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Article FREEMASONRY v. THE CHURCH OF ROME. ← Page 2 of 3 Article FREEMASONRY v. THE CHURCH OF ROME. Page 2 of 3 →
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Freemasonry V. The Church Of Rome.
and said : " All powpr is given to mo in heaven and in earth . Go ye , therefore , nnd tPaeh nil nations , baptising them in tho name of the Father , nnd of tho Son , and of tho Holy Ghost ; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I havo commanded you : and , lo , I am with yon alwav , even to the consummation of the world . "Matthew xjcviii . 18-20 .
A few days later Jesus ascended into heaven , and sent down the Holy Ghost to His newly . established Chnrch and the twelve . I say "the twelve , " because the eleven had already nsk * d the Lord to choose one who " shonld take the place of tho minisirv and apostleship from whioh Jndas had by transgression fallen " ( Ac ' s i . ) , and'the twelve went into every country of the known world and preached the
Gospel . Ever since thafc time the trno Church of God has never ceased from teaching nnd baptizing infidels , and warning her children of what they mnst avoid in order to please God . "Many a time the princes of the world awl the enemies of truth " conferred among , themselves , saying : What shall we do to these mon , that their
dootrine may be not farther spread among the people ; let us threaten them , that they spenk no more ! " —Actsiv . And the Popes and the bishops and the priests of the Chnrch , imitating the behaviour of St . Peter nnd St . John at Jerusalem , havo always answered , " We cannot bnt spenk the things which we have seen and heard . "Acts iv .
So shall we say and so shall we do ourselves , rejoicing if we are accounted worthy to suffer reproach for the name of Jesns . Two months ago the Sovereign Pontiff Leo XIII ., fulfilling thednty of confirming his brethren , which he received , in the person of St . Peter , from onr Lord Himself , sent to all the bishops of the Catholic world , in communion with the Apostolic See , an Encyclical letter
on the sect of the Freemasons . That letter has res < unded through the world and bronght forth respectful disclaimers from some ancl wanton mimicry nnd trncculenoe from others , whilst , by the whole body of faithful Catholics ifc was received with gratitude and admiration . As bitterness has nofc been wanting even here in Olevedon , I intend
to show this evening what is the meaning of the Encyclical letter , and how facts themselves declare plainly tbat ifc was much needed . Before entering into the snbject , a few facts should be stated . 1 st—That the Pope does not speak of Freemasonry only , but at the same time of all the sects which under different names tend to the same end , work to tho same purpose , observe similar rites , and are
ruled by similar laws . 2 nd—That what the Pope says " must be understood of the sect of the Freemasons taken generally , and in so far as it comprises the associations kindred to it and confederated with it , but not of the individual members of them . There may be persons amongst these , and not a few , who , although not free from the guilt of having entangled
themselves in such associations , yet are neither themselves partners in their criminal acts , nor aware of the ultimate object which they are endeavouring to attain . "—( Encyclical Letter . ) 3 rd—Tbnfc the condition required for the condemnation of those secret societies and associations is , that the candidates are bound to promise , nay , with a special oath to swear , tbat they will never , to
any person , nt any time or in any way , make known tho secrets of the assembly , nnd that they will be strictly obedient to their lenders and masters , witb the utmost submission and fidelity , and thafc they will he in readiness to do their bidding whatsoever ifc may be , upon tbe slightest expression of their will ; or , if disobedient , to submit to the direst penalties , and death itself .
From this third point , it is evident at once that those associations which work for the purpose of binding together individuals who undertake to help one another , withont any oath of the same secrecy and blind obedience , are not condemned by the Encyclical letter . Far from it ; the Sovereign Pontiff encourages , in his letter , the institntion of " associations or guilds of workmen , for the protection , under the
guidance of religion , both of their temporal interests and of their morality . "—( Encyclical letter . ) Now directly to the question . The Pope brings this charge against the secret societies which he condemns : " Freemasonry aims at the subversion of religions and social order , by destroying religion and society . " Let ns see if the
charge is just or not . I . Freemasonry aims afc the destruction of religion and the establishment of Naturalism . Mark well , that in the quotations I shall bring forward , I have mode nse of books and reviews only which are or have been authorised organs of Freemasonry .
