The Masonic Miiror,

the noble Brother ' s motion to Lodges in Boman Catholic countries under the Grand Lodge of England . Now the only Lodges under the Grand Lodge of England I know of in Boman Catholic countries are those in South America ^ and I think we have sufficient before us of domestic interest without intermeddling with foreign affairs . ( Hear . ) I protest against such interference , because , when the Grand Orient of France felt they could not interfere in a similar case , they referred the matter tons . We also , on that occasion , declined to interfere , but

we sent the persecuted Brethren a resolution expressive of our sympathy ; and there the matter ended , and they were contented . Last December twelve months came a communication from Trinidad on the subject . Their petition was read here , and it was suffered to drop without a single remark , vote of sympathy , or anything of the kind . ( Hear , hear , and expressions of disapprobation . ) I shall now address myself for one moment to the main question . ( Hear , hear . ) I mean to give the words no more than they are worth , when I say that the selection of our Society , and of any particular form of religious worship , is a purely voluntary act on the

part of the individual . We cannot , as Masons , interfere between a Mason and the ministers of the religion which he may have adopted . ( A . pplause . ) The moment we do so , we shall violate one of our fundamental principles . ( Applause . ) I therefore regret that such a motion should be brought forward in Grand Lodge , and that Grand Lodge should be asked to interfere between a man and his religion . ( Applause . ) If a man finds that the principles of Freemasonry , and

the principles of the system of religion which he has adopted are incompatible , one or the other must be given up ; let him make his election . ( Hear , hear , cheers , and protracted applause . ) I think , now , that I have proved , both that we cannot interfere at all in the matter , and also , that if we could Interfere , the means which the noble Earl proposes would be found ineffectual . I therefore earnestly call upon Grand Lodge to resist the motion , unless ( as I would fain hope ) the noble Brother withdraws it . ( Loud applause . ) .

Bro . Beech said that the motion simply asserted that the Boman Church assumed an antagonistic position to our Order , and certainly refusing its rites to our Brethren must be deemed an antagonistic position . The opinion of the Roman Church with respect to Freemasonry appeared to have originated in the time of the French Revolution , when a spurious Freemasonry existed for the

promulgation of the principles of that revolution . It was introduced by the Illuminati . Its object was to subvert the then existing institutions , and to sweep away the altar and the throne . It was necessary therefore that people should be told that these were not the principles of our Order , and they could not do better , in order to ascertain what those principles were , than to peruse- the Charge " given to newly-initiated Brethren . ( Loud cheers . )

Bro . Locock Webb thought that it was contrary to their principles to discuss the matter , and that no action of Grand Lodge , or document issuing therefrom , would put an end to the persecutions . They , as Freemasons , held out the right hand of fellowship to men of ail religions , and therefore he objected to the first part of the motion ; and , as no further statement of our principles was at all necessary , he objected to the second part of it . Our great principles , he said , as is well known , are " brotherly love , relief , and truth ;"—( cheers)—and it is not by merely professing these principles , but by acting up to them in our intercourse

with the world , that we can convince people of the intrinsic value of our Order . ( Cheers . ) Let us show " brotherly love" amongst ourselves , and then people will believe us . ( Cheers . ) Let us carry out " relief" by better supporting our charities —( loud applause )—and let . us practise truth towards every man . ( Cheers . ) If we do this , we need fear no calumny . ( Loud cheers . ) Bro . Binckes expressed his opinion that Lord Carnarvon had applied a specific

remedy to a specific grievance , which was brought before them as a matter with which Grand Lodge was qualified to deal . Pie thought they were called upon to deal with it , whether the persecutors were Roman Catholics or anybody else . But they could not show him in all the world any sect which had assumed towards Masonry a position so antagonistic as that assumed by the Romish Church . When they did point out to him such an example he would propose to deal with it as it was now proposed to deal with the case before them . The course pro-