Freemasonry And The Pope.

FREEMASONRY AND THE POPE .

LONDON , SATURDAY , OCTOBER U , I 860 .

" The official Ghornale d % Roma publishes the allocution delivered b y the Pope in the recent Secret Consistory . In this his Holiness condemns secret societies , and particularly Preemasonry . He shows that Freemasonry has not

that object of charit y to which it lays claim , but ruins the Church ancl civil governments . In alluding to Freemasonry , he blamed the conduct of the Archbishop of Paris in being present at the funeral of Marshal Magnan , who was connected with the Grand Orient of France . The

Pope adverts to the oath and the secrets of the society , and deplores that it should be tolerated while reli gious and charitable institutions are abolished . His Holiness deplores also the silence of him whose duty it is to condemn Freemasonry ,

and himself pronounces a solemn condemnation upon it , threatening its adepts aud protectors with excommunication , and exhorting the faithful to abandon it . "—Times .

From this it would appear the poor , effete , old Pope , seeing the spread our Institution is making throughout the world—and , so near to him , in Italy—is desirous to show , ere the power he wields departs for ever , that he ( most probably the last

sovereign of the tri p le crown ) is in full vigour to denounce an Institution that teaches naught hut to claim from its members the promotion of peace on earth and goodwill to mankind . It is not to be expected , from the education priests of

the Romish Church generall y receive , that the Pope or the Sacred Consistory should know in what Preemasonry consists ; and their ignorance on all subjects save the Immaculate Conception ,

Transubstantiation , and other such absurd dogmas , necessaril y prevents the attainment cf the advancement of a knowledge of human intelligence and intellectual expansion of the mind throughout the globe . It is , however , to be regretted , for the

sake of the beni ghted followers of a worn-out creed , that the sacred consistory were a little more consistent , by making themselves acquainted with au Institution before they denounce it . ' Damn ant quod non intelligunt , " says Cicero .

Does Pio Nono read the classics ? He mi g ht find some useful hints in the Be Officiis , De Beneclute , and De Amicitia , of the most eloquent of the Romans ; or , if he has leisure , a careful stud y of

Dr . Oliver ' s Symbol of Glory mi g ht show him how identical are the principles of Christianity and Freemasonry . From the published works of the fraternity , we are enabled to show the uninitiated what we

are and what we teach . As an authoritative exponent of the principles of the Institution , we first call attention to two of the ancient charges of the "Book of Constitutions . " .

"A Mason is obliged , by his tenure , to obey the moral law ; and if he rightly understand the art he will never be a stupid atheist nor an irreligious libertine . He , of all men , should best understand that God seeth not as man seeth ; for man looketh at the outward appearance , but God looketh to the heart . A Mason is , therefore , particularly bound never to act against the dictates of

his conscience . Let a man ' s religion or mode of worship be what it may , he is not excluded from the Order , provided he believe in the Glorious Architect of Heaven and Earth , and practise the sacred duties of morality . Masons unite with the virtuous of every persuasion in the firm and pleasing bond of fraternal love ; they are taught to view the errors of mankind with compassion ,

and to strive , by the purity of their own conduct , to demonstrate the superior excellence of the faith they may profess . Thus Masonry is the centre of union between good men and true , and the happy means of

conciliating friendship amongst those who must otherwise have remained at a perpetual distance . "A Mason is a peaceable subject to the civil powers wherever he resides or works , and is never to be concerned in plots and conspiracies against the peace and welfare of the nation , nor to behave himself uudutifully to inferior magistrates . He is cheerfully to conform to

every lawful authority ; to uphold , on every occasion , the interest of the community , and zealously promote the prosperity of his own country . Masonry has ever flourished in times of peace , and been always injured by war , bloodshed , and confusion ; so that kings and princes , in every age , have been much disposed to encourage the Craftsmen on account of their peaceableness and loyalty ,

whereby they practically answer the cavils of their adversaries and promote the honour of the fraternity . Craftsmen are bound by peculiar ties to promote peace , cultivate harmony , and live in concord and brotherly love . "

Now let us quote some other authorities upon the subject : — " The Bev . Charles Broekwell , a minister of the Church of England , in a sermon preached before a Grand Lodge more than a century back , said , ' I have had the honour of being a member of this ancient and honourable society

for many years , have sustained many of its offices , and can , and do , own in this sacred place , and before the Grand Architect of the Universe , that I never could observe aught therein but what was justifiable and commendable according to the strictest rules of society , this being founded on the precepts of the Gospel , the doing the will of God , and subduing the passions , and

highly conducing to every sacred and social virtue . But not to insist on my own experience , the very antiquity of our Institution furnishes a sufficient ground to confute all gaiusayers . For no combination of wicked men for a wicked purpose ever lasted long ; the want of virtue , on which mutual trust and confidence is founded , soon divides and breaks them to pieces . Nor would men of unquestionable wisdom , known integrity , strict honour , undoubted veracity , and good sense , though they might be trepanned into a foolish and ridiculous society