Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Grand Lodge Of Ireland And The Grand Orient Of France.
THE GRAND LODGE OF IRELAND AND THE GRAND ORIENT OF FRANCE .
THOSE -who have studied the history of French Freemasonry must have noticed with extreme regret the severe internal dissensions by which it has been continuall y agitated . There havo been , ia other countries , repeated interruptions to the peace and harmony of the different Masonic bodies ,
and these interruptions have , even in England on one occasion at least , proved seriously detrimental to the progress of the Craft . As our readers are aware , English Freemasonry was for a long time divided against itself , and it was only after the lapse of three quarters of a century that
wiser councils prevailed , and the schism was healed . In Prance , however , the most terrible convulsions have befallen the Craft , not once or twice only , but repeatedly . Now it has been a conflict between two or more parties , each claiming to exorcise the Supreme Masonic authority ; now
an apostasy of dissentient Lodges , who seem to have considered that violent discord was the likeliest way to secure complete harmony of thought and action . But , as far as we can trust our memory , the recent amendment of Article I . of the Constitutions of the Grand Orient is tho most
serious blow ever yet directed against the integrity of Freemasonry . It is utterly subversive of the fundamental principles by which , in all ages and in all countries , the Craft Universal has been actuated . It cannot be denied that Freemasonry , as it has existed in modern times , is of
English origim It emanated from a small but select body of choice spirits , who were influenced by certain well defined principles ; who saw how fatal was the influence which religious and political bigotry exercised over the minds of men ; and who , therefore , with a breadth and
liberality of view which will ensure to them the respect of the whole human race , undertook the arduous task of establishing , out of materials already to hand , a society in which men of all religious and political creeds might meet together on the same footing and in
perfect harmony . To this end the discussion of politics and religion was sternl y forbidden , but , at the same time , ifc _ was required of all who sought admission into the Society that they should solemnl y bind themselves to observe three fundamental principles—namely , the
Existence of God and the Immortalit y of the Soul ; the practice of the sacred duties of morality ; and obedience to all lawfully constituted authority . These , together , form the basis on which the . whole superstructure of Freemasonry rests , and we may say truthfully , and with a just sense of
satisfaction , that during the whole career of modern Freemasonry thcso ^ principles have been most rigidly observed . By whatever differences , amounting , as we have said , in some cases to actual schism , the Fraternity may have been torn ,
these have always been regarded as the basis on which it rested . It is matter of history that Moderns and Ancients , and rival Grand _ Orients , Grand Lodges , and Supreme Councils , have striven to obtain the upper hand each over the other , but in no case that we are aware of has there
been _ a negation of the three ancient landmarks we have mentioned . At times there may have been a laxity in observing them ; men of questionable morals , or endued with little or no respect for reli gion , may have found admission
into our ranks , and iu some countries the Society may have been made into an instrument for subserving particular political interests , but in spite of the spirit of indifferentism which has occasionally been manifested in the practice of Masonry , these landmarks have always been clearly and
The Grand Lodge Of Ireland And The Grand Orient Of France.
distinctly recognised as absolutely essential to its existence . Not then Avithout reason is it we havo been able to boast that in this respect there has been one common bond of union among brethren all the world over , ono common
ground on which it was possible for them to meet together . But the change which has recently been Imported into tho character of French Masonry destroys at once the link which has hitherto united tho brethren
of all nations . Freemasons are no longer one family , but two . There are those who rigidly adhere to tho old landmark of theism , and those who are prepared to admit into their ranks "the stupid atheist , "
or " irreligiouslibertine . This is an eversion of the true principles of Freemasonry , which cannot be too deeply deplored ; the more so , that it gives our deadliest enemies , tho ultramontane section of the Komish Church , that real and substantial basis on which to found their attacks
against us , which has hitherto been wanting . In acting as it has done , the Grand Orient of France has been guilty of a suicidal policy ; ifc has been , in fact , playing into the hands of its adversaries , and given them an advantage which they will know but too well how to use with effect .
