Condition Of Freemasonry In Spain.

CONDITION OF FREEMASONRY IN SPAIN .

THE following communication is taken from the proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Connecticut for 1879 , and will give a partial insight of what Masonry has to contend with , and of its present condition in Spain : — TO THE GTJOUY OF THE GREAT ARCHITECT OF THE UNIVERSE . The Most Serene Grand Orient of Spain , Supreme Power of Spanish Masonry . Order from Chaos .

The Grand Commander and Grand Master of Spanish Masonry , to the M . W . Grand Symbolic Lodge of : We wish you thrice greeting . Illustrious and M . W . Brother : —This Most Serene Grand Orient feels the greatest satisfaction in having the honour to address your venerable Masonic Centre . The Grand Orient of Spainwhich has passed through so

, many vicissitudes , being a victim for many years to unjustifiable persecutions—to errors ancl bad faith on the part of the clergy and the civil government , which had almost brought our institution to the border of the abyss , and reduced the mighty sous of light to wretched pariahs—to-day , by a supreme effort , arises in its might ; ancl , after a prolonged silence , has the happiness to announce to you that iu the short space of two years since its reorganisation it has

succeeded in creating , regulating , and installing the following Masonic bodies , viz .: —136 Symbolic Lodges ; 12 sei'eral Chapters of the Royal Arch ; 11 several Chapters of the Rose Croix ; a M . W . Grand Symbolic Lodge ; 6 Mother Lodges in the provinces ; a General Grand Chapter of the Royal Arch ; a Sovereign General Grand Chapter of the Rose Croix ; Areopagus of Cavaliers Kadosh , gr . 30 ; a Sovereign Grand Consistory of Sublime Princes

of the Royal Secret , 32 ; a Grand Lodge of Administration ancl Revision of Documents ; and , finally , a Supreme Council of SoA'ereign Grand Inspectors General of the 33 rd ; ancl last , of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite , which we profess . Under these circumstances , illustrious and M . W . Brother , the Grand Orient of Spain is able to lift up its head and offer itself to the consideration of its beloved brethren , showing them that , if for a long time it has suffered from internal dissensions , it now has a regular and perfect right to occupy a position amona' the Masonic nations of the world .

You will observe that , having passed through a long series of misfortunes , without being able to rely upon the support of the civil government , this Grand Orient has found itself obliged to struggle against an ambitious ancl despotic theocracy , which has occasioned countless mart ydrons iu the annals of Spanish Masonry . With these claims we present ourselves before you , illustrious ancl mi ghty brothers . Upon learning our right and perfection in our Masonic labourswe

, believe that you ivill have to crown our constancy , ancl suffer the truth to prevail amid the shadows of error aud iniquity . We hope that the noble Masonic body which you so worthily control will form with the Grand Orient of Spain the fraternal bond which unites us all ; ancl we pray that the Great Architect of the Universe may protect your labours for the greater glory and prosperity of our Order .

Given at this Grand Orient aud District of Madrid , March 20 th , 1878 . ( Signed ) JUAN A . PEREZ , Grand Commander and , Grand Master . PEDRO P . CASTANERA , Grand Secretary General .