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Article MEMOIRS OF THE FREEMASONS AT NAPLES. ← Page 3 of 4 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Memoirs Of The Freemasons At Naples.
not be long before it would descend and exterminate those incarnate children of the devil . The magistrate , considering how dangerous the futy of the monks often proves in the minds of the populace , thought it his duty to appease the zeal of the preacher by an act of authority , in causing to be read the mandamus from the popewherein stood confirmed the
, apostolical excommunication against the Freemasons , and ordaining severe penalties against all those that should favour or frequent their assemblies . The reverend father , instead of being appeased b 3 ' this prudent step of the magistrate , renewed his clamours with double force : supported by public authority , he roared out his invectives with the utmost violence . The populace became raving mad ; the
priest , with a crucifix in his hand , conjured them by that holy image , the model of charity and benevolence , to assist him in the extirpation of those devils , the enemies and scourge of Christianity . The monk was joined b 3 * a capuchin friar , of the name of Schufft , who , on his part , exhorted all zealous catholics to treat the Freemasons as paganswho denied the existence of a God , and as a
, people under the immediate vengeance of heaven . He even declared , that all those who should entertain them , lodge them , or live with them , should be liable to the same punishment . He added , also , that those who should know any of their neighbours to be Freemasons , and neglect to accuse them before the confession at Easter , should be doubly excommunicated ; and that no one , except the holy
father , should have the power to free them from the excommunication . If any one should die in this predicament , and be imprttdentty buried in holy ground , his body must be immediately taken up and ' thrown on the highway , to be devoured by wild beasts , and the earth purified where it had lain . .. After these sermons , or rather invectives , against the Freemasons ,
several persons suspected to be such were publicly insulted and imprisoned ; they dare not shew themselves in the streets , for fear of becoming victims to persecution and a blind relig ious zeal : such cruel and outrageous scenes disturb the public tranquillity . On the other hand , the Freemasons are rather to be envied than pitied ' . — they would be unworthy the esteem of wise menwere they
coun-, tenanced by the monks and the common people . Men of knowledge and understanding will always be able to put a proper value on noble and virtuous actions ; whoever , therefore , raises himself above the suspicions of mean souls , will suspend a too hasty judgment before he knows what the Freemasons truly are : when he is property informed , he will regard them with esteem and
admiration , as a respectable bod ^* , whose charity extends from pole to pole , over all the human race . By the choice of those who compose the heads of this society , he will be convinced that their sole aim is the practice of virtue . If they become Masons themselves , the 3 * will behold at once the beauty and grandeur of the institution ;—they will then see the necessity of that secret so truly observed by all real Freemasons . Their deeds are known and spread all over the world ; their works are multiplied . by those heavenly vir-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Memoirs Of The Freemasons At Naples.
not be long before it would descend and exterminate those incarnate children of the devil . The magistrate , considering how dangerous the futy of the monks often proves in the minds of the populace , thought it his duty to appease the zeal of the preacher by an act of authority , in causing to be read the mandamus from the popewherein stood confirmed the
, apostolical excommunication against the Freemasons , and ordaining severe penalties against all those that should favour or frequent their assemblies . The reverend father , instead of being appeased b 3 ' this prudent step of the magistrate , renewed his clamours with double force : supported by public authority , he roared out his invectives with the utmost violence . The populace became raving mad ; the
priest , with a crucifix in his hand , conjured them by that holy image , the model of charity and benevolence , to assist him in the extirpation of those devils , the enemies and scourge of Christianity . The monk was joined b 3 * a capuchin friar , of the name of Schufft , who , on his part , exhorted all zealous catholics to treat the Freemasons as paganswho denied the existence of a God , and as a
, people under the immediate vengeance of heaven . He even declared , that all those who should entertain them , lodge them , or live with them , should be liable to the same punishment . He added , also , that those who should know any of their neighbours to be Freemasons , and neglect to accuse them before the confession at Easter , should be doubly excommunicated ; and that no one , except the holy
father , should have the power to free them from the excommunication . If any one should die in this predicament , and be imprttdentty buried in holy ground , his body must be immediately taken up and ' thrown on the highway , to be devoured by wild beasts , and the earth purified where it had lain . .. After these sermons , or rather invectives , against the Freemasons ,
several persons suspected to be such were publicly insulted and imprisoned ; they dare not shew themselves in the streets , for fear of becoming victims to persecution and a blind relig ious zeal : such cruel and outrageous scenes disturb the public tranquillity . On the other hand , the Freemasons are rather to be envied than pitied ' . — they would be unworthy the esteem of wise menwere they
coun-, tenanced by the monks and the common people . Men of knowledge and understanding will always be able to put a proper value on noble and virtuous actions ; whoever , therefore , raises himself above the suspicions of mean souls , will suspend a too hasty judgment before he knows what the Freemasons truly are : when he is property informed , he will regard them with esteem and
admiration , as a respectable bod ^* , whose charity extends from pole to pole , over all the human race . By the choice of those who compose the heads of this society , he will be convinced that their sole aim is the practice of virtue . If they become Masons themselves , the 3 * will behold at once the beauty and grandeur of the institution ;—they will then see the necessity of that secret so truly observed by all real Freemasons . Their deeds are known and spread all over the world ; their works are multiplied . by those heavenly vir-