasurer .

Grande Archivisto Chanceleiro—Grand Registrar and Chancellor . Grande Mestre de Cerimonias—Grand Master of

Ceremonies . Grande Architecto Decoratore—Grand Superintendent of Works . Grande Solicitor Geralda Ordem—Grand Solicitor General .

Guarda Interior . The Grand Master is elected every third year by universal suffrage . He must be a Portuguese distinguished by his talents , his love of Masonry , and his services to

the Craft . He is obliged to reside at Lisbon the seat of the Order , during his term of office . The present Grand Master of Portugal is the Conde de Paraty .

The other Grand Officers are elected annually by the members of the Grand Orient , from amongst their own number . The Masters and Delegates of all subordinate lodges are members of the Grand Orient , each

lodge being entitled to send one delegate for every twenty members . By the Constitutions of the Masonic Order of Lusitano every office , Grand or Subordinate is elective , a plan which seems a great

improvement on the system of appointment by patronage . The offices of Grand Master , Warden , Deacon , Treasurer , Registrar , Superintendent of Works , Master of Ceremonies , and Inner Guard , fully explain their own character .

The duties of the Grand Conservator correspond somewhat with those of our Deputy Grand Master ; he is the ex-officio president of the Grand Commissiio Permanente , he has also to inspect the lodges and chapters of Order , assimilate their mode of working , aud enforce regularity in their communications with the Grand Orient .

The Grand Orator is an officer unknown in English Masonry , but here his duties are very important , he is the guardian of the constitutions and of the statutes and general laws of the Order , and must protest against any infraction thereof .

Any points of Masonic law that may arise in the debates of the Grand Orient are referred for * his decision ; numerous other duties are attached to this office .

The Grand Orient holds two regular meetings a month , but in cases of extraordinary necessity , the Grand Master with the consent of the Grand Commissiio Permanente , may call an emergency meeting .

The duties of the Grand Orient are carried on by three committees or councils , viz .: the Grande Commissiio Permanente , the Commissiio de Fazenda , and the Co mrm ' ssao de Justicfa .

The Grand Permanent Council , is composed of three members elected by the Grand Orient ; it meets whenever there may be any business for transaction . This council is charged with the preparation and

submission to the Grand Orient of any laws that may be requisite for the good of the Ordei ' , the corresoondeuce with Foreign Orients , and various other executive duties . The Grande Commissiio de Fazenda , or Council

of Funds has the direction of the funds of the Order , it is responsible for the proper performance of the Grand Treasurer ' s duties , and is charged with the audit of his accounts .

The Grande Commissiio de Justicia , or Council of Justice , examines all petitions and complaints ,, prepares reports thereon , and submits them to the Grand Orient for its decision , it consists of five members elected by ballot , and is in fact the

Grand Jury of the Order . These three councils , are combined in our Board of General Purposes , which solely performs the duties that are here divided into three sections . The following is the caption of all documents of the Grand and subordinate loclges .