Freemasons And Clericals.

FREEMASONS AND CLERICALS .

From the " Globe " Correspondent , Paris , Friday ( 20 th September ) . I HAVE already alluded fco the war which has broken out between tho Freemasons and the Clericals , and were the subject not interesting to so many people , I should not think of returning to it . In my last reference to it I confined myself to

what the Freemasons had to say : it is only fair that we should now give the Clericals a hearing . For this purpose one of the principal writers in the Clerical organ , " La Croix , " who , at the same time , is said to be a member of one of the religious orders , has been applied to , and his answer is worth quoting . " I am

not sorry , " he said , " that the Freemasons should have declared hostilities in such a clear and frank style . We have expected it for a long time , but one cannot be warned too often . During the past few years the Clericals have remained quiet and resigned . Our adversaries have taken advantage of our silence aud patience

to seize on all tbe machinery of government , and thereby put an irresistible pressure on the public powers . Whether the government likes it or not , it is the prisoner of the Lodges , whose sole aim is the destruction of the religious beliefs whioh are so dear to us . The Grand Orient affects to be indignant at the attacks made on it . It is astonished that we should have the

audacity to defend ourselves , and to start papers in opposition to theirs . This is ingenuous , indeed , but it will not wash . The era of resignation bas come to an end . If we are to perish , it will be better to die fighting ; but we shall not perish , for the Church is immortal . It has defied and vanquished enemies of a very

different stamp , and suffered persecutions far more terrible . As regards the idea of a ' easier maconnique , ' a kind of private information register , it was not started by us , but we approve of it . It is only natural we should want to know with whom we have to deal , in order not to be exposed to introducing Freemasons into our homes and relations . "

The Clerical editor then went on to say that they knew perfectly well that the laws from which they are ruffering were the work of the Freemasons . They formed part of a programme drawn up long ago . "Those laws , " he said , " were intolerable . In the matter of education , they drove religion out of the schools ,

while in respect to the conscription , and under the pretext of equality , they rendered the recruiting of the clergy almost impossible . The service of one year in the hospitals might be accepted , but who could resist the influence of three years of military service , to say nothing of the service in the reserves ,

which is still more demoralising ? Again , as regards fiscal matters , we are placed outside the common law ; imposts have been made especially for us . After having made us suffer morally , it is now sought to ruin us . The Bishops hoped that the military law would be applied with a moderation which might have made it

supportable , but nothing of the sort . Had we refused to submit to it , what would the government have done ? Would it not have been disarmed in presence of the thousands of faithful determined to obey their consciences and their spiritual chiefs ? I am convinced that on this point resistance will ultimately be

organised . A few recalcitrant congregations will be sold , but the government will not dare to attack all the congregations united together . In the end , nobody will have the courage to support those unjust laws . In the meanwhile , the wind blows in the direction of war , and Freemasonry is the enemy . We have been patient too long : the time for action has now come . "

All the Clericals , however , are not so bellicose as our contemporary , " La Croix . " Says the Secretary of the Anti-Masonic Union : — " We do not desire war , aud we shall not seek it . All we wish is to take advantage of the ' convent' which the Freemasons are organising to organise in our turn an International

Anti-Masonic Congress . Catholicism is a power , and must show the world that it is one . If we do not demonstrate the fact , the Freemasons will continue to go ahead , without for a moment remembering that we * re still their eternal obstacle . What we want to do is to put a stop to the fatal influence of Freemasonry ,

which is not only an anti-religious sect , but which also manages to get possession of all the positions in the Government , whether political , social , or financial , to the exclusion of the Catholics . To remedy this situation , we shall make use of all the means in our power , such as public lectures , the propagation of Catholic

papers , free libraries , works of charity , and fetes of all kinds . The role of the Anti-Masonic Union , which will be only one of the offshoots of the International Congress , will consist in the employment of these means . By placing ourselves under the protection of St . Michael , St . Francis , and the Venerable Joan of

Arc , by appealing to the Catholic Sosieties which already exist , to the Catholic clubs and associations , by creating Anti-Masonic sections everywhere throughout the country , and especially in the

localities where Freemasonry has its Lodges—by doing this we hope to struggle victoriously against the ills which beset the Church and the Fatherland , Some of our friends have proposed to establish ' casiers maconniques , ' by the aid of which we should

Freemasons And Clericals.

be able to prove that such and such a person is a Freemason , to be shunned by all who desire fco defend and support the outraged and persecuted Church . I do not agree with this proposal , though it may be useful at a given moment . To sum up , there

are good Catholics numerous enough in France to counterbalance the baneful influence of the Freemasons . But let me again say that , as far as myself and friends are concerned , it is not a war which we are preparing : we shall keep ourselves simply on the defensive , and wait to see what turns up . "

Such is the situation of the rival parties , according to the latest details , for some of which I am indebted to our enterprising contemporary , the " Matin . " It is evident that there is a good deal of sound and fury on both sides , which will probably end in nothing . As will be seen , the Clericals and Catholics are divided

on the subject : this is a bad state of affairs co begin with . It may also be questioned whether they have not taken the field too late in tbe day to command success . There might have been a chance when the religious congregations were dispersed , but they have lost the opportunity by waiting too long , and now their

threatened demonstrations seem almost out of place . That they may have right on their side is possible , but might is stronger than right , and might appears to be on the side of the Freemasons . Having allowed them to instal themselves in all the Governmental posts , to say nothing of the Senate and the Chamber , it will be

hard work to get them out again . The Clericals may attack them , but to little purpose : their influence is only likely to become greater by their resistance . The Clericals seem to be aware of this contingency ; hence the Congress , with which they hope to strike a deadly blow . On their side , the Freemasons

hope to kill their enemy by the means which they propose to adopt , but which , like everything connected with the Order , will be kept secret . Outsiders will be curious to witness the

battlesupposing it comes off , which is by no means certain , the official declaration of war not having yet been made . A few weeks longer , and we shall all be wiser , and , let us hope , better , whether we be Clericals or Freemasons .

The new Lodge to be consecrated at the Empire of India Exhibition , on the 14 th inst ., under the title of the Empress , No , 2581 , will have for ifcs first Master Sir Joseph C . Dimsdale Past Grand Treasurer , with Dr . Maitland Coffin and Bro . Imre Kiralfy as his Wardens . A great success is anticipated .

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