Freemasonry In The Levant.

The fact is , that English Masonry has been doing its work , and has provided lodges for Turks , Armenians , and Greeks , while Bro . Treu is still projecting ; and the writer forgets to state that , if the Lodge Italia of Constantinople conferred

its honorary membership on Bro . Treu for presenting a very practical project for the foundation of Greek lodges and an Hellenic Grand Lodge , which has not been carried out , and which is being worked out apart from him , ancl on a

different basis , that lodge , as its first act on its foundation conferred its honorary membership on Bro . Sir Henry Bulwer , Prov . G . M . of Turkey , and Bro . Hyde Clarke , D . Prov . G . M . of Turkey , for what they had already done for extending Masonry in

Turkey . The extension of Masonry in Turkey has been indeed the result of a liberal and systematic policy of the rulers of Masonry in the East , worked out hy the brethren on the spot , and supported at each step by the authorities at home .

To go on with details bearing on the real history of the case , we may observe that the formation of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Turkey was the result of the foundation of the German Lodge at Smyrna , which , gave the third lodge . At the

same time , a German lodge was formed at Constantinople , called the Deutsche Bund , for which the Oriental Lodge found the funds . Some particulars as to these lodges may be seen in Bro . Findel's " History of Freemasonry . "

After the warrant was obtained , and the expense of outfit conferred , the founder , in conjunction with Bro . George Treu , determined not to work it , but to start a lodge under a Hamburgh warrant—for which purpose they kept back

candidates they had prepared for the Deutsche Bund , got them initiated in Germany , and , by the help of their signatures , made up the seven petitioners for the Hamburgh wan-ant . Such is the history of the foundation of the famous Lodge

Germania am Goldnen Horn , which has done so much , for " extending Masonry in the East , with its W . M ., George Treu . It may very well be believed that these proceedings produced great indignation ,

particularly among the English victims who had been supplied by the Oriental Lodge to work the Deutsche Bund Lodge , and who were responsible for the large advances . No action was taken by the English Provincial Grand Lodge , and consequently no protest was made : but the D . Prov . G . M .

threatened to apply to the Grand Lodge of England to represent the circumstances to the Grand Lodge of Hamburgh , so as to obtain justice in the case ; but on . the promise of the parties , and at the request of the English members of the

Deutsche Bund , relying on such promises , he consented not to take any further proceedings . Since then the Deutsche Bund has been carried

on by members of the Oriental , who have nearly discharged its debt . Neither at that time , nor at any other , was such a -preposterous pretence put forward by the provincial authorities , as that the Grand Lodge of

England had exclesive jurisdiction in Turkey , and that no other Grand Lodge had the power to form lodges there . The Grand Orient of France has always had a lodge in Constantinople from the beginning of the century , and at the time in

question the Grand Lodge of Scotland had granted a warrant for a lodge at Beyrout . So far from the provincial authorities making themselves so malicious , they have always been ready to cooperate with the other jurisdictions as they did

with the Italian Lodge , and as they did by authorising the Prov . S . G . W . of 1863-4 to accept the Venerableship of the French Lodge of the Grand Orient , whereby that lodge has been restored , and put in a prosperous position .

So the Germania am Goldnen Horn went on , and from that day to this it has done nothing but maintain a bare existence to give a title to Bro . Treu for propounding his schemes for the abolition of all ancient and existing Masonry , and for

which schemes the German brethren have shown as little sympathy as the English . Bro . Treu failed in playing the same game with the German Lodge at Smyrna . The Deutsche Bund Lodge at Constantinople

was followed by the Bulwer , named in honour of the Prov . G . M ., Sir Henry Bulwer , who by the countenance he gave to Masonry by personally and publicly attending its celebrations , by presiding over its ceremonies in his own palace , conferred on

it that protection Avhich has rendered it safe for Turks , Persians , Arabs , Armenians , Greeks , and Jews to seek admission now into the English , French , and Italian lodges—whereas , in the beginning , Masonry was a byword in Turkey , and

its lodges in danger of persecution . Nor are they yet safe should the political vagaries of the Garibaldian brethren excite the susceptibility of the Turkish authorities , when their hope of pro-