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Article THE FREEMASONS' REPOSITORY. ← Page 2 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Repository.
o-enerality of their brethren , they have added ceremonies , rituals , and dresses , ill suited to the native simplicity of the order . _ J 3 ut this , though deserving . reprehension , and ought to be discouraged , cannot justly call for a heavy censure , as if it proceeded from bad motives . The Masonic body have hitherto had to encounter the general opprobrium that their society is frivolousnonsensicaland destitute of any
, , consistency . Mr . Robison is the first that has g iven them a consequence to which they are not entitled , as belonging to an institution formed by craft , founded in the deepest motives , and capable of effectinE . the most important events .
Our ingenious Professor makes the whole an artful juggle of the Roman Church , the better to secure and spread its interests ; though he allows that , in the end , the cunning parent of iniquity was comp letely over-reached . If this really was the case , ( for we must take his word fof it ) how is it that the Masonic meetings in Itaty , Spain , and Portugal , were always severely interdicted ? Whence is it that
such violent persecutions were sustained by the order in almost all the countries'that professed the Roman Catholic religion ; and what is still more extraordinary , in those where the followers of Loyola had the greatest influence ? This is a piece of Jesuitism absolutely inaccountable , and in fact absurd . Plow cruelly several of the brotherhood were used in the Inquisition of Portugal , may be seen in the affecting narrative of John . Coustos . Mr . Robison may think that his assertions are incontrovertible . He may , perhaps , view ,
through the ardour of a perturbed imagination , a close connection between Jesuitism and Freemasonry , but no man of common understanding , or the slightest degree of candour , ivill admit such serious charges and declarations , so inconsistent in themselves , without very strong and decisive proof . This , however , has not been offered . The gradation from Popish superstition to the worst species of infidelity , mayin our author ' s opinionbe very slight . Certain old
, , fashioned bigots are nearly of the same opinion . The illiberallity of ancient days is , however , too generally discarded to permit such an odious sentiment to meet with much encouragement . I cannot bring myself to think , that a member of the Roman Catholic Church is more
likely to become an enemy to the Christian religion , than a member of the Kirk of Scotland . But our sagacious discoverer is not puzzled with difficulties . These'free-thinking brethren , ' instituted , nursed , and taught by Jesuitical craft , became enemies to the Church they were fraternized to support ; and on this account the irritated parent poured out her thunders against them . Here , however , may we not enquire how this remarkable circumstance came to remain a secret
for so long a period . What , was there not one Abdiel to be found among the apostate ranks ? And how is it that of all the Romanists , not one was found to develope , in the spirit of revenge , a secret which would have been so essential to the Catholic interests ? Srange , that so momentous and universal a plot should have been so long hatching without one faithful , or one ingenious discoverer , amidst the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Repository.
o-enerality of their brethren , they have added ceremonies , rituals , and dresses , ill suited to the native simplicity of the order . _ J 3 ut this , though deserving . reprehension , and ought to be discouraged , cannot justly call for a heavy censure , as if it proceeded from bad motives . The Masonic body have hitherto had to encounter the general opprobrium that their society is frivolousnonsensicaland destitute of any
, , consistency . Mr . Robison is the first that has g iven them a consequence to which they are not entitled , as belonging to an institution formed by craft , founded in the deepest motives , and capable of effectinE . the most important events .
Our ingenious Professor makes the whole an artful juggle of the Roman Church , the better to secure and spread its interests ; though he allows that , in the end , the cunning parent of iniquity was comp letely over-reached . If this really was the case , ( for we must take his word fof it ) how is it that the Masonic meetings in Itaty , Spain , and Portugal , were always severely interdicted ? Whence is it that
such violent persecutions were sustained by the order in almost all the countries'that professed the Roman Catholic religion ; and what is still more extraordinary , in those where the followers of Loyola had the greatest influence ? This is a piece of Jesuitism absolutely inaccountable , and in fact absurd . Plow cruelly several of the brotherhood were used in the Inquisition of Portugal , may be seen in the affecting narrative of John . Coustos . Mr . Robison may think that his assertions are incontrovertible . He may , perhaps , view ,
through the ardour of a perturbed imagination , a close connection between Jesuitism and Freemasonry , but no man of common understanding , or the slightest degree of candour , ivill admit such serious charges and declarations , so inconsistent in themselves , without very strong and decisive proof . This , however , has not been offered . The gradation from Popish superstition to the worst species of infidelity , mayin our author ' s opinionbe very slight . Certain old
, , fashioned bigots are nearly of the same opinion . The illiberallity of ancient days is , however , too generally discarded to permit such an odious sentiment to meet with much encouragement . I cannot bring myself to think , that a member of the Roman Catholic Church is more
likely to become an enemy to the Christian religion , than a member of the Kirk of Scotland . But our sagacious discoverer is not puzzled with difficulties . These'free-thinking brethren , ' instituted , nursed , and taught by Jesuitical craft , became enemies to the Church they were fraternized to support ; and on this account the irritated parent poured out her thunders against them . Here , however , may we not enquire how this remarkable circumstance came to remain a secret
for so long a period . What , was there not one Abdiel to be found among the apostate ranks ? And how is it that of all the Romanists , not one was found to develope , in the spirit of revenge , a secret which would have been so essential to the Catholic interests ? Srange , that so momentous and universal a plot should have been so long hatching without one faithful , or one ingenious discoverer , amidst the