Chips Of Foreign Ashlar.

CHIPS OF FOREIGN ASHLAR .

LONDON , SATURDAY , NOVEMBEB 21 , 1863 .

No . 5 . —ON THE SQUARE IN DENMARK . In the Masonic Jurisdiction of Denmark there are four St . John's Lodges , of which only one is to be found in the metropolis . And yet with this small organisation—smaller than that of an

English Provincial Grand Lodge—the Danes have erected in Copenhagen a spacious Masonic temple at a cost of upwards of twenty thousand pounds sterling . Surely this may put the Freemasons of other countries to shame !

The Masonic benevolence of Denmark is confined to the several lodges , there being happily no necessity for almshouses or orphanages , The Danes are a small nation , but their wealth is remarkable . In no other country is there so little

pauperism , and whenever the Swedish or other Governments apply to Denmark for public loans the money is rapidly subscribed if the security is good . The immediate predecessor of the Prince of

Wales's father-in-law on the throne of Denmark was an enthusiastic Freemason , and it is doubtless to his active exertions that much of the prosperity of the Craft may be traced . The present chief of the Order is His Excellency Bro . C . J . 0 .

Briistrup , Governor of Copenhagen , and formerly Minister of Justice and Public Worship . Bro . Brastrup stands high in the councils of his

Sovereign , and was one of the members of the Privy Council , specially chosen to accompany King George of Greece when that young monarch departed for his kingdom . We had the pleasure to call on Bro . Brastrup at his official hwreaw , and

found him an exceedingly pleasant gentleman . He regretted much that when he had visited England he had never been able to attend a Masonic gathering . Bro . Briistrup cordially invited us to the inauguration ceremonies at the

opening of the new Temple at which the King of Sweden and Prince Oscar were to assist , but unfortunately we had to leave Denmark before the time appointed . In the discharge of his public duties , Bro . Briistrup is often called upon to

decide upon applications from married couples to be divorced . W « saw one pair whom he had severed and who appeared to have had " a , happy deliverance / ' judging by the smiling faces .

The Masonic temple is a noble building " and the number and extent of its rooms are almost bewildering . At our visit we received every courtesy and attention in looking through the various suites of apartments from Bro . L . Kett . During

our stay in Copenhagen we experienced great kindness from Bro . Howitz , the Government Director of Gas Works , and a writer of some celebrity on matters appertaining to his profession , and also from Bro . S . J . Konnerop , an enthusiastic Mason , Bro . Fritz Nissen , and others .

The designations of the officers of Danish lodges are precisely the same as those of the lodges of Norway , and are as follows : — Worship ful Master—Ordforende Hester . Deputy Master—Deputerede Mester .

Senior Warden—Forste Broder Forsteander . Junior Warden—Anden Broder Forsteander . Deacon—Ceremonie Mester .

Orator—Taleren . Treasurer—Skatmester . Secretary—Secretaire . Inner Guard—Vagthevende Broder . Tyler—Gruelige Broder .

In Copenhagen the Swedish degrees up to the 9 fch , and exclusive of that of the Red Cross are conferred , but the higher degrees are not given in the provinces . Among ? the letters of introduction which we

carried was one to a Danish merchant of high standing , who told us that he was " disgusted with Masonry , " because when visiting Scotland last year some person had offered to get him through the three degrees for thirby shillings at

twenty-four hours notice ! Several brethren also remarked to us , " we like the Scottish system " ( meaning the Swedish ) , frbut we don't like Scotch Masons . " The reason is obvious . The

Swedes and the Danes devoutly believe that pure Masonry is only to be found in Sweden and Denmark , and no arguments to the contrary will alter their opinions . For ourselves we did not contest the point , seeing it to be a tender one .

However , English , French , German , and Scandinavian Masons all uphold their several systems ; while Americans , as usual , claim to be " a long chalk a-head " of all the rest . We have , nevertheless , a solid conviction , no less logical than

patriotic , that England deserves the foremost Masonic rank for excellence of working , as much as extent of lodges and members .