Freemasonry In Rome.

FREEMASONRY IN ROME .

BY BRO . J . C . PARKINSON , P . G . D . As my recent visit to Rome and my reception by our Masonic brethren there have given rise to some misconception and controversy , it may be well to place the facts upon record . Signor Tamajo , the member for Messina , in the Italian

Parliament , and Deputy Grand Master of Italy , was good enough to call upon me at my hotel in Rome , and to invite me to visit the lodge . I replied that I should not merely have pleasure in doing so , but I would , if he " pleased , accompany him to the Masonic Hall in the day time , and

examine the furniture , appointments , and symbols of the lodge with greater minuteness and care than are practicable when business is in full swing , and the brethren are assembled for work . This was arranged , and I made a careful inspection of the books and certificates of

the Grand Orient of Italy ; of its correspondence with the other Grand bodies of the world , and of its furniture and symbols . Not content with this , I cross-examined the Deputy Grand Master as closely and keenly as I could , directing my questions chiefly to two broad

points—Is Italian Freemasonry identical with Freemasonry as it is practised in England in the essential of excluding the discussion of politics from the lodges ? and , is belief in the immortality of the soul and faith in the great Architect of the Universe inculcated in the ceremonies ?

The assurances I received were ample and complete , and after a morning visit of considerable duration , and at which the Worshipful Masters of the four lodges now meeting in Rome , the Grand Orator , the Grand Secretary , and other dignitaries , about a dozen in all , were present ,

Signor Tamajo invited me to put any additional question which occurred to me . But I really had nothing more to ask . I had seen the volutneof the Sacred Law ( a bible in Latin and Hebrew ) which is used in the lodge precisely as it is with us , and lies open on a pedestal in front of the

Worshipful Master ' s chair . On the following evening , accompanied by three English friends , I visited the special lodge summoned by Signor Tamajo , and there found about one hundred brethren assembled . The lodge was opened in due form , and with the

usual invocations , and , after some preliminaries , cordial speeches of welcome were delivered by the Worshipful Grand Master , and by several brethren in and out of office . Signor Tamajo , in an eloquent address , in which he named , in a most flattering way , certain public utterances of mine

in favour of liberty of conscience and freedom of thought in Italy , presented me with a very beautiful symbolical picture , designed and executed specially for the occasion . I shall never forget tho hearty demonstrations of cordial greeting with which the brethren present accompanied

this gift . I spoke in acknowledgment as follows : — Most Worshipful Grand Master of Italy and Brethren of Rome , —I thank you from my heart for this soul-stirring and affecting welcome , and I exchange with you the fraternal ereetingswhich

belong exclusively to those linked together by our mystic tie . The beautiful work of art , which you have designed for me , I shall treasure to my latest day . I shall exhibit it with pride to my brethren in England . It shall have an honoured place in my home . It will rank always amongst

my most deeply valued treasures , and my children shall be taught to regard with pride this evidence of the warm fraternal feeling displayed to me by Freemasons in a distant land . Never shall I refer to this meeting without emotion ,

and when I have passed away , may those of my name preserve this memorial with reverent care . For your great goodness to me , in the words of Shakespeare , what other answer can I make than

"Thanks , and thanks , and ever thanks . Freemasonry , as is beautifully depicted in this cherished picture , binds together in a deep and solemn union men of different races . Its pure

light rises superior to sects , and creeds , and nationalities . Its universal language reaching the soul , proclaims the true religion , embracing what is good and true in all religions , and elevates to one serene platform , with common rights

Freemasonry In Rome.

and hopes , brethren of every faith , who practise the sacred duties of morality , and believe in the g lorious Architect of Heaven and of Earth . The volume ofthe Sacred Law now open before us , crowned by the square and compasses , are together symbols of our profession as Freemasons ,

and speak to the thoughtful mind with even more than ordinary force when they lend their sanctity to our mysteries in this ancient capital , where the very stones we crumble under foot , and the dust which the wind raises around us , speak ofthe agonies inflicted in religion ' s name ,

of the martyrs' cruel sufferings , and of unutterable anguish undergone for the sake of truth . The great solid facts of the dim past , the cunningly wrought pillars , and the remains of temples , such as are depicted here , which have triumphed over Time itself , speaking of religions

which are forgotten , and civilizations which are dead , make human opposition seem but a momentary annoyance , for they whisper solemnly through the dim centuries " this , too , will pass away . " They brace the mind for that fight with moral evil , and those calm , sweet lessons

of eternal truth , which are in this picture depicted as lifting the spirit of truth far into the empyrean , even to the throne of God Himself . The earthly shells of Church and Temple are left below , but all that is good and pure in their teachings endures and ascends , for Freemasonry

embraces all men who prove themselves worthy , and who take her vows . Once admitted into her ranks , once brought to a knowledge of the sacred light enshrined from vulgar eye in her ceremonies , and the neophyte is taught , step by step , and by means of diligent and patient labour ,

to earn her rewards—a knowledge of the true light , the practice of true charity , and the worshi p of the true and living God Most High . As the veil is gradually lifted , the Freemason sees superstition , priestcraft , dogma , spiritual tyranny , cruelty , and oppression fade away before the

Divine light , as fogs and mists are dispersed by the morning sun ; and with the broad charity which knoweth no evil , he clasps to his heart the sacred truths vouchsafed to us by heaven , while rejecting without harshness , but with profound pity , the fable , with which they have been invested by

the selfishness , ignorance , and credulity of man . It is a profound happiness to me to find my Italian brethren practising our Masonic rites in Rome without fear or favour , and I exult in their spiritual and mental freedom . It is a still greater happiness to find the pure light of Freemasonry

to be undunmed by the long years of oppression she has endured in Italy , and that her ceremonies and ritual as practised this evening are those I recognise as of the Craft universal . The enemies of Freemasonry in this country have not scrupled to spread stories to her disparagement .

