The Convention Of French Masons.

Landrau ( of Lyons ) and Rattier ( of Brest ) sided with Bro . Massol , Avhile Bros . Buisson , Hermitte ( of Bordeaux ) , Ducarre ( of Lyons ) , and Duclos ( of Confolens ) op ] 3 osed his views . Bro . Netter proposed to adopt as first clause of

the Constitution the following words : — " The Order of Freemasonry is based upon the liberty of conscience . " Negatived without division . Bro . Massol ' s amendment , as supported by the Lodges La Renaissance , La Rose du Parfait

Silence , and other Paris lodges , Avas negatived on shoAv of hands . This amendment proposed to do away with the affirmation of the existence of God and the immortality of the soul . The second amendment , by Bro . Thelmier ,

suppressing the use of the word " God , " but substituting for it "the invocation of the Great Architect of the Universe , " Avas negatived silently . The third amendment , preserving the original draft of the first clause , and adding thereto the following Avords — "Freemasonry considers the

liberty of conscience as a fundamental right of man , and excludes nobody on account of his religious views , " Avas proposed by several members of the Council of the Order , and developed by Bro . Rattier ( of Lorient ) , AA'ho stated that this

amendment threAV the doors of the Craft open both to atheists and materialists . Bro . Hermitte , orator , then brought forward conclusions of his own—the first clause in its original shape—Avith the addition of amendment ,

No . 8 , was , hoAveA'er , carried by a large majority . THIRD SITTING , JUNE 7 . —( Bro . de Saint-Jean , in the chair . ) Clause 2 of the Constitution AA'as superseded by the draft proposed by the Council of the Order , after a discussion in Avhich Bros .

Andre Rousselle , Mittre , and Fauvety joined . Clause 6 , declaring the Masonic Craft to be a secret society , was supported by Bros . Jouaust ( of Rennes ) and Battaille ( of Paris ); opposed by Bros . Duclos ( of Confolens ) , Mittre ( of Marseilles ) , Robert ( of Dole ) , and Hermitte ( of Bordeaux ) , but was rejected by the Assembly .

After this a discussion took place as to clause 7 to decide whether the high degrees ought to be maintained or done aAvay Avith . Of the nine divisions of the Assembly , No . 3 was for the maintenance , No . 6 and 8 regretted the existence of that

institution , but supported its maintenance for financial reasons ; Nos . 5 , 7 , and 9 advocated the suppression of the high degrees ; Nos . 1 , 2 , and 4 abstained from A'oting . A most stormy and ex-

The Convention Of French Masons.

cited discussion took place in the plenum of the Assembly . Our space will not permit us to reproduce the arguments on both sides , nor the tenor of the amendments ; Ave can only record the result ofthe division that took place . Of the 169

members present , 86 voted for the maintenance , and 83 for the suppression , ofthe high degrees . Amongst the latter were Bros , de St . Jean ( chairman ) , Marconis , and Netter , who hold the highest degrees of the Memphis rite . ( To be continued . )

Jottings From The South Of Ireland.

JOTTINGS FROM THE SOUTH OF IRELAND .

BY BEO . THE REV . J . KINGSTON , SOMETIME ACTING CHAPLAIN TO H . M . THE KING OI ? HANOVER , & C . " On the rare days Avhen the sun shines out in all his glory , the landscape has a freshness and a Avarmth of colouring seldom found in our latitude . The myrtle loves the soil . The arbutus thrives

better than even on the sunny shores of Calabria . The turf is of livelier hue than elsewhere ; the hills gloAV with a richer purple ; the A'arnish of the holly and ivy is more glossy ; and berries of a brighter red peep through foliage of a brighter green . "

Thus does Lord Macaulay truthfully paint the lovely neighbourhood in Avhich the AA'riter of this paper spent his boyhood's days , and to which he has returned for a temporary , though somewhat lengthened , sojourn , after Avanderings in many lands . The Englishman AVIIO returns to his native

shores finds much to rejoice his heart , as a man aud a christiau . He sees that God is making his country a praise in the earth . He sees that her material Avealth is increasing ; that her people are enabled , year after year , to command , in greater abundancethe comforts and luxuries of lifeand

, , that the holy church in her midst , the Palladium of her liberties , is , every day , notAvithstanding the persistent attacks of her numerous enemies , lengthening her cords and strengthening her stakes .

No such bright prospect greets the returning Irishman , especially the southern Irishman . He knows , indeed , that his country is highly eudoAved by ProA'idence—that her soil is rich and fertilethat her climate is mild and genial—that the bowels of the earth here teem with mineral Avealth—and

that her sons and daughters are quick-Avitted and intelligent , Avarm-hearted and hospitable . He thanks the Almighty Disposer of all events , too , that there is some improvement . He blesses Him for the abundant harvest Avhich He has bestowed in the past year . But if he be a patriot , if he

Avish Avell to the land that gave him birth , the Irishman cannot but remark that agriculture is depressed and backAvard , although Herculean