"Le Monde Maconnique" And "The Freemasons' Magazine."

"LE MONDE MACONNIQUE" AND "THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE . "

We so often hear that " Freemasonry is the same all over the world , " that it has become to be adopted as an article of Masonic faith . Whether it will stand the test of inquiry no one seems to question ; but so curious to us are the constructions which foreign

Freemasons put on the matters which , they assert , either constitute , or are collaterally embraced by Freemasonry , that we , as English brethren , are frequently bewildered and surprised at the variety of objects which are set forth abroad , as part and parcel of

Freemasonry . Of this fact Le Monde Maconniqite , for the present month , affords us a tolerable example . Our contemporary , under the head of "England , " has paid us the very high compliment of being true to our principles ; literall y " always the same ; " but the

writer evidentl y did not intend it to be so construed , for to be conservative and closely to adhere to the early traditions and usages of the Craft does not find

favour m his sight . He attacks the address of the . Editor , under what he is pleased to call the " new organisation " of TIIE MAGAZIXE , for not devoting more of his space to the " progress of Masonic princi ples ; " and , in reference to this " progress , " we are at issue with him . We

admit , Avith our ritual , that " Masonry is a progressive science ; " but we deny that it is intended by these words to convey more than that the brethren are to make themselves perfect in certain arts and sciences , laid down as a curriculum for study .

" The progress of Masonic principles " is , if we ri ghtly understand the term as applied by Lo Monde Maconnique , taken to be the Avatchword of a party whose princi ples maybe , summed up in the three words which are the guiding stars of Freemasonry in France ,

—Liberty , Equality , and Fraternit ^ v , —all pointing in one direction , that of bringing to bear on the outer world the doctrines enunciated by those terms .

With us our princi ples are like our institutions , the growth of centuries , and are hi ghly conservative , never seeking to intrude ou the questions of State , but inculcating , as the chief duty of Freemasons , upon which the Order is founded , those ancient A-irtues of Brotherl y Love , Relief , and Truth .

Which of these two systems work the best for the universal brotherhood of Freemasons , we must leave our readers to judge for themselves ; intimating only that in France there has been a wide deviation from the earlier teaching of the Order . The first lodge in Paris was founded in 1725 , and

derived its practice from England . Then Masonic progress or Liberty , Equality and Fraternity , Avere unheard of . Brotherl y Love , Belief , and Truth occupied their places . And Avell Avould it have been for France and French Freemasons , had they always adhered to

the system first established , and discountenanced the introduction into their lodges of the substituted principles which culminated in anarchy and bloodhshed throughout the land , ancl in the propagation of which the ever restless progressive party led on the brotherhood , hy their Illuminati and Avorship of the Goddess

of Reason , in place of pure Masonry , and the acknowledgment of the G . A . O . T . U . into becoming a semipolitical organisation fraught with danger to the State , and introducing , for the bond of love and peace , one of discord and civil strife . Le Monde tells its readers that "the matrimonial events of the reigning

housethe number of lodges newly created , and the prosjjerity of tlie Charitable Institutions—interest it [ THE MAG-AZIXE ] above everything . It neither hears nor sees anything out of England and its dependencies , and is silent on universal Masonry . " It has ever been the boast of Englishmen to be loyal ,

and no more loyal subjects are to be found than Freemasons . This is so self-evident to all who know our lodges , in every degree or Order , that the sneer at our own loyalty will fall harmless . Journals in England have many specialities : that of recording the events that take place , each according

to its class of readers , is an element of success ; and Ave have to thank Lo Hondo Maoonniqite for admitting that we are interested in the well-doing of our lodges . It is a brotherly feeling to be anxious as to our " Masonic progress . "

"The prosperity of the Charitable Institutions " does , indeed , "interest us above everything . " We have worked , written , and glory iu the support we can give , and have given , to our Masonic Charities . We specially advocate " Masonic progress " in them . " Progress " in donations , " progress" in comforts for

the old and infirm , "progress" in the education of our children , and general " Masonic progress" in " Brotherly Love , Relief , and Truth , " all of which are strongly brought out before the Craft and tlie world at large by the " Brotherly Love and Relief " which

the Freemasons of this country afford to the decayed Mason , his wife , or children ; ancl the " Truth " in which their young charges are reared and prepared to go forth and fi ght the battle of life for themselves , having " a reason to give for the hope that is in them . "

The tit , quoque style of argument is generally admitted to be indicative of a weak cause ; but we cannot refrain from adopting it on this occasion , seeing it is so happily in point . We are accused of being " silent on universal

Masonry ; " but , if we are silent , what is the " Masonic World ? " Surely a publication with such a title ought to contain news and intelligence from a large portion of the globe . Le Monde Magonnique sounds grandly , aud should have a large amount of " universal Masonry" in its pages ; whereas it gives but news