Chips Of Foreign Ashlar.

CHIPS OF FOREIGN ASHLAR .

LONDON , SATURDAY , DECEMBER 2 G , 1 S 63 .

No . 9 . —AN EVENING IN THE RUE CADET . On the Sth of October , 1868 , we found ourselves in Paris , and having- long desired to attend a Masonic Seance at- the head quarters of the Grand Orient , we made our way to the Rue Cadet at the

hour of eight in the evening ' , at which time the lodge of liars ct les Arts was appointed to meet . The first frere we met was our esteemed and talented friend Bro . Auguste Beaumont , who received us with characteristic bonhomie and warmth .

We were speedily escorted by Bro . Beaumont over the various appartments of the Grand Orient and were very kindly shewn the library and reading room by Bro . 0 . Barretta , Attache au Secretaire du Grand Orient , and an exceedingly

intelligent Craftsman . The Lodge of Mars et les Arts was very well attended on this occasion , probably because the brethren had to consider a question of great interest to themselves , involving a change in the name of their lodge . The

conjunction of Maiy , the God of War with the Arts which are entirely peaceful , was certainly odd , and we do not wonder at the desire for a more

appropriate designation . The question was not finally settled , but we gathered that the brethren were likely to adopt the title of " Progress / ' an infinitely more suitable one than the other . As might be expected Ereemasonry is better

known and appreciated in Paris than in other parts of Prance . The Parisians are by no means a priest-ridden people ' and they are apt to care very little for clerical thunder , and to remain quite as much at ease under priestly

anathemas as was the celebrated Jackdaw of Rheims . In the country districts a parish priest is often a little despot , and woe to the wretch who dare disobey his behests by joining the odious Societe Ifaconnique . The unconcealed character of Parisien

Masonry is seen in the Rue Cadet , where near to the offices of the Grand Orient stands the Cafe du Grand Orient , especially appealing to Masonic support . Such an establishment would be under the ban of priestly proscription in St . Malo and

many other provincial towns , but in Paris it can unblushingly hold its own without fear of silly priests or other old women . The aspect of the Hotel du Grand Orient is not particularly inviting , but it has many excellent

rooms , and is said to answer its purpose remarkably well . At the time of our visit there were two other lodges held as well as that of Mars ol les Arts , and we found more system here than in the provinces . Brethren did not appear

without regalia , and the various officers appeared to be well up to their work . The Venerable or Worshipful Master , M . le Docteur Monthonier , presided over the business of the lodge with grace and dignity befitting the chair of K . S ., and the

proceedings throughout were calculated to make a favourable impression on the mind of a visitor . The FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE is eagerly perused , week by week , by many French brethren , and especially by the habitues of the library and reading room at the Hotel du Grrand Orient . It is to

be feared , however , that not many English brethren ever heard of , or read Le Monde Maqoniaue , or Masonic World , a periodical , not so large as the MAGAZINE , but in which the quality of the articles fully compensates for its paucity of

size , lt is needless to add that the more brethren of different countries study each other ' s history—past and present—the better for our ancient and international Order .

A correspondent of the FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE recently expressed his desire to attend foreign lodges in the character of " a Masonic writer , " and our readers will therefore do well to look out for the appearance of this brother at some early

date—say April 1 st—in the costume and regalia of a " Masonic writer " ( cap and bells ) , specially designed for himself . For our own part we have always found the simple passport of a Master Mason sufficient to entitle us to every courtesy in visiting foreign lodges . In Paris we were for the first time recognised as a contributor to the

MAGAZINE by brethren who had read and approved our articles , and who hastened to assure us of their cordial adhesion to our views . This spontaneous and unexpected kindness made our visit to the Rue Cadet more than usually plea . sant .

The future attitude of the Grand Orient to the Supreme Conseil is still undetermined , except so far as the renewed interchange of courtesies is concerned . There are many members of the Supreme Oonseil who have reasons of their own

for not desiring a fusion of the two bodies , but the time is quickly approaching when the Grand Orient will be " one and indivisible . " When this period arrives English visiting brethren will no longer find tobacco and cigars in full operation