New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-24
"LE GRAND OCCIDENT DE FRANCE
THE BEsIEGED HOUSE IN PARIs-rHE HEAD
QUARTERS OF THE ANTI-FREE MAsoNs
or nrr GRAND ORIENT"

QUARTERS OF THE ANTI-FREE MAsoNs
OF "LE GRAND ORIENT"
1t is not known generally that the house in which
Guerin and his comrades besieged in Paris
is called lie Grand Occident de France" in oppo-
sition to the Masonic Grand Orient The Anti
Semitic League. OF which Guerin Is the president,
has declared from the start OF the Dreyfus anair
that the Free Masons were. like the Protestants.
the friends and supporters of the Hebrews and OF
the Jewish captain. now on his second. trial at
Rennes. The ferocious NJ. Guerin has been recoS-
nzed not only as the head of the Anti-Semite
League. but also as the general delegate OF the
Grand Occdent" Of France, new order or as
ISOLATION which he has tried TO organize during the
last two years.
The regular and ancient order OF Free Masons In
France cannot be said to have taken any active
part In an official manner I'm the bitter Dreyfus
fight But OF course, the French Masons have re-
peatedly. individuals. manifested their sympathy
for the cause of Justice, and consequently for the
revision of the sentence dictated with closed doors
and without communication Of the discriminating
documents to the accused person by the court
martial In December. 1894 Still. the anti-Dreyfus-
ards pretended that the close vote by which the
Chamber approved the Ministerial programme OF
NJ. Wadeck Rousseau and maintained In power
the present Cabinet which they represent as favor
able 10 the Dreyfus cause. was obtained only
through Masonic manpuvre. They say that at
VI
the Masonic order, jumped TO the tribune and de-
lvered a speech In which he made with his hands
over his head the mysterious sign OF the "grande
detresse great distress). On seeing this sign the
few hesitatng Masons In the Chamber obeyed the
rules Of their order and. understa nding that the
latter might be In peril II they did not heed NJ.
PRISONS cabalistc indication. they voted as he re-
Quired, In favor Of the new Cabinet.
Another explanation by the anti-Dreyfusards OF
the equitable and sympathetic attitude OF the
Masons belonging to the Grand Orient OF France
is n discovery alleged to have been made recently.
According to Its "Annuaire" or annual bulletin OF
1891 the Masonic Lodge counted among It's members
a man by the name OF Alfred Dreyfus. That name
had disappeared in the "Annuaire' Of 1894. Was
that Brother" Alfred Dreyfus the artillery cap
tain? His adversaries do not hesitate In answer
ing yes and they thus find one more explanation
of the alleged intervention OF NJ. Brisson In the
Chamber.
The real grievance OF NJ. Guern and his anti
Semitic followers against Freemasonry is that the
order Is toerat d In France. while the Patriots
League the Anti-Semitic League and other similar
associations have TO be authorized by the Govern
ment. campaign has been made In the press
and in public meetings. under the direction OF NJ.
Jules Lemaitre, Jules Guerin and Others to get the
authorities to apply to the lodges OF Free Masons
the law which is enforced against other associa-
lions Petitions were circulated saying among
other things:
Whereas. Secret societies are forbidden by the
law that the association called Freemasonry is, In
fact, by its statutes. secret society: that this
secret character has particular gravity from the
fact that Freemasonry affects to give orders to
the Government TO place before the Legislators bills
elaborated by itself, and that Its aim seems to be
the absorption OF public powers. The Min
lister of Justice is respectfully requested to
ton the principle OF equality of all citizens before
Freemasonry Article XII of the Laws Of 1sis.
The writer Of the above petition was NJ. Jules
Lemaitre who signs himself president OF the
League OF the French Country. which Is not
secret one. and which has suffered already two
COMBINATIONS"
The secretary general OF the Grand Orient NJ.
Bergere, published a complete answer to these at
tacks. This former officer OF the French Army
said:
legally recognized and approved: consequently we
are not on the same line as the new societies,
h@s nracted to Itself the sympathy Of tine Cory
trincs We are constituted for the study Of uni
versal morals, as philosophers and not as poll
~ VIC cannot be iikened. therefore. to those
various associations which under the name OF
leagues" attempt TO perform occasionally some
campaigns OF a definite political character.
These declarations did not prevent NJ. Guerin
from starting the Grand occident." in opposition
to the Grand Orient" OF France. He placed the
offices OF the General Delegate in the Rue dc Cha
brol in the house besleged by the forces Of
the French Government. II Gambetta were in
power. the scandal caused by VI. Guern would
not have lasted so long, though the dead states
Freemason. He was affiliated In 1853 but he was
received" only in 1853, at Marseilles. and knew
the light" IN the Lodge La Reforme, His am
billion as a Mason was satisfied when he got the
primary grade OF apprentice" above which he
did not rise. His busy life prevented him from