(No. Ii.)—Les Ateliers Du Grandorient.

fined to one country , and that the institution is based upon certain principles , which cannot be altered to suit the convenience of any party , whether devout Catholics or sceptics . In France the newly-initiated brethren are

sworn upon the Book of Constitution , which is in itself a deviation from pure Masonry . We are utterly opposed to bigotry of any sort , but it is not bigotry which excludes from a society founded upon certain definite and fundamental principles

persons who are endeavouring to undermine these principles . What interest can an atheist have in the chair of K . S ., what beauty could he see in the splendid and symbolical ritual of the Royal Arch ? Either Masonry is " a mockery , a delusion , and

A snare , " or it is what we firmly believe a union of right-minded men of all religious creeds upon the same basis of faith in God . If this is not so why do we solemnly invoke the Great Architect of the Universe ? And why do we reverently

preserve in all our lodges the volume of the Sacred Law , if we believe in no sacred law whatever ?

The following are the names of the officers in the Lodges of the Grand- Orient : — 1 . Un Venerable . 2 . Un Premier Surveillant . 3 . Un Deuxieme Surveillant ,

4 . Un Orateur . 5 . Un Secretaire . 6 . Un Grand Expert . 7 . Un Trcsonier . 8 . Un Hospitalier .

9 & 10 . Deux Maitres des Ceremonies . 11 . Un Porte Etendard . 12 . Un Archiviste , Garde des Sceaux et Timbres . 13 . Un Architecte .

14 & 15 . Deux Experts . 16 . Un Maitre des Banquets . 17 . Un Frere Couvreur .

In addition to these seventeen officers , they may be also a deputy-orator , assistant-secretary , assistant masters of ceremonies , and assistant masters of banquets , so that persons ambitious of office can have no difficulty in attaining some

dignity . If , however , promotion were by seniority , the last on the list would bo half a lifetime in reaching the chair . All the officers are appointed annually but in many cases the changes are very slight , and the Venerable or Worshipful Master

will often remain in office for a dozen or twenty years , whilst the Orateur is usually still more of a fixture , inasmuch as peculiar qualifications are required for that office . Before any question isput from the chair , the Orateur is called upon

tostate his conclusions upon the matter , and whether the motion is in conformity with the statute of the . Order . In the Grand-Orient there are two great Festivals every year , one in summer and one in .

winter , and every third year the winter one is replaced by Grand Funeral Celebrations ( Pompes-Funebres ) in honour of deceased Masons when , the Grand Orateur delivers an oration , in which . the virtues of the departed are eloquently

described . Private lodges are also required by the Constitution to devote one day at least in every three years to a similar ceremony when the local Orateur and any other frere at the call of the . Venerable , delivers a funeral address or addresses .

The duties of the Venerable are almost identical with those of our Worshipful Masters , although the former has probably more power in somerespects . The Surveillants or Wardens , the Experts or Deacons have self-evident responsibilities ^ but it will be noted that there are three of

thelatter , whilst the English lodges have only two ,, the first of the three being dignified with the titler of Grand Expert . Our readers will at once see the particular purposes which are carried out by the Secretary , Le Trcsonier or Treasurer ; the

Hospitaller , the two Masters of the Ceremonies ,,, Le Porte Etendard or Standard Bearer , the-Architect , the Master of Banquets and Le Frere Couvreur or Tyler . The person who occupies the office of L'Archiviste , Garde des Sceaux et

Timbres has principally to perform the duty of affixing the seal of the lodge to official documents . The first five officers of the lodge , viz ., Le Venerable , Le Premier et Le Deuxieme Surveillants , L'Orateur et Le Secretaire , are specially

denominated the Lumieres or lights of the lodge . Candidates for initiation in French lodges musthold the grade of Apprenti or Apprentice for five months before they are passed to that of Compagnon or Fellow Craft , and then they must

waittwo months longer before they can attain theposition of Maitre or Master Masons . We do not . know that this procedure is superior to the English method , which requires only three monthsfor the taking of the three degrees , but we consider it much better than the plan of some lodges .