Freemasonry In France.

a Avritfceu notice , signed by those brethren Avho had objected to the action taken by the W . M . declaring the summons irregular , and consequently the meeting ; and also denouncing as irregular , any decision Avhich should take place .

The members of the lodge , after the receipt of this protest , were unanimously of opinion that they Avere regularly assembled and properly presided over by the Junior Warden , as substituting the W . M . ( absent from illness ) , and the Senior

Warden ( excused ); they thereupon declared the lodge opened for business . The caseAvas IIOAV submitted to the Council of the Grand Orient for decision , and it declared that the articles of the Constitutions settled the fact that the J , W . Avas appointed to

take the Master ' s chair , consequently the lodge Avas properly opened for business under its rules .

A complaint was made by several members of Lodge " Saint Pierre des Yrais Amis " against the election as W . M . of a brother whose qualifications were not up to the standard Avhich every lodge should exact of its intended W . M . He was

accused of abuse of confidence and misapplication of funds . Eleven members of the lodge noiv brought the complaint , while 32 brothers defended the W . M . elect from the attacks made upon him . The Council having found that the election was

regularly conducted , could not upon such evidence as A \ as brought forward disturb the verdict of the majority of the brethren . As to the question of un worthiness , the Council could offer no opinion , that being more a question for the lodge .

A petition from 29 brethren of Lodge "Les Amis de la Nature" disclosed the folloAving facts : —A profane was proposed for initiation in Sept ., 1869 . The commission of inquiry were

nominated aud presented their report to the W . Master , who put the name to the vote on the 13 th Nov . At that meeting six members of the lodge , aud two visitors opened the lodge , and decided by the ballot to admit the candidate . After the vote

had been taken , some unfavourable circumstances having come to the knowledge of several of the brethren , nineteen of them addressed to the W . M . a requisition to supersede the election . The lodge complied , and ordered a new enquiry to be

made into the character of the candidate . At the meeting of the l 2 th Feb . the committee reported favourably , the lodge dispensed with the secret ballot , and by show of hands carried the election of the candidate . The applicants consider

this a violation of Masonic law , and demand the intervention of the Grand Orient . From the explanations furnished by the Master of the lodge , it appeared that on the occasion of the first election , nine active members were

present , but it was admitted that the chair of the Orator was occupied by a visiting brother who Avas not in good standing , Avhen on the demand of 19 brethren , the lodge ordered a new inquiry , and the report was made to the lodge , the vote was

taken by show of hands , there being only ten brethren present , of Avhom three or four voted against the admission of the candidate . Under these conditions the petitioners considered it necessary to enquire if the vote should now be considered final .

The Council decided that by Article 151 of the Statutes , no Mason can fulfil the duties of any office in a lodge of which he is not an active member . The fact of an irregular brother occupying the chair of Orator , was sufficient to invalidate the

proceedings of that meeting , and even if that were not the case , it appeared to the Council that the lodge having ordered a new inquiry to be made , the admission of the candidate to the proof , could not have took place , according to the provisions

of Article 119 . The Council therefore gave as their decision , that the Master of the lodge should comply with the provisions ox Article 119 of the general Statutes , before admitting the candidate . ( To oe continued )

The Grand Lodge Of The Three Globes, Berlin.

THE GRAND LODGE OF THE THREE GLOBES , BERLIN .

( Continued from page 443 ) . Iu 1799 the Grand Master and Deputy of the Three Globes resigned their offices , aad the mother lodge decided not to elect a Grand Master for the present . The Master of the mother lodge for

the time being was recognised as temporary Grand Master . In 1807 a convention was agreed upon between the three Berlin Grand Lodges , according to which a monthl y conference , composed of four members

from each Grand Lodge , was held , whose duty it was to consult on subjects of common interest to German Freemasonry . This , however , Avas abolished in 1823 , in consequence of dissensions between the Grand Lodge of the Swedish system aod the Royal York .