Chips Of Foreign Ashlar.

CHIPS OF FOREIGN ASHLAR .

LONDON , SATURDAY , JVNF 12 , 1869 .

By J . A . H . AVEC LE FEERE BEAUMONT . On the last Sunday of January , 1869 , we found ourselves once more in Imperial Paris , and on reaching our hotel we discovered a kindly letter

of greeting from our esteemed Bro . Auguste Beaumont awaiting us . Every time we visit Paris , Bro . Beaumont appears more sprightly , vivacious and good humoured than before , while his enthusiasm and energy on behalf of the Craft

is ever increasing . As a Masonic author , who has rendered invaluable services to English and French Masonry by his writings , we honour Bro . B ., while we regard him still more for the goodfellowship and generous wit wibh which he enlivens

social intercourse . We remember no other living writer who has used the Drama as a means of teaching Masonic principles , and in a subsequent article we purpose treating of Bro . Beaumont ' s Masonic Comedy , which , though popular in France , is not so well-known in England as it deserves to be .

Sunday is a favourite time for holding Masonic Festivals in France , and on the evening of our arrival one of the lodges was giving a grand dinner at the Hotel du Grand Orient . On these occasions the brethren are " closely tiled "

as far as regards the male gender , but ladies are admitted , some of whom are adoptive sisters , but the qualification is not rigidly enforced . The question as to whether meetings should be held on Sunday does not trouble our French brethren

as they have no scruples as to Sabbatarianism in France , but in Scotland the consequence of such a breach of morals would be too

awful to contemplate . In England we know of only two Masonic bodies meeting on Sundaysthe Joppa Lodge of Instruction and the United Grand Mark Lodge , at Ashton-under-Lyne . Without endorsing particular prejudices as to the

Sabbath , we think it is wiser when there are such prejudices to recognise their existence and respect their honesty by avoiding unseemly contention thereon . Avec le Frere Beaumont we attended several

lodges in Paris , and had the pleasure to see our friend , Bro . Massol , wisely wielding the the sceptre of King Solomon in the Lodge Renaissance . There

we saw a profane initiated , and we have often indulged in a hearty laugh since at a little scene which occurred at the close of the initiatory ceremonies . The new frere was placed afc the end of the room , in front of the W . M ., and Bro .

Massol addressed a few words to him , when the " neAvly-obligated brother , '' clearing his throat with the evident intention of making a speech , commenced : —• " Tres-cher Venerable et Tres-cher

Frere . Je vous remsercie beaucoaps — "There , that will do , " said Bro . Massol . "Bro . Secretary , the next business , " and . the bran new brother ' s flowers of eloquence Avere nipped in the bud . No doubt the Veyierablc deserved the thanks

of the lodge for preventing a prosy speech of great length , for the initiate seemed as if he had " got the steam up " specially for the occasion . Bro . Massol resided in England for some time , and at that period made the acquaintance of some of

our foremost-politicians . AfterAvards he found an exile's home in Brussels until he could safely return to France . As W . M . he is remarked for firmness , dignity , and impartial discrimination , qualities , which those AVIIO are acquainted with

French lodges will admit are more actively demanded of the heads of lodges in France than in . England . The hotel which we frequent in Paris is neither the Grande , the Louvre , nor Menrice ' s , but one

wliich suits our requirements far better than either —viz ., the London and Neiv York Hotel , in the Place du Havre , fronting the station of the Ohemin de Fer de L'Quest . This hotel is under the

superintendence of M . Chardon , who speaks English perfectly , and is remarkable for the economy of his tariff . The six o'clock dinner at the Hotel de Londres et Neuve Yorh is pronounced by Bro . Beaumont , whose experience is trustworthy , to be

the best he knows at the price in Paris . En passant , we may remark that this hotel possesses a head-waiter—Francois by name—admirably fitted for his post , and moreover a man who has seen much of life , and studied men and things in the NeAV World as well as the Old . There are

also excellent interpreters attached to the hotel for those who may require their aid . Staying at the London and New York Hotel we made the acquaintance of Bro . Captain Gregory ^ of San Francisco , whose father , Admiral Gregory ,

was at one time Secretary of the United States Navy . Bro . Gregory is a sharp , acute man of the world , but in a personal appearance far more like