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dcmtentss . PAGE . FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE : — Freemasonry in France 421 A Retrospect of the Past , by One of the Craft 423 Masonic Jottings—No . 21 427 Masonic Notes and Queries 427 Correspondence 42 S

Masonic Sayings and Doings Abroad 420 MASONIC MIRROR : — Masonic Mems 430 United Grand Lodge 430 Installation of the Earl de Grey and Ripon as M . AV . G . M . 431 CRAFT LODGE MEETINGS : — Metropolitan 432 Provincial 431

Laying the Foundation Stone of St . Paul's and Mark Churches at Leicester 435 Reviews 43 S Obituary 438 Scientific Meetings 443 List of Lodge , & c , Meetings for ensuing week 440 To Correspondents 440

Freemasonry In France.

FREEMASONRY IN FRANCE .

LONDON , SATURDAY , MAY 28 , 1870 .

The "Bulletin du Grand Orient , de France , " has just reached us . The double number , ( for March and April ) is entirely occupied with the report of the " Travaux du Conseil de UOrdre , " at the meetings held on the 1-lth , 21 st , and 28 th

March , and 11 th April . On the 14 th March , the council met under the presidency of the Hon . Bro . de St . Jean , supported by Bros . Drouet , ( Vice-president ) , Aronsshon , Battaile , Becourt , Cammas , Oauchois , Galibert ,

Grain , Lezeret de la Maurinie , Meyer , Tordeus . The minutes of the meeting of 25 th Feb . Avere read and adopted . The president read a communication from Bro . Poullain , president of the General Masonic

Orphanage , announcing a concert to be given in aid of the fund of that institution , on the 27 th March . The assistance of the Grand Orient and

of the Council was requested . It was resolved that twenty-five tickets be taken . Madame Canbet'Darius ( veuve ) , solicited the assistance of the Grand Orient in the establishment of a normal school for young girls .

Madame Chemalle , directress' of a boardingschool for young ladies , desired the Grand Orient the Council to permit her to place her establishment under the patronage of Freemasonry . Bro . " Eobert also asked the support of the Grand Orient in favour of an association of professors of instruction .

The Council , following the example of previous assemblies , passed over each o . ' these requests , as questions beyond the province of the Council ,

notwithstanding the sympathy which the applications inspired . The members of Lodge " l'Abri dn Penseur / 5 ' at Tour-du-Pin , presented an abstract from their minutes . , dated 28 th Feb ., in which it had been

decided to surrender their charter , because , amongsfc other reasons , they could not now muster seven Master Masons . The remaining members now desired to remove the lodge to Bourgoin , where they had hopes of being able to resuscitate the

lodge . A pplication was UOAV made to the Grand Orient for a decision , Avhether the lodge could be removed , or whether it Avas necessary to close the lodge . The Council declared that as it had been decided

by the members to close the lodge , that course must UOAV be pursued . From Lodge " FUnion Philanthropique /' ' a similar application Avas made , one portion of the brethren desiring an enquiry into the actual

condition of the lodge , whilst others request its extinction . In order to understand the position of the lodge , a committee was appointed , AVIIOexamined two brethren representing the different factions . The result of their labours was that , one

portion of the brethren consented to withdraw their application , if the Grand Orient would grant a charter for a new lodge in St . Denis . An application having been made by twentyone of the brethren , and a charter was granted for

a neAv lodge under the title of " l'Ere Nouvelle , " Avith . the stipulation that the applicants should give in their resignation as active members of their mother Lodge , L'TJnion Philanthropique . The cause of the schism appears to bo a difference of opinion as to the utility of a free school founded by the lodge .

Several chapters made application for authorisation to advance to the capitular degrees , several brethren therein named . The application in each case was granted . From this it appears , that in France brethren cannot be exalted to the Hoyal

Arch degree , without a special authorisation from the Grand Orient . The elections of two Lodges , " FEtoile i \ eustieune , " and " l'Athenee Francais , " were declared irregular in consequence of brethren

being allowed to vote , who Avere in arrear iu their subscriptions . Bro . M . Cauley , 30 ° , presented a proposition that the " Bulletin Official " should be fonvarded more regularly to tho lodges , and , Avhat Avas of still