Anti-Masonry.*

employed in building churches and cathedrals , palaces and fortified cities , so that the rich and the noble , as Avell as the riders in Church and State , Avere its protectors and patrons , till at length the Fraternity became conspicuous not only for its Avorks in art and architecture , bat in its speculative character , as an associate and instructor of the most refined . In this latter character , rapidly developed in the midst of unreasoning bigotry , it could not altogether escape the observation of the Church , nor did it fail to excite its jealousy . Civil governments became suspicioustill at length opposition to

, Freemasonry arose , and in the third year of the reign of Henry VI . of England , " the Masons AA * ere forbidden to confederate in Chapters and Congregations . " This law , hoAvever , was neA * er enforced , and it is safe to say that since that time Masonry has met Avith but little serious opposition in England .

The most bigoted , as well as chief opponent , has been the Roman Catholic Church , Avhich has issued frequent edicts against the Institution , and these have been ably discussed by Mackey , under the heart of Persecutions , to which we refer for a A'ery intelligent and concise account . One of the first persecutions AVIIS in Holland , and broke out in October 16 th , 1735 . This Avas stimulated and enkindled by some of the clergy ; the States-General yielded to it , and prohibited the meetings of Lodges , one of which persistedtill its members were arrestedwhensays Mackey" the Master and

, , , , Wardens defended themselves AA-ith great dexterity ; they freely offered to receive and initiate any person in the confidence of the magistrates , and who could then give them information upon which they might depend , relative to the true designs of the Institution . The proposal was acceded to , and the toAvn clerk was chosen . His report so pleased his superiors that all the magistrates and principal persons of the city became members and zealous patrons of the Order . "

ID France , the Government feared that the Lodges concealed designs hostile to it . In 1737 , an attempt AVUS made to prevent the meetings , and , iu 1745 , the members of a Lodge were dispersed , the furniture and jewels seized , and the landlord of the hotel where the meeting A \ as held was heavily lined . The Empress , Maria Theresa , became excited against the Fraternity , and issued an order to arrest all the Masons in Vienna ; but this was prevented by the Emperor , Joseph L , who AA'as a Mason .

The persecutions in Italy and other Catholic countries AA'ere more extensive and permanent . Pope Clement XII . issued his famous bull against the Fraternity on April 28 th , 1738 . In this he says , " We have learned , and public rumour does not permit us to doubt the truth of the report , that a certain society has been founded , under the name of Freemasons , into which persons of all reli gions , and all sects , are indiscriminately admitted ; " the bull further declares that " these societies have become suspected by the faithfuland that they are hurtful to the tranquillity of the

, State , and to the safety of the soul . " Hence ,, all bishops , superiors , and ordinaries were directed to punish the Freemasons " with the penalties which they deserve , as people greatly suspected of heresy , having recourse , if necessary , to the secular arm , " and this Avas interpreted by Cardinal Firrao , who , in promulgating the bull , forbade the meetings of Lodges under the " pain of death , " without hope of pardon . This bull was not blindly received in France , and the " parliament of Paris positively refused to enrol

it . The effects of this bull were cruell y felt iu Tuscany , Spain , Portugal , Switzerland , and , indeed , in all countries Avhere unreasoning submission to the Pope and the Church of Rome was conceded . The dungeons of the Inquisition , with pains and penalties , were employed ; the Grand Lodge of England obtained the liberation of a man , named Critdeli , arrested at Florence , and condemned to long imprisonment , on the charge of having furnished an asylum to a Masonic Lodge . A ' Frenchman , named Tournon ,

was convicted in Spain for practising the Rites of Masonry , imprisoned , and afterwards banished the kingdom . John Ooustos Avas subjected to torture iu Portugal , and , Avith tAvo companions , was sentenced to the gallows , from which they were finally released by the efforts of the British Ambassador . In 1745 , the Council of Berne , in Switzerland , prohibited the assembling of Masons under severe penalties . In 1757 , the Synod of Sterling , in Scotland , by