The Middlesex Archæological Society.

at the expiration of the present lease , some fen or twelve years hence , cease altogether to exist , and that the site thereof will be covered with offices . Where are our successors , on benevolent thoughts . intent , to—dine *

Freemasonry In Brazil.

FREEMASONRY IN BRAZIL .

[ From the Mew York Mirror and Keystone . } IN the Brazilian empire , under the jurisdiction of the Grande Oriente do Brazil , out of one hundred and thirty Lodges , only forty-three are working at present . Those who are hi ghest in the political world , are generally the highest in Masonry . The Grand Lodge meets on the 1-1 th of every month , at Rio , m the Temple , called the Grand Lodge , or the Glorio do Lavardia the subordinate of Rio

ones meet weekly in the same edifice , each Lodge paying a rent of about twelve dollars per month , and paying into the Grand Ircasury a milrcis for each active member . This temple was erected b y a society of Masons , who issued shares , under a charter , at fifty milrcis each ( twenty-five dollars ) . Only Masons or Lodges can hold these shares , and seven per cent , is guaranteed . ' It is the custom for Lod to purchase shares h to the rent witli the

ges enoug nay interest on them , and it answers as a reserve fund . The reasons for so many Lodges being dormant are , that political characters use it as a stepping stone to office , and persons promoted arc generally scut from their native state or province , and the Ledge beiii '' abandoned by the principal persons , ceases to act . But they ' are sometimes renewed by petitioning for them . J

i Most persons m good situations are Masons . You must understand tnat there arc two Grand Lod ges—one is the Brazilian Masonry and the other is Masonry m the Brazils , f do not pretend to decide , but ' will « ive some particulars Ours is the Grand Oriente do Brazil , and coiiipriscs ° thc beotcli and french , or Blue rite , and I will not determine which should be the one alone , if cither . The Visconde do Uruguay went to Europe , to settle the boundary between Brazil and Moutc Videoand also between

, . brazil and Paraguay ; and at a convention held at Paris , the alfiu ' r was agitated But as he was silent on his return , wc presume nothing was done alt bough something may have been projected . During the last year ail order was issued lor no member of the Oriente do Brazil to visit the Grande Oriente Lrazilhna , although their members visit our Lodges and arc branching off occasionally . Some are of the opinion that two circles are and

necessary , many reasons can be given for it ; but others think there may be a merging into one as there was in New York . it The Lodges of the Oriente Brazillina are principally composed of nraz . bans , whereas the Oriente do Brazil are composed of foreigners and lH-azibaus , and the former often predominate . There arc also some Lodges ol the due rite working m the French language , but in no other lan-ua-u except ortugucseThere Lod

. was a ge working under the Grand Lodge ol Lug and , but as they would not deposit their charter , and take out one under the Grand Lodge of Brazil , members were forbidden to visit them and they gradually ceased working . Some of the ancient members are still here , and the charter is still m their possession . I doubt much whether a - Lodge could be sustained , working in the English language , although there would be no difficulty m getting a charter , as the French have the same