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GRAND LODGE

"ALPINA " OF SWITZER

LAND, AT ST. GALLEN.

Grand Master: BRO. C. FR. HAUSMAN, Apothecary, at St. Gallen. Deputy Grand Master: BRO. DOCK, M.D., at Weid, near St. Gallen. Grand Secretary: BRO. GUSTAV NAEF-BILLWILLER, Merchant, at St. Gallen.

Grand Archivist: BRO. LOUIS FREY, Vice-Director of the Swiss Insurance Department in Bern.

Address of Grand Master: C. FR. HAUSMAN, St. Gallen (privatim, G. L. A.).

Address of Grand Secretary: G. NAEF, Kesslerstrasse, St. Gallen (pri vatim).

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Mutual Representatives: Near the Grand Lodge of New York, BRO. ; near the Grand Lodge Alpina," BRO. ARNOLD SCHWYZER, in Zurich.

This Grand Lodge was founded June 12, 1844. Its seat remains at St. Gallen until 1900. It consists of thirty-one subordinate Lodges, with a membership of 3,127 brethren, according to the latest reports published (April, 1899). The number of Masonic circles belonging to this jurisdiction is the same as last year-fifteen. They stand under the protectorate of the various Lodges in the neighboring districts, and form the center of Masonic life in the smaller places, in which the conditions do not justify the maintenance of a regular Lodge.

We mourn with our sister Grand Lodge the loss of their first representative near this Grand Orient, R.'. W.. BRO. A. MUEHSAM, who has been called from his earthly labors to the Eternal East. His memory will be lovingly cherished by many friends, who survive him. He will always be remembered as a true gentleman and an upright Mason.

The official publication of the "Alpina" continues under its former title, "Alpina, Centralorgan des Schweizerischen Logenbundes," and is printed in German and French. We are in receipt of numbers 16 and 17 and Circular No. 18.

The routine business of the Swiss Grand Body is transacted by the Council of Administration, which meets four times a year in regular ses

sion.

We learn from the protocols in our possession, that the Forty-seventh Communication of the Delegates of the Swiss Grand Body took place on June 24 and 25, 1899, in the Masonic Temple of the Lodge "La Bonne Harmonie," in Neufchatel, Grand Master BRO. C. F. HAUSMAN presiding. After an address of welcome by the presiding officer, the thanks of the brethren assembled were extended to the local Lodge under whose auspices the labors of the Grand Lodge were to be conducted, whereupon the Grand Secretary read the annual report of the Council of Administration, which was approved without discussion. The financial report of the Grand Treasurer, showing assets amounting to 66,203.55 francs, followed; and the Committee on Accounts, having reported that the same was properly drawn

up in accordance with the financial status of the funds of the Grand Lodge, it was ordered printed, as usual. The Grand Treasurer, BRO. REICHENBACH, also received the thanks of the assembled brethren.

The proposition which was before the last convention, to create a Central Benevolent Fund for the needy widows and orphans of deceased brethren and other impoverished members of the Swiss Masonic family, having been referred to a committee, with instructions to report suitable by-laws to the present session, was taken up again, and the brethren, who were directed to prepare the necessary details, reported the result of their labors.

The discussion was an animated one; but the report of the committee was practically accepted with slight alterations. The establishment of this charity fund is surely a step in the right direction; and our Swiss brethren are to be congratulated upon the truly Masonic work thus performed. The Grand Master, in connection with the subject, reported that a brother who declined to have his identity known, presented him with a sealed package, asking him not to open it until the charity fund had been actually established. Complying with this request, he found, on opening the package, the rich donation of a thousand francs, for the benefit of the new fund. It was accepted with sincere thanks. The Delegates also resolved to open a book in which the names of all donors should be inscribed.

The proposition, to organize a Masonic Bureau of Information, submitted to the various Lodges during the last year, was also approved. Hereafter, sons and daughters of Masons, in case of need, will have no difficulty in obtaining proper employment, support, and advice from this bureau.

The motion to make the obligations, signs, and passports alike for all the Lodges of the jurisdiction was referred to the next communication of the Masters of the various Lodges, with power to settle the question definitely.

The request for the newly founded Lodge in Montreux, "Les Amis Discrets," to be received under the protection of the " Alpina," was granted upon recommendation of the Council of Administration.

