Chips Op Foreign Ashlar.

CHIPS OP FOREIGN ASHLAR .

LONDON , SATURDAY , DECEMBER 5 , 1 S 63 . ;

No . 7 . —MASOHIC AFFAIRS IN BERLIN . Before we went to Berlin we were jocosely informed that we should find the Berliners BY J . A . H .

" always on the spree / ' a statement which is literally true , as the city is built on the little river Spree . Eor many years we had longed to see the famous street—the pride of Berlin and glory of

Germany—unter den Linden , where our own Prince Consort loved to walk , where so many Germans of rank and of intellect have promenaded , and where but lately Count Yon Bismarck very nearly fell a victim to the assassin . Imagine

Eegent-street somewhat lengthened ; , greatly widened , and at the same time adorned with a double avenue of beautiful lime trees and then you may have some idea of unter don Linden—a street of gorgeous shops , splendid equipages , aud

brilliant fashion , the crowning beauty of which is its cool walks and shady drives beneath the lime trees . A fitter metropolis for the great north German confederation could not be desired than

Berlin . Its stately palaces ancl splendid streets are unsurpassed even in London or Paris . At the extremity of unter den Linden stands the famous Brandenburgh Gate—the Marble Arch of Berlin —leading to the Their garten , or Prussian Hyde

Park . Interesting above all to the Englishman is the Palace of the Crown Prince , presided over by the lovely and amiable Princess Eoyal of England . The Prince and Princess are exceedingly popular , and the ordinary remark about the

latter is that " she is a good little woman / ' an affectionate appreciation even more priceless than the crown she will one day wear . By common consent a better husband than the Crown Prince does not exist in all Prussia . Sunday in Berlin

is very different to Sunday in-many other continental cities . There are certainly amusements in the evening but during the rest of the day the term Sabbath might be truly applied , and not even Scotsmen—to adopt the phraseology of

Bro . W . P . Buchan—could be more resolute iu the cessation of business and the dedication of the day to rest . This state of things is said to have been mainly brought about by the influence of the Crown Princess , who has not forgotten the

spiritual admonitions received at Windsor and Balmoral . Probably in no other city is Freemasonry to be viewed under such peculiar conditions as in the capital of North Germany . There are three

Masonic Temples , all fine structures , and three Grand Lodges , namely : — 1 st . The National Grand Lodge of the Globes , originally established in 1744 , and under the direct protection of the King and Crown Prince .

2 nd . The Grand Lodge of Germany working the " Swedish Eite / ' of which the Crown Prince is Supreme Master , founded in 1770 . 3 . The Royal York Grand Loclge , originally formed in 1760 , of which Prince Louis of Baden

is the head . It will be seen that each of these Grand Lodges can refer to considerable antiquity . In former times there has existed among them a spirit of

contention and rivalry , but of later years fraternal feelings have been strongly developed among all parties , and the day is probably not far distant when there will be one Grand Loclge instead of three .

To an Englishman there is something decidedly home-like in meeting with the namo "Eoyal York" in a foreign city , and it was this feeling that led us first of ail to visit the Eoyal York Masonic Club . Here we spent a pleasant evening

among the brethren although there was no lodge meeting . The club is excellently arranged for the comfort , convenience , and amusement of the members , the attractions of billiards , cards , chess , drafts , dominoes , & c , with refreshments of

superior quality being included . Visiting this and other Masonic clubs on the continent one is led to enquire why there are no such institutions in Ena'land . There is no doubt that a Masonic

club would answer in London if it were conducted on a proper scale , and under the direct control of the Grand Lodge—but not otherwise . The Royal York Lodge was originally established as a private lodge under a charter from .

England , and its working is at the present day more English than those of either of the other Grand Lodges . The union of the Kingdom of Hanover with Prussia led to the amalgamation of the Grand Lodge of Hanover with the Royal York

Grand Lodge , and has resulted in a largo access of members aud influence to the latter . The ex-King of Hanover is a very popular Mason , and his portrait in full Masonic costume is to be found