The Tows Commissioners Of Mullingar.

the last allocution of even the new Pope , would deny to all outside the pale of its own communion not only the privileges of education , but even the rights of belief .

The Masonic Festival At The Trocadero.

THE MASONIC FESTIVAL AT THE TROCADERO .

It appears that the alleged invitation of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales has gone not from the " Grand Orient , " if it has gone at all , as we felt was an impossibility , but from the ' ' Grand Conseil" of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite . There is this difference between the two bodies , that whereas one has erased " belief in God " from its

constitutions , and is now intent on doing so from its ceremonial , the other continues to make a quasi-Theistic profession of faith . We all of us know the extreme kindness and geniality of our Royal Grand Master , his willingness to oblige , his desire to give satisfaction to all who approach him

or appeal to him . But , as honest journalists , we also express , what we fancy will be the unanimous feeling of the Masonic body in England , namely , that at this juncture , and under special circumstances , great caution is necessary . Knowing something of what is going on abroad , we

only fear that the gracious condescension of our Royal chief may * lead to a mistaken and mischievous use of his high name . We cannot profess to think the proposal a safe one , or a judicious one . Up to the present we have no official information that His Royal Highness has received , much less accepted the invitation .

A Special Announcement.

A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT .

We rejoice to hear , and to see announced in our advertising columns , that the publisher of the " Masonic Magazine " has secured the able pen of Anthony Trollope for the Christmas Number of the " Masonic Magazine . " Several distinguished

brethren will contribute to that number , and we have every reason to believe that it will be alike a credit to the Craft and pleasant to its readers . We congratulate our brethren on the advance of Masonic serial literature .

The Festival Of The A. And A. S. Rite In Paris.

THE FESTIVAL OF THE A . AND A . S . RITE IN PARIS .

( Communique ' . ) Referring to the notice which we publish elsewhere , in respect of the approaching Masonic fete to be given by the Supreme Council of France on the 24 th inst .,

we have been asked to give the following information on authority . The fete will be held in the great hall of the Trocadero , as announced in our notice ; all discussions on political and religious subjects will be avoided . An opening

address will be delivered by Bro . Cremieux , Sovereign Grand Commander , who will deliver a second address on the aims and objects of Freemasonry ; this will be followed by an address to be delivered by Bro . Emanuel Arago ; and the

speeches concluded , recitations by artistes of the Comedie Franchise , and musical selections by well-known performers from the opera will conclude the proceedings . In the evening a banquet , at which Freemasons only will be admitted , will

be held at the Continental Hotel . We lay these details before our readers in order that all English Masons may understand the real position of affairs . Tickets of admission may be obtained , as mentioned in the

notice , at the Secretariat of the SupreniR Council , No . 46 , Rue de la Victoire ; and it should be understood that the fete is given by the Supreme Council , and not by the Grand Orient of France .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even approving of , the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . ]

7 HE MASONIC FETE IN PARIS . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I have been startled at reading a copy of " Reuter ' s Telegram " to the effect that H . R . H . the Prince of Wales is to be entertained by the Masonic lodges of Paris at a grand fete on the 23 rd inst . The intelligence

Original Correspondence.

is in t ' e Daily Ncivs , and also in others . What does this mean ? Is it desirable for our M . W . G . M . to identify himself in any way with the " Grand Orient of France " under present circumstances ? Knowing how well you are informed as to Masonic matters in France , I shall be glad of your kindly relieving the minds of many brethren on this most important subject , for is it not likely that our M . W .

G . M . may be entertained in part by Atheists ? Yours fraternally , OBSERVATION . The Tower , 5 th October , 1878 . [ We know nothing " officially " on the subject to which our correspondent alludes , nor was it likely that we should do so . We have seen the reports in the papers , which , as far as the Grand Orient was concerned , we felt sure were " canards . " The Times of the 7 th gives the following

explanation of the matter : — " The Masonic festival to be held at the Trocadero on the 24 th , and to which the Prince of Wales is invited , is due to the initiative of the Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite . This section of French Masons is not affected by the recent decision of the English lodge , for it adheres to the declaration of theism expunged by the Grand Orient . " See also Communique ; . — ED . F . M . ]

