Swiss Views On Freemasonry.

SWISS VIEWS ON FREEMASONRY .

The administrative Council of the Grand Lodge Alpina , composed of Bros . E . DUCOMMON , M . W . G . M ., Louis FREV , Deputy G . Master , and BOSSON , G . Secretary , has recently issued a short pamphlet in reply to the numerous attacks which have been directed against the Craft in Switzerland . This pamphlet was reviewed in one of the July numbers of a Swiss journal

entitled Le Democrate , the excerpts made therefrom being so numerous and of such length that it is possible to form a tolerably accurate notion of what the Grand Lodge Alpina understands by Freemasonry and its aims and objects . This exposition of faith is so clear and makes it so apparent

that our Swiss brethren hold steadfastly by the principles laid down in our own Book of Constitutions and in those of the Grand Lodges which derive their existence from the Grand Lodges of the United Kingdom that we feel we need not offer any apology for reproducing in these columns what is embodied in our Swiss contemporary ' s review of the pamphlet in question .

To the proposition enunciated by certain persons—that while it is quite possible for secret societies to have been formerly useful in preserving and developing within themselves those moral conquests which were achieved in former days , they have ceased to have any raison d'etre since modern civilisation has spread throughout the world ; and that in these days it is

necessary to make public declaration of our ideas instead of hiding the light that is in us under a bushel—the Committee rejoins that it could understand the reproach implied in this declaration , if Freemasonry inhibited its followers from taking part in the ordinary pursuits of everyday life , and if it had a special light of its own which it hid from the

world at large . But such is not thc case . Freemasonry is very far from claiming for itself a wisdom , an experience , an enlightenment which are exclusively its own . It boasts no special political , religious , or social

programme based on principles that conflict with the broad and generous ideas of freedom and fraternity that centuries of struggles had spread throughout the world . Its sole aim is to place the fulfilment of man ' s duties towards his fellowman on the basis of mutual

goodwill . It seeks to enlarge the ideas of its members , and to elevate them by the practice and precept of every social and moral virtue . That being so , it is impossible to reproach Freemasonry with hiding its light under a bushel . But say our opponents , if you do not claim to possess any special light

and wisdom of your own , if you do not prevent your members from openly putting in force those principles of peace and progress , which you claim that Freemasonry inculcates , why then do you not open the doors of your lodges to those who stand in as great need as yourselves of forbearance and mutual support ? In reply , we ask—why should Freemasonry be the only

society which is forbidden to exercise a certain control over , or impose certai n conditions , on the acceptance of new members ? Is it not necessary that a man should be young and supple in order to become an active member of a gymnastic society ; that he should know how to handle

a musket if he would join a body of riflemen ; or that he should have a good car for , and some idea of , music , if he would join a choir 1 What then is more natural than that we should impose certain conditions as regards moral character , breadth of view , and devotion to the wellbeing of mankind

generall y , on those who would join our ranks , seeing that our lodges would be unable to fulfil their mission if the members possesed not those important qualifications ? If there were no closer bond of union amongst Freemasons ' ¦ nan is to be found among the members of a benefit society or trade union , if vve did not strive by every means in our power to establish mutual confidence

as the basis of all our relations towards each other , where in such cases would be our raison d'etre ! We are not a religious sect , a political club , or a secret society . We are neither more nor less than a society of "Jen , not necessarily the purest and most virtuous , but men who are desirous 01 fulfilling their duties in such a manner that peace and goodwill may

Ruide them safely through the dangers which await them in their course rough life . We impose it on ourselves as a law to avoid everything in the ' 'ure of proselytism , it being our aim to prevent people entering our ' . ! cty under the influence of anything like pressure ; but that does not

justif y the assertion that we close our doors against those who , like ourselves , ° 'd practice tolerance and enjoy the benefits of friendship . We know ur cost the evils which have resulted from lodges occasionally admitting w members who introduce into them the elements of discord .