Now what is Naturalism ? " Ifc is the very first principle of those who call themselves naturalists , and their very name declares it , that human nature and human reason shonld be in all things the guide and rule . " Laying this down , they care little for duties to God ; or pervert them by erroneous and vagne opinions . For they deny that anything has been tanght by God ; they allow no
dogma of religion or tvnth which uonnot be understood by the human intelligence , nor any tenchpr who ought to be believed by reason of his authority . But it is the office of the Catholic Church to embrace fully and to maintain in their most complete integrity the doctrines which have been committed to her alone ; doctrines which , as well as her authority to teach , she has received from God
Himself . "—( Encyclical letter . ) Here we have a complete antithesis . The Catholic Chnrch , on the one hand , proclaiming the eternal , immutable Creator as the final end of the creature ; speaking to all men of their duties to God and to one another , of temperance , chastity and judgment to come , as the prophet of the Most High ; ancl Naturalism on the other hand , putting aside that revelation as
well as holy scriptures , either denying it in terms or ignoring it , and making man in all his littleness and mutability its highest ideal , refusing to look beyond the visible scene , and accounting life its own end . Now can there be any donbt , as a matter of fact , that Freemasonry is , aa the Pope judges it , mere Naturalism ? I know that that has
Freemasonry V. The Church Of Rome.
been denied , but a negation is not a proof , and proofs I shall myself give . The word of the divine Founder of Christianity , " He thafc is not with mo is against me " ( Matt , xii . ) , is ns true now as it was 18 centuries ago . Masonry assuredly is not with Him , and aa assuredl y it is inveteratel y hostile to His spiritual kingdom in the world .
Judge for yourselves . Not long ago , one of tho Belgian ministers , tho minister of pnblio instruction , was telling the Lodge at Antwerp ; " A corpse is weighing heavily on the world—it bars the road of pro . gres « . This corpse of the past , to give it its true name , roundly and withont circumlocution , is Catholicism . Ifc is this corpse , my brothers , that we havo this day looked in the face , and if we have
not . as yet cast ifc into its grave , at all events we have lifted ifc a little nearer thereto ; it ia a great result . " These are the words of a Belgian Mason . English Freemasons would perhaps affirm that they do not endorse them : listen then and judge . A few years « go an English gentleman of the name of P—— deli , vered a speech at Sntton Coldfield . That gentleman ia apparently high
in tho Masonic hierarchy . At all events , he is described as " Grand Deneon , " " Deputy Grand Master of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Middlesex , " and " Past Master" of some other Lodge . And thia "Grand Deacon" is stated to have said : "The two systems of Romanism and F : nemaaoriry are not merely incompatible , they are radically opposed to each other . The first lesson taught to the
newly-institnted brother is that Masonry is free : freedom of thought and opinion and the broadest toleration in religions matters are the essenco of Masonry . Maionry is in itself a religion of good works , and asks no priestly intermediary between man and his Maker . Its impressive ritual enforces the solemn troth that a man shall be judged hereafter bv bis actions , and it enters not into
difference between faith and creed . Is it possible to offer a more complete justification than this G . Deacon here exhibits to us of tbe truth of the Sovereign Pontiff ' s judgment that the Masonio sect is merely Naturalistic ? The Belgian Mason seemed to attack Catholicism only ; the English one attacks Christianity itself . Freedom of thought ! Ifc is the very principle of freethinkers , who believe in nothing ; and
what shall I say of this doctrine ? "It enters not . into differences of faith nnd creed . " Is not that the subversion of all revelation ? ID vain did the Son of God become a man 5 in vain did Ho teaob us tbe true religion , the true way to Heaven ; in vain did He shed His blood upon the Cross ! No need of thafc for Freemasons —for them the faith in Jesns Christ , the faith in Mahomet ,
in Buddha , tbe faith in Satan itself are all good—Freemasonry does nofc enter into differences of faith and creed . What a strong proof of the truth of tbe word of the Divine Master , " He that is not witb mo is against me . " I know Freemasons build churches to Christ , but that does not make any difference ; as with them all sorts of faith and religion are good j they would as
