Papal Denunciations Of Freemasonry.

PAPAL DENUNCIATIONS OF FREEMASONRY .

( Continued from page 18 . ) IT might have been expected that the minister of a religion which ranks charity among its chiefest virtues would have shown , even in his sternest denunciations of evil

that he was animated by a spirit of kindness , by somewhat of that spirit which led the Author of Christianity to invoke the Divine forgiveness on his persecutors . It might also have been expected that a priest , who is presumably an educated man , would have made it his business to learn

something more about Freemasonry and its doings before passing upon it , in common with all other secret societies , that wholesale condemnation which occupied so conspicuous a place in the sermon we published a fortnight since . But the preacher of that sermon does not impress us favourably

as a man either of kindly disposition or very profound knowledge . Had be possessed even that slight acquaintance with the scope and character of our Society which it is in the power of every one to obtain from its published laws and regulations , he would not have made the mistake of classing

it among the religions and political secret societies of whose terrible proceedings the world is every now and then informed by the medium of some fearful atrocity , such as the assassination of Czar Alexander IL , or the Phoenix Park murders . Yet the Rev . Father has not scrupled to do

this . Having quoted the remarks which are alleged to have been made by a French Mason at Lyons in May 1882 , and wbich are no more evidence of the character of Freemasonry than are the casual utterances of the pot-house politician of the fundamental principles of this or that particular form

of government , he proceeds in this strain : " So much for quotation . Now , who a few years ago fired at the Emperor of Germany ? a member of secret societies . Who assassinated the Emperor of Russia ? members of secret societies . Who perpetrated the horrible crime in Phoenix Park , in

Dublin , two years ago ? members of secret societies . Who fired at the Kings of Spain and Italy ? members of secret societies . We see the doings of these sects are in accord with their speeches . How then to doubt any longer that

they aim at the subversion of social order ? If so , the Pope is ri ght , and nothing can be too strong to prevent Christians from joining Freemasonry or any other society of the same kind . " Thus , in the opinion of this reverend expositor ° f reli gion and morals , there is no distinction between

Freemasonry and the secret societies which committed or attempted the foul murders he enumerates . We should like to know what opinion would be formed ° f our Societ y if we , as an organ of English Freemasonry , were to follow the example of this priest and denounce religion as he has denounced our Society because of the crimes

committed by men who had been trained in some kind of religious faith . Supposing , for instance , that we were 8 , rot , s of lowering the character of Christianity in the world ' s estimation , what is there to prevent our writing j » ter this fashion : " Who a few centuries ago destroyed « " - Templars ? A Christian kino- abetted by a Christian

ope , Wh 0 exterminated the Albigenses ? Christian th !* inst , ' gate < J bv a Christian Pope . Who massacred p Huguenots ? A Christian king supported by a Christian ope . Who perpetrated all kinds of atrocities against her so-called heretical Christians ? Christian princes

Papal Denunciations Of Freemasonry.

aided and abetted by Christian Popes . Theso flagrant cruelties were perpetrated in the name of Christianity , and consequently nothing can be too strong to prevent men from joining that or any other religious society of a similar kind . " In saying this , " we should be in a better plight than

this priestly castigator of Freemasonry , because his association of the crimes he enumerates with the Society of Freemasons is known to be devoid of all foundation , whereas those we have enumerated owed their origin to the ambition or bigotry of professed Christian princes both temporal and

spiritual . Yet the very last thing it would occur to us to do would be to denounce Christianity on the ground of the evil deeds which had been enacted by unworthy professors

of its tenets . We recognise to its fullest extent the broad truth that a religion must not be held responsible for the enormities that are practised under the cover of its name , and ifc wonld have manifested a more charitable frame of

mind in this preacher had he been content to denounce the crimes and the societies which promoted them without falling foul of us , who are as innocent of all association with them as himself . It may be that after the tremendous and , be it added , the

very discreditable onslaught on Freemasonry we have jnst commented upon , tho rev . gentleman felt he had exceeded the limits of decency . Or , it is possible that he may have exhausted h'is store of Billingsgate . At all events the next paragraph is gentleness itself by comparison . The remarks

it contains refer to English . Freemasonry , and our reverend antagonist is pleased to allow that " English Freemasons defend themselves from adopting the views of the continental Lodges , and indeed , " he adds , "there are good reasons to believe that English Ereemasonry , as at present

constituted , does not contemplate or include within its object any conspiracy against Chnrch or State . " We are thankful for small mercies , and are glad to find that English Masons are , as a body , exempt from the charges he makes against continental Lodges . But while we recognise the kindness

and good sense which have prompted this exception in our favour , we cannot shut our eyes to the fact that his condemnation of Freemasonry is general in its terms . Logically therefore , his exception of English Masonry is valueless . His make-believe of an argument stands thus : Freemasonry

as a society is worthy of utter condemnation ; therefore , English Freemasonry , as a branch of that society , must be included in that sentence . Bufc English Freemasonry is nofc engaged in any conspiracy against Church and State , and hence it is nofc worfcby of condemnation . We may take this

latter proposition as a compliment , but that will not make the whole statement otherwise than self-contradictory . However , ifc is contrary to rule to look a gift horse in the mouth , and we accept the compliment . But even this is qualified . " Whatever view its official chiefs may take ,

some of its rank and file seem determined to assert its true character . " To this it is allowable to reply by a kind of tu guoqtie in manner following . However jusfc may be the doctrines enunciated by " official chiefs , " thafc is , the Romish priesthood , some of the " rank and file , " thafc . is , tbe lay

element , seem determined to assert their true character . We take the doctrines as propounded by the official expositors of the Romish Church , the false doctrines of unworthy lay members we reject as of no value . But , says our very logical

critic , " Mr . Br , the well-known atheist , I am told , has written to the ' Grand Master , ' asking his support for the atheistical propaganda which he alleges ifc is the mission of English as well as continental Masonry to provide . Indeed ,