Freemasonry In The Canary Islands.

FREEMASONRY IN THE CANARY ISLANDS .

{ To the Editor of lac Freemason . ) DEAR S IR AND BROTHER , —I beg to send you the enclosed translation from an article which has just appeared in the leading journal of the Canary Islands .

About a month ago the Bishop of the islands having heard that two corpses lately interred in the cemetery of Grand Canary were those of Masons , went in person to have the bodies exhumed , but a strong

party of Masons , having previous knowledge , was on the spot , and forcibly prevented the barbarous intentions of the Bishop and his party , The holy man , finding his designs frustrated , had the

cemetery reconsecrated . This meditated act of Vandalism , together with the indecent conduct of the clergy general !)' , who

are doing their best to discredit Masonry , even from the pulp it , has called forth the article in question . Yours fraternally , NATHAN WETHERELL .

6 , Lime-street , E . C . " With sorrow we have to take up the pen , incited by a conscientious duly , to tiispel the alarm which persons , respected for their distinguished knowledge and many virtues , have been for some time past instilling into the sanctuary

of families , with the powerful resource which is lent them by the sacred ministry of their office . We refer to the attacks , to the anathemas , which some priests , as illustrious as ( hey are respectable , are hurling from the cathedra of the Holy Sp irit—from that high and venerable place

whence nought but truth , m all Us purity and wrapt in its profound est conviction , should emanate . And we refer to other acts directed against Freemasonry—the grandest association , subliniest , and most moral among all that have ever owed their in liuition to man . Ignorance

supposes her anlago ustie to Christianity ; to that sacro-sainted religion of our fathers , whose worthy and honoured memory we shall ever revere ; a religion in which we were horn , brought up , and bred , and which never have we failed to profess . In our character as Masons

—by which title we are honoured—we do not propose to return offence for injury , injury for calumny , or calumny for offence . As fir from our hearts are haired and maledictions infused by evil passions , as is the use of reproved means and sterile arguments ; far from nur .-ing

resentment or rancor towards our detractors—towards those svhj pretend to defame the sublime In-titudonto which we belong—we are only inspired by a feeling of pity for the error .-. into which incy hive fallen , for their unjust p rseoution . lamenting , as we lament , the exl''av igance of their

reason in judging ill and condemning whit they cannot have any knowledge of ; and we give them thus a proof of true Christian charity " Let us now consign a short , but faithful , r -lation of the chief ends and ienO ,-mtcs 01 Ma-sonry ; now to ms ' . rit' t them who . d- > ub ; ie--s

fir the want of that knowledge , declare themselves enemies of tiio : e very prineio'cs and foundations of mora'iiv ;•' ¦; < virtue o-i v , hieh our august Christian ivh . ; ion rep ; :-, > ¦ . and ooev to bring tranquilityand per . v to the family lire-Me ,

and more especially to relieve th-e aoorek ; u-ions of the devoted sex whose !< e ; v ; . ; h . ive re : n so disturbed by untrue pivdi-etions . and ir ,- ot ' icv recent acts which , in the oh . - ; . xw .:. ire of ^ ur iove tj our neighbour , we ab .-uai :: fpi . o oMalkYiiv .

'" Freemasonry , as old as man , walks hand in hand with truth ; the weal of humanity and the constant practice of virtue are its chief aims ; and , with these objects in view , she numbers eighteen millions who owe her alleaiance from almost ev-,: ry habitable spot on the fa . ee of the earth .

'" in bringing him ir . lo the vr . r . l . l naked . weak , . rid helpless . ( . od has • • hown mnn that f fe has ing their a ~ s " -uw < : c . aed h : \< i : v ,-pi ; . -aj him with

Freemasonry In The Canary Islands.

the great and holy maxim that he must needs do unto others as he would have them do to him . Hence , the necessity of mutual love and help in misfortune , and thus is it that Masonry , established on the strength of love and virtue , even from the remotest limes , has been

transmitted to us , modified by civilization and re lined by an irresistible thirst for liberty ; withstanding calumny , aspersion , persecution , and vile tongues ; for even all these have failed to undermine her solidity , formed by the united strength of tolerance and charitv .

"She teaches us to face danger with fortitude ; to appreciate truth and openness , while condemning falseness and hypocrisy ; to 11 y to the relief of indigence , reaching out a helping hand towards the bed of sickness and the home of

misfortune ; to abhor tyranny ; to repudiate vanity and superstition ; to sec in one ' s fellow , whatever his rank or fortune , a moral being in every respect one ' s equal , if he is virtuous . Can it , then , be asked why , among Masons , are

to be found good citizens , the best of fathers , tender husbands , true friends , and , to sum up all , virtuous men ? " They speak false who say that Masons have no religion—each one professes and practises that which he inherited from his fathers . None

is required to abjure it No human victims are immolated on her altars , for Masonry abhors homicide , and condemns all crime and spectacles of horror , whatever be the causes which produce them .