readily build mosques to Allah , pagodas to Buddha , temples to Reason , and altars to Satan . Yes , to Satan himself , for Masonry nofc only recognises its Satanic origin , and haa Satan for its master and god , but proclaims it publicly and boasts of ifc . In 1877 a Masonic paper , with the significant name of The Atheist , appeared at Leghorn , and this is what its editorial staff said in their
profession of faith : " Satan is our head ; ifc is he who is the moving spirit of the restoration of humanity , the avenging force of reason . " In February 1882 there was held in the crowded theatre of Turin a festival in honour of Satan , and afc which a hymn composed by "Brother" Joshua Carducci wns sung . Listen to the words of it : " Lo , he cometh , 0 people , lo , Satan the great ! Doing good , he
pnssetb from place to place on bis chariot of fire ! Hail , 0 Satan , hail thou rebel ! May our incense and our prayers ascend sacred to thee , who hast overcome the Jehovah of the priests ! " And now though some may say that Satan is the head of the Popish or Catholic Church , their words are mere childish words , as Satan himself has chosen those he intends to lead—the great rebel is tho head of Free
masonry . If more proofs were wanted thafc Freemasonry aims at tbe subversion of all religion , I would quote tbe words oi Mr . B , orator of the Grand Orient of France , in the re union of 1881 , who says : "The Catholic , Protestant , Jewish temples ! Religions ! Why , it is precisely against these and against the priestly work of all ages and lands that Freemasonry took her stand . "
Then the Pope was right when he condemned Freemasonry as the bitterest enemy of religious order . Let us see if he was right also in condemning it as the enemy of social order . II . When the Encyclical letter was issued the French Liberal papers asserted that Freemasonry has no longer any relation with politics ; that it is , above all , a benevolent institution , without which
" many a poor man would be left witb wife and family nncared for — as writes a " Member of the Order of Odd Fellows . " We reply that the language held and the decisions taken in the Lodges are a formal contradiction of these assertions . In 1882 , at Irvy , Mr . D , a Mason , expressed himself as follows : " Masonry is the school in which men are formed , even as our
house ia the school in which children are formed—it ia Freemasonry which prepares tho solutions whose triumph democracy has effected . To it it falls to end tho 19 th century , by crowning the work of fche Revolution , " and fcho speaker , recalling that Masonry is the school whence issued Voltaire ancl Danton , declared that "ib ought to prepare the way for social equality . "
To those who pretend that Masonry has nothing to do with politics , " Brother " Reg boldly answered in a general meeting of tho Masonic Lodges , held at Lyons , on 3 rd May 1882 , thafc " Masonry has been , Masonry is , ancl always will be , political , religious , and social , or nothing at all . " The same Mason goes on to say that " to believe thafc Masonry has had its day would be a serions error ,
especially in Fiance , since the Republican regime " traced ou Mnsonic institutions , is an accomplished fact . Freemasonry has served as a model for those who by their conspiracies have brought about the present state of affiirs . It is the school for those men who aspire to become leaders of democracy . The secular organisation of Masonry , with the power it derives from its secrets , its rites , ifca
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry V. The Church Of Rome.
and said : " All powpr is given to mo in heaven and in earth . Go ye , therefore , nnd tPaeh nil nations , baptising them in tho name of the Father , nnd of tho Son , and of tho Holy Ghost ; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I havo commanded you : and , lo , I am with yon alwav , even to the consummation of the world . "Matthew xjcviii . 18-20 .
A few days later Jesus ascended into heaven , and sent down the Holy Ghost to His newly . established Chnrch and the twelve . I say "the twelve , " because the eleven had already nsk * d the Lord to choose one who " shonld take the place of tho minisirv and apostleship from whioh Jndas had by transgression fallen " ( Ac ' s i . ) , and'the twelve went into every country of the known world and preached the
Gospel . Ever since thafc time the trno Church of God has never ceased from teaching nnd baptizing infidels , and warning her children of what they mnst avoid in order to please God . "Many a time the princes of the world awl the enemies of truth " conferred among , themselves , saying : What shall we do to these mon , that their
dootrine may be not farther spread among the people ; let us threaten them , that they spenk no more ! " —Actsiv . And the Popes and the bishops and the priests of the Chnrch , imitating the behaviour of St . Peter nnd St . John at Jerusalem , havo always answered , " We cannot bnt spenk the things which we have seen and heard . "Acts iv .
