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Article MASONRY IN SOUTH AMERICA. ← Page 2 of 3 Article MASONRY IN SOUTH AMERICA. Page 2 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonry In South America.
pure Indian which it supplanted . Meantime the whole country fell under the power of the invaders' religion , and the ancient rites , ceremonies and strange idolatrous customs were metamorphosed into celebrations of saints and
adoration paid to the images of Bible characters . There was and still is in the character of these people , and especially among those who belong to the wealthier classes , a certain love of pomp and ceremony which never fails to show
itself on any suitable occasion . Perhaps there is no people so much impressed by glitter , ceremony and ritual as are the Spaniards . Possibl y this is true of all Latin races , for from time immemorial we have read of the strange mysteries
that have surrounded much of their history . The Latin races were swift to copy and amplify the esoteric rites of the Greek , and down to the present time have rejoiced in whatever touches the imagination or appeals to the
marvellous , the weird or the imposing . Hence it is that all foreign diplomatists to those countries are received with a certain amount of ceremony , which to the plain Anglo Saxon seems almost incongruous , but to the mind of the
people who tender these national hospitalities is of the utmost importance . To give you a brief idea of this ceremony , and as illustrating the universal love of display found there , I may detail to you briefly the course of
presentation of a Minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary to one of these courts . On his arrival at the capital , say Lima , he makes known to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic his presence , furnishing
him with a copy of the letter of the President of the United States accrediting him to that court , and also , as in the case of the Commission to Central and South America , with a copy of the address he Droposes to deliver to the
Government on his formal presentation . After a few clays' delay he is notified through the official channel that on such a day , naming it , the Government will be prepared to receive him in due form .
When the day arrives , perhaps two , three or four hours before the time fixed , a regiment of soldiers will be stationed in front of the Minister ' s hotel with a double column filing up the stairs , and even to the door of the
reception room , while the officers of the regiment will be at home within the room . At the honr designated , a person called the Introducer of Ambassadors , and possibly , the Secretary of Foreign Affairs also , comes to the Minister ' s
room and escorts him to a state carriage , very fine and which belongs to the Government , and is only used on such occasions ; and a company of cavalry as an escort accompanies this carriage to the Government buildings . There ,
after ascending a flight of marble stairs , the Minister is ushered into one end of a long room , the sides of which are lined with well-dressed gentlemen , and at the further end of which he dimly sees on a dais the President of the
Republic , surrounded by his Cabinet and military officers all in full uniform and regalia . A low bow is made by the Minister , and then he advances a few steps up the room , stops and makes another bow , he then proceeds until he is
m front of the President , when another low bow is offered and returned b y the President and his Cabinet and military officers , and thereupon his address is read in English , and the President responds in Spanish . Then the President
asks the Minister to be seated at the ri ght end of a sofa near b y , and he is introduced to the members of the Cabinet and to the military officers . He is then escorted back to the carriage and his hotel by the Minister of Foreign Affairs
and Introducer of Ambassadors . At his hotel ho exchanges his dress suit for a business suit , and immediately calls upon each member of the Cabinet , leaving his card . He then returns to his hotel , and within a short time the
members of the Cabinet call and leave their cards . Tin ' s shortl y illustrates the formality and exactness with which these people treat their diplomatic visitors . Very many of the bright young men of all these countries ,
and especially the sons of the wealthy hacienda owners , Merchants and mine owners , have found in the universities of the old world very full and favourable educational advantages , and many of them have by travel in our own
country as well as among the European nations become familiarised with the progress and the greatness of the -Institutions of those countries , so far different from thnir
own . These young men return fco their own countries , bring ing with them ideas much at war with the superstitions and rituals they were accustomed to in their youth .
, -It must be said that very many of them are sceptics . So it is one sees at the places of worship , the cathedrals and churches , very few men as devotees , but a great many
Masonry In South America.
women , many of them beautifully adorned and dressed . There is one attraction that is charming beyond descrip . tion , it is the organ music which one hears from early
morning until vespers . I often entered a cathedral aud sat almost entranced for many minutes listening to the wonderful harmonies which the unseen musician brought out
of his instrument . And in all these churches there is a vast deal of display , tinsel and gilt well adapted to charm and attract a man given to those things . As I have said , many of the young men within the last
few years have gained new ideas from travel in the United States , as well as among the more progressive countries of the old world , and in their travels many have fallen in with the Masonic Orders existing both here and in Europe , and
although to become a Mason subjects them to the censure of the religion denominating affairs in their countries , yet they have nevertheless braved those censures and borne back to their native land the mysteries of the Order . I had
a long conversation with the Rev . Dr . Trumbull , of Valparaiso , touching the religious and educational welfare and growth of Chili . He has been a missionary there for forty years under the charge of the Presbyterian Church . He
belongs to the TrurabuIIs of Connecticut , and is a man of great power and influence with the ruling classes , being on terms of intimacy with the President aud his Cabinet , and often consnlted on grave questions of State . He has a
church of over four hundred members , is instrumental in building up schools , has established a theological institution at Santiago , and is extending a knowledge of civil and religious libertv to all classes in Chili .