en 1 " "' we are somer - * asked , is this wonderful mystery in which you an * lr 0 Ul ? y ° urselves ? Either you have a secret which is of value to mankind any Wr m ' P * ff itt 0 yourselves ; or it is sheer nonsense to assert there is mvs tery whatever in Freemasonry . This , however , is but an apparent

Swiss Views On Freemasonry.

dilemma after all , resting on a false conception of what constitutes the true secret of Masonry . Our only secret lies in the forms which unite us , which we have freely adopted , and which are in other respects modified in such a manner as to assimilate to themselves the various degrees of progress wo have made from time to time in the domain of intellect . We have

remarked already that Freemasonry has no light , no wisdom , no religious or other conception which can properly be called its own . It has no secret , no religious or social panacea which it guards with the jealous care of the dragon at the entrance to the garden of the Hesperides . The forms which alone constitute our secret are intended to afford it guarantees of permanence ,

while , at the same time , they establish habits of mutual respect among tho members , ensure order in their proceedings , and preserve them from persecution in those countries in which the ri ght of free meeting does not as yet exist . Every Freemason is entitled to be received in any and every one of the iSi OOO lodges which are spread over the surface of the globe . It

is important , therefore , that he should establish his identity by personal proof and by those signs which can only have been communicated to him on and since his entrance into Freemasonry . But what is there extraordinary in this ? In this respect every Society is governed by its own special needs , nor is it difficult to understand that

the proofs of identity demanded of a European Freemason in a lodge in the Great Indies or in South America would not be the same as would suffice to establish it in bodies whose members are in daily intercourse vvith each other . In any case , the secrets which are held to be the essential part of

Freemasonry are neither more nor less than minor details regulated by law and custom . They have no connection whatever vvith its principles and its aims , which in these days arc well known to all who have troubled to inquire into them .

The above statements are fully supported by thc evidence adduced by the Committee of the Grand Lodge Alpina , which sets forth clearly in its pamphlet the principles on which the Masonic Society is constituted , and which are indeed laid down in the introduction to its present Book of Constitutions . Thus

Freemasons regard themselves as brethren and their alliance as the alliance of brethren . They recognise that all , whatsoever may be their difference of ability - and of their position and fortunes , are nevertheless

in all respects born with equal rights ; and bearing in mind that this truth is frequently lost sight of , they consider it is their duty to awaken , maintain , and strengthen , in the first instance among themselves and then among others , the sentiments of fraternity .

The Masonic Society has for its object in the first place to establish among its members the practice of philanthropy . To attain this end it employs in the first place certain symbols which it has borrowed from architecture , and in thc next place it adopts thc following as its principal articles of faith :

The Freemason reveres God under the name of the Great Architect of the Universe , and whatever the religion he may profess , he observes the most complete tolerance towards those who differ with him . Thus the Society is neither . a religious nor an ecclesiastical one , nor does it exact from its members any special declaration of faith .

The Society of Freemasons recognises the principles of freedom of conscience and of thought . It rejects all impediments to this freedom and every degree and kind of persecution that can be practised against those of a different faith and different opinion . It respects every sincere belief and every honest conviction , as well in the domain of religion as in that of politics .

It admits into its ranks free men and of good morals who work together harmoniously in order to attain moral perfection , without regard for differences of creed or religion , of nationality or politics , or social rank . The lodge is a temple of peace , a sort of neutral ground , whose threshold the passions of profane life are not permitted to overpass .

The union of Swiss lodges professes submission to the laws of the country , and obedience to and respect for legally constituted authority . Freemasons are required to work for their own moral advancement , and to aid each other in this work ; to observe faithfully the by-laws of the lodge ,

and pay obedience to the Master who presides over it ; to be scrupulously discreet as to what passes within its precincts and the confidence which brethren repose in one another ; and to protect and promote to the extent of their ability the honour and the interests of their lodge .

In concluding its remarks , the Committee of the Grand Lodge of Alpina leaves the public to judge for itself of the aims of the Society , unco again affirming boldly that in Swiss Freemasonry there is nothing else or more to discover than what it has been at the pains of setting forth .