ble lessons, some of which may be thus briefly stated; and first, inflexible integrity, high moral courage, and strong fixity of purpose, were the foundation stones of the lofty edifice of his fame and greatness. Earnestness was his leading characteristic in every fact and feature of his life. Whatever he undertook to do, he did with his whole heart, and without any over anxious regard for the praise of men. He never sought reward or promotion, but waited for them to come as the just reward of work well done. Both in the duties of life, and in the duties of the Lodge, it will be well for us all to bear carefully in memory this lesson of example. All of us, but especially the more young and sanguine, are far too apt to look to the reward and end, and to be more anxious to secure the favour and approval of our fellowmen, than that of our own conscience. Let us guard carefully against this, and, keeping before us the example of the PatriotMason, let us ever strive to do OUR DUTY faithfully and diligently, looking for reward, not to external praise and renown, but to the internal consciousness of work well done. It is however in his grand, united character as a MASON and a PATRIOT that we have desired in these remarks more especially to fix the attention of our Brethren upon Washington, and this, because we believe that the memories and monitions connected with that aspect of his character, will be productive of incalculable benefit to our country at the present crisis. To all, whether members of the Brotherhood, of which Washington was so bright an ornament, or not, we would earnestly address the entreaty, that they would keep their eyes and hearts steadily fixed on his example in all things, if they would help to bring back peace, prosperity and Union, to our noble and beloved Republic! Let them resolve to imitate to the best of their ability his loyalty and courage in defending his Fatherland, his moderation and prudence in counsel and his Masonic mercy to the fallen and conquered. Lastly, let them learn well by heart, and resolve to abide firmly by, these farewell wisdom-words of the great Patriot-Mason :—

"It is of infinite moment that you should properly estimate the immense value of your NATIONAL UNION, to your collective and individual happiness; that you should cherish a cordial, habitual "and immovable attachment to it ;" accustom yourselves to think and speak of it as the Palladium of your political safety and prosperity; watching for its preservation with jealous anxiety; "discountenancing whatever may suggest even a suspicion that it can, in any event" be abandoned; and indignantly frowning upon the first dawning of every attempt to alienate any portion of your country from the rest, or to enfeeble the sacred ties that now link together the various parts."

Even these words, had he never uttered any other, would have been enough to prove him the wise Statesman and the true Patriot; and as the astronomical discovery of the philosopher Meton, was thought worthy of being inscribed in Golden Numbers and set up in the Athenian Agora, so shall these parting words of the Patriot-Mason be inscribed on a tablet, more noble and more enduring than those of Grecian gold-the memorial-tablet of a grateful Country's loving heart!

NEW GRAND MASTER FOR FRANCE. THE Emperor of France has relieved the French Freemasons from the decree under which secret societies were prevented having a central directing authority, and in a manner peculiarly Napoleonic and French, given them a new Grand Master in the person of Marshal Magnan-who it appears was initiated for the purpose. By this extraordinary stretch of authority the Emperor has at once destroyed one of the main principles of the Constitutions of the Order, that of electing its own Grand Master. Much as the recent dissensions amongst the Brethren, with regard to who should be Grand Master, were to be regretted, they were nothing compared to the injury which will be done to the Order by this arbitrary act of the Emperor-the substitution of King Stork for King Log.

The act is thus described by the Paris correspondent of the London Daily News:

The Emperor has made a coup d'etat against Freemasonry. He has abolished the right and universal practice of the Craft to elect its own Grand Master, and has thrust upon it in that capacity, for a period of three years, Marshal Magnan, the soldier who, it will be remembered, officiated in chief at the political and bloody coup d'etat of 1851. The Opinion Nationale, which, considering its relations with Prince Napoleon, ought to be well informed on such a subject, says that Marshal Magnan is a Freemason of only one week's standing, and has been hurried through all the degrees of the Order up to the very highest, in that short space of time. I mention this as a circumstance which ought to be known, but I regard it as of no account whatever in comparison with the grievious tyranny involved in the appointment of a Grand Master by imperial authority. I happen to be a Freemason of considerable experience myself, and therefore cannot help having an ex cathedra opinion on the subject.

