The New Constitutions Of The French Masons.

which can only he imparted through the medium of initiation . Initiation has several degrees , and no one shall pass through those several degrees without the graduated tests prescribed by the ritual of Masonry . No man can beadmitted to the rights and privileges of Masonry if ( 1 ) he is not of tho full age of 21 years ; ( 2 ) if his reputation and manners are not irreproachable ,- ( 3 ) if he has not a free and honourable profession or occupation , or someA'isible and honest source of sufficient means of support ; ( 4 ) if he has not resided a year in the department in Avhich the Lodge is situated , or Avithin a

circle of 20 kilometres therefrom , ( exceptions may be made where he inhabits a department which has not a Lodge ); and ( 5 ) if he do not possess a sufficient amount of intelligence to comprehend and to appreciate the Masonic virtues . The rule with respect to the age of a candidate is relaxed in the case of a Mason ' s son , who may he initiated at 18 , with the consent of his father and tutor . The conditions of domicile are dispensed with in the case of soldiers and sailors , provided they prove six : months' service . In the bosom of the Lodgeevery man is laced on a level of perfect

, p equality ; there exist no distinctions save those of virtue , and of official position . All offices are elective and temporary -. the election takes place at certain fixed periodical intervals . A Mason is expected at all times to aid , protect , and saA'e a brother . Every Mason has the right to publish his opinions on Masonry , subject to the general statutes . A man may forfeit his rights and privileges as Mason : ( 1 ) by an action of a dishonourable nature , proved Masonically or before a civil tribunal ; ( 2 ) by the exercise of a disreputable calling ; ( 3 ) by the violation of the

Oath of Fidelity to the engagements contracted at his initiation ; ( 4 ) and in certain other cases as may be determined . Ordinary honesty is not sufficient to entitle a man to be made a Mason . It is particularly requested of the Venerable [ i e . the W . M . ] , that he will exercise the greatest care and strictness relative to the morality of candidates who aspire to the honor of being initiated into Masonry , and enquire narrowly whether the parties so offering themselves have eA'er been refused by any other Lodge , for the Masonic Order cannot extend its beneficent influence upon society except by the respect and consideration , attached to its individual members .

ON MASONIC SOCIETIES . The aim of Masonic labours is the same , however different may be the ceremonies of the respective Ateliers . Masonry comprises Ateliers of different degrees sufficiently distinguished from one another , under the denomination of Lodges , Chapters , Councils , Tribunals , and Consistories . There exists , moreover , at the central seat of power , a higher Atelier , under the name of " The Grand Colleye of Rites , Supreme Council for France and French Possessions" who possesses the exclusive right of

, initiating into the higher degrees of Freemasonry . The constitution and prerogatives of this Atelier are determined by ten General Statutes . Any rite , whatever may be the number of its degrees , cannot be considered as superior to any other rite . Any Atelier , whatever the number or eleA'ation of the degrees which it confers , can exercise no supremacy over any other Atelier . The Lodye is the fundamental Atelier ,- it is the Lodge Avhich initiates the Mason into his new life ; on the Lodge all other Atelier are founded . A Chapter cannot exist without the consent of a Lodge , which

serves as its basis , and even an Atelier of Perfection cannot exist except by supporting itself upon those which precede it . These Ateliers cannot bear any other title than that of the Lodge on which they are founded . The organization , the rights , ancl the duties of each Lodge ; and the conditions of admission to the superior degrees , are determined by the Statutes General . If a Lodge ceases to labour , it may be suppressed , and with it all the Ateliers of which it is the basis ; but the high grades mayif appling within a certain periodbe permitted to select another Lodge

, y , as their basis , if they gain its sanction ; they must at once take the name of the Lodge to Avhich they thus unite themselves . The high grades shall not be conferred except upon Masons AVIIO have made themselves conspicuous by their zeal and ability , or who have rendered services to the Order , so that these grades may be henceforth regarded as a reward of merit . To preserve intact Masonic uniformity in operation , the Ateliers cannot deliberate collectivelv , nor in a delegated assembly . Nevertheless .