Association Of German Freemasons.†

pen of Bro . Rudolf Seydel , of Leipzig , the president of the Association . Our space does not permit us to give the paper in full , but AVO doubt nob that even in a condensed shape ib will be Avelcomed by all those brethren who take an interest

in the progress and development of our Institution in foreign countries . " Once more , " said Bro . Seydel , "the Association of German Masons may look back upon a successful and fertile annual meeting , and this time ,

again , as heretofore , at Hagen , with the consciousness of having conquered the obstacles that darkened its prospects . Besides the apprehension naturally awakened by the prohibition on the part of

the Grand Lodge of the three Globes , of holding the meeting in a lodge room ( at Elberfeld ) , the holding of the meeting was all but jeopardised by the inauspicious circumstance of Bro . Findel , ( the Secretary ) being at first prevented from attending ,

owing to a severe domestic affliction with which he had just been visited . However , in the evening of the first day we Avere all rejoiced by his telegraphing that he Avould arrive early on the morrow . His arrival , just at the opportune moment , relieved

the chairman , Bro . Seydel , from such embarrassment as would inevitably liave fallen upon him , ¦ from his being at first but imperfectly instructed by Bro . Findel as to the proper course of proceeding . "

Having warmly eulogized the committee of ¦ reception , consisting of Bros . Grote , Of Hagen , Schlemmer and Lohmann , of Witten , and Kleye and Schutz , of Bochum , for the manner in \ vhich they had paved the Avay to a most courteous and

hospitable reception of the members of the Union in the " Black Country" of Westphalia , —the reporter goes on as follows : — " The first sitting was opened on Saturday , May 30 , at five p . m ., by the chairman thanking

the local committee for their valuable efforts , and welcoming all those present . Bro , Seydel then explained the reason of Bro . Findel ' s unavoidable -absence , and proceeded to give a synopsis of the history of the Union , showing as he did so , how

the latter , containing , as it does , adherents of the most various shades aud opinions , not only tolerates them all , but endeavours to cause them to act upon each other with a view to mutual improvement and rectification . Its resolutions had

never been of an extreme character ; some , indeed , had looked upon the Association as a reactionary body , but the very hostility they met with from

Association Of German Freemasons.†

extreme parties , tended to prove that they were moving in the right track . Why , even their legal locus standi had been questioned , yet no Masonic or civil statute could be discovered that was infringed upon by the existence and doing of

this Association . The prevailing usage of placing such Masonic meetings under the contiv > l , or holding them under the auspices , of some lodge or grand lodge could not be looked upon as a valid objection in this case , the Association consisting of

members of all lodges and grand lodges , aud if they were asked what lodge or grand lodge they recognised as their head , they plainly replied none . Lastly , the name of Association of German Masons had been animadverted upon , e , g ., by German ,

brethren of Switzerland , who consider this appellation as a de facto repudiation of Masonic cosmo ' politanism . This designation , however , related only to the language used in our proceedings . But the most severe censure the Union had been

held up to was for having sent letters to , and by this means attempted to put themselves on a level with the grand lodge ; and this step imbued with the highest legality , based upon a sense of which we submit our proposals to the competent

authorities , on account of which we have been charged in America with " Kimming , " ( Halbeit ) and self humiliation , in the most violent language ; this step is interpreted as an act of revolutionary presumption . All these reproaches are falsified

by the actual doings of the Association , and we cannot do better than pass over the aspersions in silence . The order of the day , to which Ave shall now proceed , relates first and foremost , to practical aims , viz ., the appropriation of the funds of the Union . "

The annual report of the Association having been read by Bro . Schutz , in the absence of Bro . Findel , and the appointment of auditors having been allowed to stand over until the arrival of the Treasurer , the various motions Avere read by the

chairman . Those previously put on the standing order related to the establishment of a General Masonic Relief Fund ( Centralhilfskasse ); the awarding of a prize for the best paper on the practice of charity , most in keeping with the

ground work of Masonry , and the foundation of Masonic Co-operative Societies ( Legengenessenschaften ) . In the preliminary discussion ou these proposals , Bros . Ackeraann , of Cologne , P . M . of the Reudsbury Lodge , Koster and Flasche , of Barmen , Prosch , of Elberfeld , and Graff , of Bingen ,