The History Of Freemasonry In Portugal.

THE HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY IN PORTUGAL .

" Being an Historical Account of the Origin , Pise , and Progress of tlie Grand Orient of Lusitania . Translated from Dr . A- 31 . de C-imha Bellcm ' s "Abridgment of ihe History tf 3 hisonry in " Portugal . " { Continued from Rage 285 ) In 1840 , several brethren , mostly belonging to

the dormant Grand Orient , combined together to establish the Grand Orient of Portugal choosing for Grand Master , the Yicomto cFOIiveira , ivho had formerly held that high office in the Grand Orient of Liisitariia during the absence of Count

Thou ; , ' !!' . This Grand Orient then published , under ihe iiile of supplementary Act to the Constitution of -581 : 0 , ( lie laws by which it would be governed , and announced itself as the continuation of the Grand Orient of Lusitauia despite the change of name .

Ambition once more brings Portuguese Masonry into trouble , and is the cause of unfortunate dissensions . Tho Count . Thomar appears on the scene and claims the title of Grand Master , aud by right of conquest , as well as right of birth , he

wished to assume possession of tho gavel- This was refused him , for it could only be conferred by election , and in consequence considerable amount of rancour prevailed . Some friends of the Ex-Grand Master , ivho had so shamefully disowned his

brethren , resolved to establish a rival Grand Orient under the name of the " Grand Loge Portugais " or " Grand Orient Portugais , " but this ridiculous movement had but a short existence , the great majority of Masons remaining faithful to

their elected Grand Master , the Vicomfce d'Oliveira . At the death of the Grand Master Joseph Joachim Alve . s do Moura Coutiuho , Magistrate of the Supreme Court of Justice of Lisbon , assumed the gavel , but he conducted the affairs of the Grand

Orient is so austere and despotic a manner as more to resemble a military martinet than a loving and devoted hither .

Such tyranny , insupportable in all human institutions , but especially so in the ranks of Masons , could not fail to overthrow the designs of old and devoted brethren , mourning the downfall of the Grand Orient of Lusitauia , whose object

was the accomplishment of a brilliant awakening . They were devoted to the sacred cause , beaming -with life , and with the hope of once more establishing Portuguese Masonry on a firm basis . Their efforts ivere crowned with success . The

31 st of January ivas a glorious day for Masonry in Portugal . This ancient Masonic Institution , having for Grand Master , the illustrious martyr Gomes Freire cPAndrade , had been the first and only Masonic body in Portugal , till the

deplorable dissensions of 1828 , and which had sown the seeds of Masonic faith and devotion among the earliest initiates , was now about to rise phoenixlike from its ashes . The light is re-animated , the true Masonic brotherhood rallied together to bind

up the bond of fraternal union ivhich should ever exist amongst Masons . The columns of the Grand Orient of Lusitania

were once more raised . The Count de Parafcy ivas elected Grand Master . The constitutions of A . L . 5840 , audits ancient laws , ivere re-proclaimed , and Masonic power ivas once more established according to their dictates .

It ivas after the legal installation of the higher officers of the Order , that the new additional laws ivere promulgated on the 13 th February , 1860 , and these new laws governed the restored Grand Orient till the year 1867 , ivhen the Grand Orient ,

acknowledging the necessity of reform in its code of laws , appointed a general committee , which , after an elaborate discussion , promulgated the constitutions of January 18 ( 38 , wherein is gathered together the most liberal and Masonic enactments

known in Europe or elseivhere . As long as the fire of enthusiasm and devotion burns over the Grand Orient of Lusitania , true Masons will assemble under her standard—the spurious bodies in the country must languish and decline .

After the death of Moura Coutiuho , to such extremity ivas the " 1 'Orient du Portugal" reduced that she could scarcely prevail upon any brother to accept the office of Grand Master . The " Confederation Maconnique Portuguais "

maintained an existence almost equally obscure and unacknowledged . Some lodges iu the north joined it ; the brave Lieutenant General , Oomte das Antas ivas elected Grand Master in June 1851 , and maintained that position till his death in the

month of May in the folloiving year . In its endeavours to re-establish itself , the " confederation " assembled on the 15 th July , 1852 , under the presidency of the Marquis ( noiv Duke ) de Louie , and then successively under Antoine

Eoch-iques Sainpaio the noted journalist , Joseph Antoine de Nascimento Moraes Mantas , and for a second time the Marquis de Louie .