It can no longer retaliate , when charged with irreligion , and say , "We believe in entire liberty of conscience , that is , wo recognise the right of every one to hold what religions and political opinions he chooses ; all we require of him is that he shall believe in God , observe the moral law , and obey
constituted authority . It is now justly open to the charge of sanctioning irreligion , and therefore of immorality and disloyalty to the State ; for no one who is without somo
sense of religion can really have any just sense of morality , and ho who is without sense of morality will pay little heed to mere human institutions . As now amended , the first article of the French Masonic Constitutions declares that
the fundamental principles of Freemasonry are absolute liberty of conscience , and the responsibility of man towards his fellow men ( la liberie absolue do conscience et la solidarite hiimaine ) . But the former of these principles means , if it has any meaning at all , absolute and unrestrained
licence , to hold any opinions whatsoever , and this licence , therefore , must exclude all sense of moral as well as of religious responsibility . In fact , these which are now declared to be the conjoint principles of Freemasonry as
interpreted by the French Grand Orient are , in truth , in direct antagonism with each other ; for licence is the direst enemy of responsibility . There can , indeed , bo nothing in common between them . The man who
claims to think as he likes in matters of religion will sooner or later claim to put what interpretation he chooses on morality , and will stand at nothing to override the political opinions of his fellow men . It wore as impossible to bind down such a one as this to any sense of responsibility as it
is to bind the wind , so as to compel it to blow in this or that given direction . Thus , the French Grand Orient , in relaxing its rules in favour of those who believe in nothing
—absolute liberty of conscience allows for the existence of this class of persons—is , in fact , cherishing , as ifc were , in its own bosom the most terrible danger by which ifc can ever be confronted .
Under these circumstances , it is hardly possible our readers will feel much surprise at the news received from Ireland , to the effect that Grand Lodge has unanimously resolved " that it cannot continue to recognise the Grand
Orient of France as a Masonic body , and it directs all Lodges working under the Irish Constitution to decline receiving as Masons any person hailing from the Grand Orient of France , or from any subordinate Lodge under its
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Grand Lodge Of Ireland And The Grand Orient Of France.
THE GRAND LODGE OF IRELAND AND THE GRAND ORIENT OF FRANCE .
THOSE -who have studied the history of French Freemasonry must have noticed with extreme regret the severe internal dissensions by which it has been continuall y agitated . There havo been , ia other countries , repeated interruptions to the peace and harmony of the different Masonic bodies ,
and these interruptions have , even in England on one occasion at least , proved seriously detrimental to the progress of the Craft . As our readers are aware , English Freemasonry was for a long time divided against itself , and it was only after the lapse of three quarters of a century that
wiser councils prevailed , and the schism was healed . In Prance , however , the most terrible convulsions have befallen the Craft , not once or twice only , but repeatedly . Now it has been a conflict between two or more parties , each claiming to exorcise the Supreme Masonic authority ; now
an apostasy of dissentient Lodges , who seem to have considered that violent discord was the likeliest way to secure complete harmony of thought and action . But , as far as we can trust our memory , the recent amendment of Article I . of the Constitutions of the Grand Orient is tho most
serious blow ever yet directed against the integrity of Freemasonry . It is utterly subversive of the fundamental principles by which , in all ages and in all countries , the Craft Universal has been actuated . It cannot be denied that Freemasonry , as it has existed in modern times , is of
English origim It emanated from a small but select body of choice spirits , who were influenced by certain well defined principles ; who saw how fatal was the influence which religious and political bigotry exercised over the minds of men ; and who , therefore , with a breadth and
liberality of view which will ensure to them the respect of the whole human race , undertook the arduous task of establishing , out of materials already to hand , a society in which men of all religious and political creeds might meet together on the same footing and in
perfect harmony . To this end the discussion of politics and religion was sternl y forbidden , but , at the same time , ifc _ was required of all who sought admission into the Society that they should solemnl y bind themselves to observe three fundamental principles—namely , the
Existence of God and the Immortalit y of the Soul ; the practice of the sacred duties of morality ; and obedience to all lawfully constituted authority . These , together , form the basis on which the . whole superstructure of Freemasonry rests , and we may say truthfully , and with a just sense of
satisfaction , that during the whole career of modern Freemasonry thcso ^ principles have been most rigidly observed . By whatever differences , amounting , as we have said , in some cases to actual schism , the Fraternity may have been torn ,
these have always been regarded as the basis on which it rested . It is matter of history that Moderns and Ancients , and rival Grand _ Orients , Grand Lodges , and Supreme Councils , have striven to obtain the upper hand each over the other , but in no case that we are aware of has there
been _ a negation of the three ancient landmarks we have mentioned . At times there may have been a laxity in observing them ; men of questionable morals , or endued with little or no respect for reli gion , may have found admission
into our ranks , and iu some countries the Society may have been made into an instrument for subserving particular political interests , but in spite of the spirit of indifferentism which has occasionally been manifested in the practice of Masonry , these landmarks have always been clearly and
The Grand Lodge Of Ireland And The Grand Orient Of France.
