Memoirs Of The Freemasons Of Naples.

MEMOIRS OF THE FREEMASONS OF NAPLES .

LONDON , SATURDAY , AUGUST 10 , 1861 .

( Continued from p . 84 . ) Francis I . King of Naples ancl the Tivo Sicilies , died November 7 th , 1830 . He left to his successor an aristocracy immersed in pleasure and in vice , a people sunk in ignorance and superstition , taught hy the example of their rulers contempt for law , and governed by the

scaffold , by torture , by the police , and Swiss soldiers . His Majesty , though , he gave much promise of improved Government before he came to the throne , showed no disposition Avhen in power to fulfil the expectations which he had raised . He did not act the Kins of the Lazzaroni lite his father ; nor did he kill in his time so many wild

boars and fish ; yet he was equally despotic in his Government . It Avas a saying of the old king , that the people could only be governed by the three f ' s , meaning by that , the initial letters of the three words , festa , forza , and furca ( or festivities , force , ancl the gallows ); and though Francis did not so cordially enjoy these means of power

, he never thought of any better i-eceipe for good Government . The accession of Ferdina d II . was hailed by the people as a joyful eA * ent ; for in every neAV king they hoped for an amelioration of their condition , and more liberty allowed to the subject .

Ferdinand ' s first act Avas a general amnesty which excited a transport of joy throughout the nation . All who had been banished the country were at liberty to return . Numerous offices , Avhich , in the preceding reign had been

given to the favourites of the sovereign and the ministers , were abolished by Ferdinand ; while he established a tribunal for the examination of disputed points of law , and for purposes of justice . This last measure greatly increased his popularity ; and Naples appeared once more peaceful and happy . An attempt was made in 1833 to again establish a

Freemasons' Lodge in Naples , and the preliminaries had already been prepared , Avhen they were startled by the suspicions raised that the neAV members belonged to the Young Italy party , a society that Avas then making rapid strides in Naples ; its founder Avas Joseph Mazzini , a Genoese , ancl it first sprung into existence in Piedmont .

Mazzini had sent an address to the King of Sardinia , and to Ferdinand praying for a constitutional statute . For this act he was forced into exile , and from that time laid the scheme for a union of all Italy under a republican form of Government . The end proposed by the societof Young Italwas

y y to regenerate the political condition of the country ; their means , the union of the Federalists throughout the Peninsular and the adjacent islands ; ancl the measure for its attainment , a general revolution . None were admitted into the society who had passed the age of forty , or Avho had been stainecl by crime . The founders

commenced their Avork by publishing a neAVspaper , entitled La Giovine Italic , containing a series of articles upon polities , morals , and literature , all tending to promote a democratic Government . The scheme met Avith little

encouragement at first , even from the most liberal Neapolitans , Avho ridiculed it as Utopian ; but as Mazzini assured them that the idea would Avork marvels in Upper and Central Italy , they agreed while rejecting it fundamentally , to accept it as a subsidary means ; and thus the members became numerous in every part of Najiles and Sicily . * It was , as we before said , suggested , that the

Freemasons' had something to do with this movement , but it was aftei-Avards ascertained that not a single member of this fraternity belonged to the society of Young Italy . Remembering , hoAvever , the persecutions they had before endured , and knoAving that the Pope had issued numerous bulls against the Order and its members ; they determined

that the country was yet too unsettled for them to venture to hold their peaceful Masonic lodges . In 1837 secret societies -again sprang up resembling those of the Carbonari , though in a modified form , and spread their ramifications thoughout the Neapolitan kingdom . This societwas encouraged bAustriaand

y y , assumed the name of JPerdinandea , in compliment to the two Ferdinand ' s , reigning in Vienna and Naples , whose alliance vras cemented by a secret understanding that , when an opportunity occurred they were to share between them a considerable portion of the papal territories , north and south . * Their first strong opposition to the

Pope's authority is shewn on the death of Gregory XYI . Avhen Cardinal Mastai Ferretti was elected to the papal throne , Avho assumed the name of Pius IX . A paper Avas circulated throughout the States of the Church , in the name of the society of the Jferdinandea , containing words to this effect : " Most dear brothersthe religion

, of Christ is in danger ; the intruder Mastai is the persecutor ; he is at the head of Young Italy , and desires the total subversion of this church . ' Brothers , as you are the worshippers of the true God do not suffer this calamity . We are strong , we are inanj * . On our right Ferdinand Ion our left Ferdinand II . The germ of

, liberty must be destroyed , and shall be the word on Avhich AA * e will all take up arms for vengeance . The day shall arrive Avhich will confer eternal renoAA'n on us , and bringalong Avith it tremendous retribution . '" At Naples all

demonstrations in honour of the new Pope AA ere strictly forbidden , and prints or plaster busts of Pius not alloAved to be sold ; the pontifieial journals containing his eulogies could only be surreptitiously carried across . the frontiers ; to read them was a crime ; and to name the Pope rendered the speaker amenable to the poHce . f But as it Avas never our intention to ive a history of

g Naples , Ave shall proceed no further in describing the secret societies that sprung up in all parts of the kingdom . These , however , prevented the Freemason ' s from holding any lodges at Naples . "We have some accounts of their occasionally assembling , and even of new members being initiated , but it does not appear that they

were recognised by any mother lodge . Ferdinand II . was greatly under the influence of the Pope , and the Jesuits Avere much encouraged by him , and on their return to power , in 1845 , recommenced the trials for political offences by inquisition . Paid spies and secret informers Avere employed bthe

y Government in the year 1848 ; and by their aid the prosecutions attained monstrous proportions . The arrest of one person brought with it the imprisonment of a host of others—very often merely because they were acquainted with him , and jails all over the kingdom became full to repletion . Many prisoners Avere kept in

confinement , merely on suspicion , for two years . Among the other victims of despotism were two brother Masons , Avho , all their life long , had borne the inos exemplary characters . One was the venerable archdeacon Luca Samnela Gagaazzi- he Avas ninety years of age , ancl distinguished all 0 A er Europe for learning , especially in the science of political economy . He Avas imprisoned , he kneAV not for what . Age gave way under sufferings ; ancl before the crowning infamy of a mock