The Congress Of German Masons.

THE CONGRESS OF GERMAN MASONS .

LONDON , SATURDAY , SEPTEMBER . 23 , 1865 .

On tlie 12 th ancl 13 th of August the convention of the " Association of German Masons " Avas held at Eisenach , in Thuringia . Great expectations had been entertained , for many months past , in vieAv of the meeting of the Delegates , which had

been looked forward to Avith fevei'ish anxiety by the thorough-going reformers ; but Ave are sorry to find that this meeting proved a failure in its results , and that the anticipations of our radical brethren of Germany in reference to its

" world-stirring effects , " have been utterly foiled . In fact , Ave never Avitnessed the realisation of the Roman poet ' s

Avords" Parturiunfc monies , nascetur ridiculns mns , " to such an extent as in the present instance . HoAveA'er , our readers will judge for themselves if Ave lay before them the substance of the report published by the Bauhiitta , the official organ of the "Association of German Masons . "

On the 12 th of August , at four p . m ., Bro . Schilling opened the Assembly , and forthwith handed the hammer to Bro . Seydel , the President of the Association . The latter , in his opening address , explained the character and objects of the

Association . He observed that the " Maurerverein " Avas not exclusiA'ely a reform union , but that its members might adhere to any variety of points of vieAv on Masonic questions , and that the Association wished to sen'e as a forum for the expression

and exchange of all opinions . The speaker endeavoured to SIIOAV that the leaders of the Association put forward the most radical propositionsAvithaview to attain , through the practical objections ' urged by members of the

Assembry , a distinct medium Avhich mi ght be considered , approximately , as a proper juste milieu . At the same time he disclaimed the responsibility of the Association for all the lucubrations published by the Bauhiiite , though the latter Avas designated as the orsan of the " Verein . "

It having been stated that six lodges Avere represented at this meeting by delegates , * Bro . Findel , the editor of the Bauhiiite , proceeded to

read the annual report and balance sheet of the Association , which Avas silently agreed to by the Assembly . The various motions that had been laid on the table Avere then deliberated upon . Bros . TrentoAvsky and Bacheberle , of Freiburg , moved to change the name from " Association of German Masons" into " Uuniversal Masonic

Union '''' ( Allgemeiner Maurerverein ) , which Avas rejected unanimously , after a short discussion . In the fate of this proposition shared the motion of the Wiesbaden members—to admit into the Association such brethren as have not yet attained

the position of Master Masons , and to depute members of the Association as propagandists to all German Masonic meetings and festivities . This motion Avas chiefly impugned by Bro . Bretschneider , W . M . of the Gotha Lodge Ernst

zum Compass . "Various matters of minor importance having been disposed of , the Assembly , upon the written invitation of Bro . Munch , W . M . of the Worms Lodge , resolved to appoint Worms as the meeting-place for next year . The resolution proposed by Bro . Findel " that the Assembly declare its desire that all German and non-German

Grand Lodges should publish in future annual statistical returns on the labours and composition of the lodges of their respective provinces , upon the pattern of those issued by the Grand Lodge of Hanover , " was carried unanimously . The question Avhether it Avould be desirable to add to the Association a General German Masonic Life

Insurance Fund was mooted , and dwelt upon in lengthy speeches by Bros . Findel , Kruthoffer , Bretschneider , and Kirchner , of Stendal , but not disposed of . Bro . Stuve Avished to impress upon the meeting in general , and each individual brother

in particular , to contribute , to the best of their ability , to cause all Masonic titles and designations of dignities to be done away with . The chairman , in closing the labours of the day , communicated to the meeting the neAvs that had just reached

him by telegram of the death of Bro . Funkkamel , the W . M . of the Verschwisterung der Menscheit Lodge , of Glanchau , and distributed copies of the Act of Beorganisation ofthe Eclectic Freemasons ' Confederation of Frankfort .

The second sitting took place at half-past ten a . m ., on the 13 th of August , Bro . Seydel again in the chair . The latter developed in a long address