Chips Of Foreign Ashlar.

Writing about Eau de Cologne , reminds us of a piece of pleasantry perpetrated by an English Craftsman . Bro . J . W . Chudley , of Birmingham , has a well-established reputation for wit and humour . During one of the frequent visits to the

continent Bro . Chudley found himself domiciled at Cologne , in the same hotel with an exquisite specimen of the dandy-lion , upon AA'hom Bro . C . conceived the idea of executing the peculiar operation usually denominated as " pulling down a peg . "

Bringing the conversation on to the subject of Eau ch Cologne , Bro . Chudley inquired Avhether the " swell" kneAV that two miles out of Cologne , in a certain direction , Eau de Cologne could be seen pumped out of the earth in thousands of gallons ? The tourist Avas astounded , and

expressed his intense surprise ; only to receive a more solemn answer that it was sbrictily true . The result Avas that the dandy walked tAvo miles to see the Cologne water-works , and returned regretting that his ignorance of French had prevented his

knowing that Eau de Cologne simply meant water , of Cologne . The actual scents in Cologne are , however , very different to the celebrated scent of Cologne , and Coleridge ' s oft-quoted remark , that there were one

hundred—or one thousand , Ave forget Avhichseparate and distinct offensive odours in Cologne , is still true . The drainage here , as elseAvhere on the continent , is execrable . Lady Morgan used to speak of the Irish metropolis as " dear , delightful , dirty Dublin , " and her ladyship's adjectives precisely apply to Cologne .

On Saturday evening , February 27 th , 1869 , we visited the Minerva Lodge , at Cologne . It cost us a great deal of trouble to find out when the lodge met , as Ave had misplaced the only Masonic introduction we possessed , and AVO found the

Catholics extremely averse to talk Avith us on the subject of Masonry . In fact , a very intelligent Roman Catholic advised us to be " very careful , " as he said the priests had imbued their folio Avers with the idea that all Freemasons had a secret

and unholy alliance with the Devil . It will thus be seen the belief in necromancy is not quite dead even in the Fatherland , where the supremacy of intellect is supposed to be universal . One of the most bitter opponents of Freemasonry is a Diocesan

Bishop in the Archbishopric of Cologne , and this individual is a living monument of the benevolent generosity of the Craft , for it Avas at the expense of Freemasons that he was supplied with the

University education , which ultimately enabled him to reach his present position . The Minerva Lodge possesses a very good Masonic Temple , containing numerous rooms for all the purposes of the Craft . This lodge is

affiliated to the Grand Lodge of the Three Globes , at Berlin , and has about 200 members , being the only lodge in Cologne . The lodge was opened and closed in the first degree only , and as there were no initiations the proceedings did not last

long . We were seated betAveen two brothers , who spoke excellent English , and whose conversation Ave greatly enjoyed—Bro . Franz Herman Wolff , and Bro . Weithaff . The W . M . occupied a chair on a raised platform , flanked on either side

by models of the Sphinx . The ordinary wands of the Deacons were replaced by a couple of Masonic maces , which Avould excite the admiration of many municipal officers in England . Bro . Wolff gave us an account of a visit which

the Minerva Lodge received last year from Bro . His Eoyal Highness the Crown Prince of Prussia and husband of the Princess Royal of England . After the labours of the lodge H . R . H . accompanied the brethren to the banquet hall , where ho

remained until two o ' clock in the morning conversing in the most free and unrestrained manner with all present . So great was the charm of the Prince ' s fraternal greeting , that although there had been some members of the lodge Avho were

prejudiced against him , he had won all hearts before he left . The Crown Prince is Deputy Protector of the Three Globes Grand Lodge of Berlin , and Supreme Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Germany , which is worked on the

Swedish system . Perhaps it Avould do no harm if the M . W . G . M . of England Avere some times to visit private lodges as quietly and unostentatiously as the Crown Prince has visited German lodges in this and other instances .

It is satisfactory to know , that in the Minerva Lodge there is a large proportion of intelligent Roman Catholics , who are too sensible to be led by the nose by a bigoted and unscrupulous priesthood . It was these brethren who expressed to

us the greatest contempt for priestly usurpations . On the Avhole it is gratifying to know that what Dr . John Pearson Bell denominated the " Stream " of Freemasonry is pure aud unadulterated in the city where the tombs of the Three Kings and the Eleven Thousand Virgins awaken the aAve of the curious . In fact the Masonic Eau