Freemasonry In France.

mistical alias by whicli atheism goes in France now-a-days ); but apart from the erroneous principles it advocates , Ave must do our French contemporary the justice to say that it is conducted in a highly creditable manner , and in reviewing more

particularly it last number , Ave meet with a perfect enibarras de richesses . It appears , from extracts of ultramontane neAVspapers , reproduced in this number , that the representatives of orthodox Catholicism are continuing as eager and active as

heretofore in Avaging a real Avar to the knife against the institution of Freemasonry . The Union Franc-Gourtoise , in an article on the subject , the writer , after having admitted that he knows nothing whatever about the character and the tendencies

of Masonry , arrives at the conclusion that "the visible society ought evidently to take some measures of precaution to check the somewhat tenebrous influence of that invisible society that is called Freemasonry . " To this suggestion , Bro .

Caubefc replies : — "If the author of this article would only content himself with sighing at his complete ignorance of things Masonic , Ave should not complain of , and mig'ht perhaps feel disposed to come to his aid and tell him what is the character of the institution

that seems to be a nightmare to him . But this ignorance that ought to render him more cautious andreserved , does not prevent him from impugning our institution , and piously denouncing us . Such conduct , which we need not qualify , as the author ' s conscience itself will judge of it , is not

particularly characteristic to the Union Franc-Courtoise ; the latter has it in common Avith all our antagonists , jpast and present , aud with all fanatics . " At Rouen , a free circulation library has lately ibeen . established by the Masonic lodges of the town , and at Niorfc the Scottish lodge has presented six donations of 50 francs each for the

poorest and most deserving pupils of the ecote mutii-elle & b the annual public distribution of prizes , on the 10 th of August last , aud the Deputy Mayor , of the town , who presided at the ceremony , tendered the thanks of the public to this lodge for its Jrenerous gift . To this the legitimist print V Union observes : —¦

" Certainly the clergy AVIIO attended at this ceremony did not expect that they would honour by their presence the distribution of Masonic prizes , still less to Avitness the representative of the town , contrary to all rules of propriety , devoting the greater part of his speech to call forth applause in

favour of the Freemasons , instead of availing himself , like those who preceded him , of this favourable opportunity to impress profitable truths upon the pupils and their parents . "

And the Ultramontane organ Le Monde , still more excited at this " scandal , " thinks this to be a suitable occasion to be proud enough to repeat the Avords addressed by St . Peter to Simon the magician—Pecunia tua tecum sit in perditionem .

Thereupon our contemporary replies : —¦ " We content ourselves ivith putting to the pious publication the question whether it would have spoken as it did if the Masonic lodge , instead of appropriating the three hundred francs for the

ecole mutuellc ( a national school ) had sent them to the petit seminaire , or to the freres ignorantius ( clerical schools ) . Bro . Abd-el-Kader has been travelling lately through France , and besides the general public the

Masonic corporations of several towns have given him a most warm , and fraternal reception . At Amboise he ivas received on his arrival by the municipal authorities , accompanied by the corps of the firemen and their band . He Avas led to the

Hotel de Yille where he was treated to a series of speeches . He afterwards visited the castle , his former residence . In the evening deputations from the lodges of Blois , Tours , and Nantes Avere introduced to him . An address was readinAvhich

his generous and noble conduct during the late troubles in Syria Avas dwelt on , and the Emir congratulated for having recognised the equality of all creeds , and having joined the Masonic brotherhood . To this Abd-el-Kader replied— "I tender

my thanks to all Masons represented by those present . I consider Freemasonry as the first institution of the world . In my opinion any man who does not belong to the Masonic Craft is but an incomplete man . I hope the day will come

when the principles of Masonry shall prevail throughout the universe , and that day all nations of the earth will live in peace and harmony together . " A banquet afterwards took place at the Hotel

du Leon d'or , attended by the Masonic deputations , by Abd-el-Kader , his son-in-law , and his faithful servant Ivahrech . The Emir , Freemasonry , and the union of all nations Avere successively proposed and enthusiastically drunk .

We are indebted , also , to our French contemporary for some very interesting statistics of Masonry in France , of which the folloAving is an excerpt -.

—There are at present 230 lodges working under the auspices of the Grand Orient de France ( French rite ) , and 70 lodges under those of the Supreme Conseil ( Scottish rite ) , in all 300 lodges . Of these