Freemasonry In Chile, South America.

borne by some of the regular lodges of that republic UOAV in work . Even the founder himself of the Lodge Orden y Libertad , of Copiapo , has returned to his allegiance to the regular Grand Orient of Peru as a Master Mason , relinquishing all the degrees conferred by his spurious council . On being informed that the above difficulties could be overcome bv obtainine- neAv charters from

a generally recognised governing Masonic Power , working for twelve months or more , and then forming their Grand Lodge , the presiding officers and brethren of more influence in the lodges alluded to , refused to do so , and demanded that their ille . o-alities should be overlooked on account

of the great distance they Avere from Europe , & c . But if they had erred in their action , they had done no more than other bodies before them , Avho , by a patient continuance in ill-doing , haA'e been finally recognised , and that it Avas only a question of time , since they must be eventually recognised .

For the information of the fraternity in Europe and elsewhere it ouQ-ht to be mentioned that ail the ritual , ceremonies , and oven obligations , are open , in a printed form , in the lodges alluded to , are read aloud , and used as text-books by Masters and Wardens . There are also deviations , not

prudent to commit to print ; Avhether it is the Rile Moderne de France , or the Antient and Accepted Scotch Rite , Avhich is practised , they themselves know best . Representations Avere made by the newly selfconstituted body in Chile ( August , 1862 ) to the

several Grand bodies throughout the Avorld , and the only ones AAIIO have recognised the so-called Grand Lodge are the Grand Lodge at Washington for the district of Columbia , U . S ., the Supreme Conseil Maconnique of Luzember , and the old Supreme Council . 33 degree for Franceof Avhich Mr . M . Viunet

, is Sovereign Commander . The Grand Lodge of Massachusets not being in possession of full particulars , merely directed the Lodges Bethesda and Hiram , under its jurisdiction , to exchange Masonic courtesies until such time as their decision should be altered or confirmed .

Three years , however , elapsed since the issue of circulars to obtain recognition from all quarters of the Avorld , and it is Avorthy of remark that not even any of the sister republics of South America , Avho Avould certainly be the first to take them by the hand , have thought fit to recognise the Grand

Lodge of Chile . To ensure recognition by all the Grand Masonic poAvers , it Avould appear that the course AAIUCII was

Lodge of Scotland of formal cautions and protests against such a proceeding from the Grand Master of the Jaivfnl and generally recognised Grand Orient of Pern , and also of the regular Masons and lodges in Lima and Callao . The Grand Lodge of Scotland has most certainly been imposed upon , and the sooner it investigates the matter -properly tho better , not oiAly iu justice to itself , its own honour and disrnifcA " , bnt to all regular Masons in the AA-orld .

Freemasonry In Chile, South America.

rejected on their first formation is the only legal one Avhich lays open , and which it is to be hoped they may be pleased to follow , by dissolving a Grand body formed in a manner so evidently irregular . A lodge is about to be opened in Santiago , the

capital of the republic , under warrant from this Grand Lodge , aud it may be considered as some advancement in the cause of Masonry , since that city has never been famous for the liberality or even justice of its opinions Avith respect to the Order of Freemasons . It is the centre of opposition to

Freemasonry , and a lodge is imperatively required ; the one about to be formed is iivthe hands of the hig hly educated and most liberal men in Chile , and it Avill be a s-reat misfortune for them to learn that

that the )* have made a false start—that they are part of a spurious and illegal Masonic body , Avhose members cannot be recognised as reo-ular FREE - arASous in any ] 3 art of the Avorld . In conclusion , this brief notice of the Order in this part of the New World may be closed by

stating emphatically that the only regular Masonic lodges in Chile are : —¦ In Valparaiso—No . 1 . The Etoile du Pacifique , under charter from the Grand Orient of France since 1851 , Avorking in the Rite Moderne de France , in Spanish .

No . 2 . The Bethesda , under charter from the Grand Lodge of Massachusets , founded in the year 1854 , and Avorking in the Antient York Rite of Masonry in English . And in Copiapo—¦ No . 3 . The Hiram Lodge , under charter from the Grand Lodge of "^ Massachusets since 1859 ,

York Rite , and in English . All of which , according to reliable information , are in excellent Avorking order , and progressing favourably . "NUNQUAM NON PAKATUS . "

Sermon

SERMON

Treated m St . John ' s Chmali , Cardiff , Sept . 28 , 1865 , before the Provincial Grand Lodge , at the installation of the R . W . Bro . Theodore Mansei Talbot as Prov . G , M . for the Eastern Division of South Wales , by Liaut .-Col . Henry Atkins Howycr , Prov . G . M . for Oxfordshire , by the liev . J . D . Lavies , M . A ., Prov . G . Chap , of Neath .

¦ ' Behold how good and joyful a thing it is , brethren , to dwell together in unity . It is like the precious ointment upon the head , that ran down unto the beard , even unto Aaron ' s beard , aud went downto the skirts of his clothing . " ( Ps . exxxiii . 1 , 2 . ) Perhaps in the whole volume oH the Sacred Law

it would be hard to find a passage which seems to breathe more faithfully tho spirit of our Order than that Avhich I have just repeated , or one Avhich bespeaks more truly the feeling AA'hieh should influence not only every Freemason , bnt every one in the Avorld . United as Ave are , my Masonic brethren , by many a sacred and fraternal tie , Ave perhaps are in some respects the better enabled to