Freemasonry In North Wales.

Now this , though very fine writing , is simply in truth , an utter absurdity . Freemasons do not hold all religious doctrines as indifferent , neither do they frame a useless

kind of relig ion , which merely is the " residuum , ' after all relig ious doctrines are rejected , winch any of the members " may choose to reject . ' Freemasonry has taken up , as it appears to usa very simple , and a very consistent position .

It is a great philanthropic sodality , based on the one great truth of the acceptance of the one Universal Father and Creator of mankind .

Were Freemasons , as in times of old , to limit their reception of members to those professing Christianity , they must shut out at once all who are not Christians .

But keeping before their memory ever the fact startling in itself , that , Jewish and Tyrian Masons ( who were idolators ) , worked together at the building of the Temple , Freemasonry

since the beginning of the century , has un . doubtedly been , universal and cosmopolitan , embracing in her wide fold all who acknowledge tbe one great Creator , Benefactor , and Preserver of all men .

This view is not palatable to many , and we do not deny that the Roman Catholic Church , has a right , to say to the members of their church , " such a view is opposed to the teaching of

the Roman Catholic Church , and if you uphold it , you must leave us . " But what the Church of Rome has no right to do , is , to anathematize all who are Freemasons , and then refuse , simply on

the " obiter dictum" of some foolish person like Mr . Cuff ' e , to bury a devout Roman Catholic wlio happens to be a Freemason . Indeed , in our opinion , if the Roman Church were

enlightened , which she won t be , and tolerant , which she never is , she would leave the Freemasons alone , and allow them to go on their

way , without "let or hindrance , " intent as they truly are alone on their kindly labours of peace and goodwill .

The Masonic Body everywhere repudiates , with indignation , the name of" Infidels , " and " Illumines , " and " Socialists , " all views and

teaching most contrary to their " formulae " of simple moral duty and obedience , but they wir never surrender their great characteristic "

toleration , " which leads them ever to avoid the narrow limits of national differences , and even the " arena " of religious contentions , and to regard all men as brethren of the dust .

Indifferent to religion they certainl y are not , and never have been , and never will be , but most opposed they always will be found , to the

intolerance of sectarianism , and the virulence of controversy , and resolute in their protest against , and their resistance to unhol y "anathemas , " and debasing persecution .

The next point of objection is what the Roman Catholic champion calls the " terrible oath , " and the " frightful or atrocious penalties , " which belong to the " Masonic profession of memben ship , " and " rules of association . "

Upon this point as the writer of the Allocution , knows evidently very little , we mean to say less , as we are of opinion that we , as Freemasons , are perfectly competent to manage our

Freemasonry In North Wales.

own affairs , and practice our own ceremonies ' and that we neither require , nor do we need any opinion on the subject from the unenlightened

outer world . Another point is our" Secrecy , " and the popular fallacy that , because our proceedings are " secret" they must therefore be ipso facto bad .

We need hardly point out the illogical argument thus made use of , to demonstrate that the result of the Papal assertion is simply a case of " non sequitive . "

1 tine was , tor instance , in the history ot Christianity , when the "diseiplina arcani" was " secret . " Was it therefore , in consequence , bad ?

Time was , when the " mensa mystica" was zealously guarded against the eyes and even the knowledge of the profane . Was it therefore

necessarily wrong ? Secrecy may as a rule be objectionable as regards the association of persons for some unknown end . Secrecy may be objected to by the state , especially if the state

has reason to believe that such secrecy is a veil for seditious practices or treasonable councils . But the laws of this country allow expressly the Masonic body to meet together , though they are

in one respect a secret order , and we contend that we have nothing to do with any other lawgiver , and we utterly repudiate the right of a spiritual authority , above all , to interfere with our undoubted right as English citizens .

As , therefore , theoretically the argument is bad , practically the secrecy of Freemasonry is alike harmless and defensible . The last point

contains a sweeping accusation indeed , which , if true , ought to settle the question , now and for ever .

Freemasonry is said to teach what is contrary to divinely revealed truth ; to be " hostile to Christianity , " and " to the peace of the Church" and "dangerous to the safety of kingdoms . "

We have already pointed out how utterly unfounded is the charge that Freemasonry and Freemasons are " indifferent" to " religion" and

certainly they teach nothing " contrary to divinely revealed truth , " nor are they ever " hostile to Christianity , " or " to the peace of the Church . "

It fe undoubtedly true , as we have previously stated , that , whether rightly or wrongly Freemasonry does endorse and embrace a wide platform on which its members can act together .

But though to some it may seem to be " without religion , " and to others even to antagonize the received dogmas of Christianity , yet it is by no means the intention or the consequence of the

attitude which , as Freemasons , we take as regards the great truths of Christian doctrine and discipleship . All that we do , ( we may be wrong in doing so ,

but we are inclined to think we are ri ght ) , all that we do or say is , we do not concern ourselves with denominational differences and special controversies .

Indeed , were we to do so , our utility and our existence must soon cease ! We therefore are friendly to all , hostile to none , glad to aid all in

common works of good will and sympathy , not interfering with other people ' s consciences or acting as the inquisition of old ; but we leave every

Freemasonry In North Wales.

one of our members to stand or fall to his own Maker and Judge . We do not indeed allow the open atheist or

the avowed libertine to be welcomed into our Order , but beyond this our interference ceasesand tolerating others , we ask onl y for toleration ourselves .

As regards the ridiculous charge that Freemasonry is "dangerous to the safety of kingdoms , " in England the assertion is too absurd to

need refutation , as no more orderly , peaceable , or loyal body of men exists anywhere , we make bold to say , than our " brethren in Freemasonry . "

That in some foreign countries , Freemasonry and political societies may have banded together , we do not deny , but we in Great Britain have always openly regretted , and as openly repudiated any such alliance .

One more charge is made against us , namely , that our " morality , " such as it is , " may be traced back to the institutions of Pythagoras or

some other Pagan fountain . " A more mistaken theory never was pro pounded .

Our Masonic Morality is built up solely and simply on the " divine law , " delivered on Mount Sina ^ and still as binding now as when it was first miraculously given to Moses and though it

may" be veiled in allegory and illustrated b y symbols , " it is both simple and truthful , because

based upon the inspired Word of God . Surel y then the time has arrived when any unworthy jealousy or unwise persecution of Freemasons should come to an end .

We live in an age of great tolera tion and greater cultivation , and without laying too much stress upon the latter , we would say this , that in most cases the feelings of the age in which we

live are right , as the product alike of the individual , and the aggregate conviction . Even the able defender of his church , who claims for his infallible Pontiff a right to condemn Freemasonry ,

must feel , we think , that the days of anathemas interdicts , and excommunications are over ; that the Sword of St . Dominic is sheathed for ever , that the fires of the Inquisition can be kindled no

more . No , thank God , with all our faults , we in this free , and happy England , ' at any rate , having rejected the intoleiance of the part , and the

" odium , theologicum" of controversy , are only anxious , nay resolved , to stand fast in the golden liberty of peace and toleration , of charity and consideration , of fraternal sympathy , and

fraternal goodwill , as the members one and all of the great family of the human race . We do not quarrel with those who earnestly contend for the faith they prize , the

denomination which they love . All honour to the faithful and true of all religious bodies , but , we do ask once for all , that , we as Freemasons may be left alone by those who have no province to interfere

with our proceedings , or to anathematise our principles , left alone to enjoy our undoubted right as peaceable and loyal English citizens ,

left alone to proclaim to others in all of genuine gentleness and love , our unchanged and unchanging principles , as Freemasons , of "Brotherly Love , Relief , and Truth . "