Freemasonry In Austria.

FREEMASONRY IN AUSTRIA .

— Ay ^ SfiAHB / or / LONDON , SATURDAY , JANTTAMi 4 , K 6 a G

Since the death , m lv 92 , of the Emperor Joseph II ., the ascendency of the Roman Catholic Clergy has withheld from the dominions of the " Sons of the Cassars" the blessings the institution of Freemasonry has conferred upon many of the nei

ghbouring . countries ; a temporary resumption of Masonic labours followed the dawn of libert y , in 1848 , but soon ceased again when , in 1849 , the national aspirations were suffocated with " poAvder and lead , " b y the hordes of the Windischgrsetzs ,

the Jellachichs ; and Haynaus . Since the revival of liberty and constitutional life in the empire , some of the brethren Avho are living scattered over the country have felt incumbent upon them the dut y of taking such steps as mi ght tend to resuscitate

Freemasonry as one of those elements most calculated to promote the welfare and prosperity of the country . To this effect Bro . LeAvis , on behalf of a number of brethren of Vienna and Pesth , has lately presented a petition to Count Belcredi , the

I . E . Minister of State , praying for the repeal of the edicts suppressing Freemasonry in Austria-Count Belcredi replied most laconically : — "I will consider this matter ; " but Ave have not yet heard of any decision . The following is the tenor of Bro . LeAvis ' s petition , Avhich Ave reproduce from a recent issue of the " Freimaurer Zeitung " : —

May it please your Excellency , —At a time when your Excellency is about to re-establish the condition of the Austrian Empire on a solid foundation , and so add fresh lustre to your historical name , I venture to approach your Excellency with a request to be alloAved to submit a proposal Avhich , in my opinion , is calculated in a great measure to contribute toAvards the consolidation of the

Empire , and to strengthen loyalty and affection for the Imperial dynasty in the hearts of its faithful lieges . As far back as 1848 I petitioned the then Home Minister , Baron Dobblhoff , for permission to establish a new lodge , or , rather , to re-establish the lodge " Zum Heiligen Joseph , " which had been in existence in former . The permission Avas readilgrantedindeed

years y ; , the labours of the lodge have been discontinued for several years past , but this is accounted for by the fact of martial law having been proclaimed soon after its foundation , and having transferred my residence to Pesth , I have ever since been prevented from petitioning for the resumption of the lodge labours , the discontinuance of which had originally been made dependent

only on the repeal of martial law . All the circumstances connected Avith this subject I have explained at full length in my " History of Freemasonry , " published by' Messrs . Zamarsky and Ditmarsh , to Avhich I beg to refer you for all particulars . _ In venturing , at the present moment , to humbly petition your Excellency for permission to resume the labours of the Lodge "Z . H . J ., " I am not taking this step without previous and mature reflection . In the first place , your Excellency ' s sterling character ,

your well-known love and justice , and the noble aspirations and endeavours yon have shown in the exalted position in which you are placed , Avarrant my confidence that your Excellency Avill judge favourably this institution , the fundamental objects of which are the advancement of humanity in its greatest purity , scientific

researches , and conservatiA'e progress ; and I trust , therefore , your Excellency Avill give time and leisure to a Vienna lodge to develope its true character , and show its pure and noble aspirations . It AA'Ould lead mo too far Avere I to attempt to refute all those objections that have been set forth against Masonic institutions in generaland the existence of a

, lodge in Vienna in particular . However , the refutation of these objections is so closely connected with the substantiation of my request that I will try to simultaneously solve both problems , at least approximately . As one of the first and prominent objections usually urged against Freemasonry , it is asserted that lodges are secret convents possessing revolutionary objects .

To this I reply , that Freemasonry has been originally an Order , and has been transformed to a confederation at a later period only ; that in its true and genuine form it tends to advance conservative , loyal , and monarchical objects , and to exhort to the fear of God , to humane charity and benevolence . In Austria in particular a lodge , were it to assume any political activity ( though

Masonry , according to its fundamental principles , strictly refrains from meddling with political or religious questions ) , would zealously endeavour to further the constitutional institutions that have been or Avill be granted by His Majesty the Emperor , to strengthen the compactness and consistency of the Monarchy , by conciliating the individual nationalitiesand draAving them near

, each other , to promote progress on a conservative platform ; it Avould , under all circumstances , tender its faithful services , and endeavour to be usefnl to the Imperial Government . The administrative guardianship and protectorate of

the lodge and the Avhole Institution would be conferred upon your Excellency , and thus your personal influence Avould be considerably and reliably strengthened . No doubt the Roman Catholic Church has declared Freemasonry to be suspected of heresy , but the suspicion alone has never warranted a prohibition of that Institution .

In former times , worthy Catholic priests have even participated in lodge labours . An objection from that quarter is the less admissible , as Masonry endeavours to the utmost of its power to advance the objects of humanity aud ethics , morals and fear of God . Freemasonry is noAvadays in full vigour in almost all States of Europeand lodges have been established in

, Spain and Turkey , and even in Some a lodge is in existence , though not authorised . Austria may be called the only country in Europe Avhere Freemasonry is not allowed by the State . Still , Austria having entered noAV on the path of steady progress , it is highly desirable that this institution also should be admitted progressively and to a limited

extent , so that the surveillance of the lodge should not involve too much trouble and expense , the more so , as many strangers Avould be happy to meet for Masonic purposes during a protracted sojourn in Austria . As regards more particularly the surveillance , I Avish to draw your attention to the position of lodges in the kingdom of Saxony , Avhen they are only tolerated , not

authorised . In that country the minutes of the lodge meetings are submitted to the Ministry , and the latter has always given them credit for eminent loyalty and noble and laudable aspirations . In many other countries Masonry occupies a very highstation , and counts amongst its ranks princes and members of the reigning families . There , the lodges form additional ties of devotion and fidelity between the head of the State and those of his subjects who belong