Freemasonry In France.

any kingdom but one Supreme Council , ancl Count Muraire himself had repulsed the claim of the American brethren , Avho desired to be acknowledged by the Supreme Council of France .

Sinccitiseertaiu that theSupreme Council of France was dispersed and its functions had ceased , and that the Sovereign Grand Inspectors had themselves reconstituted , in the midst of the Grand Orient of France , the question is decided . AVe see ,

however , that the Supreme Council of America would have maintained the ri ghts of the Supreme Council of France . It had been established by Bro . de Grassc Tilley , in virtue of his constituent power for the French AVindward and Leeward Islands

, and this brother was constituted Grand Commander for life . When he resigned his position as Grand Commander of the Supreme Council of France in favour of Prince Cainbaceres , he retained that of Grand Commander of the Supreme Couucil

of America , ancl it was in that capacity , on his return to France , after his captivity in England , that he resumed the direction of the work of this Masonic authority , which now had no active existence on the Continent .

How , then , could Count Muraire , speaking in the name of the Supreme Council of France , maintain that a Supreme Council whose jurisdiction was limited to the American Islands , had maintained the rights of those whose jurisdiction was exercised in another country , ancl which had

there asserted its authority . AA e see from these facts how the French Supreme Council was administered and what it did . In the month of June , 1816 , tho Supreme Council of America presided over by Count de Grasse Tilley , held iu the locality of the Prado , an assembly-general for the celebration of the fete of the Order

and the inauguration of a statue of Louis XVIII ., but the Grand Commander being compelled to leave Paris to avoid , claims for the payment of debts contracted during his captivity , the government of tho Supreme Council of America devolved upon upon Bro . de la Hogue , Lieutenaut-Grand Commander .

Under the direction of this brother the scandals were such , and the traffic in the degrees were so shamefully carried on , that

out of his retirement Bro . cle Grasse Tilley thought proper to revoke his appointment and to place in the position Bro . the Count de Fernig . This fact abundantly proves that the functions of the Supreme Council had ceasedfor the Constitutions do not give to

, the Grand Commander the power to depose his lieutenant . Thus a faction , under the direction of Bro . Maghellen , separated itself ancl founded the second Supreme Council of America .

Bro . de Grasse Tilly fulminated against the dissentients , who decided to submit to his authority , paying his debts , and enabled him to resume his titles . The peace was not of long duration . Maghellan ' s faction attracted to its side

Count General Allemand , and the turmoil began . Count de Grasse Tilley removed the head quarters of the Supreme Council to Pompei , while the dissentients maintained their position at Prado .

There now existed for the second time two Supreme Councils of America located in Paris , of which one was called the Supreme Council of Pompei , and the other the Supreme Council of Prado ; the discussion between these two Supreme Councils was most courteous . In a circular of the

loth August , IS IS , Bro . de Grasse Tilley declared the Supreme Council located at Prado to be schismatic , and to give more authority to the faction ivhich directed it , he did ivhat ho had already done for the Supremo Council of France , he gave in his

resignation , and nominated as his successor the Count cle Gazes , Minister-General of Police , and favourite of Louis XVIII . The Supreme Council of America established at Prado , on its part passed judgment on the Sovereign Grand

Commander Count cle Grasse Tilley , aud on tho 17 th September , 1818 , declared him to be deprived of his title ; degraded him from the title of Mason ; signalized him as a traitor to the Order ; interdicted his entrance into the lodges of the Scottish Rite ; and ordered that the sentence . should be printed and ' circulated to the number of 7 , 000 copies .

On the 24 th October , following , it denounced more traitors to the order in the persons of Bros . Fernig , Quezada , and Beaumont ; degraded them from their rank aud titles , and ordered that their