It has been my care , during my stay in Rome , to investigate , critically and closely , the condition of Freemasonry here , and to draw a strict comparison this evening between what has taken place before my eyes , and what would have occurred in an English Lodge under similar

conditions . I shall always have pleasure in testifying that the aspersions sought to bs cast upon the working of Freemasonry in Rome an ; so far as I have been able to see , baseless fables , and that the brotherhood here appears to thrive and flourish on the very principles which give it

nourishment and enduring strength throughout the world . 1 rejoice , therefore , to learn of the consolidation and spread of the Craft in Italy . Let those who dread light , and who believe that ignorance is the mother of devotion , protest against Freemasonry . F ' or my part , this evening ,

within the walls of ancient Rome , where th . eternal principles of our Order are now proclaimed and enforced in the centre of the most solemn relics in the world , will ever live in my memory as one of the most interesting 1 have known . Proceed , Most Worshipful Grand

Muster and brethren , in your chosen path . Your open Bible and your Masonic light will guide you to all truth , direct your steps in the paths of happiness , and point out to you the whole doty of man . Be neither discomforted by opposition ,

nor irritated by hostility , Love the brotherhood , and live in charity with all men . Do good to those that despitefully use you , fear God , uphold the law , respect and conform to the constitution of your country , and ever " remember

Freemasonry In Rome.

that while man is a fleeting shadow , who cannot remain long in one stay , principles are eternal , and that when our place knoweth us no more , and our very names are as if writ in water , even then

"The actions of the just , Smell sweet and blossom in the dust . " Signor Bacci , the Grand Orator , translated my remarks literally , and with wonderful elocution and eloquent expression . Several brethren present understood English perfectly , and

followed my remarks with ease as they were delivered , but Signor Bacci ' s translation brought them home to every man present . It is a significant answer to allegations as to the revolutionary and atheistic professions of Masons in Rome- to say that my address was cordially

approved , and its sentiments endorsed . When the lodge was closed , I was told , again and again , that I had defined very faithfully the spirit of Freemasonry as it is understood and practised by those present . To English readers there is nothing new in anything I said . Some portions

of my address will be recognised as being in the very words of our charge ; but , in the teeth of recent comments , it may be useful to point out that it was purposely made to include an humble acknowledgment of , and profound reverence for , the Supreme Rules of the

universe . But what has appeared to excite the wrath and rouse the fears of the Ultramontanes was the publicity given to this festival , and to my reception and remarks , by nearly the whole ofthe Italian press . The ' Opinic ne , which is sometimes call , d the Times of Italy , and the

chief organ of the Government ; the Liberia , an influential journal which is widely quoted on the continent ; the Diritlo , the leading organ of the Left , the party now in power ; and the Poppolo di Roma , all gave prominent notice of die affair , accompanied by favourable and , in some cases ,

exulting comments . The press , throughout the length and breadth of Italy , did , as I am informed , follow suit , and it was but natural that a groan of wrath and pain from thc extreme Catholic party should follow . There is nothing to be surprised or annoyed at in the statements

of the Uiiila Callofica . Such phrases as " blasphemy , " " atheism , " " revolution , " "Protestant , " are merely synonyms for dislike and fear . The reverential attitude of the brethren I saw , the orthodox conservativism of their ceremonies , their honest confession of their difficulties and

shortcomings occasioned by long years of suppression and persecution , aud their anxiety to confirm minutely with English woiking , formed , to my mind , a sufficient answer to the aspersions sought to be cost upon Italian Masonry . How far the control ofthe Grand Orient of Rome

extends over her subordinate lodges , and wnether Freemasonry , as sanctioned and practised there , is followed out throughout her jurisdiction , I had no opportunity of personally verifying . But I accept tho assurance I received from the hig hest authorities with implicit good faith , and hold it to be the duty of an English Freemason , who

saw and heard what I did , to do all in his power to strengthen and encourage the Craft in Italy , and I hold this to be even more than usually incumbent upon one in times like these , when some other Grand Lodges on the Continent are betraying an utter disregard of what Englishmen hold to be Masonic obligations . It is because I believe the Grand Orient of Rome to be as

incapable as our own Grand Lodge of the acts attributed to tho Grand Orients of France and Bel gium that I rejoice at having held out the right hand of fellowship to it , and take pride in acknowledging the fraternal kindnesses showered upon me by its leader - .

The Rev . William Adamson has received an anonymous gift of i . 2000 from " A Friend " towards the erection of bf . Paul ' s Church , Old Ford ; and the Bishop of Locdo .-i ' - Fund has c _ n ! ribut . d £ 1000 to meet this doiiaii-. Mi .

The Dulwich Picture Gallery will not be reopened before next sjiiiia-, although the alterations will be comakted in n few v . \ cks . The roof and teiliiig have been . ¦ iitir . ly rc- _ - . > r . d a „ . | | ilc wai " repainted , the upper portion being in a li ^ ht warm tint , and the lower parts in red with gilt mouldings . The ventilation aad warming of thc Gallery have also been improved . The pictures will accordingly remain for the present at the licthnal Green Museum .