Freemasonry And The Pope.

as a Craft or brotherhood ; they Avere invested by Papal bulls Avith extensive privileges ; they were subject only to their own laws , and were untaxed . "The Lodges of the North" built Sfcrasburg and Cologne Cathedrals ; they Avere encouraged and

protected by ecclesiastical authority ; Europe abounds Avith their labours , and the marks of their secret Craft are still upon the stones , just as they are Masonically accepted this day . William of Wykeham , and Waynefleet , both bishops , Avere

Grand Masters in England ; several of our own bishops , both past and present , have been Masters of lodges . What then becomes of the Pope ' s history , and of what force are his denunciations ? Masonry has always remained the same ; its

principles are unchanged ; the symbolical teachings ivere the same in the Oomo lodges as they are this day in the London ; the secrets are the same , the ceremonies are identical . The simple fact is , when the Masons ceased to be

workingsocieties , and were unnecessary for buildingchurches , Rome threAV Masonry on one side , like a useless plove ; more than this , Rome Avill neA er

sillier any intellectual movement over Avhich she has lost the control . When Masonry laid down the troAvel and the hod , practically , and confined itself to the speculative teaching , Avhich Avas once marvellously united to every stone in the building ,

then the Church of Rome quarrelled Avith the institution because it presumed to Avork out a system of morality and religion upon the same foundation of revelation Avith the Church , but quite distinct from the Church , yet in agreement Avith the

fundamental doctrines of the Church , at the same time not interfering Avith any Mason ' s allegiance to the Church ; the cause of offence AA as , that this was done Avithout consulting or admitting any

ecclesiastical authority . This is the secret of Rome's unmitigated hatred of Masonry ; it is her insatiable desire to govenitho Avhole machine of thought and action by priestly hands ; Avhile Jesuits aud Inquisitors exist , the Pope can scarcely Avith a grave face

inveigh against clandestine meetings , vigorous oaths , and the atrocity of penalties and chastisements ! We are as certain that the monstrosities imputed by the Pope to Freemasonry ' are as false as that Freemasons have anything to fear from the

Yirgin Mary , " to AA'hom , " says the Pope , " it has been granted to overthroAV the enemicsof the Church and monstrous errors ; " or that the Pope will be " protected by tho blessed Apostles , Peter and Paul , " in his crusade against Freemasonry . One

great principle of Masonry is not to interfere with the peculiar religious forms of belief professed bv any of its members ; armed Avith this neutrality , the Freemason AA'ill listen Avithout dread to the invocation of saints to come down and extinguish

the Institution ; he Avill only be sorry that such an excess of mistaken zeal should be so uncharitabl y exercised ; for Ave read in the neAvspapers the assemblies of Freemasons are already disturbed by ignorant Roman Catholic mobs , AA-IIO are ready to

back the Pope's mild language Avith any amount of physical assistance . We know a considerable amount of prejudice exists against Masonry even in this country , j . erhaps chiefly because feminine curiosity remains

unsatisfied , or because an exelusire law shuts out the public . For its harmlessness ancl innocence , Ave might summon the testimony of the many eminent characters in the Avorld who have

sanctioned its proceedings from manhood to old age Avith their countenance ; for its benevolence , we can only point to the noble charities sustained from year to year Avith unostentatious muuificence ; for its influence , Ave can appeal to the friendly

understanding among Masons , and to their kindly offices one towards another . We are told by those Avho have pursued the real symbolical science of Masonry , that it is a fascinating study , demanding the fullest exercise of the mental faculties ; that it

applies the old scriptural system of instruction by emblem and figure to the acquisition of moral and scientific truths , which are grouped together , engage the memory , and captivate the imagination . This , we believe , is the real work of Masonry ; and , no doubt , where people have the requisite gifts , nothing can be more elevating or improving ,

but in the absence of such qualities the general body of Masons is content Avith superficial knowledge ; the brethren know enough to come in and go out of a lodge ; they are ready with their money for any emergency ; they are

given to good fellowship ; there is a freedom of thought which delights them when they are confident they are speaking in the bosom of a family AA'here there is no skeleton and no misinterpretation of the language used . This is the English aspect of Freemasonry—a set of open-hearted ,

good-humoured , charitable fellows , brimming over with benevolence , thinking no evil , somewhat mystified with signs ancl words , but on the Avhole merry and wise . How different from tho Pope ' s ideal slouched hats , dark clothes , daggers , manifestoes shrouded in A'apour , conspirators deadly against popes , and kings , and saints , and churches .