The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-07-29

4 and Austria became affiliated to the or
| der for political purposes only, and while
! in the Peninsula Masonry became synony-
nous with Garioaldianism and Massinism,
| in France the mere fact Of belonging
to the craft was understood TO indicate
| adherence to the advanced doctrines of
| Louis Blanc and of Ledru Rollin. Dur
ing the Empire Napoleon Ill. who was
himself a Free Mason OF the Italian rite
endeavOred TO counterfeit the increasing
tendency Of the French Masons 70 radi-
calism and republicanism by getting first,
his cousin, Prince Murat, and then the
chief of his military household, bluff old
Field Marshal Magnan, appointed as
grand master But his efforts were
doomed 10 failure, and il was the Masonic
element in French politics that contrib
uted more than anything else to the
overthrow of his throne.
Whereas in the United States. Great
Britain, Germany and Scandinavia Ma
sonic Interference with politics is dis
countenanced and condemned, in France
any attempt TO check this Interference
would be treated with derisiOn, as the
brethren regard themselves, with some
degree Of justice, as important factors in
the creation of the republic. After the
collapse Of the Boulanger bubble, a few
years ago, those of his adherents who be-
we're disciplinary measures by their
lodges, not because they had taken part
in political movement. but because they
had been on the losing side. In order to
appreciate this, let any American Mason
consider how he would feel il called 10
account and punished by his lodge for
having voted with the Farmers Alliance,
or some other factional movement,
against the party in Office.
In strong contrast with the hostility
displayed by the Roman Catho-
lie Church toward Masonry in
Italy and France is the toler-
ant attitude Of its clergy toward the craft
in Portugal and Spain. ] remember some
years ago attending the funeral at Lis
hon Of Antonio de Agular, who at the
time of his death held the place of grand
master Of the order in Portugal. Don
Antonio was an eX-minister of public
works, senator, the president OF the
ROYAL Geographical Society. and had for
several years acted as governor and bear
leader of the present king. His body lay
in state for two days in tina Church of St.
Isabelle al Lisbon, rayed in his Masonic
insignia, and among the wreaths and
floral emblems deposited at the bier were
many bearing Masonic inscriptions. Dur
ing the whole time that the body remained
in church priests were kneeling in an
attitude of prayer beside the coftin. On
the day Of the funeral, which was at
tended by representatives of the king and
queen in state carriages, large COTJegc
OF prelates and priests in full canouicals
was present. They drove to the cemetery
in court carriages. The full services of
the Roman Catholic church were per
formed at the grave by the clergy, during
the course of which the discourses of
farewell to the dead statesman were de-
livered by Deputy Senior Elias on behalf
Of the Free Masons of Portugal, and by
Senior Nillareuo on behalf of those of
Spain. The latter, by the way, though
the most Catholic country on the face of
the earth. has as its Masonic Grand Mas
ter Senior Sagasta the present prime
minister.
In Sweden and Norway the grand mas
tership is held by King Oscar, who occu-
pied that Office long before his ascension
TO the throne, and his sons are all Masons,
as are also the sons and grandsOns of
Queen Victoria, whose heir the Prince of
Wales, is grand master Of the British
Masons. In Denmark IL is the Crown
Prince who is at the head of the Grand
Orient, while the late Emperor Frederick
held the grand mastership of Prussia'S
Free Mason's from the year before his
marriage until the time of his death
The present emperor, although a Mason,
has declined TO accept the grand master
ship in succession TO his father, and it is
now held by his brother in-law, Prince
Frederick Leopold Like all the sover-
eigns who have reigned over Prussia
since the time of Frederick the Great,
William figures on the roster of the order
as protector Of the Prussian branch of
the craft
1t is probably owing to this marked in
terest in the fortunes of the craft mani
tested by royalty in the north of Europe
that h aG led IN the l1rrq NJ n lion IF
the aristocracy to be found in the order
While in France and Italy membership of
lodge is regarded in the light of an ad-
mission that one belongs to the nouvelles
couches of society. In Prussia, Scandina-
via and particularly in Great Britain, the
Grand Orients are composed almost ex-
clusively of titled personages or of the in
innate associates of royalty. The result
is that in London and Berlin admission to
good lodge is just as eagerly sought and
as difficult to secure as election to an ex-
elusive and fashionable club.