"Whatever might wound in the slightest the cherished belief of any brother , to even speak on religious matters at her meetings — for this divides men , to unite whom is a Mason ' s care—Masonry prohibits . Not alone is she not inimical to ail govcrrment and social order , but kings ,

princes , am ! chiefs of nations and of states have presided over her lodges , and been her votaries . Masonry permits no political discussion ; she grows and nourishes under all forms of government , wherever is breathed the grateful air of liberty . Masonry is a moral Order , established

by men of eminence in remotest ages , with the laudable object of perfecting the moral part of man through the practice of the virtues . She is founded on principles of the sanest morality , and her walk is the pith of charity . Like unto the Founder of Christianity , she says : ' I give

you a new precept—Love one another . ' Those who condemn this Order would condemn God ' s own Word itself . " To say that Masons secrete themselves and envelop themselves in mystery , is a great mistake . In F . ndand and the United States , they appear publicly with their insignia . In Paris , sumptuous

Masonic fimcru rites \ vere performed over the ren litis of General Magnan ; and , again , in Brussels , over th > se of L'opold the ist , King of the Belgians ; and . recently , similir tributes were p lid in Madrid to the ash JS of Henry of Lourbon , an I to those of various other members of the Craft .

" The words and signs which serve brethren as a means of mutual recognition cannot afford motive for suspicion ; if such were the case , it would be necessary to condemn military d scipline , for it is i criminal offence in a soldier to m . }' .: c klo . vn his passwords : ind countersigns outside the circle of his comrades in arms .

' ¦ On" very cmirc . i presents an eximple of secrets observed by her corporations ; h .-rcarui . ' ials are ofi . au sworn to ke q . i iuviol . it j the discussions held it ! the consistory , and cinons swear not to publish what takes place at their sea don- ; . Whv , then , should Masons be reviled beeau-e they do not hold their meetings in the streets and public places ?

,: Many have been the errors committed since ages pas , - , not only with respect to the ureal reforms with which civilization has gone on benefiting' the world , but also agiinst sublime institutions which , like Masonry , tend towards perfecting mankind .

" The writings of Copernicus were condemned as impious , because that sag .- astronomer said the earth revolved on its own axis 'G ' . ddeo was thrown into chains for teaa-riinr : the astronomical dnctrir . es of Copermeu ; . ¦• Vigilm , the bishop , was emuiemned lor sayin ? there WQK antipodes : these nevertheless exist ,

Freemasonry In The Canary Islands.

" The anathemas hurled against Copernicus , Galileo and Vigilio are fruitless , because they are opposed to the physical laws of nature , which are the work of God ; and as fruitless are the calumnies directed against Freemasonry , for they oppose themselves to thp moral laws of nature , which are equally born of the Most High .

" If from these elevated considerations we descend to practical work amongst ourselves here , where Masonry is only in its infancy , there may , nevertheless , be found not a few poor and virtuous families to bless her for the timely assistance she has given in secret and in love .

" Many are the tears she has washed away , and more than one charitable institution could

testify to her humanity "The object of Masonry being to instruct in the study of the liberal arts and sciences , inculcating the love of work and the practice of all the virtues , bearing in mind the weal of mankind , its necessities and afflictions—with constitutional

foundations in such strict harmony with the sage maxims which are the prop and stay of our august and venerable Christian religion—how can it be possible to find , save through ignorance , ministers of the altar , gifted with science and virtue , combating those very principles which it is their care to inculcate in the hearts of their

Hock ? " How is it possible that other acts can be committed which must disturb to even a greater degree the hearts of those same faithful—that as suddenly as unjustly the consciences of pious

souls , timid and ignorant , should be alarmed by the introduction of discord and dissension around ihe sacred precincts of private homes , the peace of which should be one of the first cares of a priest ' s holy mission .

"J . isl , therefore , it is that these holy men should cease their erroneous crusade ; and if they do not desist , but continue their attacks upon the noble and humanitarian Institution of Masonry , taking advantage of the ' Cathedra of

the Holy Sp irit and other sacred places which they profanate , we will defend her with legitimate weapons by means of the press , through those worthy and decorous ways which constitute its greatest honour . " [ Signed by various Masons ol Grand Canarj ' . ]

The Freemasons In Limerick.

THE FREEMASONS IN LIMERICK .

Those of our readers who have not already heard of the recent crusade against the Freemasons of Limerick will doubtless receive the intelligence with considerable surprise . We have always been under the impression that Christmas Day brings with it glad tidings , peace and

goodwill towards all men ; but there are some people who contrive to make exceptions to the general rule . The present attack upon an Order which recognises in its deliberations neither politics nor religion , appears to be one of the most silly and unjustifiable that was ever m ide . The deplorable

condition of the poor of the city is a matter ot general remark . During the Christmas holidays our . streets have been crowded with poor , wretched , half-clad creatures , begging assistance . For the purpose of aiding them , a few members of the Masonic Order , with praiseworthy

liberality , came forivard , and announced tiieir intention of giving a course of readings , & c , in the Masonic Hall , to which the members of all relig ious denominations were cordially invited . It should be remembered that the object in viewwas the relief of the poor of the city , three-fourths

of whom are Roman Catholics . Mow was this p hilanthropic effort met by the Roman Catholic clergy ? On Christmas-day a document was read in each of the Roman Catholic churches of the city ( with one exception ) , purpoiting to come from the Roman Catholic bishop of the diocese , warning the laitv against patronising , either by

their presence or . support , an entertainment given within the walls of the Masonic Hall for the relief of the poor of Limerick . It was admitted that the object was most commendable ; but , oh , fatal Order of St . John ! the entertainment was " a I rap to catch ; . hc unwary f Do any indepemleiH-niinded Roman Catholics in Limerick believe this ? We know they do not . We