Papal Denunciations Of Freemasonry.

the knowledge that they one and all worship the G . A . O . T . TJ . according to the light that is in them , and one and all strive , as they believe Ho would have them strive , to live a life of good works . The Pope and his priesthood cannot , or for reasons of their own , will not see the extreme

beauty of this respect for all kinds of religious belief . What says the Rev . Franciscan whose sermon we quoted last week , "Is it possible to offer a moro complete justification" than Bro . Parkinson ' s remarks " of the truth of the sovereign Pontiff ' s judgment that the

Masonic sect is merely Naturalistic . The Belgian Mason seemed to attack Catholicism only ; the English one attacks Christianity itself . Freedom of thought ! It is the very princip le of freethinkers , who believe in nothing ; and

¦ what shall I say of this doctrine ? It enters not' into differences of faith and creed . ' Is not that the subversion of all revelation ? Iu vain did the Son of God become a man ; in vain did He shed His blood upon the Cross ! No need of that for Freemasons—for them the faith in Jesus

Christ , tbe faith in Mahomet , in Buddha , the faith in Satan itself are all good—Freemasonry does not enter into differences of faith and creed . What a strong proof of the truth of the Word of the Divine Master , ' He that is not with Me is against Me . ' I know Freemasons build

churches to Christ , but that does not make any difference j as with them all sorts of faith and religion are good ; they would as readily build mosques to Allah , pagodas to Buddha , temples to Reason , and altars to Satan . Yes , to Satan himself , for Masonry not only

recognises its Satanic origin , and has Satan for its master and god , but proclaims it publicly and boasts of it . " This is an average specimen of what passes for argument with these ministers of religion . It answers its purpose , because the bulk of those to whom it is addressed are too

unlearned to perceive that , logically , the parts of which the so-called argument consist are contradictory of each other . Educated men know well enough that" freedom of thought " has nothing whatever iu common with what is ordinarily known as " free thinking . " Freedom of belief as applied

to religion cannot possibly have anything to do with freedom to believe in no religion afc all . When a Freemason tells you , and tells you truly , that he respects equally all religions faiths , he uses the term in its every-day sense , in the sense which commonly attaches to it . Those who

substitute human reason for belief in God are of no religion whatever , as ordinarily understood of men . So men who believe in Satan , the Spirit of Evil , have no religion . God ,

the Architect of the Universe , is omniscient , omnipotent , omnipresent . He is All Good as well as All Wise , while Satan , even if he were not a mere minister , is the Author of Evil . This Reverend Father must have been actuated

by a spirit of malevolence little short of Satanic when he set them down as worshippers of Satan , because they do not think it indispensable to men ' s happiness in the hereafter that they should fashion their religious belief in the manner prescribed by a Pope of Rome . The real secret

which underlies these periodical denunciations of Freemasonry is that the Romish Clergy are afraid of that grand spirit of toleration by which the Freemasons are actuated towards each other , and towards mankind generally ; of that Charity , both in thought and action , which they prac

tise as well as preach . These Clergy see , in the success of Masonic principles , the downfall of their own supremacy . They see clearly enough that as the former advance , the latter must retire , and from the narrow point of view of

their own worldly wisdom , they would far rather see the world come to an end than that ifc should be enlightened and improved by the principles of Charity and lovingkindness enunciated by the Freemasons . Other points in the sermon require to be touched upon , but these must be reserved for another article .

Duties Of Master.

DUTIES OF MASTER .

THE office of Master of a Lodge is elevated and responsible , and the most important in the whole system of Freemasonry , as the entire Institution is largely dependent npon that Officer for its character , reputation and

prosperity . It may be safely asserted , as a general rule , that the character and standing of the members of a Lodge can be correctly judged by the character and standing of their Master . If he be a man of intelligence and high

Duties Of Master.

moral worth , we may be sure that his Lodge is composed of " good men and true . " In view of the magnitude of the office , it is important that the powers , prerogatives and privileges of the Master should be well understood , both by those who rule , and

those who are governed . The powers and privileges of a Master of a Lodge are fully equal to the prominence and importance of his office in the Masonic system . No one , except the Grand Master of his Deputy , can preside iu his Lodge in his presence without his consent . He may

call to his assistance any Master Mason he pleases , whose work in his presence he is alone responsible for , and is equally authoritative and binding as his own . Such Master Mason may even occupy the chair , and confer the degrees , and his work will be strictly legal , if the Master be present

and consenting . A Master is solemnly bound to support the bye-laws of his Lodge . He may command the attendance of his Officers and members , at any time , by summons , and they aro bound to obey . He may appoint all committees of his

Lodge not otherwise specially provided for ; may decide all questions of order , or Masonic law ; and his decisions are final , unless reversed by the G . Lodge upon appeal regularl y

taken . He is not bound by the usages of parliamentary bodies , except as he may please to adopt them . He has the right to instal his Officers after he has been himself installed , and also his successor in office .

The Master is , however , in all cases bound to conform to the Constitution and edicts of the Grand Lodge , the bye-laws of his own Lodge , and the ancient established usages and landmarks of the Order . Ho would not be justitled in refusing to put any motion , regularly made and

seconded , not conflicting with these . He cannot refuse to declare a vote or ballot , when regularly taken . Though he may call any brother to the chair in his presence , he cannot

authorise any brother , not even a Past Master , to preside in his absence . In the absence of the Master , all his powers and privileges are vested in the Wardens , in regular succession , and cannot be delegated to any one .

But there is another and no less important light in which we should view the office . We mean tbe Master ' s part in conferring the degrees . No member of the Order can have failed to observe that , the manner in which the degrees are communicated has a large influence upon the mind of the

candidate for our mysteries . It is hardly too much to say , that the first impressions of a candidate remain with him through life , and in proportion as he is favourably or unfavourably impressed upon his first admission to the Lodge , will be his future zeal and usefulness as a Mason . In

view of this fact , how important it is that a Master of a Lodge should not only be a man of unblemished character , but of impressive manner and speech . When delivered with deliberation of manner , and in distinct and feeling tones , the beautiful symbolism and moral teachings

of Freemasonry fall upon the mind and heart oi a candidate with tenfold power . Indeed , there is no resisting their force . Though they fall as gebtly aa the dew , they penetrate as thoroughly as that silent messenger of heaven . —Messenger and Times .

Stand By The Ancient Landmarks.

STAND BY THE ANCIENT LANDMARKS .

£ T is a dreadful crime to initiate a man with the tip of his little finger off . Such an outrage is a crime not to be overlooked . The shadows of our forefathers would haunt us in the dark hours of midnight if we thus violated the ancient landmarks . One Grand Master

( M . W . Bro . Matthews , Texas ) , however , has actually been bold enough , after doubtless much deliberation and many sleepless nights , to rule , to come to the conclusion , that although " a man with a glass eye , or one who has lost a

portion of the second finger of his right hand are inelig 1-ble as candidates for Masonic honours , one afflicted with bronchitis might be accepted . " Well , well , this is such utter nonsense that we really weary of it . A man with

consumption , having a cavity in his lung , would , of course , by this brother ' s ruling , be decidedly ineligible . We are glad to note , however , that the committee on his address said : — " Yonr committee strongly incline to the view that too much