Freemasonry Contrasted With Intolerance.

Innocent III ., and fostered by his successors , one of whom , Gregory IX ., conferred on it unlimited power in 1223 . We see it subsequently extending over Italy and France , its dominion established in Spain ; we behold in it the bloody instrument of

Ferdinand of Arragon , and Isabella of Castile , in crushing the nobles and rendering the sovereign authority perfectly absolute . We see the holy office under Papal protection exercising control over property , freedom and life—irresponsible to

any laiv , regulated by no code , save the ivill of judges who never thought of justice but to outrage its every principle ; to Avhose diabolical hearts mercy ivas a stranger—from whose iniquitous tribunal there ivas no possibility of appeal—from

whose infernal machinations there ivas no security , and the ingenuitv of whose tortures inflicted in O _ J the name of God appeared as if the inspiration of Satan . To trace its record is unnecessary , they are inscribed in the blackest pages of history , they are condemned by every Christian , and execrated by every freeman .

We read in history of the fall of many nations , ive see in its pages the record of various revolutions , we can point to changes wrought by the sword of the warrior , or the design of the statesman iu many lauds , we can adduce numberless

instances of the poiver of public opinion nerving the arm of popular force , hurling croivns from the heads of tyrants — wresting sceptres from the grasp of despots—changing persecuted provinces into independent states , and attesting ' the power

of man when lie indignantly refuses chains and claims freedom as his birthright . Pursue our reflections still further , and from nations direct our observations to societies . The Illuminati can nowhere be found—tyranny found her grave in

the ruins of the Inquisition—the Carbonari are annihilated—the Holy Yelnn is no more—all founded on tyranny , based on guilt , and stained by blood , have perished . One , sustained by virtue , sanctified by religion , resting on Divine

laiv , and having for its objects glory to Gocl ancl peace to mau , has survived the wreck of ages— - its constitution unchanged and unchangeableits brilliancy unquenched and unquenchable . Such is the glorious , the time-honoured Order of

Free and Accepted Masons . Time is the test of excellence ; for the mercy of Heaven in many instances spares the guilty , and Eternal Majesty often refrains from signal punishment on the scoffers of His ordinances and the violators of His

law ; it is inconsistent ivith our belief m the justice of the Deity to suppose that he would permit the uninterrupted existence from remotest antiquity of a society , whose principles , at variance with Divine revelation , tended to debase and demoralise all Ai'ho become enrolled in its ranks . Its

existence during ages is in itself sufficient evidence that the all-seeing eye of its Omnipotent Author watches over it . His boundless and uncontrollable poiver sustains it . It is as a majestic tree ivhose roots are firmly planted in the centre , and whose

foliage overshadows the surface of the earth . The storms of centuries have sivept by it unmovedthe revolutions of states have left it uninjured—¦ kings and potent monarchs have deemed it thengreatest glory to be engrafted on its branches ,

ancl have experienced more heartfelt consolation beneath , its hallowed shade than in wearing the diadem of royalty , or swaying the sceptre of dominion . And yet this is the Institution sought to be demolished by the Pope and his satellites .

The days are gone by ivhen men of education and independence can be told that they must surrender their judgment on the mere dictum of a bishop , or the mandate of a priest . Divine Providence has given a poiver to the most

ignorant peasant to discriminate between right and wrong . It is needless to detail the benefits conferred on society in general by the Masonic Order ;

but it effects one good at least , which may be estimated by those outside its pale—it softens down the rancorous feelings of sectarian prejudice aud political partisanship . Bound to our Catholic brother Masons by a tie as sanctified as it is

sublime , wo abhor that narrow-minded bigotry ivhich loads one man to dislike another , solely because he worships the same Cod at a different altar , whilst the Catholic , reciprocating this feeling , vies ivith his Protestant brother in a noble

rivalship—the' rivalship of kindness and philanthropy . HOAV often ivhen the fierce passions of man Avere let loose—when vcugeauce seemed his all-absorbing object—ivhen intoxicated , as it ivere , with blood , his arms laid level for the charge , his mind

bent on carnage—how often under the influence of such feelings , amidst the pealing of musketry , and the thunder of artillery , has the sign of the Mason proved the best passport to safety , and stayed the uplifted hand ere it ivas imbrued in a

brother ' s blood . Yet this is the bond which Pope Pius IX . aud his bishops and priests proclaim iniquitous .