Freemasonry And Its Detractors.

FREEMASONRY AND ITS DETRACTORS .

" | 71 ROM the time that Freemasonry assumed a symbolic Jj character and became a speculative Society until now , it has had to submit to being misunderstood and falsely represented in one quarter or another . From its earliest inception writers were to be found who either satirised or

stigmatised it according to their vein , and it was repeatedly held up to mockery by the ignorant and vulgar . It did not even escape from the burlesque representation on the stage , for as late as 1780 it is credibly reported that one of the leading London theatres produced a pantomime , in which certain

characters and incidents familiar to us formed the subject matter and were intermixed with the most arrant buffoonery . Even those of its own kindred were not true to it , but conspired against it to serve their own ulterior designs , and caused such divisions in its councils as tended to sorely

embarrass , if not partially to disorganise the Institution for the time being , and bring it into common disrepute . But in proof of its tenacious vitality , and the solid foundation on which it was based , its life history has suffered no break , and its course , though at times deflected , has run on in one

continuous stretch until the present day . Yet with it all and in view of its present assured prosperity , it has not outlived opposition or overcome prejudice ; and at the close of this nineteenth century , when all its internal differences are reconciled , when its policy is one of peace and progress , its

rule bemcrn . and its aims chiefly beneficent , there are those who affect to treat it with contumely and who are ever ready to bear false witness against it . The Freemasonry of England and her colonies has ever assimilated in its main principles , and so far as British Freemasonry is in question it has

essentially maintained its character as an elevating and humanising society . What may be done elsewhere under cover of the name of Freemasonry , we as upholders of its original plan and whole-hearted followers of the same , are not to be held accountable for ; neither have we the power to

control the defections of others who have lent themselves to such things as might well make high heaven blush at and rebuke their effrontery . How far the abuses pursued b y many so-called Freemasons explain the antipathies against the Society in some countries , it would be hard to say ; but

that there are always in evidence sections of society prepared to denounce it is undeniable . In parts of America , agitation against the Fraternity is an oft-recurring act . We are not in a position to affirm that there is much in such antagonistic combinations , but they invidiously serve to draw the attention

of those outside the Order to something that is assumed to be rotten in the system—ergo , something to be shunnedw Thus we find ministers and others from pulpit or platform declaiming against the Institution and all its works . Even those of its own household do not hesitate to turn informer

and swell the note of censure . Some instance of this kind has , according to the American Masonic papers , lately come under notice . A certain " Reverend , " who appears to have entered the Fraternity for no other purpose than to expose and vilify it , having called unto him others as wrong-headed

and weak-minded as himself , they proceeded in open assembly to discuss the baleful effects wrought by Freemasonry on those under its direct influence , as well as on those who were fatally attracted by its public demonstrations and glittering paraphernalia . One lady present gave it as her experience

during missionary work in India that , " the Masons were getting an exceedingly strong grip on the new converts , and that the influence of the system worked against the laws of justice there very materially . " Such reckless assertions and impotent conclusions as these could only provoke our

risibility if we did not consider that they were likely to take firm hold on the credulity of many whose bias is strongly against us ; but their extreme absurdity remains none the less . All this , though , counts for little in the presence of the one and most utterly irreconcilable animosity displayed by the head of the

Roman Catholic Church and his subordinate clergy . We have every respect for his divine office and desire to temper our expressions in regard to him and his views as much as possible under very trying circumstances . Further we full y recognise the faet that Vatican hostility towards the

Freemasons was not originated by him , but was a duty bequeathed him by many previous representatives of the Papal office . We may also allow that through perversion of the principles of , Freemasonry and antagonism to Papal rule on the part of those from whom the Pope may claim obedience , bis decrees may be rendered more imperatively

Freemasonry And Its Detractors.

necessary , and that where the Church and his direct authority are threatened , his right may extend even to forbidding them to enter or continue m any Society of which he disapproves . The power of the Pope and his Church though , over the religious convictions of some of those from whom he demands

obedience and submission , if not on the wane , is not so allpervading as of old and would appear to be a decreasing quantity ; and what is worse , while there is repudiation of one faith , there is no surety that another faith takes its place to quiet conscience . Yet Freemasonry is not to be made

answerable for the backslidings or irreligion of those who may affect to be its votaries , tor such , it should be needless to declare , is altogether repugnant to its most honoured traditions . We may concede something to the Pope or any other church ¦ -dignitary who , actuated by holy

scrupleswhether they be right or wrong—warns his people against any line of action that he may suspect is not for their soul's good . But we on our side have an equal right to plead that our case shall be fairly stated , and that whatever the charge against us may be it shall be founded on fact , and not be

merely bare statements followed up by a string of epithets as calumnious as ever man invented or put pen to . We will not go into the details of the violent and unjustifiable attacks made on us by and at the instigation of the Roman Pontiffs , since the year 1738 . It would be impossible to exceed the

intemperateness of the language used , or the foulness of the charges laid against us in the first instance , and if these were less outrageous as time went on , the rancour and the implacableness have been always of the most . pronounced type . The Pope of to-day , Leo XIII , doubtless urged on by what he

believed to be the extreme gravity of the situation and the impotence of all former efforts to suppress the Fraternity , issued during 1892 a further pronunciamento against the wiles and machinations of the Masonic Institution in general , but against those in it of his own people in particular . The

document is a powerful appeal to the Italians , and an earnest injunction to the priesthood to be on their guard against the evils brought about by the existence in their midst of the Masonic body . They are exhorted and threatened by turns to hold no communion with such , at the jeopardy of

their soul's safety . The Freemason wherever found is held up to their detestation as the incarnation of all wickedness and corruption , and as the instrument of all that is opposed to peace and good order , and so on . No point is left out which may tell against this enemy of his kind , or imagery

omitted which will present him to the imaginations of others in the most hideous of aspects . As a very severe stricture and complete condemnation it is unparalleled , but as a correct likeness of the original , as far as we are acquainted with him , it is the veriest daub and most abominable attempt to distort the features of a true Freemason that was ever

depicted . It is mere waste of words to argue or protest against all this . It would not move a power which never yet forsook its set purpose , or yielded its opinion to opposed fact .

Neither will the attack touch the mam body of Masons , nor by one iota alter their attitude or abridge the privileges which are theirs to enjoy within the limits of rectitude and prudence . T- " South African Freemason . "

Ignorance And Enlightenment.

IGNORANCE AND ENLIGHTENMENT .

MUCH of the obscurity of the origin and early history of Freemasonry has been caused by the secrecy generally observed by the Brethren of that period . But little was communicated to paper , and the proceedings recorded were of the scantiest character . The Grand Lodge of

England , the mother of modern Freemasonry , seems to have been inspired till a comparatively late time , with hostility to the art of printing , and the Swedish system of Masonry has published none of its transactions down to the present time .

The liberty of the Masonic press and the free expression of thought which is now conceded to Masonic writers , is a victory gained only after an arduous struggle . It was the general opinion of those high in office , but not in Masonic knowledge , that all the learning of Masonry should be

confined to a mere recital of the ritual and an acquaintance with the Lodge lectures . They supposed that the whole curriculum of Masonic science or philosophy was embraced within the narrow limits of such a state , or rather they knew nothing of any science or philosophy , and were wont to deem