I found Presbyterian and Methodist Missions m many localities of South America , and so far as I could observe they are doing a very encouraging work . Everywhere the
progressive men of those countries desire their children to become masters of the English language , and the schools established by the missionaries are thronged by young men and boys especially seeking a knowledge of that tongue .
Dr . Trumbull , in the conversation I had with him , spoke of the power of his schools in carryiug to every quarter of the land liberalising influences . He narrated very many curious circumstances of the customs prevailing in that
country when he first went there , the prohibition against burying a Protestant in any of the cemeteries in the country , the difficulty in having a place of worship , the severe and obstructive laws against marriage between Protestants and members of the ruling faith
of the country , finally the sweeping away of these difficulties by recent legislation . The examples he _ gave of the growth of the princip les of equality and liberty were full of interest . He then also dwelt upon the
future of the church organisations in different towns in Chili and the great good following them . " And then , " he added , "there is another powerful liberalising influence participating in it , it is , " he said , " Free
Masonry . " He then enlarged upon this point , showing how the Lodges were increasing in numbers and influence everywhere . He spoke of the tremendous weight they were having in opening the very heart of this people
to the quickening influences of relig ious freedom and equality . I could very well understand as soon as he mentioned this topic , how the work of the Lodge , its mysteries , its seclusion from the outer world , its many phases of
pleasing secresy , its captivating symbols , its signs and mystic rites , would possess and wonderfully charm that element of the Spanish mind which I have before briefly alluded to . To the prosaic Anglo Saxon many of the
services of the Lodge-room seem after awhile almost commonplace , and perhaps cease to allure and excite the imagination as they did when seen for the first time . But to the
Spanish mind all this is different . I need not enlarge npon it particularly , but may call attention perhaps to this one thought , that the members of the Lodge in becoming snch are almost inevitably drawn away from the
confessional . There is a profound abyss between the mysticism of Freemasonry and the obedience and requirements of the confessional . I believe that it is a cardinal princip le of the church which holds the denominating influence in South
America that no man can be a member of that church and also of any secret organisation , and especially that of ours . Now as against this bull of prohibition , this denial of the right of the simple layman to be a member of theMasonic
Order , there in the constant appeal to the Spanish imngination of all that Masonry offe r * the world . The surroundings and striking symbols of the Lodge-room , the form and mysteries that there prevail , these in , and of themselves ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonry In South America.
pure Indian which it supplanted . Meantime the whole country fell under the power of the invaders' religion , and the ancient rites , ceremonies and strange idolatrous customs were metamorphosed into celebrations of saints and
adoration paid to the images of Bible characters . There was and still is in the character of these people , and especially among those who belong to the wealthier classes , a certain love of pomp and ceremony which never fails to show
itself on any suitable occasion . Perhaps there is no people so much impressed by glitter , ceremony and ritual as are the Spaniards . Possibl y this is true of all Latin races , for from time immemorial we have read of the strange mysteries
that have surrounded much of their history . The Latin races were swift to copy and amplify the esoteric rites of the Greek , and down to the present time have rejoiced in whatever touches the imagination or appeals to the
marvellous , the weird or the imposing . Hence it is that all foreign diplomatists to those countries are received with a certain amount of ceremony , which to the plain Anglo Saxon seems almost incongruous , but to the mind of the
people who tender these national hospitalities is of the utmost importance . To give you a brief idea of this ceremony , and as illustrating the universal love of display found there , I may detail to you briefly the course of
presentation of a Minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary to one of these courts . On his arrival at the capital , say Lima , he makes known to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic his presence , furnishing
him with a copy of the letter of the President of the United States accrediting him to that court , and also , as in the case of the Commission to Central and South America , with a copy of the address he Droposes to deliver to the
Government on his formal presentation . After a few clays' delay he is notified through the official channel that on such a day , naming it , the Government will be prepared to receive him in due form .
