The Pope Versus Freemasonry.

THE POPE VERSUS FREEMASONRY .

SEVERAL of our readers have drawn attention to the correspondence that recently appeared in The Times on this very old and well worn subject , but bearing the up-to-date heading of " Home Rule and Freemasonry . " Bro . Reginald C . Saunders writing from the Junior Charlton Club , refers to the

probable position of our brethren in Dublin and the Northern Provinces of Ireland should the Home Rule Bill become law . He says , " In the proposed Home Rule Legislative Assembly there v / ill be about seventy-five Roman Catholics and only twenty-eight

Protestants . The Roman Catholics will be the nominees of the priests , who have recently shown their power in the Meath elections , and their intentions through the mouth of their Primate . Cardinal Logue , the Roman Catholic Primate of Ireland , stated

on 17 th March 1893 , at Armagh , that the Pope should give directions in political as well as other questions . The Irish Freemasons will thus be placed at the mercy of an intolerant priesthood , who have both the power and the will to boycot ,

it not entirely suppress , an institution whose main object is charity . " The institution referred to is the Masonic Orphanage at Dublin , and Brother Saunders quotes a letter that Archbishop Walsh addressed to the clergy of his diocese , which was read in the Roman Catholic churches in Dublin last

April , prior to the holding of a bazaar m aid of its funds , on the occasion of its centennial anniversary . The Archbishop states that it is his duty " to point out that by the < law of the Church , it is most strictly forbidden to Catholics to take any part in those proceedings , or to give countenance to them either by

being present at the coming celebration , or by promoting in any other way the object for which the celebration is to be held . The Holy See , in its repeated condemnations of Freemasonry , has forbidden to Catholics , not only membership in the Society of Freemasons , but everything that could in

any way tend to the furtherance oi the interests of that society Faithful to their duty as Catholics , they will respect the stringest obligations under which they are placed—an obligation binding them , under penalty of incurring the severest censure

oi the Church , to abstain , not merely from membership of the Freemason Society , but from everything that could in any way tend to the advancement of the interests of that society , or to the promotion of any of its objects . " This is plain speaking , and the injunction was doubtless obeyed by the faithful followers of the

Archbishop . It is perhaps natural for an ardent Freemason to rebel against some unmerited interference with the grandest principles of his Order , and we do not blame Bro . Saunders for pointing out this additional slight . However , we do not see that any good purpose would be achieved by reiterating here the Masonic arguments against the dictum of the Holy

The Pope Versus Freemasonry.

See . They are well known throughout the Brotherhood , especially the English speaking Freemasons . But we do most earnestly desire to caution our brethren against associating political matters with the affairs of the Craft . Not only is this injudicious ,

but it is contrary to the regulations of our Order , and has been the cause of much acrimonious feeling , particularly on the Continent of Europe , wherever it has been attempted . Freemasonry does not depend upon the goodwill of any religious sect , nor does it

suffer much from the antagonism of bigotry . Still , its interests are better promoted by a calm and dignified demeanour and avoidance of every topic of political and religious discussion than by entering into a wordy conflict with our opponents . " Firm in

truth and rectitude it will rise superior to all opposition . " The vast strides that the Craft has made and continues to make year by year is the best reply to the calumny of its enemies ; and though we may be nno . lVlA +. r > nvr > vt . sniVli ln . mfinf . n . 'hlft fn / nni . ic . ifim n . S vfiftfint . lv

wrecked' a Masonic Lodge in a Peruvian city , the fact that most of the greatest and noblest men of our time are numbered among its members will surely cause the impartial to refrain from animadverting upon an Institution which is founded upon the purest principles of piety and virtue .

Freemasonry And Religion.

FREEMASONRY AND RELIGION .

OVER twenty years ago I travelled and visited Masonic Lodges for a short time , in company with Bro . Dr . Robert Morris , in Central Iowa . On one occasion , while at a meeting of Lodge , No . — , during the hour of refreshment , a number of brethren were enjoying a social chat

with Bro . Morris , and among other things the subject of this article was referred to , when a brother , who evidently had more gush than dispassionate consideration , exclaimed quite excitedly , " Masonry is as good a religion as I want . " Bro . Morris looked at him a moment with evident

commiseration , and then in his quiet and brotherly manner said , " My brother , do not ever say that again . Masonry is not religion ; it is a very high system of morality , but it is not religion . " That brother very quietly subsided , and the subject was dropped . Much reflection upon that incident ,

and remarks that I have occasionally heard from members of the Craft , touching the same matter , suggest the propriety of preparing this article . It is not desirable to provoke a heated discussion , but it may be piofltable to elicit a careful examination as to the real status of these "Ancient and Honourable

Institutions , viewing each in the light which surrounds it , examining them as to their unity and diversity , and then endeavouring to show that relationship which may properly exist between them , and that beneficial aid which

each may render the other . There is , as wo arc well persuaded , a golden mean , if it can be found , between tho extremes of that assertion on the one hand , that Freemasonry has nothing to do with religion , and on the other hand , that it is as good a relig ion as any man needs .