Chips Of Foreign Ashlar.

Bro . 0 . Dally , ivho had the honour to be chosen by Bro . Auguste Beaumont , of Paris , as the orig inal character of one of the dramatis persona ' . of Bro . B . ' s celebrated Masonic Comedy , of which more anon .

Bro . Dall y told us that he was an " English Mason , " having been dul y affiliated to a lodge in Newcastle-on-Tyne . Freemasonry in Normandy can scarcely be said to be as vigorous as it is in Brittany , but nevertheless Bro . Sarchet has no reason to be ashamed

of his kinsmen . Long life to . Bro . Sarchet and the rest of the Normans . FEMALE MASONRY . Our accomplished Bro . Augaste Beaumont , of Pazis , recently contributed an admirable article to

La Monde Maeonique on the subject of admitting ladies to our Order . We have not space to follow Bro . Beaumont through his carefully written consideration of the pros and cons , but ive propose tc say a Avord or two on what must ere long become

a very important question in England . In America the mothers , wives , daughters , and sisters of Freemasons are eli gible to receive two degrees—those of the Eastern Star and Herione of Jericho . The latter degree is often g iven in England , and Ave

knoAv some ladies ivho are not a little proud of the distinction . Iu France some of the lodges confer degrees on ladies Avho are denominated ivldte or adoptiveTbiasons , and we have seen sisters whose appearance was a credit to the Craft , and ivho looked exceedingl y handsome in the white cordon of the Order .

The chivalrous honours ivhich Freemasons pay to the fair sex have long been celebrated . — ' " We're true and sincere And just to the Fair , Who will trust us on any occasion ;

No mortal can more The ladies adore , Than a Free and an Accepted Mason . " It has been supposed that ladies ivere not safe receptacles for our secrets , and hence they have

been rigourousl y excluded from our Order . Au ancient Masonic song says : — - " But here ive stop awhile , to toast Our Master's health and Warder ' s both , And warn you all to shun tbe coast

Of Sampson ' s shipwrecked fame and troth . His secrets once to wife disclosed , His strength was fled , his courage tamed ; To cruel foes he was exposed , And never Avas a Mason named . "

The English Craft can point to the Hon . Mrs . Alclworth as one instance , at least , of the fidelit y of a female Freemason , and our American brethren assure us that the lad y Masons in the United " States are undeviating in their fealty to their

vows . Referring to Mrs . Aldworth , we are reminded that in an old work , entitled The Freemason Stripped Naked , there is a curious allusion to the duties of the Inner Guard , in which it is stated that candidates are prepared in a certain ivay " to see that a AVO man has not imposed herself on the society , as there is , it is said , a lady at

this time in Ireland who tricked the brethren , ivent through the ceremonies , and is as good a Masonas any in the kingdom . " From this it Avould appear that when Mrs . Aldworth became a Freemason her initiation led to some alteration in the

mode of preparing candidates for their reception . The popular version of the affair does not , however , credit Mrs . Aldworth with having " tricked the brethren " in this ivay , but asserts that , having hidden herself where she could overlook an assembled lodge , she was on discovery made a Mason to prevent other consequences .

Deference to the fair sex runs through all Masonic traditions , and has been embodied in many a song of the Craft : —¦ " We love our country and our king ; We toast the ladies , laugh , and sing . ''

Again it has been Avritten of old : —¦ " Ye British fair for Beauty famed , Your slaves ive wish to be ; Let none for charms like yours be named That love not Masonry . This maxim , dames , does prove full ivell That Masons never kiss and tell . ' '

Another toast Avhich is at least a century old is as follows : — " A health to our sisters let ' s drink For why should not tbey Be remembered , I pray ,

When o _ us they so often do think . When of us they so often do think . " There are reasons so numerous and wei g hty why ladies cannot be admitted to Freemasonry , as existing among men , that ive need not discuss an

idea never likel y to be seriously entertained . But we see every reason for advocating the system of female-Masonry as practised in America and-France . To man and wife united in the bonds of true affection it ivill ever be pleasing to feel that they Avere one in love for Masonry . Too often