Correspondence.

the question of the organisation of the so-called Grande Oriente y Supremo Consejo , Columbiano , he closes with these powerful remarks .- —• " On every account the body at Bogota ought to he declared spurious aud its members and followers

earnestly advised that ifc would be wise for them to abandon their organisation and fco return to that allegiance which they could renounce only by violating their obligations ,- and General Mosquera and his three foreign associates ought to be declared to have forfeited all their rights and privileges as Scottish Masons . "

The recognition by the Grand Orient of France of the so-called Grande Oriente y Supremo Consejo Colamhiano , is nofc only an absurdity and contrary to all laws and Masonic usages , bufc will not find an echo in the Masonic bodies of the United States , as the decision on the subject by the " Mother Supreme

Council in the "World , " is conclusive , it is as follows : — " We shall never consent fco lower the dignity of the supreme bodies of the ancient and accepted rite of which England has bufc one ; Scotland , but one France , by right , but one ; Spain , one ; and the

United States , two ; by agreeing to the creation of one for each of the States of the Union ; so we shall never consent to recognise one for each of the West Indian Islands . Ifc will never consent ; fco fche division

of its jurisdiction ; it would consider it the extremity of folly to consent to be replaced hy a Supreme Council in each State ; and , consequently , ifc never ¦ will sanction the creation of a supreme council in every little State and in South America . " The Grand Constitutions of 17 SG , which aro the

organic and fundamental laws of all the Supreme Councils in the World allow but one Supreme Council to each great nation , whether kingdom or empire , of Europe ; two , for all North America , the mainland as well as fche islands ; and two , for all

South America . There being already one Supreme Council legally established aucl recognised for all the territory of Columbia , there cannot be another Council created in the same country Avithout a clear violation of the organic laws ; against Avhich violation every Supreme Council in the world has a riht to

g protest . There is also another aggravating circumstance to be borne in mind , and it is this , that being " the three foreign associates , " AA'I IO co-operated to the organisation of the so-called Grande Oriente y Supremo Consejo Columbiano " expelled Masons "

, they had no right whatever to interfere in Masonic matters as the expulsion disfranchised them from all their rights and privileges as Masons , and consequently Avhafcever Aranda Ilurtado and Guzman might have clone or assisted to do , is null and void .

General Mosquera could not either create a Supreme Council by himself , as he has no power to that effect ; and even in the hypothesis , thafc he should have had powers to that effect , thafc his three con-

Correspondence.

federates Aranda , Ilurtado , and Guzman had been 33 ° , in the full enjoyment of all their rights and privileges as such ; and that the four named persons had been fully empowered by a legal Supreme Council , they could not invade a jurisdiction already occupied , nor create another Council in the territory of

Columbia , as there is one Supreme Council legally established and universally recognised as having full jurisdiction over that territory according to the Grancl Constitutions of 1786 . The so-called " Grande Oriente y Supremo Consejo Colombiauo " of General Mosquera , at Bogota , has ,

therefore , no legal existence , nor can ifc be properly recognised by any Supreme Council nor by any legitimately organised grand body thafc will not desire to expose itself to the jusfc indignation and contempt of the order in general ; aud the recognition of such a spurious bodby the Grand Orient of France is of

y no value whatever , as said Grand Orient is nofc the supreme ruling authority , nor has its voice or vote any influence Avhatsoever to-day , as we all know that said Grand Orient is entirely under the control and management of Napoleon III . Manuel Ancizar , the representative appointed by

the Grand Orient of France , near the so-called Supremo Consejo , at Bogota , is not , nor has he ever been a 33 ° . In the name , and as the general representative of the Grande Oriente y Supremo Consejo Neo-Grauadino , near all the Masonic high bodies in the ' United States of AmericaI protest iu the most

, solemn manner , and with all my energy against the improper and un-Masonic conduct of the Grand Orient of France for the violation of the Grand Constitutions of 1786 , and for the damages that the-Grande Oriente y Supremo Consejo Neo-Granadino may sustain from the recognition by the Grand

Orient of France of the spurious body at Bogota ; and I invite all high Masonic bodies in both hemispheres to join me in equal protest against the intrusion ' and improper acts of the Grand Orient of France in recognising any organisation whatever , no matter how irregular or spurious it may bestarted in opposition :

, to bodies legally organised and recognised , and many of them even in fraternal correspondence with the said Grand Orient of France , such proceedings being , contrary to all the hows and Masonic usages , and calculated to destroy the foundations of the Institution .

Let the subject be taken into consideration by all tho high Masonic bodies in the world , and let the proper steps be taken in order to stop the abuses so often committed by the said Grand Orient of France against the interest ; of the Order and'in disgrace of fche institution , AITDBES C ASSABD , 33 ° , & c ^ ew York , March 2 nd , 1866 .

Provincial Grand Masters.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTERS .

TO THE EDIIOI 1 OF THE IHEE-JCASOXS * MAGAZINE AND 3 IASOSIC MIUHOI ' i DEAE SIR AXD BEOTHEE , —I am almost ashamed to occupy your columns so frequently in reference to fche state of Masonic matters in Jersey , but it is a subject of general interest , and one by Avhich any other Province may be affected . Ifc has previously been shown ( FEEEICASOXS' MAGAZINE , p .. 229 ) that