The request for recognition made by the "Grand Oriente Italiano," of Milan, having been referred to a committee, was refused, upon the adverse report made by the brethren in charge of this matter. On the other hand, the desire of the Grand Lodge of Cuba for exchange of representatives, met with universal approval. BRO. DR. COSME J. DE LA FORRIENTE was elected to represent the " Alpina," near the Grand Orient of Cuba, while the names of three Swiss brethren were submitted to the Cuban Grand Body for their choice.

A few business matters of minor importance having had the attention of the Grand Lodge, the brethren adjourned, to reconvene on the following day, for the purpose of listening to the addresses of the Grand Master and Grand Chaplain.

It is needless to say that the Grand Master's address contains many points of true Masonic interest, and we regret our inability to quote it here verbatim. We can not, however, forego mentioning some of his salient points:

Having laid down the limits of the work, both for the individual Lodge and the Grand Lodge, he confines the one to that field, which it alone can

successfully cultivate and fully retain at the same time its entire independence. He assigns to the Grand Body that part of the work which a single Lodge, by itself, can not complete without the aid of its sisters. He considers it one of the most important duties of the individual Lodge to teach every brother the principle that nobody can be a true Mason without liberty of thought and warmth of heart. The former can only be acquired through science; the latter through the association with high-minded people and artistic studies. BRO. HAUSMAN is further of the opinion, that the education of the sisters in Masonic ideals would advance our humanitarian endeavors and would do much to accomplish the desired end. This would also tend to associate the families of the brethren into one large and influential family, of which all Freemasons would be considered members. In his closing remarks he regards it the duty of Lodges to use their combined efforts to co-operate with the government in the subvention of and Masonic principles,and he was convinced more than ever that Swiss Union in the furtherance of all philanthropic purposes, such as have already had the attention of the Craft. This kind of work should be extended so as to cover all proposed laws which touch the sphere of Masonic work and Masonic principles, and he was convinced more than ever, that Swiss Freemasonry must develop its work in this direction, and that the success could not be wanting. If the brethren regard a strong confederated phil: anthropy, and liberty, equality, and fraternity as the aims of the Masonic Order-they would be guided in the proper path, and victory would crown their efforts. "It is in our power," he said, to keep Swiss Freemasonry in youthful energy, and our jurisdiction will continue to flourish, increase, and prosper. Swiss Freemasonry still has the possibility of further development if we always perform our work conscientiously. It will then fulfill its mission, and by thus elevating humanity bestow a lasting benefit on our beloved Fatherland."

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BRO. HAUSMAN having finished, the brethren were entertained by the rendering of a cantata composed for the occasion. Thereupon the Grand Chaplain took the floor and admonished the brethren to take a warm interest in all questions which referred to the social conditions of our time.

While Freemasonry had nothing to do with party politics, and, as they should be kept outside of the Lodge-room by all means, the speaker considered it, nevertheless, the duty of every brother to put his shoulder to the wheel wherever, through legislation or otherwise, the conditions of the laboring classes could be bettered, where hospitals could be built for the sick, asylums for the orphans, homes for the aged, educational institutions for the morally depraved-in short, everywhere where a betterment of any class of people is the final purpose-and, not alone while fighting for material interests, but still more when the most important principles are at stake, such as religious liberty, liberty of conscience, right and justice, peace and concord among the various sects. The true Mason should not stand by idly and look on, but he should, true to his obligation, uphold the standard of Freemasonry and battle with all his might until death-for this alone is honorable and worthy of the Masonic spirit, while tolerance in such a case would be an absurdity.

The charitable tendency of our Swiss brethren showed itself con spicuously after the catastrophe which befell the small town of Airolo

through a landslide. The distress caused by this calamity was mitigated by the Lodge "Il Dovere," of Lugano, partly from its own funds and partly by the assistance of sister Lodges, by distributing the handsome sum of 2,400 francs among the sufferers.

Statistically, we might mention that the number of the Swiss Masonic family has increased by eighty-nine-surely a sign that the progress of the Alpina is noticeable in all directions.

No one can read the Swiss protocols without being convinced that our brethren live up to a high conception of their Masonic duties, and that their work during the past year has been faithful, progressive, and highly beneficial for their own interest, as well as the interest of the Craft at large.

THE GRAND

NATIONAL LODGE OF DENMARK, AT COPENHAGEN (Klaerkegade 2).

