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Article THE FREEMASONS' QUARTERY REVIEW. ← Page 5 of 8 →
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The Freemasons' Quartery Review.
tion , but has not betrayed itself in its usual groans . The letter of " Amicus" is unanswerable . A paper was circulated some time since under the following head : — Decisions of the Holy Apostolic See concerning the Society of
Freemasons . Addressed to the Alost Holy Father . It states that Ecclesiastical punishments have been decreed by Roman Pontiffs against Freemasons who observe a secret . That a doubt has arisen , when if any repent having taken the oath , whether they can be admitted to the sacrament of penance . It is asked , how the conference ought to act ? The reply of the
sacred congregation is , " talcing things as proposed , " it is not permitted . A doubt having arisen as to the words " not permitted , " if implying the " invalidity of the absolution , " the sacred congregation replied in the affirmative . The document is signed " ANGELUS ARGENTI , " " Notary of the sacred Roman ancl Universal Inquisition . "
This paper was met by a temperate inquiry , published by an "ENGLISH CATHOLIC FREEMASON , " touching the various points . On both these papers we have been favoured with the opinion of a Catholic Brother , on whose judgment we place great reliance ; he observes , that no papal decree is to be understood verbatim et literatim , nor are they enforced in all countries , any more than some decrees of councils . The
true question is not as to the power of the pope , but whether Freemasonry is a question of morals , one in which the salvation of souls is concerned requiring ecclesiastical interference , which he denies , unless the pope have the power to prohibit commerce , forbid the use of money , shut up gin-shops , and all other places , as dangerous to the salvation of souls . Is therefore Freemasonry a question of morals for interference of ecclesiastical or only of civil law ?
The Grand Lodge . —The proceedings on the 3 rd were of a mixed nature ; the presentation in perpetuity of the " Sussex Testimonial" to the Grand Lodge , was a kind and graceful act on the part of that distinguished lady , the Duchess of Inverness , whose letter we regret it is not in our power to record . She wrote of her deceased husband with the true affection of a wife , ancl , by the manner of the presentation ,
appeared to act as if she was fulfilling the wishes of the departed Grancl Master . It is by far the most pleasing compliment to his memory ; and when it is borne in view that the Duchess gave no less a sum than five hundred guineas to purchase the Testimonial from the Trustees ( a sum we believe she could but ill afford ) , the value of the presentation is enhanced in proportion .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Quartery Review.
tion , but has not betrayed itself in its usual groans . The letter of " Amicus" is unanswerable . A paper was circulated some time since under the following head : — Decisions of the Holy Apostolic See concerning the Society of
Freemasons . Addressed to the Alost Holy Father . It states that Ecclesiastical punishments have been decreed by Roman Pontiffs against Freemasons who observe a secret . That a doubt has arisen , when if any repent having taken the oath , whether they can be admitted to the sacrament of penance . It is asked , how the conference ought to act ? The reply of the
sacred congregation is , " talcing things as proposed , " it is not permitted . A doubt having arisen as to the words " not permitted , " if implying the " invalidity of the absolution , " the sacred congregation replied in the affirmative . The document is signed " ANGELUS ARGENTI , " " Notary of the sacred Roman ancl Universal Inquisition . "
This paper was met by a temperate inquiry , published by an "ENGLISH CATHOLIC FREEMASON , " touching the various points . On both these papers we have been favoured with the opinion of a Catholic Brother , on whose judgment we place great reliance ; he observes , that no papal decree is to be understood verbatim et literatim , nor are they enforced in all countries , any more than some decrees of councils . The
true question is not as to the power of the pope , but whether Freemasonry is a question of morals , one in which the salvation of souls is concerned requiring ecclesiastical interference , which he denies , unless the pope have the power to prohibit commerce , forbid the use of money , shut up gin-shops , and all other places , as dangerous to the salvation of souls . Is therefore Freemasonry a question of morals for interference of ecclesiastical or only of civil law ?
The Grand Lodge . —The proceedings on the 3 rd were of a mixed nature ; the presentation in perpetuity of the " Sussex Testimonial" to the Grand Lodge , was a kind and graceful act on the part of that distinguished lady , the Duchess of Inverness , whose letter we regret it is not in our power to record . She wrote of her deceased husband with the true affection of a wife , ancl , by the manner of the presentation ,
appeared to act as if she was fulfilling the wishes of the departed Grancl Master . It is by far the most pleasing compliment to his memory ; and when it is borne in view that the Duchess gave no less a sum than five hundred guineas to purchase the Testimonial from the Trustees ( a sum we believe she could but ill afford ) , the value of the presentation is enhanced in proportion .