London, Saturday, February 15, 1862.

Marshal Magnan, the New Grand Master of Freemasons, was inaugurated this evening with extraordinary pomp, at the Central Lodge, in the Rue Cadet. Whatever dissent may exist in the Craft touching the manner of his appointment -and it is notorious that there does exist a great deal-nothing but harmony was apparent on the face of that day's proceedings. No Grand Master, elected in the usual way by the voice of the Brethren, was ever received by a more numerous meeting, or with greater applause, than the Marshal of France, who by the sic

volo sic jubeo of the Emperor presented himself to-day to rule over the French Freemasons. The grand hall being laid out for the banquet, the Installation took place in the minor temple, which, though a very large room, was too small to contain all the Brethren who sought an entrance. The ante-rooms were painfully crowded during the whole of the ceremony. About 400 sat down to a splendid banquet. Marshal Magnan took occasion to say, in the course of the evening, that he meant to enforce unity in French Freemasonry, and that all dissenting Lodges would be dissolved. In proposing the Emperor's health he averred as an existing fact, what the great King of Prussia had only suggested as an hypothetical idea, that not a cannon could be fired in Europe without the con sent of France. At desert the new G. M. walked round the tables and shook hands vigorously with every Brother present. This adroit condescension was highly successful, and many who lament the origin of the Marshal's Masonic power are of opinion that his agreeable manners and fair professions of an intention to carry out the rules of the Craft as sincerely as if he had been elevated by the voice of the community, will make him very popular.

PAPAL PROSCRIPTION OF MASONS IN

IRELAND.

THE Roman Catholic Bishops of Ireland, in full synod assembled, have determined to extirpate Freemasonry from their membership, or else inflict the severest penalties of the Church against the disobedient.

They have ordered that diligent measures shall be taken in every parish to prevent the formation of secret societies, as they lie under condemnation. They deplore that "not a few" Catholics are enrolled amongst the condemned society of Freemasons, and call on the parish priest to remind them that the pontifical (or greater) excommunication is still in force, under certain papal Bulls, against all who dare to enter, propagate, found, receive others, conceal the existence of, or belong to such society. The letter is redolent of pains and penalties, and declares that if any Catholics meet in such societies, promise or obligate themselves to keep such secrets, the parish priest shall carry them before the bishop, that they may be punished with heavy ecclesiastical punishment for contumacy. We had thought that his Holiness of Rome would find sufficient employment in protecting his "triple crown," and eccelesiastical prerogatives at Rome, without troubling our Irish Brethren in their social enjoyments. Bishops will learn some day that men do not fear them as of old.

IMPOSTOR. A correspondent at Somerville, N. J. writes that " a person calling himself Charles Foster, and representing himself as a F. C. and member of Franklin Lodge, Boston," visited the Lodge in that place a few weeks since, stating he had been to Washington on business and fell sick by the way, and needed help. The Lodge assisted him. This man is doubtless an impostor. There is no such Lodge in Boston as Franklin Lodge.

STROLLS AMONG THE WORKMEN.

NO. 10.

DUTIES AND LIABILITIES OF MASTERS OF LODGES.

DEAR BROTHER MOORE

According to the usages of Freemasonry, as I understand them, the Master of a Lodge renders himself obnoxious to the laws of the Institution, and subjects himself to its discipline

1st. By refusing to do homage to the Grand Master when present in his official capacity.

2nd. By disobeying an order from the Grand Master or in any way contemning his authority.

3d. By violating, in any particular, the Constitution of Freemasonry or the General Regulations of the Grand Lodge under which he holds office.

4th. By a wilful departure from the Land Marks and ritual of the Order. 5th. By neglecting to carry out fully the requirements imposed upon the office by the usages and customs of the Craft.

6th. By not making due answer to all signs and summonses, sent to, or received by, him from the Grand Lodge, or by refusing to obey either of its resolutions or edicts.

