24 JUNE 1893, Page 18

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On Thursday, Mr. Cochrane moved an amendment intended to prevent the Irish Parliament from suppressing the Free- masons. Mr. Gladstone refused, however, to assent to the re- striction, and expressed a certain amount of contempt for the Masons. "Having been amply occupied, he had never felt any vivid curiosity in the matter." Ultimately the amend- ment was defeated by 35 votes (278 to 243).