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man . Think of this Cockney Worshipfuls ! Would it not puzzle you ? We cannot but thank Bro . Volkers for all his kindness to us . Eecognising our desire for informotion he did all he could to enlighten us . The

Freemasons of Hamburgh claim to have a charter from England , dated 1717 , and in company with Bro . Volkers Ave made a diligent search for it among the archives of the Grand Lodge , but unfortunately we Avere not successful .

The Masonic Temple at Hamburgh , a very respectable building , and the Castellan , or Curator , Bro . Julius Henry Matzer , is a very agreeable and gentlemanly man , Avho speaks English very fluently . The W . M . of the lodge of St . George at the date of our visit was Bro . Peter Otto Heinich Pepper , an old and highly respected

Craftsman . A pleasing incident marked our visit to Hamburgh . Having joined Doyle's Chapter of Fellowship during our visit to Guernsey we carried with us a Masonic case , upon Avhich was inscribed the

name of that excellent chapter . This created an impression that we were from the Channel Islands , and several brethren came forward to express their pleasure at the fact . They said they knew and loved many Jersey and Guernsey brethren , and

they never required any other certificate of good character from a visting brother than the simple fact that he hailed from the Channel Islands . They were somewhat disappointed when we explained that we were not from Guernsey , but Ave took the opportunity to support with all our poAver their estimate of the Channel Island brethren . After

all , we think there is considerable truth in the theories of " Father " Sarchet of Doyle's Lodge on the subject of Norman blood . The English M . P . who prematurely answered that the Republican bubble had burst when the

civil war broke out in America , had probably forgotten the ancient Republics of the Hanse TOAVUS , some of Avhich are never likely to " burst , " though they may fall before the Providence which Napoleon said was " always on the side of the

strongest battalions . " The Republic of Hamburgh , consisting of the city and adjacent territory , with a small town at the mouth of the Elbe , has 350 , 000 inhabitants—270 , 000 in the city , and 80 , 000 elsewhere . The State is some forty miles

in extent , and the villages included in it are remarkable for the peculiar and beautiful dresses worn by the peasantry .

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Since 1865 the Grand Lodge of Hamburgh has adopted the system of direct representation , and it is said to answer remarkably well . The deputies forming the Grand Lodge are now elected by the members of the respective private

lodges . Will this method ever be adopted in England ? Who knows ? J . A . E .

Freemasonry In Egypt.

FREEMASONRY IN EGYPT .

ALEXANDRIA . Want of news of some real interest to yourself and your readers , has kept me silent for a long time and if I UOAV break the spell , it is with feelings of regret that the first portion of my

communication is not of a more agreeable nature . OAving to some misapprehension on the part of the ruling power of this country , entailing a forced expatriation from this his native land , our worth }* and beloved District Grand Master , Prince

Halim Pacha , took his departure on the 9 th inst ., on board one of the Messageries' Mail boats for Marseilles . The feelings to Avhich this unfortunate event gave rise , not only amongst Masons placed by Grand Lodge of England under the immediate

rule of this much esteemed brother , but among foreign Masons generally , as well as in tbe ranks of all worthy men Avho had the honour and pleasure of his personal acquaintance , can more easily be imagined than described . Suffice it to say that

our exiled brother , the R . W . District G . M . for the Province of Egypt , possesses the love and fraternal sympathy of all good men and true brethren whom he left behind ; their confidence in his integrity remains perfectly unshaken and their

personal esteem unabated . They all express their regret that such arbitrary measures should be resorted to by those who claim a place amongst fche rulers of civilised nations , and they hope that wheresoever he directs his steps he will meet

with fraternal sympathy . Dismissing this subject for the present , I beg to call your attention to the following report of the state of Masonry in Egypt or rather to some of its doings , leaving others to be communicated to

you at some future time . Some few years ago Masonry was represented in this country , but by single individual brethren ; there were no lodges , and it was so late as 1856 , ( I believe , ) that the first lodge ( Les Pyramides d'Egypte ) , Grand Lodge of France , was called into existence by the exertions