The Boys' School.

papers ; and AVC remind them that the balloting papers for any of our Charities Avill be acceptable , as they can all be used to ensure the return of these friendless boys .

Death And Funeral Of Brother P. J. Proudhon.

DEATH AND FUNERAL OF BROTHER P . J . PROUDHON .

One of the recent issues of the Monde Martinique contains an obituary notice of this distinguished socialist , from AA'hich Ave extract the following particulars : — Prance has lost an eminent author , the Craft

one of its most distinguished adepts : Proudhon , AVIIO Avas initiated into our mysteries in 1847 , died on the 19 th of January , at two A . M . Whatever impression the study of his numerous writings may have produced on the minds of our

brethren , we have no doubt his loss will be keenly and cruelly felt ; for Proudhon was not only a deep thinker and undoubtedly an honest man , but he was endowed AA'itli a great heart and noble character .

Proudhon was a cooper's son , born at Besancon on the loth July , 1809 . He started in life as a working compositor , and in 1837 he went into ¦ partnership Avith Messrs . Lambert and Maurice , for the purpose of working a new typographical process . His first literary labours date from this period .

In 1840 , he published his celebrated pamphlet entitled "What is Property ? " and then successively the folloAving works : — " Warning to Projjrietors ; " " On the Establishment of Order in Mankind ; " " System of Economical

Contradictions / ' "Solution of the Social Problem . " Our readers will remember what excitement was created by this poAverful mind , during the glorious epoch of 1848 , when lie edited successi \ 'ely the "Representant du Peuple , " the "Peuple "

and the "Yoix du Peuple . " Ho Avas elected representative of the Department of the Seine , and in this capacity he made himself conspicuous by his motion for the creation of a general income-tax . Being held a prisoner of state at St . Pelagie , he

-married the daughter of a labourer , iu 18-50 ; the result of this union was the birth of three children , two of AA'hom only remain to perpetuate his great name .

Since that time he published , amongst others , the folio win Q- Avorks : — "The Social Revolution O demonstrated by the coufi d ' etat of the 2 nd of

Death And Funeral Of Brother P. J. Proudhon.

December ; " "Manual for Speculators at the Exchange ; " " On Justice iu the Revolution and Church ; " " War and Peace ; " " On the Federation Principle , and the Necessity of Creating a Revolutionist Party , " & c . Two more works of his are

in the press . From tho accomplishment of all these labours , ancl as the reward for such excessive exertions , which precipitated him into a premature tomb , Proudhon derived nothing but imprisonment , exile ,

and abuse . This is the destiny our civilisation keeps in store for those giants of thought , those pioneers of the future AVIIO , before the time arrives , lay the wide paths mankind shall travel upon .

His haughty self-sufficiency frequently caused him to be underrated and misjudged , eA'en by those AVIIO seemed to be called upon to encourage and support him . In a country in which every one seeks to place

himself under the standard of a party , where mSn of all ranks seem to feel a pleasure in resigning themselves to their leaders , or to some tradition , Proudhon adhered firmly to his own opinions ; he was controlled alone by his conscience . This

splendid example , that deserved the admiration of all , was at first understood only by a very limited number of individuals . Thence arose many malevolent accusations and bitter reproaches ; and a kind of complicity ensued between some of his

followers ancl his real enemies , who were always anxious to heap calumnies upon him . But nothingcould discourage him . Death only put a stop to his labours ; he died , while in the fall possession of his faculties , iu the arms of his distressed wife

and children . He did not allow the cure of the parish to see him , when he called on him a few days previous to his demise . "This mau has done his duty , " he said , "but tell him that I am not in need of his attendance . From you only I crave absolution , " he added , addressing his wife .

The funeral , got up in a most modest style , Avas attended by some 3 , 000 persons of all classes of the population . . The Craft was represented by a large number of Masons of both rites ; amongst otherswereBros . Massol , Colfavru , Roussel , Faurety ,

Members of the Council ; Bros . Henri Brisson , W . M . of Lodge 133 ; Schroffer , Le Roy , Favre , P . M . 's of the same lodge . Bro . Massol delivered the following address on behalf of the Order of Masonry : — " Proudhon , in the name of Freemasonry , I give to thee , as one