New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-22

Masons. and for the last ten years there has al
ways been a Masonic majority In the Cabinet.
Crispi Doda Zanardeli and Lacava. all hold
high office in the Grand Orient Of Italy, and the
late Prime Minister. Depretis, well as the pop
ular statesman. Nico;era, were buried with Ma.
sonic instead of religious rites.
In the French Chamber there are over 200
Masons. and most of the prominent statesmen
Of the last twenty years. including Gambetta.
Grevy Tirard. Clemenceau, Douvier. Floquet and
Ferry. have belonged to the fraternity. The
Grand Orient of France has taken leading part
in the war organized during the last fifteen years
against the Roman Catholics and the clergy. lie
clericalism VOLTA rennemi" is the device Of every
lodge in the country. The former Grand Master
NJ. Colfavru. who was on the Board Of Directors
of the Panama Company. besides being a salaried
employee in the railroad department Of Baron
Alphonse Rothschld's office, has publicly de-
scribed Freemasonry as the bitterest and most
relentless enemy Of the Church. AS ssl.ei above.
1t was In the latter part of the forties that the
continental Masons first began TO devote their
attention to politics. This due to the
verify Of the various monarchicl governments
In dealing with persons processing liberalism and
radicalism. The men found that it was only be-
hind the closed doors Of lodges duly tiled" that
they could make their voices heard and give
free expression to their political sentiments with
out peril Of imprisonment and even worse. Every
radical politician in France. Italy AMI Austria
became affiliated to the order for political pur-
poses only, and while in the Peninsula Masonry
became synonymous with Garbaldianism and
MassInism. IN France the mere fact Of belonging
to the craft understood TO indicate adherence
to the advanced doctrines Of Louis Blanc and Of
Ledru Rollin. During the Empire Napoleon III.
rite endeavored to counteract the increasing ten
dency Of the French Masons to radicasm and
republicanism by getting first. his cousin, Prince
Murat and then the chief Of his military house,
hold bluff old Field Marshal Magnan, appointed
as Grand Master But his efforts were doomed to
failure. and 1t was the Masonic element in French
politics that contributed more than anything elsa
to the overthrow Of his throne.
Whereas in the United States Great Britain.
Germany ard Scandinavia Masonic interference
with politics Is discountenanced and condemned
in France any attempt TO check this interference
would be reated with derision as the brethren
regard themselves, with some degree OF JUSTICE
as important factors in the creation of the Re-
public After the collapse Of the Boulanger
bubble few years ago. those Of his adherents
who belonged TO the craft were subjected to Sc
we're disciplinary measures by their lodges, not
because they had taken part in a political move
ment, but because they had been on the losing
side In order to appreciate this. let any Ameri-
can Mason consider how he would feel II called 70
account and punished by his lodge for having
voted with the Farmers Alliance or some otner
fractional movement against the party in office.
In strong contrast with the hostility displayed
by the Roman Catholic Church toward Masonry
Italy and France is the tolerant attitude or its
clergy toward the craft in Portugal and Spain:
remember some years ago attending the FUNERAL
at Lisbon Of Antonio de Aguiar 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. a Senator. the pres-
dent Of the Royal Geographical Society and had
for several years acted as governor ana pear
leader Of the present King. His body lay in
state for two days in the Church OF ST. Isabelle
a, Lisbon, arrayed in his Masonic insignia. ana
among the wreaths and floral emblens deposited
at the bier were many bearing Masonic inscrip-
ton. During the whole time that the BODY re-
NAMED IN church priests were kneeling In an
attitude cf prayer beside the coffin on the day
OF the funeral, which attended by repre-
ssntatives of the King and Queen in state car
rlages a large cortege OF prelates and priests In
full canonicals was present They drove to the
OF the Roman Catholic Church were performed
at the grave by the clergy. during the course OF
which the discourses OF farewell to the deao
statesman were delivered by Deputy Senior Elias
on behalf OF the Free Masons of Portugal. and
by Senior Villareno on behalf Of those OF Spain
The latter. by the way. tough the most Catnonc
country on the face Of the earth has as It's
Masonic Grand Master Senior Sagasta, the pres
ent Prime Minister.
In Sweden and Norway the Grand Mastersnlp
IS held by King Oscar who occupied that office
long before his ascension To the throne. and his
sons are all Masons are also the sons and
grandsons Of Queen Victoria, whose heir. the
Prince OF Wales is Grand Master Of the British
Masons In Denmark 1t is the Crown Prince VINO
is al the head II the Grand Orient while the
late Emperor Frederick held the Grand Master
ship of Prussias Free MasOns from the year be-
fore his marriage until the time OF his death
The present Emperor. although a Mason, mas
declined to accept the Grand Mastership in sue
cession to his father and II Is now held by his
brother-in-law. Prince Frederick Leopold Like
all the sovereisns who have reigned over Prussia
since the time OF Frederick the Great william
figures on the roster OF the order as protector OK
the Prussian branch Of the craft =
It is probably owing TO this marked interest,"
in the fortunes Of the craft manifested by ROYALTY
in the north of Europe that has led 10 the large
representation of the arlstocracy to be found
I'm the order While in France and Italy member
ship Of "A lodge is regarded in the light OF an
admission that belongs TO the nouveles
touches Of society. In Prussia, Scandinavia ana
particularly In Great Britain. the Grand OrientS
are composed almost exclusively Of titled per-
sonages or Of the intimate associates OF royalty.
The result is that in London and Berlin ad-
mission 10 a good lodge is just as eagerly sought
and as difficult to secure election 10 an ex-
elusive and fashionable club
EX-ATTACHE.