To the Editor of the" Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I perceive by a Reuter ' s telegram in the Standard newspaper of Friday , the 3 rd inst , that" a grand fete will be given to the Prince of Wales , on the 23 rd inst ., at the Grand Hotel , by the French Masonic lodges . " The recent abrogation of Art . 1 . respecting the acknowledgement of a Supreme Being renders this a somewhat

singular proceeding , when viewed in connection with the very proper condemnation passed on it by our Grand Lodge in England . Or it is a sign that the Grand Orient of France has returned to its senses and restored the landmark to its position ? If not , it would seem strange that our admirable and illustrious Grand Master could permit himself to be present" in partibus . " But , perhaps , there is some other explanation . I remain , tlear Sir and Brother , sincerely and fraternally

yours , KENNETH R . H . MACKENZIE . IX , S . G . Sec . Swedenborgian Rite [ See Editorial Note above . ]

A . AND A . SCOTTISH RITE IN NEW ZEALAND . To the Editor 0 / the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I have to thank Bro . Colonel Clerke for his courtesy in , so promptly , calling my attention to the decree by the Supreme Council of Egypt , dated 7 th September last .

I was some months ago made aware r > f the negotiations which have resulted in that decree , over which the Supreme Councils of England and Scotland are so jubilant . But the result of these negotiations is fatal to their recent contention , that the Supreme Council of Egypt was an " irregular" body , and that it derived its origin from a " spurious " source . These allegations , which I long ago

shewed to be unfounded , are now admitted to have been so ! and , in consideration of the Supreme Council of Egypt annulling its decrees constituting the Supreme Council of New Zealand , it has been recognised by the Supreme Councils , which have seceded from the confederation of Lausanne viz : —Charlestown , Scotland , Ireland and Greece .

But the agreement made by these Councils with that of Egypt , does not affect the constitution of the Supreme Council of New Zealand . It is now admitted that its charter was granted by a body possessing the power to confer it , and it is thus shown to be a valid instrument . It does not contain a reservation authorising its grantors to revoke or annul it ; and , without such a reservation , it can

be neither revoked nor annulled . It is a completed , signed , sealed and delivered deed , and it has been acted on , for a period of upwards of two years , with the entb , approval of Egypt . Upon its faith considerable sums of money have been spent , Masons have been admitted to the various degrees of the A . and A . Scottish Rite , and consistories and chapters have been formed in various parts of the Colony .

If onerous deeds could be revoked and annulled in such circumstances , there would be an end to the finality of all Masonic and business transactions . But , further , what is said to be annulled ? It is simply the decrees authorising the formation of a Supreme Council in New Zealand , and ceitlin patents , diplomas and certificates issued to that country in absence . The Supreme

Council of Egypt docs not , and it could not annual what has followed in these decrees , the creation of the Supreme Council of New Zealand—its consistories and Chapters ; nor does it annul the diplomas and degrees conferred by that body . All these are beyond question , and are left unchallenged and intact . Every person knows that nothing can result from the annulling of an exhausted and

implemented decree . Its existence is only valuable as evidence of the authority for the performed acts it authorised ; and if destroyed or lost , that evidence can be otherwise supplied . But why should there not be a Supreme Council for New Zealand ? The declared object of the constitutions of the order is , to create Supreme Councils in every state and

province of the Globe , their mission being declared to be that " of everywhere occupying themselves with wcrks of peace and compassion . " At the date of the constitutiors the existence of Australasia was unknown , and it is therefore unprovided for in ' the constitutions ; but it stands now in

very much the same position towards European powers a North America then stood , and as regards it the constitutions provide , not as in the case of Europe , that " each great nation of Europe , Kingdom , or Empire , " and , in the case of Asia , Africa , & c , that " each Empire , Sovereign State , or Kingdom , " shall have each a Council , but that" in

Original Correspondence.

States and Provinces , as well on the continent , as in the Islands whereof North America consists , there will be two Councils . " It is not provided that these states and provinces shall , as in the case of Europe , and the other continents , be " sovereign " states , nor th at the Councils to be so formed shall be created only by the Supreme Councils of the European Kingdoms , to which the States and Provinces in

North America then respectively belonged . Their formation is left to any Supreme Council , or Sovereign Grand Inspecttor General , irrespective of nationality , acting in terms of the constitutions . The Supreme Council of Egypt , at the date of its charter to New Zealand , was in the unqualified enjoyment of every privilege of a Supreme Council , and one of these was the creation of Supreme Councils in places

where none already existed . This privilege as regards Ne w Zealand it lawfully exercised . But it is contended that New Zealand , being a dependency of the British Crown , is part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland , and that it thus falls within nother provision of the constitutions , which provides that in each great nation of Europe , " and in each Kingdom or

Empire there shall be a single Council . Although a dependency of Britain New Zealand does not fall within this law , for it is neither a part of the United Kingdom nor of any nation , Kingdom or Empire of Europe . It is a country of another continent , inhabited by an unconquered native race , and by colonists of varied nationalities , possessing a separate constitution and Government .