So shall we say and so shall we do ourselves , rejoicing if we are accounted worthy to suffer reproach for the name of Jesns . Two months ago the Sovereign Pontiff Leo XIII ., fulfilling thednty of confirming his brethren , which he received , in the person of St . Peter , from onr Lord Himself , sent to all the bishops of the Catholic world , in communion with the Apostolic See , an Encyclical letter
on the sect of the Freemasons . That letter has res < unded through the world and bronght forth respectful disclaimers from some ancl wanton mimicry nnd trncculenoe from others , whilst , by the whole body of faithful Catholics ifc was received with gratitude and admiration . As bitterness has nofc been wanting even here in Olevedon , I intend
to show this evening what is the meaning of the Encyclical letter , and how facts themselves declare plainly tbat ifc was much needed . Before entering into the snbject , a few facts should be stated . 1 st—That the Pope does not speak of Freemasonry only , but at the same time of all the sects which under different names tend to the same end , work to tho same purpose , observe similar rites , and are
ruled by similar laws . 2 nd—That what the Pope says " must be understood of the sect of the Freemasons taken generally , and in so far as it comprises the associations kindred to it and confederated with it , but not of the individual members of them . There may be persons amongst these , and not a few , who , although not free from the guilt of having entangled
themselves in such associations , yet are neither themselves partners in their criminal acts , nor aware of the ultimate object which they are endeavouring to attain . "—( Encyclical Letter . ) 3 rd—Tbnfc the condition required for the condemnation of those secret societies and associations is , that the candidates are bound to promise , nay , with a special oath to swear , tbat they will never , to
any person , nt any time or in any way , make known tho secrets of the assembly , nnd that they will be strictly obedient to their lenders and masters , witb the utmost submission and fidelity , and thafc they will he in readiness to do their bidding whatsoever ifc may be , upon tbe slightest expression of their will ; or , if disobedient , to submit to the direst penalties , and death itself .
From this third point , it is evident at once that those associations which work for the purpose of binding together individuals who undertake to help one another , withont any oath of the same secrecy and blind obedience , are not condemned by the Encyclical letter . Far from it ; the Sovereign Pontiff encourages , in his letter , the institntion of " associations or guilds of workmen , for the protection , under the
guidance of religion , both of their temporal interests and of their morality . "—( Encyclical letter . ) Now directly to the question . The Pope brings this charge against the secret societies which he condemns : " Freemasonry aims at the subversion of religions and social order , by destroying religion and society . " Let ns see if the
charge is just or not . I . Freemasonry aims afc the destruction of religion and the establishment of Naturalism . Mark well , that in the quotations I shall bring forward , I have mode nse of books and reviews only which are or have been authorised organs of Freemasonry .
Now what is Naturalism ? " Ifc is the very first principle of those who call themselves naturalists , and their very name declares it , that human nature and human reason shonld be in all things the guide and rule . " Laying this down , they care little for duties to God ; or pervert them by erroneous and vagne opinions . For they deny that anything has been tanght by God ; they allow no
dogma of religion or tvnth which uonnot be understood by the human intelligence , nor any tenchpr who ought to be believed by reason of his authority . But it is the office of the Catholic Church to embrace fully and to maintain in their most complete integrity the doctrines which have been committed to her alone ; doctrines which , as well as her authority to teach , she has received from God
Himself . "—( Encyclical letter . ) Here we have a complete antithesis . The Catholic Chnrch , on the one hand , proclaiming the eternal , immutable Creator as the final end of the creature ; speaking to all men of their duties to God and to one another , of temperance , chastity and judgment to come , as the prophet of the Most High ; ancl Naturalism on the other hand , putting aside that revelation as
well as holy scriptures , either denying it in terms or ignoring it , and making man in all his littleness and mutability its highest ideal , refusing to look beyond the visible scene , and accounting life its own end . Now can there be any donbt , as a matter of fact , that Freemasonry is , aa the Pope judges it , mere Naturalism ? I know that that has
Freemasonry V. The Church Of Rome.
been denied , but a negation is not a proof , and proofs I shall myself give . The word of the divine Founder of Christianity , " He thafc is not with mo is against me " ( Matt , xii . ) , is ns true now as it was 18 centuries ago . Masonry assuredly is not with Him , and aa assuredl y it is inveteratel y hostile to His spiritual kingdom in the world .
