POSTSCRIPT.
FRANCE.
Paws, Oct. 18.. THE. Monileur of to-day publishes a circular, dated the 18th addressed by Count Persigny,. Minister of the Interior, to the Pre- fects of the Departments, explaining the necessity of bringing the charitable societies established without the formal sanction of the Government under the operation of the law.
Count Persigny acknowledges the benefits diffused by these asso-• ciations, and then. speaks of the Freemasons; who, he says, are ani- mated by a patriotism which has never failed them in great emer- gencies, and have not for a long time given the public authorities any serious cause of complaint unless in reference to their central organization, whose mode of election, tending to excite rivalry be- tween the different lodges, and to disturb their good harmony,. calls, for some modifications.
"But," Count Persigny continues, "it is advantageous to autho- rize Freemasonry, and to recognize its existence." He also acknow- ledges the good done by the local societies of St. Vincent de Paul, but regrets that the provincial committees, while pretending to afford encouragement to the different charitable societies, deprive them of the right of choosing their dignitaries, thus imposing them- selves upon all the societies of a province, as if they wished to make them serve as the tool. of an idea foreign to charity-. In reference to the Superior Council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul now sitting in. Paris, Count Persigny says : " The Govern- ment cannot approve of the existence of a kind of committee not ap- pointed by the local societies, which fills up its ranks by its own sole• authority, assumes the right of governing the local societies in order to form them into a secret association whose ramifications extencl even beyond France, and collects from the societies a budget respect- ing the employment of which nothing is known. Such an organiza- tion, inexplicable on the sole ground of charity, is useless. The honourable and charitable people of Lyons,. Marseilles, and Bordeaux. have been influenced by the committee at Paris. The law interdict- ing these kinds of associations has been too long violated." Count Persigny then requests the Prefects to authorize these societies, if there be any such in their departments, without delay, accordinds the legal forms, and to ascertain whether they wish to have a central: representation at Paris.
The votes of these societies, it is added, are to be forwarded to the Ministry of the Interior, and the Emperor will determine upon the bases and principles of such central representation. " Until then," concludes the circular addressing the Prefects, `you will prohibit the sittings of any superior central or provincial. council, and will order their dissolution."
The lioniteur also announces that the Revue des Deux Mondes has received a first warning for its last fornightly summary of political events, signed by E. Forcade.
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