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Article FREEMASONRY IN FRANCE. ← Page 2 of 2 Article FREEMASONRY IN FRANCE. Page 2 of 2
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Freemasonry In France.
Did they speak of death and the day of the last judgment ? No , their speeches were less super-human They taught the eternal laws of humanity , reminded their brethren of their rights aud duties ,
spoke of the mission of their immortal institution , of its incessant struggle against ignorance and destitution : they asked their audience to build Tip the social fabric , which being founded on fraternity and liberty , must have fraternity for its
apex . Really I have read nothing of all this in your pastoral letter , Monseigneur . " These sayings and doings are mere show and hypocrisy , " said I to myself , lulling myself in this hope ; and man , manifesting himself in his true character when under the influence of liquor , I
waited to see my Freemasons at the table spread ¦ underneath the splendid cupola ot the Alcazar . I had heard so much of the orgies of this eating ¦ and , drinldng society . One more sad disappointment was in stoi-e for me . I found myself in
presence of a scanty meal , altogether unworthy of a clerical table . Indeed , sundry extravagant toasts were proposed , but I heard the same ringing voices ; only , to electrify all those present , but one word was sufficient—Justice ! sovereign
reason , Libert } ' ! A more powerful wind never excited a more sympathetic audience . You might have imagined a sea lashed by a mighty storm . The banquet closed at an early hour . In vain I looked under the table before leaving for some disjecta membra of the "hideous family" foaming and snoring .
Now , setting aside all party considerations , it must be admitted that Lyons has witnessed a most successful Masonic festival . And is this the result that might have been expected from your pastoral letters and syllabuses ? Should our aged
archbishop by stamping on the ground and shaking his crosses have succeeded only in raising legions of infidels ? Dies irce , dies ilia ! Your eminence might have foreseen the triumph of Freemasomy at Lyons , and Lyons passing under
the sway of the accursed sect ! Forty years since , the Masonry of Lyons had become notorious ; its twelve lodges counted among their members , speakers and Avriters of distinction , they founded journals and reviews ,
initiated a course of lectures , earnestly sought to solve the highest philosophical and social questions . The twelve lodges centralised their forces , devoted their vast resources to coun-
Freemasonry In France.
teract destitution and catastrophes , erected schools , established refuges and benevolent societies , altogether displayed the banner of Freemasonry , holding it high with a firm and powerful hand .
Monsieur de Bonald appeared . The banner seemed to hide itself ; the lodges frightened , as it seemed , wrapt themselves in silence , and were thrown into the background . The presses became extinct through which the civilising motto had
glittered . You might have said that the Masonry of Lyons sleeping hollow as it were , had left off altogether devoting its attention to the way in which the thing's of the world went on . And now it is awake again—you know how it came to pass .
Adepts have met one another , vigorous , energetic , devoted adherents . They have united their isolated efforts into a bundle , they have created that concord on which life and strength depend . And the morrow is theirs ! Shortly we shall see
gatherings , powerful in number , powerful in strength , a queer Masonic press resurgiug in our mitlst , and the brother orators , from their platforms and their cathedrals , laying hold of aud dealing with authority and succes with those great social questions in the solution of which mankind is interested .
As in Lyons , so everywhere , the Masonic army will put itself in motion . AVe shall see the various rites amalgamated and welded together , and then there will be unity of power as of principles , teachings and aims ; and then Ereemasonry which
has already done so much for the future regeneration of mankind will do still more . And then , Messeigneurs , unless you can find something more efficient and powerful than your anathemas and excommunications , your banishments , your
hangmen , your swords and your piles ; you will have to dig your own graves with the ends of your golden crosses . We are the quick , and you are the dead .
W HES the British Archaeological Association were inspecting the gallery of paintings at Charlton House , attention being called to the picture of St . Joseph working as a carpenter , assisted hy the child Jesus , Sir . Black said he wished that St . Joseph had been represented in his proper sphere as a mason , the original term used signifying architect , builder , or mason ,
and not carpenter . The term carpenter , he urged , was undoubtedly au error , as in the climes where St . Joseph dwelt no wood was used in the erection of the structures of their houses , but stono only .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry In France.
