Freemasonry And The Pope.

tent as they are ridiculous . This seems to be the case with the Pope , Avho some time ago in the secret consistory , held at Rome , delivered an allocution , or , more properly , an anathema ., chiefly against the Masonic society , and also against

" all other secret societies , of Avhatever appellation , conspiring against the Church and the civil poAver . " Europe is rather astounded ; it can hardly believe its eyes when the explosive document is thrown before it . Various reasons are assigned for this

papal thunder in a clear sky , for the revival of absolute dictation to the governments of the Avorld , as though the spiritual power of the Papacy Avere this day an acknoAvledged fact , in full supremacy , when the truth is , it is nothing more than a feeble voice issuing from a throne both spiritually and temporally shaken almost to dissolution .

Some allege the Pope takes this left-handed way of administering a heavy blow to the Emperor of the French , because he is about to withdraw his troops from Rome , and has also countenanced Masonry in France ; in this manner

revenging the Emperor ' s withdrawal of his military protection by planting a spiritual thorn in the bosom of his subjects . This has always been the subtle policy of Rome , to make mischief between sovereigns and subjects ; she scatters a

feAv religious seeds of discord , and rejoices to set the spiritual at variance with the temporal allegiance . A small spite this , indeed , especially in our age ; but the allocution is full of little catspittings , so to speak . Again , it is said the Archbishop of Paris stands rebuked for having attended the funeral of Marshal Lamoriciere , Avho

Avas formerly the Grand Master of Freemasonry in France ; also that Dr . Manning , being desirous of obtaining the Pope ' s denial of any sympathy with Fenianism , suggested a denunciation of all secret societies , thus believing the net Avould be

large enough to haul in the Fenians together with Freemasons and Carbonari ; lastly , it is stated the allocution is a sort of protest against the decline both of the faith and influence of the Church in Italy , as though the falling-off Avere to be traced ,

not to the inherent Aveakness and corruption of Rome herself , but to the " perfidious language of sectarians , Avho , under a fan- exterior , are inflamed Avith a burning hatred against the religion of Christ and legitimate authority , and to have but

one single thought and single end , viz ., to overthrow all rights both human and divine . " Possibly some truth may underlie every one of the motives

thus suggested ; at any rate , " Rome has spoken / ' ' and if all the world attended to Rome ' s senilemutterings , every Freemason would be excommunicated , in the blessed company of . Fenians ^ , Carbonari , bandits , and brigands .

The holy horror of the Pope at Freemasonry isdepicted in very strong language , with a remarkable display of ignorance , and a total unconsciousness of history . He describes it as " that perversesociety of men , vulgarly styled Masonic , Avhich . at

first confined to darkness and obscurity , now comesinto light for the common ruin of religion and homan society . " He calls it " a most immoral sect" ' At its door he lays "the many seditious morements , the many incendiary Avars , which have set

the Avhole of Europe in flames ; as also the many bitter misfortunes which have afflicted and still afflict the Church . " He speaks tremblingly o £ " clandestine meetings , " " rigorous oaths , " an . unheard-of atrocity of penalties and chastisements

to be inflicted upon the perjured Mason ; and he winds up with an emphatic conclusion : —A society Avhich thus avoids the day must surely be impious , and criminal .

We could add a few more choice specimens ofi papal eloquence , but these are sufficient for OUB purpose , unless indeed Ave mi ght be tempted to give our Masonic readers the opportunity of knowing what a disgusting , outlawed , and

excommunicated set of vagabonds they really are , as seen , through an infallible microscope . " Let them well understand that those affiliated to such sects are . like wolves , whom Christ our Lord prophesied Avould come disguised in sheep's clothing to devour ,

the flock ; let them understand they are of the number of those Avhose society the Apostle has . also forbidden to us , eloquently prohibiting us from , even wishing them God-speed . "

NOAV these rather truculent expressions are su £ . fieient to raise the hair on the head of those benevolent gentlemen—there are thousands of them-—who , thinking no harm , sit down to dinner after the labours of the lodge are concluded , and

drinking a glass of Avine to all good brethren scattered over the face of the globe , believe they are friends . Avith the Avorld . What a dreadful portrait has the Pope drawn of them , in revolutionary costume ., eager to slay , burn , and destroy ! NOAVno

one-, Avould imagine after reading the allocution , that at the close of the eighth century , the Popes conceded to the Masons of Como the exclusive monopoly of erecting Churches ; they Avere associated