7th. By violating the rules of decorum while present in the Grand Lodge so as to disturb its peace or interrupt its harmony.

8th. By being in open rebellion to the Grand Lodge, or participating in sedi. tions or conspiracies against lawful Masonic authority.

9th. By presiding over the Lodge in a dictatorial and imperious manner, or by violating any one of its By-Laws.

10th. By being in personal conflict with his Lodge, thereby producing discord where uninterrupted harmony should prevail.

11th. By holding Masonic intercourse, either officially or otherwise with expelled, suspended, or clandestine Masons, or to aid or countenance them in any manner whatever.

But for offences purely personal, I doubt very much whether, while in office, he can be made to answer, such as

1st. Misunderstanding in business between partners or other persons.

2d. Quarrels, or personal conflicts and social difficulties between himself and others, whether Masons or not.

3d. Moral offences of every character, in which he is individually responsible to God. Cases of immorality might arise however, in which a Grand Master might find a justification for assuming the responsibility of suspending a Master from office, and such a step would meet the general approval of the Craft, but it is nevertheless an exertion of power of doubtful utility, and should be exercised only in flagrant and notorious cases of crime. It would doubtless prove harmless in the case of an individual convicted by a court of justice, of some crimi. nal offence, as such an occurrence is taken by Masons as evidence prima facia of guilt. However, such instances are rare, indeed I have never known of but

one case in which the Master of a Lodge had so far forgotten his elevated official connection with Masonry as to place himself in so disgraceful a condition. It is scarcely consistent, therefore to base an argument upon an hypothesis so remote. I wish simply to illustrate how palpable the circumstances should be to justify the interposition of the disciplinary prerogative of a Grand Master. A prompt and decisive disciplinary course of procedure generally proves salutary, and as a principle of policy is correct, nor can it always be neglected with impunity. But in these cases generally, there are important principles involved, rendering necessary a deliberate consideration, sufficiently so at least, as to induce a hesitancy on the part of the officer in carrying his convictions of duty to this extreme. It is in effect a disposition, and virtually deprives a Lodge of one of the principal and necessary pillars to its support and symmetry. Indeed it has been thought fatal to the existence of a Lodge, but this can hardly be the case, as the Brother, though under punishment, is still nominally its Master. I have known instances in which the members of the Lodge sympathized so strongly with the Master, who was suffering under official discipline, as to make his cause their own, thereby producing trying and unmanagable difficulties. Although this should not deter a necessary enforcement of discipline, yet a certainty of such consequences, should not be entirely disregarded.

But to proceed, I think it very questionable whether more can be required of a Master than a faithful performance of his official duties. So long as he complies with the rules of the Institution in these particulars, and keeps the course of his Lodge within the prescribed limits of the constitutions, so long is he sheltered from its penalties, and independent of Executive interference. I admit that delinquences in a Master are particularly reprehensible, as the installation vows, which he voluntary takes upon himself exact his explicit obedience to the moral law. In disregarding then, any of those stipulations, either in office or morals, he does in fact criminally falsify his plighted honor. Taking a metaphysical view of the subject it would seem, that to offend in either the one or the other of these classes of duties, would, from their insidious association, necessarily involve both. But while this philosophical fact may prove a union of mind and matter, it does at the same time distinctly mark their individual identity, separating which, a well defined line can and should be maintained to distinguish between moral and official offences. The fact is that the moral and physical man are so mysteriously blended, that unless subjected to a fastidious analysis, it is difficult to discriminate between their apparent mutual offences. We should therefore concede to such cases large and comprehensive definitions, so as to render obvious their distinctive characters, thus facilitating a faithful application of the rules of Masonic law appropriately and justly. Instances have occurred in which a misdemeanor may combine a moral and official offence both; such as taking money belonging to the Lodge, semi officially and appropriating it to his own personal use. By such an act a Master is culpable in a two-fold degree, and his official criminality would preponderate, rendering him amenable to the Grand Lodge. But should the offence lie over or remain undiscovered unti! he is superceded in office, its moral aspect would then preponderate, when he can be tried by his own Lodge.