Our Masonic Contemporaries.

OUR MASONIC CONTEMPORARIES .

LONDON ; SATURDAY , JULY 6 , 1861 .

Under this title we shall next week commence a series of Masonic Biographies of the most distinguished members of the Craft , in order that the brethren may the better understand Avhom they are reading about in the various Masonic proceedings , which we are continually

publishing ; whilst at the same time Ave shall not ignore the claims of those to notice Avhose professional avocations may , for a season , withdraw them from the active discharge of their duties to the Craft . In speaking of distinguished Masons , we wish it to be understood we do not

mean distinguished only by their social status —by Masonic honours or attainments—for whilst all such brethren will find their place amongst our sketches , we shall , the more particularly direct our attention to those who have made themselves a name in literature , science , or the arts ,

especially those arts directly or indirectly connected Avith our Order . We believe that this series of biographies will prove most acceptable to the brethren ; and tend to much good in cheering on the aspiring brother in his pursuit after knoAvledge and distinction , by showing how much

of honoured rank , real worth , and talent are to be found amongst the brethren by whom he is daily surrounded in the walks of life , and Avho take , or have taken , an active part in the business of the Craft . In carrying out the object we haA-e in view , we shall

necessarily require much assistance from the brethren , more especially with , regard to distinguished members of the Order in the provinces , and shall feel obliged for any information which may aid us in our task . In publishing the proposed series of biographies

we do not intend to bind ourselves to any rule . Our first will refer to a brother who has made himself a name in scientific literature and as a Mason : wliilst our nest may be of a peer , a soldier , a member of the bar , or perhaps a brother distinguished only for his Masonic

acquirements . Neither do we bind ourselves doAvn to any particular period of publication , though we have now before us names enough to exercise our industry ( and we hope of many of our correspondents ) for years to come .

Our Masonic Contemporaries.

In undertaking the pleasing duty Ave have laid clovm to ourselves , we do not claim any merit for originality or novelty in the design , as the sketches , in fact , Avill be similar to the Prench Masonic biographies AA'hich appeared some years since in La Vie Hwnaine , and many

like Avorks , Masonic and otherwise , in all languages . "We need not say that all communications on the subject will be considered strictly confidential , though they must of necessity be accompanied by the names of the Avriters , for the satisfaction of the Editor , to whom they may , if the brethren wish it , be personally addressed .

Memoirs Of The Freemasons At Naples.

MEMOIRS OF THE FREEMASONS AT NAPLES .

( Continued from page 502 . ) Two years had elapsed since Count Frederick Gonfalonier ! Pallavicini and many others of high rank had been imprisoned by the Austrian authorities , on a charge of being leaders in a supposed conspiracy of the Carbonari . During that timenothing with resjDect to

, their fate was known . At length , in January , 1824 , it Avas announced to the Avorld that Confalonieri and seven others who were in custody were condemned to death as guilty of high treason , and that several more who had found safety in flight , rather than deny that they belonged to the secret societies of Freemasons or

Carbonari , were condemned , as contumacious , to the same doom . The proceedings Avere in secret , before a special commission of Austrian judges , so that there are no means of ' knowing the nature ol the facts proved , nor the quality of the evidence . But the alleged criminal acts do not appear such as the accused were ashamed of .

" Confalonieri , said the Austrian demi-official account of the proceedings , " far from manifesting the smallest repentance , in the Avhole course of the proceedings constantly displayed the most invincible obstinacy in his crime , of which he made a complete confession with a sort of boasting . " An imperial decreeAvhich accompanied the

promulga-, tion of the sentence , commuted it in favour of those who were in custody , to imprisonment of the severest character ( carcere duro ) in the fortress of Spielberg , in Moravia . There these unfortunate men were doomed to pass the remainder of their lives , clothed in prison dresses of the coarsest cloth , sleeping upon the ground ,

with the blackest bread and water for their daily food , and excluded from all intercourse Avith each other , or Avith any friend or relation . Their sentence was to be read to them once every year , and , at each sad anniversary , they Avere to be severely beaten -with sticks . The absent Avere executed in effigy ; Confalonieri and