Protector: HIS MAJESTY KING CHRISTIAN IX.

Grand Master of the Order: His ROYAL HIGHNESS BRO. CHRISTIAN FREDERICK Wilhelm CarL, Prince of Denmark (Vicarius Salomonis). Grand Master: HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS BRO. HANS, Prince of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg.

Deputy Grand Master: HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS BRO. CHRISTIAN, Prince of Denmark.

Grand Secretary and Address: BRO. RASMUS OELLGARD NIELSEN, Copenhagen, Havnegade 3.

Mutual Representatives: Near the Grand Lodge of New York, BRO. EDWARD M. L. EHLERS; near the Grand Lodge of Denmark, BRO. JENS PETER AASTRUP.

This jurisdiction was established November 16, 1858. It comprises one provincial Grand Lodge (Odense), 2 St. Andrew's and 10 St. John's Lodges, also 15 Lodges of Instruction, with a total of 4,110 members.

No protocols or other communications have reached us from the Danish Craft; and we are therefore without material from which to prepare a report.

THE GRAND LODGE OF SWEDEN, AT STOCKHOLM (Blasieholmen, No. 6).

Grand Master of the Order: HIS MAJESTY BRO. OSCAR II., King of Sweden and Norway.

Grand Master: HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS BRO. OSCAR GUSTAV ADOLF, Crown Prince of Sweden and Norway, Duke of Wermland.

Governor of the Order: BRO. PRINCE OSCAR CARL AUGUST BERNADOTTE.

Deputy Governor of the Order: HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS BRO. OSCAR CARL WILHELM, Hereditary Prince of Sweden and Norway.

Chancellor of the Order: BRO. E. EDHOLM, M.D.

Grand Secretary: BRO. S. H. B. SVENSSEN. Adaress: DR. PHIL SVENSSEN, Frimurarelogen.

Grand Archivist and Librarian: DUKE BRO. O. FROLICH, Royal Cham berlain.

Mutual Representatives: Near the Grand Lodge of New York, HIRAM HUTCHENS; near the Grand Lodge of Sweden, A. F. H. KLINTBERG, Rear Admiral of the Royal Swedish Navy.

The Grand Lodge (IX. Province) was established 1760 from a St. John's Lodge, founded in 1731, and it is sovereign over four privincial Grand Lodges (Kristianstad, Göteburg, Linköping, and Karlstad), 12 St. Andrew's and 21 St. John's Lodges, with a total membership of 10,855 brethren. No regular transactions are published except the roll of membership, under the title 'Matrikel öfver Frimurare Ordens," which shows that all members belonging to the five highest degrees foot up 3,452, while the St. Andrew's Lodges count up 2,349, and the St. John's Lodges show 5,054 members.

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THE GRAND LODGE OF NORWAY, AT CHRISTIANIA.

Grand Master of the Order: HIS MAJESTY BRO. OSCAR II., King of Norway and Sweden.

Grand Master: HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS BRO. OSCAR GUSTAV ADOLF, Crown Prince of Norway and Sweden.

Deputy Grand Master: BRO. CATO MAXIMILLIAN GULDBERG, Ph.D. Grand Chancellor: BRO. THORVALD MEYER.

Grand Secretary: BRO. AUGUST C. MOHR, Ph.D.

Assistant Secretary and Address: BRO. THEODORE HANSEN, Prof. Dahls Gade 3.

Mutual Representatives: Near the Grand Lodge of New York, BRO. CHARLES F. LAIGHTON; near the Grand Lodge of Norway, BRO. CHRISTIAN CHRISTOPHERSON.

The Grand Lodge (X. Province) was established May 10, 1891. It comprises two St. Andrew's and five St. John's Lodges, located at Christiania, Bergen, Drammen, Trondhjem, and Stavanger. The membership list shows a total of 2,627 brethren, of which 1,533 represent the Blue Lodges, and the balance higher degrees.

This jurisdiction does not publish the protocols of its Annual Convention, but, like its sister, the Swedish Grand Orient, only prints a Masonic Directory of the various Lodges and members thereof.

THE GRAND ORIENT OF BELGIUM, AT BRUS

SELS.

National Grand Master: BRO. GUSTAVE ROYERS, of Antwerp.
Deputy Grand Master: BRO. FERNAND Cocq.

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