(No. Iii).—A Visit To A French Lodge.

Freemasonry is universal m its development , and not confined to any one race , language or religion . At St . Malo we received a kind aud brotherly reception from Bro . Auguste Hovius , a member

of the 33 rd degree , who is Consul at that port for the Kingdom of the Netherlands , and President of the Tribunal of Commerce . Bro . Hovius

informed us that in consequence of the bitter hostility of the priesthood of the Roman Catholic Church , the Loge de Bienfaisance had suspended its meetings , and that Freemasonry , though not dead , was " sleeping " in that city .

We were also received in the spirit of brotherhood by Bro . De Lion , of the Oafe des Voyageurs , in . the Place de Chateaubriand—so-called after the great French author who was born here , and whose bones repose on a rocky islet in the harbour—who

took the greatest possible trouble to enlighten us as to the position of the Craft in France . On arriving at Rennes we were much surprised and pleased with the extent aud beauty of the town and the magnificence of its public buildings , some of which would do honour to London or Paris . We had previously visited many other

French towns , but had found most of them , though quaint and interesting enough to the antiquary , badly built , and much inferior for all useful purposes to English towns of the same size . Here , however , we found a fine city , with noble streets

and squares , and gay with brilliaut equipages , while we were also glad to see that the quaint costumes which formerly distinguished the inhabitants of Brittany were not quite extinct . In the "good old times , " when Bretagne had its

own independent sovereigns , the Parliament met here , and under the modern designation of Palais de Justice , the grand old structure in which the debates were carrried on still stands the pride and ornament of the city . The Hotel de Ville is also

a noble building , and the town possesses a gallery of paintings which attracts many connoisseurs of the fine arts .

We first called upon Bro . Rousseau , aud if our welcome at St . Malo was hearty , we can only say that never in our experience have we met with so warm a reception as was accorded to us by the brethren here . Bro . Rousseau we found to be

a most accomplished Mason , and a lady who accompanied us soon discovered , through the kindness of Madame Rousseau , that while Craftsmen are brethren , the wives of Freemasons are

sisters . Bro . Rousseou at once introduced us to Monsieur Guillot , " le Venerable de la Loge de Parfaite Union , " who is also " Chef de Bureau a . la Mairie , " and than whom it would be difficult to find a man better adapted to preside over the

duties of a Masonic Lodge , by a happy combination of the " suaviter in modo'' with the " fortiter in re . " In private life we have seldom met a gentleman of more striking presence and dignified demeanour than M . Guillot . In one respect only

were we unfortunate;—we had counted upon the pleasure of making the acquaintance of Bro . Jouaust , Orateur of the Lodge , and well-known by his celebrated work "L'Histoire du Grand Orient de Frauce , " to which we have previously alluded , and we were very sorry to find him absent from home at the time of our visit .

The rooms in which the meetings of the lodge are held are some distance from the centre of the town , arising , we believe , from the fact that the priests prevent as far as they can buildings being let for the purposes of Masonry . On arrival , we

found about twenty brethren assembled in the banquet-chamber , all of whom greeted us fraternally . The walls of the room were elegantly inscribed with Masonic emblems and mottoes in various languages . Here we were examined very

properly as to our Masonic qualifications , and the brethren , having adjourned to the lodge-room , we were shortly afterwards escorted by "Le Frere Couvreur / ' or Inner Guard , into the presence of the brethren . Ou entering the lodge , the brethren

stood with drawn swords , and accorded us military honours , after which " Monsieur le Venerable " addressed us as follows : —¦

"Tres Chers Frcres , —I am desired by the brethren of the lodge of Parfaite Union to give you the right hand of Masonic fellowship , and to assure you that we are all much pleased to greet you , and that we are always delighted to see

English brethren on the soil of France . Many of our brethren recollect with gratitude the hearty reception which they received when they visited English lodges on the occasion of the inauguration of the great Masonic Temple in Jersey . As

Masonry represents among all nations , peoples and tongues , the great principle of human brotherhood , it is not only a duty but a pleasure for Masons to greet brother Masons wherever they meet . Come then , dear brethren , and seat yourselves among us as part of our body , and be assured that you are at home in our midst . "