Freemasonry And The Pope.

which could pretend to nothing valuable , ever continue in it , or contribute towards supporting aud propagating it to posterity . ' " " The Bev . Bro . Br . Oliver , who has laboured earnestly in the cause of the Institution , says , ' Preemasonry is neither an e . vclusivo system of religion , nor does it tolerate the detestable principles of infidelity . It is a

teacher of morality , and contributes its powerful aid in that capacity to the salvation of souls by recommending and enforcing the duties of the second table , and by demanding an acquiescence , in the doctrines of the first . And this course of discipline is perfectly consonant with tho teaching of Christianity . When the lawyer asked the subtle question" > Vhich is the commandment

, of the law ? " Jesus said unto him , "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart , with ail thy soul , with all thy mind , and thy neighbour as thyself , " or , in other words , this is all that is required by the Jewish law for the salvation of man . '" "Again , the Bev . Bro . Thaddeus Mason Harris , of Massachusetts , says , 'It interests us also in duties and

engagements of humanity ; produces an affectionate concern for the welfare of all around us , and , raising us superior to every selfish view or party prejudice , fills the heart with unlimited goodwill to man . ' He also writes , ' In all countries and in all ages the true and accepted have been found to conduct themselves as peaceable citizensand acknowledged to be tho firm and

, decided supporters of good order , government , and religion . Its laws arc reason and equity , its principle * benevolence and love , and its religion purity and truth ; its intention is peace on earth , and its disposition goodwill towards men . '" "TheUey . Br . Milne , Grand Chaplain , in a sermon

preached before tho Grand Lodge of England in 1788 , says , 'I think we are warranted in contending that a society thus constituted , and which may be rendered so admirable an engine of improvement , far from meriting any reproachful or contumelious treatment , deserves highly of the community ; and that the ridicule and affected contempt which it has sometimes experienced

can proceed only from ignorance or arrogance from those , in fine , whose opposition does it honour , whose censure is panegyric , and whose praise would be censure . ' " "Wo have a rule , which , if universally observed , would produce more peace and happiness in tho world than , I am afraid , is to be found amongst mankind at present . It is a golden maxim ¦ applicable to all times

, and occasions , and cannot possibly fail in its operation . It was delivered by the divinity—taught in the Gospelrecognised in Freemasonry—and is equally beneficial to all orders and descriptions of men . These are the words , ' Whatsoever you would that men should do unto you , do ye also unto them . '"—Oliver ' s Symbol of Glory . " One of the most frequent objections raised against

Freemasonry is the profound secrecy observed upon certain parts of the Institution . To have secrets is not peculiar to Freemasonry . Every trade , every art , and every occupation has its secrets , not to be communicated but to such as havo become proficient in the science connected with them , nor then , but with proper caution and restrictionand often under the guard of

, heavy penalties . Charters of incorporation are granted by civil governments for their greater security , and patents for thoir encouragement . Nay , every government , every statesman , and every -individual has secrets which aro concealed with prudent care , and confided only to tho trusty and true . —How ' s Freemasons ' Manual .

"We ( Freemasons ) only claim a like indulgencethat of conducting ourselves by our own rules , and of admitting to a participation of our secrets and privileges such as choose to apply for them on our own terms . So far from wishing to deprive any one of the light we enjoy , wo sincerely wish all tho race of mon were qualified to receive it ; and , if so , our doors would never

be shut against them , but our lodge , our hearts , our souls would be open to their reception . "—How ' s Freemasons' Manual . " Although the origin of our fraternity is clouded with darkness , and its history is to a certain extent obscure , yet we can confidently say that it is the most ancient society in the world , and we are equally certain that its

principles are based on pure morality—that its ethics are the ethics of Christianity , its doctrines the doctrines of patriotism and brotherly love , and its sentiments the sentiments of exalted benevolence . Upon these points there can no doubt . All that is good , kind , and charitable it encourages ; all that is vicious , cruel , and oppressive it reprobates . "—Be Witt ClintonGovernor of

, the State of New York , 1824 . " Charity is tho chief corner stone of our temple , and upon it is to be erected a superstructure of all other virtues which make the good man and the good Mason . This charity of which our Order boasts is not alone that sentiment of conimisseration which leads us to assist the with pecuniary donations . The true Mason will be

poor slow to anger and easy to forgive . He will stay his falling brother by gentle admonition , and warn him with kindness of approaching danger . He will not open his ear to slanderers , and will close his lips against all reproach . His faults and his follies will be locked in his breast , and the prayer for mercy will ascend to Jehovah

for his brother ' s sins . Nov will tnese sentiments of beneficence be confined to those who are bound to him by ties of kindred or worldly friendship alone , but extending them throughout the globe , ho will love and cherish all who sit beneath the broad canopy of our universal lodge . For ib is the boast of our institution that a Mason destitute and worthy may find in every land a

brother , and in every clime a home . " Charity , in its benevolent signification , formsthebasis of the Masonic institution , and Freemasonry has especial regard to three stages of destitution—infancy , unavoidable misfortune , and extreme old age ; for all these , when proved worthy , relief is at hand . The destitute orphans of deceased brethren are placed in schools , where they

are clothed , taught , and fed-, where they are brought up in the practice of religion and virtue , and afterwards placed in situations where their previous training will make them good and worthy members of society , and for our aged brethren who have passed their lives in the practice of Masonic principles , and in tho decline of life misfortune overtakes themthey are entitled to the

pro-, visions of an asylum and an annuity fund . For sudden misfortune and calamity there is a large fund for immediate relief to the distressed brother or his widow and children , or for the assistance of a foreign Mason whose case is properly vouched for . " —How ' s Freemasons ' Manual .

It is well known that our institution has always "been under the ban of Rome , and unless it was to show the necessity for venting the spleen of the Papal court upon the French Emperor by a general anathema , in which he was included as a favourer of Freemasonry , we cannot divine the cause of this last outburst of wrath . His Holiness is compelled

to acknowledge the emptiness of the fulminations and excommunications of four predecessors , and yet vainly supposes the " bell , book , and candle " will terrorise Europe in the nineteenth century . The particular cause of the Papal ire is ostensibly

the attendance of the Archbishop of Paris at the obsequies of Marshal Magnan , but this is evidently intended as a blow on the Archbishop ' s sovereign .