When the day arrives , perhaps two , three or four hours before the time fixed , a regiment of soldiers will be stationed in front of the Minister ' s hotel with a double column filing up the stairs , and even to the door of the
reception room , while the officers of the regiment will be at home within the room . At the honr designated , a person called the Introducer of Ambassadors , and possibly , the Secretary of Foreign Affairs also , comes to the Minister ' s
room and escorts him to a state carriage , very fine and which belongs to the Government , and is only used on such occasions ; and a company of cavalry as an escort accompanies this carriage to the Government buildings . There ,
after ascending a flight of marble stairs , the Minister is ushered into one end of a long room , the sides of which are lined with well-dressed gentlemen , and at the further end of which he dimly sees on a dais the President of the
Republic , surrounded by his Cabinet and military officers all in full uniform and regalia . A low bow is made by the Minister , and then he advances a few steps up the room , stops and makes another bow , he then proceeds until he is
m front of the President , when another low bow is offered and returned b y the President and his Cabinet and military officers , and thereupon his address is read in English , and the President responds in Spanish . Then the President
asks the Minister to be seated at the ri ght end of a sofa near b y , and he is introduced to the members of the Cabinet and to the military officers . He is then escorted back to the carriage and his hotel by the Minister of Foreign Affairs
and Introducer of Ambassadors . At his hotel ho exchanges his dress suit for a business suit , and immediately calls upon each member of the Cabinet , leaving his card . He then returns to his hotel , and within a short time the
members of the Cabinet call and leave their cards . Tin ' s shortl y illustrates the formality and exactness with which these people treat their diplomatic visitors . Very many of the bright young men of all these countries ,
and especially the sons of the wealthy hacienda owners , Merchants and mine owners , have found in the universities of the old world very full and favourable educational advantages , and many of them have by travel in our own
country as well as among the European nations become familiarised with the progress and the greatness of the -Institutions of those countries , so far different from thnir
own . These young men return fco their own countries , bring ing with them ideas much at war with the superstitions and rituals they were accustomed to in their youth .
, -It must be said that very many of them are sceptics . So it is one sees at the places of worship , the cathedrals and churches , very few men as devotees , but a great many
Masonry In South America.
women , many of them beautifully adorned and dressed . There is one attraction that is charming beyond descrip . tion , it is the organ music which one hears from early
morning until vespers . I often entered a cathedral aud sat almost entranced for many minutes listening to the wonderful harmonies which the unseen musician brought out
of his instrument . And in all these churches there is a vast deal of display , tinsel and gilt well adapted to charm and attract a man given to those things . As I have said , many of the young men within the last
few years have gained new ideas from travel in the United States , as well as among the more progressive countries of the old world , and in their travels many have fallen in with the Masonic Orders existing both here and in Europe , and
although to become a Mason subjects them to the censure of the religion denominating affairs in their countries , yet they have nevertheless braved those censures and borne back to their native land the mysteries of the Order . I had
a long conversation with the Rev . Dr . Trumbull , of Valparaiso , touching the religious and educational welfare and growth of Chili . He has been a missionary there for forty years under the charge of the Presbyterian Church . He
belongs to the TrurabuIIs of Connecticut , and is a man of great power and influence with the ruling classes , being on terms of intimacy with the President aud his Cabinet , and often consnlted on grave questions of State . He has a
church of over four hundred members , is instrumental in building up schools , has established a theological institution at Santiago , and is extending a knowledge of civil and religious libertv to all classes in Chili .
I found Presbyterian and Methodist Missions m many localities of South America , and so far as I could observe they are doing a very encouraging work . Everywhere the
progressive men of those countries desire their children to become masters of the English language , and the schools established by the missionaries are thronged by young men and boys especially seeking a knowledge of that tongue .
Dr . Trumbull , in the conversation I had with him , spoke of the power of his schools in carryiug to every quarter of the land liberalising influences . He narrated very many curious circumstances of the customs prevailing in that
country when he first went there , the prohibition against burying a Protestant in any of the cemeteries in the country , the difficulty in having a place of worship , the severe and obstructive laws against marriage between Protestants and members of the ruling faith
of the country , finally the sweeping away of these difficulties by recent legislation . The examples he _ gave of the growth of the princip les of equality and liberty were full of interest . He then also dwelt upon the
future of the church organisations in different towns in Chili and the great good following them . " And then , " he added , "there is another powerful liberalising influence participating in it , it is , " he said , " Free
Masonry . " He then enlarged upon this point , showing how the Lodges were increasing in numbers and influence everywhere . He spoke of the tremendous weight they were having in opening the very heart of this people
to the quickening influences of relig ious freedom and equality . I could very well understand as soon as he mentioned this topic , how the work of the Lodge , its mysteries , its seclusion from the outer world , its many phases of
pleasing secresy , its captivating symbols , its signs and mystic rites , would possess and wonderfully charm that element of the Spanish mind which I have before briefly alluded to . To the prosaic Anglo Saxon many of the
services of the Lodge-room seem after awhile almost commonplace , and perhaps cease to allure and excite the imagination as they did when seen for the first time . But to the
Spanish mind all this is different . I need not enlarge npon it particularly , but may call attention perhaps to this one thought , that the members of the Lodge in becoming snch are almost inevitably drawn away from the
confessional . There is a profound abyss between the mysticism of Freemasonry and the obedience and requirements of the confessional . I believe that it is a cardinal princip le of the church which holds the denominating influence in South
America that no man can be a member of that church and also of any secret organisation , and especially that of ours . Now as against this bull of prohibition , this denial of the right of the simple layman to be a member of theMasonic
Order , there in the constant appeal to the Spanish imngination of all that Masonry offe r * the world . The surroundings and striking symbols of the Lodge-room , the form and mysteries that there prevail , these in , and of themselves ,