Freemasonry And The Pope.

light for tho common ruin of religion and human society . Immediately that our predecessors the Eoman pontiffs , faithful to their pastoral office , discovered its snares and frauds , they considered there was not a moment to lose in holding in check by their authority , and in striking and lacerating by a condemnatory sentence as with a sword this sect , pursuing crime and

attacking holy and public things . Our predecessor Clement XII ., by his apostolic letters , proscribed and rebuked this sect , and dissuaded all the faithful not only from joining it , but also from promoting or encouraging it in any manner whatever , since such an act would entail the penalty of excommunication , which the Eoman pontiff can alone remove . Benedict XIV .

confirmed by his Constitution this just and legitimate sentence of condemnation , and did not fail to exhort the Catholic sovereign princes to devote all their efforts and all their solicitude to repress this most immoral sect , and defend society against a common danger . Would to God these monarchs had listened to the words of our predecessor . Would to God that in so serious a matter

they had acted less feebly . In truth , neither we nor our fathers would then have had to deplore the many seditious movements , the many incendiary wars which have sot the whole of Europe in flames , nor the many bitter misfortunes which have afflicted and still afflict the Church . But the rage of the wicked being far from appeasedPius VII . our predecessorstruck with

, , , anathema a sect of recent origin , Cavbonarism , which had propagated itself , particularly in Italy ; and , inflamed by the same zeal for souls , Leo XII . condemned , by his apostolic letters , not only tho secret societies we have just mentioned , bnt all others , of whatever

appellation , conspiring against tho Church and the civil power , and warned all the faithful to avoid thorn under penalty of excommunication . Nevertheless , these efforts of the apostolic sec have not had the success expected . The Masonic sect of which we speak has not been vanquished nor overthrown ; on the contrary , it hps so developed itself that in theso troublous days it exists everywhere

with impnuit j ' , and carries an audacious front . We have , therefore , thought it our duty to return to this matter , since , perhaps , from ignorance of the guilty intrigues clandestinely carried on , an erroneous opinion may arise that the character of this society is inoffensive , that this institution has no other object than that of succouring menand assisting them in adversityand

, , that in this society there is nothing to fear for the Church of God . But who docs not comprehend how this sect departs from the truth ? AVhat is the object of this association of men belonging to all religions and every belief ? To what cud those clandestine meetings , and the religious oaths exacted from tho initiated , binding thorn never to reveal anything of

what may bo discussed ? Wherefore that unheard-of atrocity of penalties and cbatisemonts which the initiated bincf themselves to accept should they fail to keep their oath ? A society which thus avoids the light of day must surely be impious and criminal . 'Ho who does ill , ' says the Apostle , 'hates tho light . ' How different from such an association arc tho pious societies

of the faithful which flourish in tho Catholic Church ! with thorn there is no reticence , no obscurity . The law which governs them is clem- to all ; clear also av-o the works of charity practised according to the Gospel doctrine . Thus it is not without grief that wc have seen Catholic societies of this nature , so salutary and so well calculated to excite piety and succour the poor , attacked ,

and oven destroyed in sonic places , while , on the contrary , encouragement is afforded to secret Masonic societies , so inimical to the church -and to God . so dangerous even for the security of kingdoms . Venerable brethren , wo fo . el pain and bitterness to see that when it is requisite to rebuke this sect according to the constitutions of . our predecessors , some persons show themselves indulgent , almost supine ; whereas , in so grave a matter ,

the exigencies of their functions and their charges demand that they should display the greatest activit y . If these persons think that the apostolic constitutions fulminated under penalty of anathema , against occult sects and their adepts and abettors , have no force in the countries where the said sects aro tolerated by the civil power , they are assuredly very greatly in error . As you

are aware , venerable brethren , we have already rebuked , and now anew rebuke and condemn , the falsity of this evil doctrine . In effect-, can it be that the supreme power of pasturing and guiding the universal flock which the Roman Pontiffs received from Christ in the person of the blessed Peter , and the supreme power they must exercise in the church , should depend upon the civil

power , or could they for auy reason be constrained aud done violence to thereby ? Under these circumstances , for fear lest youth and unthinking men should allow themselves to be led astray in > . principle , and for fear our silence should offer any opportunity of protecting error , we have resolved , venerable brethren , to raise our Apostolic voice and

confirming here iu your presence , tho constitutions . of our predecessors , on tho part of our Apostolic authority we rebuke and condemn this Masonic society and the other societies of the same description , which , although differing in form , tend to the same end , and which conspire overtly or clandestinely against the church or legitimate power . We desire that the said societies should be held

proscribed and rebuked by us under tho same penalties as those which are specified iu tho previous constitutions of our predecessors , and this in the sight of all the faithful in Christ , of every condition , rank , and dignity , and throughout all the earth . There remains now nothing wanting to satisfy tho wishes and solicitude of our paternal heart than to warn and admonish the

faithful who should have associated themselves with sects of this character to obey in future wiser inspirations , and to abandon those fatal councils , in order that they may not bo dragged into the abyss of eternal perdition . As regards all others of the faithful , filled with solicitude for their souls , wo strongly exhort them to be upon their guard against the perfidious language of sectarians , who ,

under a fair exterior , are inflamed with a burning hatred against the religion of Christ and legitimate authority , and who have but one single thought and single endviz ., overthrow of alt rights , both human and divine . Lot them well understand that those affiliated to such sects aro like the wolves whom Christ our Lord prophesied would come disguised in sheep's clothing to

devour the flock ; let them , understand they are of the number of those whoso society the Apostle has also forbidden to us , eloquently prohibiting us from even saying unto them—Hail ! may the all-merciful God , hearing our prayers , grant that with the aid of His grace the insensate may return to reason , and those who have astray be led back to the path of justice . ' May

gone God grant that after the suppression of the depraved men who , by the aid of the above-mentioned societies , give themselves up to impious and criminal acts , the church and human society may be able to repose in some degree from such numerous and inveterate evils ! In order that our vows may bo heard let us also pray to our mediatrix with tho all-clement God , the most holy Virgin ,

that mother immaculate from her birth , to whom it has been granted to overthrow the enemies of the church and monstrous errors . Lot us equally pray for the protection of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul , by whoso glorious blood this noblo city has been sanctified . _ We have confidence that with their assistance and aid we shall the more easily obtain what we ask of tho divine bounty . "

We have commenced and purposed giving from time to time , as our space will allow , the various leadiii" - articles and extracts from some of the