The History Of Freemasonry In Portugal.

The illustrious political Orator , Joseph Etienne Oaelho de Magalhaes , ivith all his ardour and devotion , his ill judged zeal , and the fascination of his illustrious aud cherished name , succeeded in his exertions to raise up this Masonic body , but

death terminated his efforts , and the selection , as his successor to the Grand Mastership , of Joachim Thomas Lobo d'Avila created new dissensions , for the so-called Orient became once more a political association under the name of " Federation Macon

nique" having' for chief the illustrious military ¦ officer Joseph Elias Garcia . This " Confederation" sought to maintain its existence under the protection of a renowned litterateur , poet , statesman , orator , and journalist ,

for all these ivas Joseph da Silva Mendes Leal , who once more assumes the gavel . The existence of the"Grand Orient de Portugal " ¦ ceases , the Cornte de Peniche assumed its rule , but he could not sustain , in spite of all his efforts ,

the dignity of Grand Master . Then it ivas deemed advisable to form a junction of the two almost expiring bodies , which union took place in November 1867 , under the title of the " Grand Orient Portugais " with the illustrious

Mendes Leal as Grand Master , ivho , by the iufluence of his name sustained the feeble edifice , but all the while , it must be acknoivledged , pleading the glorious enterprise of uniting the whole Masonic brotherhood of Portugal , as did of old his predecessor , Joseph Etienne Coelho de Magalhaes .

The Grand Orient of Lusitania , on the other hand , the true representative of the Masonic traditions of the country , was now established on a firm basis , to stand for ever . Its existence could no longer be ignored in the country , for its

reorganisation had been published in the presence of all Masons , and no one dared to protest against its claims to legitimacy . The road being cleared , advance must be made , which was accordingly done .

Portuguese Masons noiv were impressed with -with the necessity of abstaining altogether from . political strife , as being both injurious to Masonry , and unworthy of an institution where all men ivere brothers , and ivhose political opinions should have

been equally respected with their religious belief . And this is the attitude ivhich ivas assumed by the JSC Grand Orient Lusitanien "—oblivious of political parties , and desiring nothing but the consolidation of Masonry and the progress of the Royal Art . ' la spite of all its efforts , notwithstanding the

devotion of the Grand Master—a gentleman ivho took no part in political affairs , but devoted his whole soul to the work of Masonry—the Grand Orient of Lusitania , throughout its whole career , suffered from the injustice and ingratitude of men .

Some distrusted Masonry in general , on account of the part its members had taken in politics ; ivhilst others reviled it after having used it to serve their

own ends , aud iu many instances those were loudest in their raillery who had reaped the greatest advantage from their connection with-it . Yet Masonry advanced , although its path AVas strewed Avith thorns .

It was noiv considered , necessary to establish friendly relations ivith other Masonic bodies throughout the ivorld—that Portuguese Masons , acknoivledged throughout the universe , would meet ivith a . fraternal reception wherever fate

might convey them ; aud that a cordial response might be extended towards foreign Masons sojourning in Portugal . The most complete success attended their efforts in this direction . France , ever in the advance

guard in the march of progress and liberty , was the first to exchange fraternal salutations with the Grand Orient of Lusitania .

The following is a chronological record of the acknoAvledgement of the Grand Orient of Lusitania by the other Masonic Grand bodies -. — -In I 860 , France ; in 1864 , Ireland , Italy , the Argentine Republic , Hungary , and Saxony ; in 1865 ; New

Grenada , Hamburgh , Brazil , Holland , and Darmstadt ; in 1866 , Belgium ; in 1867 , Chili , South Carolina , New York , Venezuela , Canada , Massachusetts , Nova Scotia , St . Domingo , Mexico , Virginia , North Carolina ., the Cape of Good Hope ,

Cuba , and Louisiana ; in 1863 , California , Egypt , and the two Grand Grand Lodges of Prussia . The Grand Orient also ivas in friendly communication with the Provincial Grand Lodge of Portugal , ivhich had for some time been established

at Lisbon , with Frederic Guilliame da Silva Pereira as Provincial Grand Master , ivhich was regularly ivorking under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Ireland , and which was the only Masonic body established in this country under a foreign jurisdiction .

In adversity or prosperity , the Grand Orient of Lusitania , never forgetting the divine command "Love one another , " oblivious of personal ambition , and in the common interest of the Order , has sought on every occasion to assemble the Masonic