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  • Dec. 2, 1865
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The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine, Dec. 2, 1865: Page 4

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    Article FREEMASONRY AND THE POPE. ← Page 3 of 3
Page 4

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

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 .

“The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine: 1865-12-02, Page 4” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 29 March 2023, masonicperiodicals.org/periodicals/mmr/issues/mmr_02121865/page/4/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
AN ACCOUNT OF ABORIGINAL FREEMASONRY IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. Article 1
FREEMASONRY AND THE POPE. Article 2
THE PROGRESS OF FREEMASONRY THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. Article 5
CLASSICAL THEOLOGY.—LXXXII. Article 5
SECRET SOCIETIES. Article 7
PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENTS. Article 8
FOOD FOR THE POOR. Article 9
AGRICULTURAL LIFE. Article 10
THE PEN-AND-INK SKETCHES OF ONE FANG. Article 12
MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES. Article 12
CORRESPONDENCE. Article 12
THE MASONIC MIRROR. Article 13
MASONIC MEMS. Article 13
METROPOLITAN. Article 13
PROVINCIAL. Article 15
ROYAL ARCH. Article 16
Untitled Article 16
MARK MASONRY. Article 17
Obituary. Article 17
PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS. Article 18
MEETINGS OF THE SCIENTIFIC AND LEARNED SOCIETIES FOR THE WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 9TH. Article 18
THE WEEK. Article 18
TO CORRESPONDENTS. Article 20
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

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 .

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