Judge for yourselves . Not long ago , one of tho Belgian ministers , tho minister of pnblio instruction , was telling the Lodge at Antwerp ; " A corpse is weighing heavily on the world—it bars the road of pro . gres « . This corpse of the past , to give it its true name , roundly and withont circumlocution , is Catholicism . Ifc is this corpse , my brothers , that we havo this day looked in the face , and if we have
not . as yet cast ifc into its grave , at all events we have lifted ifc a little nearer thereto ; it ia a great result . " These are the words of a Belgian Mason . English Freemasons would perhaps affirm that they do not endorse them : listen then and judge . A few years « go an English gentleman of the name of P—— deli , vered a speech at Sntton Coldfield . That gentleman ia apparently high
in tho Masonic hierarchy . At all events , he is described as " Grand Deneon , " " Deputy Grand Master of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Middlesex , " and " Past Master" of some other Lodge . And thia "Grand Deacon" is stated to have said : "The two systems of Romanism and F : nemaaoriry are not merely incompatible , they are radically opposed to each other . The first lesson taught to the
newly-institnted brother is that Masonry is free : freedom of thought and opinion and the broadest toleration in religions matters are the essenco of Masonry . Maionry is in itself a religion of good works , and asks no priestly intermediary between man and his Maker . Its impressive ritual enforces the solemn troth that a man shall be judged hereafter bv bis actions , and it enters not into
difference between faith and creed . Is it possible to offer a more complete justification than this G . Deacon here exhibits to us of tbe truth of the Sovereign Pontiff ' s judgment that the Masonio sect is merely Naturalistic ? The Belgian Mason seemed to attack Catholicism only ; the English one attacks Christianity itself . Freedom of thought ! Ifc is the very principle of freethinkers , who believe in nothing ; and
what shall I say of this doctrine ? "It enters not . into differences of faith nnd creed . " Is not that the subversion of all revelation ? ID vain did the Son of God become a man 5 in vain did Ho teaob us tbe true religion , the true way to Heaven ; in vain did He shed His blood upon the Cross ! No need of thafc for Freemasons —for them the faith in Jesns Christ , the faith in Mahomet ,
in Buddha , tbe faith in Satan itself are all good—Freemasonry does nofc enter into differences of faith and creed . What a strong proof of the truth of tbe word of the Divine Master , " He that is not witb mo is against me . " I know Freemasons build churches to Christ , but that does not make any difference ; as with them all sorts of faith and religion are good j they would as
readily build mosques to Allah , pagodas to Buddha , temples to Reason , and altars to Satan . Yes , to Satan himself , for Masonry nofc only recognises its Satanic origin , and haa Satan for its master and god , but proclaims it publicly and boasts of ifc . In 1877 a Masonic paper , with the significant name of The Atheist , appeared at Leghorn , and this is what its editorial staff said in their
profession of faith : " Satan is our head ; ifc is he who is the moving spirit of the restoration of humanity , the avenging force of reason . " In February 1882 there was held in the crowded theatre of Turin a festival in honour of Satan , and afc which a hymn composed by "Brother" Joshua Carducci wns sung . Listen to the words of it : " Lo , he cometh , 0 people , lo , Satan the great ! Doing good , he
pnssetb from place to place on bis chariot of fire ! Hail , 0 Satan , hail thou rebel ! May our incense and our prayers ascend sacred to thee , who hast overcome the Jehovah of the priests ! " And now though some may say that Satan is the head of the Popish or Catholic Church , their words are mere childish words , as Satan himself has chosen those he intends to lead—the great rebel is tho head of Free
masonry . If more proofs were wanted thafc Freemasonry aims at tbe subversion of all religion , I would quote tbe words oi Mr . B , orator of the Grand Orient of France , in the re union of 1881 , who says : "The Catholic , Protestant , Jewish temples ! Religions ! Why , it is precisely against these and against the priestly work of all ages and lands that Freemasonry took her stand . "
Then the Pope was right when he condemned Freemasonry as the bitterest enemy of religious order . Let us see if he was right also in condemning it as the enemy of social order . II . When the Encyclical letter was issued the French Liberal papers asserted that Freemasonry has no longer any relation with politics ; that it is , above all , a benevolent institution , without which
" many a poor man would be left witb wife and family nncared for — as writes a " Member of the Order of Odd Fellows . " We reply that the language held and the decisions taken in the Lodges are a formal contradiction of these assertions . In 1882 , at Irvy , Mr . D , a Mason , expressed himself as follows : " Masonry is the school in which men are formed , even as our
house ia the school in which children are formed—it ia Freemasonry which prepares tho solutions whose triumph democracy has effected . To it it falls to end tho 19 th century , by crowning the work of fche Revolution , " and fcho speaker , recalling that Masonry is the school whence issued Voltaire ancl Danton , declared that "ib ought to prepare the way for social equality . "
To those who pretend that Masonry has nothing to do with politics , " Brother " Reg boldly answered in a general meeting of tho Masonic Lodges , held at Lyons , on 3 rd May 1882 , thafc " Masonry has been , Masonry is , ancl always will be , political , religious , and social , or nothing at all . " The same Mason goes on to say that " to believe thafc Masonry has had its day would be a serions error ,
especially in Fiance , since the Republican regime " traced ou Mnsonic institutions , is an accomplished fact . Freemasonry has served as a model for those who by their conspiracies have brought about the present state of affiirs . It is the school for those men who aspire to become leaders of democracy . The secular organisation of Masonry , with the power it derives from its secrets , its rites , ifca