Memoirs Of The Freemasons At Naples.

the rest of the prisoners were exposed on a public scaffold , bound hand and foot in chains , with the executioner at their side ; and , in this situation , the Emperor ' s decree for sparing their lives was read to them . In 1823 , Pope Pius VII . died , and the Cardinal Vicar , Delia Gengawas elected his successorand assumed

, , the name of Leo XII . He had the character of being a man of great learning , and of irreproachable morals ; and the moderate party in Naples rejoiced at his election , believing that the reli gious restrictions of the former Pope would be abolished . But it was soon proved that Leo XII . Avas a greater bigot than his predecessor .

The little " society " that we formerly alluded to , who simply denominated themselves " Christians , " spread throughout the Kingdom of Naples . They never interfered in any way Avith politics , and were accounted holy and virtuous ; their meetings were solely for prayer and jiraise to the G-. A . O . T . U ., taking the Bible for their

guide in all things . What , then , was their dismay Avhen , early in the year 1821 , an Encyclic Letter , or species of pastoral charge , addressed to the patriarchs , primates , archbishops , and bishops of the Eoman Catholic Church , was promulgated , whicli peculiarl y affected their Christian society .

"A sect , " said his Holiness in this letter , " arrogating to itself the false name of philosophy , has raised from their ashes the dispersed phalanxes of almost all errors . This sect , covered externally Avith the flattering appearances of piety and liberty , professes tolerantion ( for thus they call it ) or indifference , and extends it not only to civil affairs , of Avhich we do not speak , but even to those of religion , teaching that Gf-od has given men

an entire liberty , so that every one may , without danger to his salvation , embrace or adopt the sect or opinion that pleases him , according to his private judgment . " God , " continues his Holiness , " who confounds the wisdom of the Avise , seems to have given up the enemies of His Church , and the detractors of supernatural

revelation , to a reprobate sense , and to that mystery of iniquity which was written on the forehead of the shameless woman , of whom the Apostle St . John speaketh ; for Avhat greater iniquity is there than to see these proud men not only abandon the true reli gion , but to attempt to surprise the simple by sophisms of all sorts ,

and by Avords and writings full of artifice ? Let God arise ; let him repress , let him confound , let him annihilate this unbridled licentiousness of speaking , writing , and publishing writings ! " Tlie observations of his Holiness on Bible societies spoke still more unequivocall y the Head of that Church ,

the very essence of which is to admit no variation of doctrine , hut to remain the same yesterday , to-day , and for ever . He thus addresses the clergy : —

" You avo not ignorant , my venerable brethren , that a society commonly called a Bible society , is audaciously spreading through the earth , and thafc , in contempt of the traditions of the holy fathers , and against the celebrated decree of tlie Council of Trent , it endeavours , ivith all its powers , and by every means to translate , or rather to corrupt , the Holy Scriptures into the vulgar tongues of all nations , which

gives just reason to fear that , in all other translations , the same thing- may happen which has happened with regard to those alread y known , namel }' , that we may there find , a bad interpretation , and , instead of the Gospel of Christ , the gospel of men , or , what is worse , the gospel of the devil . "Many of our predecessors . have made laws to turn aside this scourge ; and we , also , brethren , in the discharge of our apostolic duty , exhort you to remove your flocks with care and earnestness from this fatal pasture . Reprove , entreat , insist upon all occasions , with all doctrine and patience , in

order that the faithful , attaching themselves exactly to the rules of our congregation of the Index , may be persuaded that , if they let the Holy Scriptures be indiscriminately translated into the vulgar tongues , there will result , in consequence of the rashness of men , more evil than good .

"Such , venerable brethren , is the tendency of this society , which , besides , omits nothing for the accomplishment of its impious wishes , for it boasts not only of printing the translations , but of disseminating them by going through the towns , and , even to seduce the simple , sometimes ifc sells them , and sometimes , with a perfidious liberality , chooses to distribute them gratuitously . "

The very priests Avho had once been leaders and companions of the Carbonari , and who had assisted in their deeds , Avere UOAV witnesses against them—their judges and persecutors . The Canon Arcucci , Avho in their prosperity had been an ardent admirer of the society , and had written several books in their favournow became

, their bitterest enemy . He Avrote letters in Latin to the Pontiff " , and others in the vulgar tongue to Ferdinand , confessing his own fault , expatiating upon the crimes of the Carbonari , whom he had just before held up to honour , and imploring jiardon for himself , Avhich he obtained , though at this time he Avas an exile . Other priests and

Jesuits revealed the names of their former comrades , and some even boasted of haA'ing perjiu-ed themselves to the Constitutional Government . In Aversa , Bishop Tommasi became a public informer against all political offenders , and against all persons who had been members of secret societies . By means of secret spies , he sought

out cases , made accusations , and instigated the Government to punish , evidently hoping by such zeal to obtain a cardinal ' s chair . Through his agency a priest of the name of Monnile was accused ancl condemned , not because he was a . political offender , but for refusing to co-operate with his bishop in persecutions which he considered unjust ; he was a man hi ghly respected in his native place ; and the support of several poor members

of his family . His relations hoped , by repeated supplications and entreaties , to soften the anger of his persecutor ; but one day , apparentl y annoyed by their repeated prayers , he exclaimed , " So long as it shall please God to retain me Bishop of Aversa , so long shall Monnile remain in prison ! " This was said in answer

to a petition from a young memberpf his family , named Carmine Mormile : the boy Avas silent , and departed Avith the rest of his family from the palace . The bishop Avas in tlie constant habit of driving in his carriage in the evening for recreation ^ young Mormile Avas aAvare of this , and a feAV hours after these words had been utteredthe boy

, took his station in tlie public square ; presently the bishop ' s carriage appeared , and the poor youth boldly called him by name , and ^ tlien discharged a pistol which he had concealed in his dress at the bishop ' s breast , exclaiming , as he observed the fatal effect of his aim , " Now thou art no longer Bishop of Aversa ; may God

prove the truth of thy words ! " The poor boy wandered about the suburbs of the city without shelter and food for three days ; he Avas then discovered by the police and brought to justice , and the next day he was executed on the very spot Avhere he had satiated his revenge . In Palermo the Carbonari were very numerous , but

afraid to meet openly ; they held certain nocturnal meetings in grottoes in the district of Santo S pirito , about a mile distant from the city . The police having received information of their practices , surprised them one ni ght ( when only fourteen Avere assembled ) armed , and decorated AAdth the badges of the society . They had been denounced b y five of their associates , Avho , from malice , or to provide for their own safet y , had betrayed their place of meeting , their plans , and intentions ; " and thus