Is Pope Pius Ix. A Freemason?

thus seek to render their Avatclvwords , ( Liberty—Equality—Fraternity ) , glorious . But you , old man and Brother of the R . C . t , do you not see that by your inconsiderate words of 23 rd March 1874 yon have

, , slandered your Brother Masons , and your wrath is out of place , Avhereas you ought bitterly to lament vour broken plight tendered in the Lodge " Sons of Hiram , " in Philadelphia ? Weep ! 0 Pope Mastai . You have had a long life to behold the

triumph of Masonic principles , in spite of you , and UOAV behold the City of the SeA'en Hills advancing in grandeur , so that one may fairly anticipate its eventual restoration to ancient splendour . Repent , Pope Mastai , you recreant Brother of the R . C .

1 " , at having in a state of complete liberty , and knowingly , violated your oath ; for remember you can only obtain forgiveness from the G . A . U . for such a crime , by giving honour to those you have slandered , You who , according to your priests , are

the chief master in Divinity , must know this as Avell as us . Humble yourself , and before dying be not ashamed to acknowledge that you have slandered the Craft , and utter again the Avords you pronounced in the W . Lodge , " Sons of Hiram , " of

Philadelphia , about our institution . It is a most noble Order , aiming at improving the moral tone of the Universe , and raising fallen Humanity . Courage , be not ashamed to recall your slanders , remembering that " to err is human , but to persist in error is diabolical . "

We , the "poisonous snakes , " pray the G . A . TJ . to grant you genuine repentance , so that death , Avhich soon will overtake you , he to you a relief , and peaceful , and introduce you to the rest of the upright , and you Avill acknowledthat thunders against

ge your us Freemasons had no strength , beinn- an obsolete and useless weapon , and our work Avill proceed Avithout fear of the slander and lies and machinations of traitors .

This , Brother Masons , and ye inhabitants of the Avhole world , is our reply to the slanders and curses of Pope Mastai , formerly Knight of the R . 0 . t , and this brief statement of facts will suffice to SIIOAV the difference between Mastai before and after ascending to the ChairofSt . Peter , and how much his mind is inferior to corruptible matter .

Having IIOAV made the foregoing statements , we challenge Pope Mastai , as Avell as the Avhole clerical press , to deny the truth thereof if they can , exhorting them , however , not to shape their reply by false statements and abuse , as they are accustomed to doand as is the custom of all Avhose cause

, is a bad and weak one j and meairwhile we wish unto all , Health , Strength , Unity . Given at the Lodge " Luce del Tirreno Or . di Rio Elba , " subject to the jurisdiction of the Grand Order of Italy , of Scotch Rite , A . and A ., established in Palermothis

, 16 th day of July , 1874 . ( Here folloAv the signatures and official seal . ) It will be observed thatthisofficialltalian

document positively asserts that Pope Pius IX ., Avhen he Avas plain Giovanni Maria Mastai Ferretti , and a Papal Nuncio in America , was made a Mason in the city of Philadelphia , in the " Lodge of the Sons of Hiram . " This is one story as to Avhere the Pope was made a Mason ; but it is only

one of many , and if all are as false as this , then the Pope is not a Freemason . We have never had a " Lodge of the Sons of ITiram" in Philadelphia , and Mastai Ferretti was never made a Mason in this city in any Lodge . There may be a shadow

of truth , however , in theassertion , which we shall explain before the close of this article . Fro , Paolo Sarpi , a Roman Catholic neAvspaper of Venice , Italy , devoted to ecclesiastical reform , some time ago made this same assertionas to the Pope having

, been a Philadelphia Mason , and also that he continued to be a Mason for two years after he became Pontiff . Another account is to the effect that the

Pope Avas made a Mason under the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite . We cite to this affect , the following paragraph from the Masonic A ews , as quoted in the London Echo , of October 14 , 1874 : — "At the- semi-annual meeting of the Grand Lodge of MasonsScottish Rite ot

, the Orient of Palermo , Italy , held in that city on the 27 th of March , 18 / 4 , Mastai Ferretti Avas expelled from the Order for violating his vows and for perjury . Mastai Ferretti is no other person than Pius IX ., Pope of Rome . The decree of the Lodge at

Palermo is published in the official paper of the Order of Freemasonry at Cologne , Germany , and dated March 27 th . It is preceded by the minutes of the Lodge in