In fact the very expression " dependency " shows it to be separate territory , and , as already shown , it is one of those " States and Provinces " which the constitutions declare to be " places that may properly possess a Supreme Council . " But even assuming New Zealand to be a part of the United Kingdom , which it is not , it is of as distinct a nationality as either England , Scotland or Ireland , which each

has its separate Council . Surely New Zealand is equally entitled to one , —particularly as we find these very three Councils , with flagrant inconsistency , recog'nising Canada as a separate jurisdiction from themselves . The difference between the Canadian Colony and that of New Zealand it is impossible to discover . The great zeal these Councils evince in carrying out the

provisions of the constitutions , in the cases of others , is lost sight of in their own I Not only so , but they have actually extorted a statement from the Supreme Council of Egypt that all the three have a legal existence in the United Kingdom , and a joint jurisdiction over New Zealand 1 And they have done this , although the constitutions , —the observance of which they preach , and under which they profess

to exist , expressly provide that only a single Supreme Council shall exist " in each great nation of Europe , " The contention they make against the Supteme Council of New Zealand on the strength of that regulation is manifestly insincere , and comes , indeed , with bad grace from any one of the three . By such a declaration the regulation just referred to is not only ignored , but the existence of no less than three

Councils is sought to be legalised in New Zealand . As regards the annulling of the diploma in favour of brethren resident in Scotland , I am in a position to state that these diplomas were purely honorary , and were conferred on these brethren unsolicited . In order to facilitate the recognition of Egypt they readily consented to their recal . But no such request was made to New Zealand , and no

such consent has been given . The narrative given of the transaction in question by your Scotch correspondent is wanting in the impartiality of the historian , and in many respect it is inaccurate . Not only were the two brethren he names admitted 33 * by Egypt , but , as he knows , the late Grand Secretary of Scotland , a * i ° of Scotland , David Murray Lyon , one of the

most erudite and distinguished of Masonic historians , presently Grand Secretary of Scotland , and the present Provincial Grand Master of Aberdeen ( City ) Province also received the Degree . The profound Masonic knowledge of these brethren is well-known , and your readers may rely on the fact that they thoroughly satisfied themselves of the genuineness of the Egyptian Degrees before accepting them ,

in face of Ihe ridicule attempted to be thrown on them , and the warnings against them referred to by your correspondent . It is interesting to observe another statement of your Scotch correspondent , that brother John Whyte-Melville , the head of the Supreme Council of Scotland , wrote to the Grand Orient of France , requesting it not to confer a charter on New Zealand . Now the Supreme Council of

Scotland professes to deny that that Grand Orient is a genuine Supreme Council ; and , yet , by the very request made to it by Bro . Whyte-Melville is implied his Council's direct recognition of it I But Bro . Whyte-Melville ' s letter had not the effect which your correspondent ascribes to it , for the Grand Orient of France did agree to give the charter , being satisfied of the necessity of a Supreme Council in New

Zealand , and that it was unoccupied territory . Your correspondent further refers to the fact that the Grand Lodge of Scotland warned is members against the Supreme Council of New Zealand . This is true . Butthis was done because Bro . Whyte-Melville incorrectly represented to Grand Lodge that the Egyptian charter created in New Zealand , not only a Supreme Council , with which

Grand Lodge had no concern , but also an independent Grand Lodge , which he indicated would cause the secession of its lodges . Your correspondent , however , docs not add that Bro . Whyte-Melville also requested the Grand Lodges of England , Scotland , and Ireland not to recognise the Grand Orient of Egypt , for he said " should such recognition be accorelcd them it is difficult to see how the validity

of this ( the New Zealanel ) chapter can he impugned . " The Grand Lodges of England , Scotl nd , and Ireland maele , however , inquiry for themselves into the facts , and each unanimously found the Grand Orient of Egypt to be not the spurious body Bro . Whyte-Melville : represented it was , but on the contrary a genuine Masonic power , and they publicly recognised it as such . By this test , to which Bro . Whyte-Melville himself ap-