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convention was freely discussed in the press this year. It appoints a permanent council, which is charged with the direction of French Masonic affairs. This council is called the "Council of Order." Its president is M. Lafferre, a deputy and a barrister. Besides the Grand Orient of France, and in friendly relations with it, there are the " Grand Lodge of France " and the " Supreme Council " for France and its dependencies. These constitute what is commonly called the " Scottish Rite." It appears that the influence of the Scottish Rite Masons is less than that of the Grand Orient, whose lodges cover the whole country.

Republicans of all shades of opinion live harmoniously side by side in these Masonic lodges. M. Bonnet, the orator of the last convention, said in his speech, as reported by the newspapers : " We are the only association and we are proud and happy to say so where moderate but true Republicans, Radicals, Social- ist Radicals, Socialists, and Libertarians discuss together all the political, economic, and social problems." It seems, however, from what is known of the lodges, that the great majority of Free- masons are Radicals, with a Socialist minority in Paris, Mar- seilles, and other large cities. As for Libertarians and Anarchists, their number is very small.

The tendencies and program of Freemasonry may be con- sidered as those of the Radical and Socialist Radical parties. The Grand Orient of France is unanimously anti-clerical. Its members one and all demand the separation of church and state. Once this goal has been attained and it has the first place upon its program it will work for the political " purification " of the state functionaries; that is, the appointment to government positions of such persons only as have proved themselves to be good republicans. It desires a state monopoly of all elementary instruction, thus completely debarring the clergy from teaching. It favors laws increasing the liberty of citizens with respect to divorce, the press, etc. It advocates democratic legislation, improving the condition of the working classes in city and coun- try, making taxes weigh more heavily upon the rich than upon the poor, providing for old-age pensions, introducing an inheri- tance and an income tax, fixing a weekly holiday, etc. Aside