Did they speak of death and the day of the last judgment ? No , their speeches were less super-human They taught the eternal laws of humanity , reminded their brethren of their rights aud duties ,
spoke of the mission of their immortal institution , of its incessant struggle against ignorance and destitution : they asked their audience to build Tip the social fabric , which being founded on fraternity and liberty , must have fraternity for its
apex . Really I have read nothing of all this in your pastoral letter , Monseigneur . " These sayings and doings are mere show and hypocrisy , " said I to myself , lulling myself in this hope ; and man , manifesting himself in his true character when under the influence of liquor , I
waited to see my Freemasons at the table spread ¦ underneath the splendid cupola ot the Alcazar . I had heard so much of the orgies of this eating ¦ and , drinldng society . One more sad disappointment was in stoi-e for me . I found myself in
presence of a scanty meal , altogether unworthy of a clerical table . Indeed , sundry extravagant toasts were proposed , but I heard the same ringing voices ; only , to electrify all those present , but one word was sufficient—Justice ! sovereign
reason , Libert } ' ! A more powerful wind never excited a more sympathetic audience . You might have imagined a sea lashed by a mighty storm . The banquet closed at an early hour . In vain I looked under the table before leaving for some disjecta membra of the "hideous family" foaming and snoring .
Now , setting aside all party considerations , it must be admitted that Lyons has witnessed a most successful Masonic festival . And is this the result that might have been expected from your pastoral letters and syllabuses ? Should our aged
archbishop by stamping on the ground and shaking his crosses have succeeded only in raising legions of infidels ? Dies irce , dies ilia ! Your eminence might have foreseen the triumph of Freemasomy at Lyons , and Lyons passing under
the sway of the accursed sect ! Forty years since , the Masonry of Lyons had become notorious ; its twelve lodges counted among their members , speakers and Avriters of distinction , they founded journals and reviews ,
initiated a course of lectures , earnestly sought to solve the highest philosophical and social questions . The twelve lodges centralised their forces , devoted their vast resources to coun-
Freemasonry In France.
teract destitution and catastrophes , erected schools , established refuges and benevolent societies , altogether displayed the banner of Freemasonry , holding it high with a firm and powerful hand .
Monsieur de Bonald appeared . The banner seemed to hide itself ; the lodges frightened , as it seemed , wrapt themselves in silence , and were thrown into the background . The presses became extinct through which the civilising motto had
glittered . You might have said that the Masonry of Lyons sleeping hollow as it were , had left off altogether devoting its attention to the way in which the thing's of the world went on . And now it is awake again—you know how it came to pass .
Adepts have met one another , vigorous , energetic , devoted adherents . They have united their isolated efforts into a bundle , they have created that concord on which life and strength depend . And the morrow is theirs ! Shortly we shall see
gatherings , powerful in number , powerful in strength , a queer Masonic press resurgiug in our mitlst , and the brother orators , from their platforms and their cathedrals , laying hold of aud dealing with authority and succes with those great social questions in the solution of which mankind is interested .
As in Lyons , so everywhere , the Masonic army will put itself in motion . AVe shall see the various rites amalgamated and welded together , and then there will be unity of power as of principles , teachings and aims ; and then Ereemasonry which
has already done so much for the future regeneration of mankind will do still more . And then , Messeigneurs , unless you can find something more efficient and powerful than your anathemas and excommunications , your banishments , your
hangmen , your swords and your piles ; you will have to dig your own graves with the ends of your golden crosses . We are the quick , and you are the dead .
W HES the British Archaeological Association were inspecting the gallery of paintings at Charlton House , attention being called to the picture of St . Joseph working as a carpenter , assisted hy the child Jesus , Sir . Black said he wished that St . Joseph had been represented in his proper sphere as a mason , the original term used signifying architect , builder , or mason ,
and not carpenter . The term carpenter , he urged , was undoubtedly au error , as in the climes where St . Joseph dwelt no wood was used in the erection of the structures of their houses , but stono only .