The Continuity Of The Craft.

in 1621 , but in the latter part of the seventeenth century the Company dropped the prefix Free , and allowed the term to be entirely utilised by the speculative body . Both in the works an . l arms could they trace thencontinuity , and through the Old Charges , which he

regarded as their title deeds , it could be continued hack to the twelfth century . Scotland was very rich in those records . In Edinburgh the volumes dated from 1559 , and that of the old Kilwinning Lodge from 1649 , the earliest English record being 1701 , though Ashmole ' s

journal went back to 1646 . Their continuity as a secret society could be proved from the fourteenth century . He had found Masons' marks in the crypt of Canterbury Cathedral , and he suggested that someone should discover the marks of Exeter Cathedral . The new Truro

Cathedral marks were on the beds of the stones , and therefore out of sight , but , through the courtesy of the Earl of Mount-Edgcumbe Provincial Grand Master of Cornwall he possessed a copy . — " Torquay Directory . "

Freemasonry In Paris.

FREEMASONRY IN PARIS .

( From the " Globe " Correspondent . —Paris , Wednesday . ) AN important event in the French Freemason world has , we are informed , just taken place—namely , the election of Dr . Blatin , an ex-deputy , to the post of Grand Master of the Council of the Grand Orient of

France , in succession to Dr . Thulie , a former president of the Paris Town Council , who has resigned on account of bad health . Thereon the question of Freemasonry as a secret order has been revived , and an interviewer has

called on the new Master , to gather some information concerning its present condition . Dr . Blatin , although anti-clerical and Radical in his opinions , is described as a most amiable and elegant personage , who enjoys the

additional distinction of being a Knight of the Legion of Honour . He is a fluent and eloquent speaker , and made himself marked in the Chamber when he was a member

for the Puy-de-Dome . Beaten by the Boulangistsinthe last election , he withdrew from political life , and has since confined himself to science and Freemasonry .

"I need hardly say , " he began , " that I am a most devoted and convinced servitor of Freemasonry . Our institution has rendered great services to the noble cause of progress and liberty . The Revolution itself was

brought about by us , for in one of our Lodges the famous declaration of the Rights of Man was drawn up . Some people imagine that Freemasonry is not useful .

That is a great mistake . When liberty is threatened , is it not in our temples that resistance agamst oppression is organised ? Others pretend that the Order is dying out . That is an error . The number of our adhei ents is

increasing daily , and twenty-five new Lodges were created last year . " As regards the object in view , Dr . Blatin continued : — " We are to-day what we were yesterday . We desire the social and intellectual

improvement of humanity . We do not hesitate to combat obsolete dogmas which are unable to offer to present and future generations the moral satisfaction they are entitled to claim . We march resolutely in the

path of social solidarity . Our ethics , founded on Altruism , which is fraternity as it should be understood , are destined to replace Catholic ethics , which are falling into ruins . What constitutes our power is our

impersonality . Immutable on solid bases , our institution will be able to resist all attacks , and , however violent they may be , they will only tend to strengthen the fraternal ties which unite us . " Questioned as to whether the Grand Orient of France

enjoyed much prestige abroad , the Venerable Blatin

answered ;— " It will be enough to tell you that at the last international gathering at Antwerp , the representatives of our council leceived high maiks of esteem and sympathy on the part of all the other Masonic powers ,

who were present in great numbers . In Italy , Spainwhere , by the way , Freemasonry is making enormous progress—in Portugal , Belgium , and other countries , we have many ardent and devoted friends . In all these

countries the Grand Orient is considered an arbiter both wise and powerful . Everywhere Freemasons solicit our advice , and go so far as to accept our jurisdiction entirely . Latterly , on the demand of a great number oi

Freemasonry In Paris.

English , we founded a Lodge at Swansea , which is placed under the authority of the Grand Orient . This was quite an event in the English Masonic world . Our beneficent action extends to Africa , Asia , America , and the most distant quarters of the globe . We contribute

everywhere to the expansion of democratic ideas , and the love of France , the French and the Republic . We are continually receiving the visits of foreigners of all nations , happy to be able to come to Paris and assure us of their

sincere Brotherly affe ' ction . " The conversation next turned on the strange ceremonies connected with Freemasonry , or , in other words , the symbolism of the order . Here the new Grand Priest

made a most ingenious defence . " You talk of symbol

ism , " he said . " Why , what would humanity be without it ? The civilised man , like the savage , is impregnated with it . In all the acts of our existence symbolism is to be found . The simple gesture which constitutes a salute is merely a symbol . An idea

symbolised acquires extraordinary power . Thus for example , the idea of the Fatherland symbolised in a flag arouses the most noble energies . In family life symbolism is necessary . When a child is born , when a man takes a wife , or when somebody near and clear to us

disappears for ever , it is to symbolism 1 alone that one can have recourse to give to our joys or sorrows a form almost tangible . To satisfy these human and eternal

sentiments , we are thinking more than ever of organising family ceremonies for the three principal phases of life—birth , marriage , and death . I shall endeavour to draw towards our order families who are

not satisfied with purely religious symbolism , and demand emblematic personifications of the civil phase of human existence . " Here it was suggested that perhaps the female element would be the best auxiliary in this new work ,

but women are not yet admitted into the Lodges . " Their presence there , " says Dr . Blatin " would be attended with more inconvenience than advantage . First of all , our adversaries , especially those in the

provinces , would not fail to attribute to us all sorts of abominable designs . Secondly , our meetings being private , the clericals would have plenty of room to indulge in their malicious imagination . It is true a

female Lodge exists in Paris , but it is not recognised

either by the Grand Orient or by any other Masonic Order . It lives entirely apart from all regular jurisdiction . Of course , we cannot prevent a few women , estimable , no doubt , from meeting together to discuss the questions which interest them . In addition , it must

be confessed that the women would not be able to keep

the doings of the Order so secret as might be desired . " Respecting secrecy , an anecdote is told . It appears that a short time ago the password for the month ,

communicated by the chief of the Grand Orient to the members of the Order , was published by a newspaper a few days after its communication . Who and where was the guilty party ? After long enquiry , he was discovered .

He was a tailor , and being short of money , he sold the " mot d ' ordre" for ten francs to a clerical print , which lost no time in making use of it . It is unnecessary to add that the dishonest member was expelled from the Order immediately . But traitors , it appears , are not rare in the ranks of Freemasonry . Only the other day , we are told , another member was expelled for supplying a

Paris newspaper with the official programme ot the next meeting of the Order . But in regard to what is called the Sacred Watchword , it is said that that has never been revealed , probably on account of the awful pains and penalties which the revealer would incur . In spite

of these blemishes , however , the Grand Orient of

France , if we are to believe what is stated above , is as flourishing as ever , and all the reports to the contrary are unfounded . In any case , the new Grand Master of the Council is determined to do his best to make it strong and

attractive , and as Anti-Clericalism , Radicalism and Socialism are the order of the day , he will have plenty oi ground to work on . Whether this be in accordance with the objects for which Freemasonry was originally created is a question which might be contested , but

there is no doubt that it plays a role in the politics of the country more important than is generally supposed , as was shown in the last legislative elections .