The French Freemasons And The War.

the princip les of the " Commune" party—will prevent any effectual result . It is only natural that such Freemasons as remain in Paris , noAv held in a state of siege by the Versaillists , should , as citizens , take sides with

the Red Republicans ; but Ave must protest against any such interference by them , as Masons , with the political questions of the day . It may be that a want of Masonic knowledge on the part of the newspaper correspondents may

lead them to someAvhat exaggerate or misrepresent the circumstances , and it may hereafter be be proved that , although many Freemasons took part in this demonstration , it may not have been exclusively composed of Brethren of the Graft , or

have been orig inated by them . Of one thing , at least , we feel confident , that the proceedings have not received the official countenance of the Grand Orient of France . Bro . Thevenot , the Chief Secretary of the Grand

Orient , has had to deny any connection on the part of the body he represents with the absurb proceedings of a section of the Paris Masons on a recent occasion , and we aAvait with considerable interest a similar renunciation of any participation in these proceedings of the Freemasons of Paris .

Ancient And Accepted Rite—The 31st And 32nd Degrees.

ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE—THE 31 ST AND 32 ND DEGREES .

Grand Inquisitor Commander . This is the thirty-first degree of the A . and A . Scottish Rite . In a previous number Ave presented our readers with a sketch of the Kadosh , or 30 th degree . The Knig ht Kadosh , 30 th degree , Avas the last

of the historical degrees ; the degree of Grand Inquisitor Commander is the first of the administrative degrees , and its duties are to regulate the proceedings of the Subordinate Lodges , Councils and Chapters .

The meeting is designated a " Sovereign Tribunal , " and is composed of nine officers , namely , a mostPerfect President , a Chancellor , and six Inquisitors , and one also , who is elected to perform the functions of Grand Inspector ,

Inquisitor , Commander , and who alone Avears an apron , which is made of white sheep-skin , with a Teutonic Cross , embroidered in silver , on the flap . The decoration of the Lodge is Avhite , with eight golden columns ; on the dais above the

presiding officer s throno are the letters , J . E . ; there is also an altar covered with Avhite drapery . In the east , on a IOAV seat , is p laced a case containing the archives of the Order , covered with blue drapery , having on its front a large red cross ; on the right of the altar is the table of the Chancellor ; on the left that of the Treasurer . The floor of the Sovereio-n Grand Tribunal is

covered by a painting , the centre of Avhich represents a Cross , encompassing the attributes of Masonry . As regalia , the members wear a white collar , on which is embroidered a triangle with rays , having in its centre the No . 31 , to which is suspended a Teutonic Cross .

Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret is the appellation of the thirty-second degree , aud was , until the beginning of the present century , the twenty-fifth degree , and last of the Rite of Perfection . The Lodge is styled a " Grand

Consistory , " and should be held in a building of tAvo stories . We first enter a chamber of the guards , and a room for the preparing of the candidates . The third , iu which the Lodge is held , is hung with black ; on the draperies are represented

skeletons , tears , and emblems of mortality , embroidered in silver . In the east is the throne , elevated on seven steps , which is the seat of the President ; the throne , also , is draped with black satin , bearing similar emblems to the hangings ;

on a table covered with black satin are the actual emblems of mortality ; the covering has the letters , J . M ., in memory of Jacques de Molay .

The seats of the two officers are covered with crimson satin , bordered Avith black , and streAvn with tears of silver ; in the front are embroidered certain letters . The officers are a Thrice 111 . . Commander , two Thrice 111 . ' . Lieutenant Grand Commanders , a Minister of State , a Grand

Chancellor , a Grand Treasurer , and a Grand Secretary . The Chief Avears a robe of royal purple , and he , as Avell as the Lieutenants , Avear swords . The collar of the degree is black . The badge is of white satin , Avith a double

border of black ; on the flap is a trophy Avith the double-headed Eagle ; in the centre of the badge is represented a camp of the Crusaders . The form of the camp is thus explained : it is composed of an enneagon , within which , is inscribed a septagon , within that a pentagon , and in the centre an equilateral triangle , within Avhich is a circle . BetAveen