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Article REJECTED LETTERS.* ← Page 8 of 8 Article THE "TABLET" versus THE BISHOPS. Page 1 of 4 →
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Rejected Letters.*
nor does it pretend falsely to raise a beggar , or even a simple citizen , beyond the sphere of his own merits ; therefore the principles of equality taught by Freemasonry are neither impious nor immoral . S I X T II OBJ E C T IO N . DICClllCES OF THE PONTIFFS .
This objection involves a question of authority an » l construction of canon law , for the elucidation of which I have received no data in addition to what has been already mentioned , and left in positive uncertainty by the " Tablet . " Afflicted at present with protracted ill health , I am forced to leave this subject for a future opportunity , if needs be , and if I should be enabled to obtain the real state of the casehaving distributed over a hundred
, copies of Letter the First for the purpose . It appears , however , that prohibition and condemnation are pronounced upon " THE SECT called Freemasons . " But British Freemasons are no sect—professing no peculiar religious opinions ; therefore are they prohibited and condemned .
SEVENTH OBJECTION . THE MONITA ET STATUTA , 1838 , AND ALIA OBSERVANDA , 1842 , OF OUR BISHOPS . On this objection I have received likewise no data , further than an intimation that " the bishops have used a discretion in obeying commands of the Propaganda , and are responsible , " ancl " Roman Catholics must act under the guidance of their SPIRITUAL DIRECTORS in spiritual matters . "
The "Tablet" Versus The Bishops.
THE "TABLET" versus THE BISHOPS .
Between us and the "Tablet" the case stands thus : —The Editor , " with all humility and charity , " boldly asserts , " That ALL Freemasons are excommunicated . " And that " if we become Freemasons , or if knowing a Freemason , we do not denounce him to his superiors , WE , in England , are all under excommunication ; no bishop or priest in England can free us ; no one but the pope himself , except in articulo mortis . "
These are violent assumptions . AVhat say our bishops ? First , — " .. We likewise enjoin that the Catholics be discreetly warned against entering into secret societies of them called Freemasons , " & c . & c . Secondly , — " That a confessor cannot lawfully ancl validly grant sacramental absolution to men belonging to the society of
Freemasons , in any part of the world soever , who are incorporated under and mutually bound by the obligations of an oath of secrecy ( so long as tlie custom of exacting the oath continues to prevail among ' the SECT , ' ) before they absolutely , positively , ancl for ever abandon the aforesaid condemned society- "
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Rejected Letters.*
nor does it pretend falsely to raise a beggar , or even a simple citizen , beyond the sphere of his own merits ; therefore the principles of equality taught by Freemasonry are neither impious nor immoral . S I X T II OBJ E C T IO N . DICClllCES OF THE PONTIFFS .
This objection involves a question of authority an » l construction of canon law , for the elucidation of which I have received no data in addition to what has been already mentioned , and left in positive uncertainty by the " Tablet . " Afflicted at present with protracted ill health , I am forced to leave this subject for a future opportunity , if needs be , and if I should be enabled to obtain the real state of the casehaving distributed over a hundred
, copies of Letter the First for the purpose . It appears , however , that prohibition and condemnation are pronounced upon " THE SECT called Freemasons . " But British Freemasons are no sect—professing no peculiar religious opinions ; therefore are they prohibited and condemned .
SEVENTH OBJECTION . THE MONITA ET STATUTA , 1838 , AND ALIA OBSERVANDA , 1842 , OF OUR BISHOPS . On this objection I have received likewise no data , further than an intimation that " the bishops have used a discretion in obeying commands of the Propaganda , and are responsible , " ancl " Roman Catholics must act under the guidance of their SPIRITUAL DIRECTORS in spiritual matters . "
The "Tablet" Versus The Bishops.
THE "TABLET" versus THE BISHOPS .
Between us and the "Tablet" the case stands thus : —The Editor , " with all humility and charity , " boldly asserts , " That ALL Freemasons are excommunicated . " And that " if we become Freemasons , or if knowing a Freemason , we do not denounce him to his superiors , WE , in England , are all under excommunication ; no bishop or priest in England can free us ; no one but the pope himself , except in articulo mortis . "
These are violent assumptions . AVhat say our bishops ? First , — " .. We likewise enjoin that the Catholics be discreetly warned against entering into secret societies of them called Freemasons , " & c . & c . Secondly , — " That a confessor cannot lawfully ancl validly grant sacramental absolution to men belonging to the society of
Freemasons , in any part of the world soever , who are incorporated under and mutually bound by the obligations of an oath of secrecy ( so long as tlie custom of exacting the oath continues to prevail among ' the SECT , ' ) before they absolutely , positively , ancl for ever abandon the aforesaid condemned society- "