Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-07-26
MASONIC INTELLIGENCE.


FRANCE
i VISIT To A FRENCH LoDGE-At
St. MalO we received a kind and broth
erly reception from Bro. Auguste Ho-
yius, a member of the 33d degree, who
is Consul at that port for the Kingdom
Of the Netherlands, and President of the
Tribunal of Commerce Bro. Hoyius
informed us that in consequence of the
bitter hostility of the priesthood of the
Roman Catholic Church, the Loge de
BieaJdisaRoe had suspended its meet
ings, and that Freemasonry, though not
dead, was sleeping in that city.
We we're also received in the spirit of
brotherhood by Bro De Lion, of the
Cafe des ToyGgeurs, in the Place de
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES after the great
French author who was born here, and
whose bones repose on a rocky islet in
the harbor-who took the greatest pos
sible trouble to enlighten US as to the
position of the Craft in France.
An arriving at Rennes we we're much
surprised and pleased with the extent
and beauty of the town and the magnif-
cence Of its public buildings. some of
which would 90 honor to London or
Paris. We had previously visited many
other French towns, but had found most
Of them, though quaint and interesting
enough to the antiquary, badly built
and much inferior for all useful pur-
poses to English towns of the same size.
Here, however, we found fine city, with
noble streets and squares, and gay with
brilliant equipages, while we were also
glad TO see that the quaint costumes
which formerly distinguished the inhab-
itants Of Brittany were not extinct. In
the good old times when Bretagne
had its own Independent sovereigns. the
Parliament net here, and under the
modern designation of Palais de Justice.
the grand old structure in which the de-
bates were carried on, still stands the |
pride and ornament of the city. The |
Hotel de Vile Is also a noble building. |
and the town possesses a gallery of |
paintings which attracts many connois-
seurs Of the fine arts.
We first called upon Bro. Rousseau.
and if our welcome at St Malo was
hearty, we can only say that never in
our experience have we met with so
warm a reception as was accorded to us
by the Brethren here. Bro. Rousseau
we found to be a most accomplished
Mason, and a lady who accompanied us
soon discovered, through the kindness of
Madame Rousseau, that while Craftsmen
are Brethren, the wives Of Freemasons
are Sisters. Bro. Rousseau at once in
troduced US to Monsieur Guillot. " le
Venerable de la Loge Perfaite Union.
who is also Chef de Bureau la
Marie, and than whom it would be
difficult to find man better adaGed to
preside over the duties of a Masonic
Lodge, by happy combination of the
q" suayiter in modo with the fortiter
in re. In private life we have seldom
met a gentleman Of more striking pres
ence and dignifed demeanor than NJ.
Guillot. In one respect only were we
unfortunate we had counted upon the
pleasure of making the acquaintance of
Bro. JOuaust, OrQtelir of the Lodge. and
well known by his celebrated work
" ID Historic du Grand Orient de
France" to which We have previously
alluded and we were sorry to find him
absent from home at the time Of our
visit.
The rooms in which the meetings of
the Lodge are held are some distance
from the center Of the town, arising, we
believe, from the fact that the priests
prevent as far as they can buildings
being letfor the purposes of Masonry. 7
On arrival, We found about twenty
Brethren assembled in the banquet
chamber, all of whom greeted US fra I
ternally. The walls of the room were {
inscribed with Masonic en- {
blems and notices in various languages. {
Here we were examined very properly as $
TO our Masonic qualifications, and the
Brethren having adjourned to the Lodge a
room, we we're shortly afterwards es- t
corted by lie Frere Couvreur. or j
Inner Guard, into the presence Of the a
Brethren. On entering the Lodge, the
Brethren stood with drawn swords and c
accorded US military honors, after which c
a Monsieur lie Venerable " addressed us |
rs follows: a
Tres CHers Freres l am desired by
the Brethren of the Lodge of Perfaite t
Union to give you the right hand Of t
Masonic fellowship, and to assure YOU t
hat we are all much pleased to greet Ii
you, and that we are always delighted to
zee English Brethren On the soil of q
France. Many Of our Brethren recol- I
eet with gratitude the hearty reception v
which they received when they visited Il
English Lodges on the occasion Of the II
of the great Masonic tenn f,
BE in jersey. As Masonry represents n
mOng all nations, peoples and tongues, Il
be great principle Of human brother fl
God, it is not only duty but pleasure ri
or Masons to greet Brother Masons Ct
-herever they meet Come, then, dear to
Brethren, and seat yourselves amongst az
S as part of our body, and be assured OF
hat you are at home in our midst" at
In response to this speech, Bro P. L. 70
l. NicOlle replied as follows: II
{" Tres Cher Venerable ct Che7s F,eres. tie
Ve thank you sincerely for the cordial 81
nd brotherly manner in which you have Tn
scelved us, and we trust that you will ST.
lily believe that the motive that has in en-
uced us to visit your Lodge is not one
simple curiosity. Freemasonry is fol
used upon the great principles Of unity on
I'D fraternity, and in coming to visit TO
IT French Brethren we realize desire me
hich we have long felt of studying the cal
,velopment of those principles among on
u. We have also wished to attain ne
rther knowledge Of the sublime beau val
IS of Masonry, aided in our researches bo
ter La Lumiere by the system which sui
u have adopted. In pronouncing these ne,
,rds / am convinced that express also suf
6 ssptiments Of pay friend and brother xh