Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ireland.
ire la vs .
On Monday , the 20 th December , a decision was given in the Queen ' s Bench , in the important case of O'Sullivan v . O'Reilly . The Plaintiff , Mr . O'Sullivan , is a Roman Catholic gentleman , a Justice of the Peace , and a man of high character ; the Defendant , Archdeacon O'Reilly , is the parish priest of Athlone , who charged the Plaintiff with having defrauded certain of his creditors , with having seduced the governess of his children , and finally with being a member of the Order of
Freemasons , —" whom God and the Church damned , "—language used by the rev . defendant , according to the evidence of one of the witnesses . After a patient trial , which lasted two days , and which has created the greatest interest not only in Athlone but throughout the country , the jury found a verdict for Mr . O'Sullivan , the plaintiff , on all the issues , with the sum of . £ 850 damages . The reports and comments of the local Press have naturally led the Roman Catholic organ , the Telegraph , to expatiate not only on the trial hut also on the iniquities of our Order , in behalf of which our excellent contemporary , the Carlow Sentinel , has the following reply , which we have great pleasure in inserting :
" The Freemason order has pursued its silent course throughout the civilized world for centuries , though subject to persecution , and to the fiery ordeal of the Inquisition in Spain and Italy ; but it has received the protection of States from time to time , by the wisest sovereigns , and the most distinguished statesmen in Europe . " The Telegrapli asks , ' Are not the most inveterate enemies of the Catholics of Ireland Freemasons—implacable enemies in religion—uncompromising antagonists
xn politics ? ' The answer to those startling questions may he summarily disposed of , by reference to one or two facts material to the issue . In the first place , the Masonic Order in France , which numbers nearly one million , is composed of the most distinguished members of the nobility , the gentry , a-nd educated classes throughout France—all Roman Catholics , the members of the Lutheran Churches being in the proportion of one to forty , and principally resident in the districts of Nantz and Strasburg . This great body , whose head-quarters are at Paris , are
not the inveterate enemies of their own creed , and they are devoted adherents to the laws which promote peace and order , besides being the supporters of numerous orphan charities . Napoleon I . was at the head of the u Order " for several years . Napoleon III . is himself a distinguished member of the body , knowing from experience the fidelity of the Order to the laws of every country which recognizes a fraternity that has existed for ages . The three last Monarchs of England extended their protection to it , more especially the two last . The King
of Prussia is at its head in his own dominions—it is flourishing in Belgium and Sardinia among an enlightened Roman Catholic people , and it has , for the information of the Telegraphy affiliated branches in eyery part of the East—inltahomedan Turkey , in India , in Syria , in fact , it may be found in every corner of the earth , from the Banks of the Liffey to the walls of China , j ; rL | . . ;;{ J (; W , (; , " The Telegraph appears to be alarmed for the public safety from the inroads which Freemasonry is making on society . The writer observes : — i
" What has sanctioned this combination that it should thus be permitted to overspread the world , and act as it listeth , at all seasons and in all places ? It may exist in the Government , on the seat of justice , in the jury-box , in the Legislature , in the army , in the navy , and even amongst our dependents—it may plot and cabal amongst us or for us , we are powerless in its meshes : they mayy in spite of us , plot together against us . How insignificant and feeble is the power of
the Confessional when compared to this \' " No doubt of it . If the King of England was the Grand Master of the Order , it existed within the council chamber- —in Parliament as it does at present ¦ —on the judgment-seat—at the bar—and , actually at this moment it folds within its tender embraces one-half ^ at least , of the learned professions in the kingdom ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ireland.
ire la vs .
On Monday , the 20 th December , a decision was given in the Queen ' s Bench , in the important case of O'Sullivan v . O'Reilly . The Plaintiff , Mr . O'Sullivan , is a Roman Catholic gentleman , a Justice of the Peace , and a man of high character ; the Defendant , Archdeacon O'Reilly , is the parish priest of Athlone , who charged the Plaintiff with having defrauded certain of his creditors , with having seduced the governess of his children , and finally with being a member of the Order of
Freemasons , —" whom God and the Church damned , "—language used by the rev . defendant , according to the evidence of one of the witnesses . After a patient trial , which lasted two days , and which has created the greatest interest not only in Athlone but throughout the country , the jury found a verdict for Mr . O'Sullivan , the plaintiff , on all the issues , with the sum of . £ 850 damages . The reports and comments of the local Press have naturally led the Roman Catholic organ , the Telegraph , to expatiate not only on the trial hut also on the iniquities of our Order , in behalf of which our excellent contemporary , the Carlow Sentinel , has the following reply , which we have great pleasure in inserting :
" The Freemason order has pursued its silent course throughout the civilized world for centuries , though subject to persecution , and to the fiery ordeal of the Inquisition in Spain and Italy ; but it has received the protection of States from time to time , by the wisest sovereigns , and the most distinguished statesmen in Europe . " The Telegrapli asks , ' Are not the most inveterate enemies of the Catholics of Ireland Freemasons—implacable enemies in religion—uncompromising antagonists
xn politics ? ' The answer to those startling questions may he summarily disposed of , by reference to one or two facts material to the issue . In the first place , the Masonic Order in France , which numbers nearly one million , is composed of the most distinguished members of the nobility , the gentry , a-nd educated classes throughout France—all Roman Catholics , the members of the Lutheran Churches being in the proportion of one to forty , and principally resident in the districts of Nantz and Strasburg . This great body , whose head-quarters are at Paris , are
not the inveterate enemies of their own creed , and they are devoted adherents to the laws which promote peace and order , besides being the supporters of numerous orphan charities . Napoleon I . was at the head of the u Order " for several years . Napoleon III . is himself a distinguished member of the body , knowing from experience the fidelity of the Order to the laws of every country which recognizes a fraternity that has existed for ages . The three last Monarchs of England extended their protection to it , more especially the two last . The King
of Prussia is at its head in his own dominions—it is flourishing in Belgium and Sardinia among an enlightened Roman Catholic people , and it has , for the information of the Telegraphy affiliated branches in eyery part of the East—inltahomedan Turkey , in India , in Syria , in fact , it may be found in every corner of the earth , from the Banks of the Liffey to the walls of China , j ; rL | . . ;;{ J (; W , (; , " The Telegraph appears to be alarmed for the public safety from the inroads which Freemasonry is making on society . The writer observes : — i
" What has sanctioned this combination that it should thus be permitted to overspread the world , and act as it listeth , at all seasons and in all places ? It may exist in the Government , on the seat of justice , in the jury-box , in the Legislature , in the army , in the navy , and even amongst our dependents—it may plot and cabal amongst us or for us , we are powerless in its meshes : they mayy in spite of us , plot together against us . How insignificant and feeble is the power of
the Confessional when compared to this \' " No doubt of it . If the King of England was the Grand Master of the Order , it existed within the council chamber- —in Parliament as it does at present ¦ —on the judgment-seat—at the bar—and , actually at this moment it folds within its tender embraces one-half ^ at least , of the learned professions in the kingdom ,