distinctly recognised as absolutely essential to its existence . Not then Avithout reason is it we havo been able to boast that in this respect there has been one common bond of union among brethren all the world over , ono common
ground on which it was possible for them to meet together . But the change which has recently been Imported into tho character of French Masonry destroys at once the link which has hitherto united tho brethren
of all nations . Freemasons are no longer one family , but two . There are those who rigidly adhere to tho old landmark of theism , and those who are prepared to admit into their ranks "the stupid atheist , "
or " irreligiouslibertine . This is an eversion of the true principles of Freemasonry , which cannot be too deeply deplored ; the more so , that it gives our deadliest enemies , tho ultramontane section of the Komish Church , that real and substantial basis on which to found their attacks
against us , which has hitherto been wanting . In acting as it has done , the Grand Orient of France has been guilty of a suicidal policy ; ifc has been , in fact , playing into the hands of its adversaries , and given them an advantage which they will know but too well how to use with effect .
It can no longer retaliate , when charged with irreligion , and say , "We believe in entire liberty of conscience , that is , wo recognise the right of every one to hold what religions and political opinions he chooses ; all we require of him is that he shall believe in God , observe the moral law , and obey
constituted authority . It is now justly open to the charge of sanctioning irreligion , and therefore of immorality and disloyalty to the State ; for no one who is without somo
sense of religion can really have any just sense of morality , and ho who is without sense of morality will pay little heed to mere human institutions . As now amended , the first article of the French Masonic Constitutions declares that
the fundamental principles of Freemasonry are absolute liberty of conscience , and the responsibility of man towards his fellow men ( la liberie absolue do conscience et la solidarite hiimaine ) . But the former of these principles means , if it has any meaning at all , absolute and unrestrained
licence , to hold any opinions whatsoever , and this licence , therefore , must exclude all sense of moral as well as of religious responsibility . In fact , these which are now declared to be the conjoint principles of Freemasonry as
interpreted by the French Grand Orient are , in truth , in direct antagonism with each other ; for licence is the direst enemy of responsibility . There can , indeed , bo nothing in common between them . The man who
claims to think as he likes in matters of religion will sooner or later claim to put what interpretation he chooses on morality , and will stand at nothing to override the political opinions of his fellow men . It wore as impossible to bind down such a one as this to any sense of responsibility as it
is to bind the wind , so as to compel it to blow in this or that given direction . Thus , the French Grand Orient , in relaxing its rules in favour of those who believe in nothing
—absolute liberty of conscience allows for the existence of this class of persons—is , in fact , cherishing , as ifc were , in its own bosom the most terrible danger by which ifc can ever be confronted .
Under these circumstances , it is hardly possible our readers will feel much surprise at the news received from Ireland , to the effect that Grand Lodge has unanimously resolved " that it cannot continue to recognise the Grand
Orient of France as a Masonic body , and it directs all Lodges working under the Irish Constitution to decline receiving as Masons any person hailing from the Grand Orient of France , or from any subordinate Lodge under its