Mesmerism And The " Black Hand" In Freemasonry.

MESMERISM AND THE " BLACK HAND " IN FREEMASONRY .

MEMBERS of the Masonic Order must have been somewhat amused in reading , as they had an opportunity of doing a few days ago , of the delusions of a Romish Priest—the Eev . John Bowden—concerning whoso sanity an inquiry was recently held before one of tho Masters in Lunacy . It is not our intention

to discuss the merits ol tho inquiry , or the result ol tlie investigation , but the reverend gentleman appeared to possess some strange ideas in reference to Freemasons and the Masonic Order—a point which is of special interest to us . The Eev . Mr . Bowden may or may not be answerable for his utterances , that is not a matter that concerns us , but as there

can be no smoke without fire we think an examination of some of his delusions may lead us a little behind the scenes as to what is said among the Romish priesthood concerning Freemasonry , more especially as his delusions in a measure confirm previous experiences in the same quarter . In the course of the evidence produced we are told

that tho reverend gentleman appeared to have been possessed with the idea that he had been mesmerised by the Freemasons , and that he had pursued them into the gates of Hell with a big stick , and that he had broken the gates , as well as a number of windows . It will be news to some among us to learn that the much maligned abode of the prince of darkness has a gate , and is enlivened with windows , but

Avhy it should be necessary to go to this particular quarter in order to pursue and punish the members of the Masonic Order is beyond our comprehension . Surely there are enough members of the ** mystic tie " within easy reach , without taking so long a journey as is here suggested , and were it not well

known that the unhappy gentleman who possessed these delusions hacl an excuse for them in the teachings of his superiors , it would be sad to contemplate his condition . But if the ideas expressed by Mr . Bowden were fche creation of a disordered intellect , there are many others in equally prominent positions , and who are regarded as perfectly sane , who express , and pretend to believe , the same , or

nearly the same nonsense in regard to the Masonic Order . Later on , we are told that this reverend gentleman had other delusions associated with Freemasonry . He said he had been marked with a " black hand , " which he described as a Freemason ' s sign for him to be put to death , while one of his fancies involved a number of charges of immorality , which immorality he also connected with the Freemasons . But we think

enough has been said to prove that this unfortunate gentleman was very severe on the subject of Freemasonry , and , as we have said , we regard his delusions as but the actual teachings of a section of the Romish church , many of whose shining lights

Mesmerism And The " Black Hand" In Freemasonry.

utter equally absurd charges against Freemasons and their teachings . We had almost thought that Freemasonry had outlived the opposition of the Pope and his followers , and perhaps we are wrong in accepting the delusions of Mr . Bowden as evidence to the contrary , but who ,

knowing the way m which Freemasonry has been assailed in this quarter in years gone by , can wholly disassociate his ideas from official teaching . They are in fact just what has been preached time after time by members of the Church of Rome , in the hopo of lessening the influence of the Masonic Order , and bringing its followers into contempt and ridicule .

There is one redeeming feature in all this that stands out prominently on behalf of Freemasonry . In the general opinion of the world such ideas as thoso expressed by Mr . Bowden are now regarded as sufficiently absurd to stamp their possessor as a lunatic , and accordinglv , wc have the gratification of

knowing that in public estimation Freemasons are not wholly associated with the custody of Hell , the putting to death of objectionable characters , or tho practise of immorality . There is much then to bo thankful for , and we hold up the experience of the gentleman hero referred to to such other disciples of

Popery as are never tired of abusing the members of the Craft . If they wish to enjoy the reputation of being in their right senses it would seem desirable for them to formulate and preach in the future doctrines more in accord with common sense than they have been in the habit of doing in the past ,

Ashmole As A Freemason.

ASHMOLE AS A FREEMASON .

MY friend Bro . Jacob Norton , in his reply to my brief criticism of his objections to Ashmole being accepted as a brother Freemason , has written so much about what I did nofc say , thafc ifc appears to mo better to

ask our readers to consult the original article in tbe Freemason , by me , on that well known antiquary ; next Bro . Norton ' s communication , and finally my reply , witli hia following , in the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE .

My contention is simply this , —thafc ifc is better to quote from the "Diary , " rather than from the two printed editions thereof , as both of the latter are wrong , and introduce words that entirely mislead , especially the word " by " iu relation to the meeting of 1 C 82 .

1 . I do not disbelieve Br . Plot ' s statement that the Freemasons bad " secrets . "

2 . Have never professed ( or felt ) ignorance thafc tho pre-1717 brethren had any secrets , & c . 3 . Have never supposed thafc the Masons' Guild had secret forms of recognition ; but , on the contrary , have long maintained otherwise . What I ask for is evidence that in

order to gain admission " into Sfc . Paul ' s Lodge [ Antiquity ] , in or about 1717 , it was necessary to show a si . yn , to ( jive a yrip , or to whisper a word . " It might have bcea so , and no one can deny it , but to affirm it is quite another matter , especially ns there is not n scrap of evidence to justify tho