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Memoirs Of The Freemasons Of Naples. No. I.
MEMOIRS OF THE FREEMASONS OF NAPLES . No . I .
LONDON , SATURDAT , FFBBTTABT 10 , 1801 .
[ Recent events in -Naples having dn'eeted the attention of all men on Naples and its inhabitants , the following sketch relative to our Craft in Naples will probably prove interesting to our readers . ] The Society of Freemasons had existed for a long time
in many of the Sicilian States , when a Greek , arriving at Naples about the middle of the last century , established a lodge there . Accustomed to live encircled by their faithful friends , these habits proved their greatest strength . They readily procured persons -who appeared
to them most worthy of confidence , and iu a little time a great number of men of distinction , and of the first families in Naples , were initiated into the society . Astonished to see they were so well supported , not reflecting that this Order has virtue for its founder , they were
surprised at their rapid increase , and proud of their infant institution . They had scarcely tasted the sweets of this establishment , however , when King Charles , who then reigned at Naples , was accidentally informed of the assemblies , and of the persons Avho composed them .
The society , for want of time , had not yet exhibited at Naples those benign effects which always flow from it , nor produced those fruits which hare deservedly procured for it the protection of the greatest men of all ages . These consist in examples of virtuous actions , foundations in favour of the poor and aged , receptacles
for the orphan , and seminaries of instruction for the rising generation . The innocent mystery by which the society is preserved , or some abuse , perhaps , which often will dishonour the most noble designs , alarmed the King for the security of his religion , and for the safety of the
State . The existence of this society offended the monarch , and the rise of a , new Order , in which he was assured the first courtiers had secretly enrolled themselves , all added reasons for his publishing an edict in 1751 , which interdicted the Freemasons , and threatened to prosecute
them according to the laAvs , and . as disturbers of the public repose . About the same time , Benedict XIV . hurled the thunder of the Ckiu'ch against an Order which excelled the conclave as the sun outshines a twinkling star .
Some have imagined that his holiness was instigated to do this by the solicitations of the King of Naples , and others intimate , that , being himself a Mason , he thought he would thereby stifle suspicion , and calm the minds of the i gnorant and Aveak . We should be tempted to
put this conjecture upon it in reading the hol y bull , if it were sufferable to pass conjectures upon the edicts of this reli gious monarch . It is also mentioned that the Master of the lodge , overcome by the exigence of the times , and to preserve the society , was on the point of discovering to the king the social arcana of his Craft .
The Prince seemed , in fact , reconciled , and his silence at the effects of the edict appeared to be a tacit revocation . Many members who had opposed the Court on the Masonic prosecution obtained distinguished employs-One of them was charged with the education of the Prince , and became his confessor . The most zealous
members , who had been driven away for some time by this courtly storm , now came and made their liberal offerings on the altar of the society , which they had reluctantly postponed from the temper of the times . The society was insensibly re-animated at Naples , became
more numerous than ever , and more zealous , because it was still in its youth . - Brotherly love , that heavenly gift—the most efficacious in consoling the miseries of this life , and too often unknown to kings , appeared now to expand its blessings through the whole city .
The Grand Lodge of London being considered as the soiu'ce of Masonic legislation , that of Naples obtained statutes and permission for forming their Provincial Grand Lodge . New motives engaged them afterivards " to separate , and after having formed themselves into a
National Lodge , it contracted alliances with the \ mited society of Germany . They afterwards established new lodges in the . kingdoms of Sicily and Naples .
Charles , becoming King of Spam , intended to place the crown of the Two Sicilies on the head of Ferdinand the Fourth , his son . This young Prince was invested ivith public authority at an age when men begin to think and act for themselves , and to make choice between tho object of their esteem or disapprobation . His character
was aided by judgment ; and the good of his people , with the embellishment of his States , formed the most striking fruits of his political life .
During his youth , when no pains had been spared to impress on his pliant mind opinions the most inimical and prejudicial to the Freemasons , he noticed among them one of the most respectable and esteemed of his cotu'tiers . His mind , the irreconcilable enemy of prejudice , was rejoiced at this discovery . He now had an
opportunity of learning , from a man in whom he placed the greatest reliance , those details which increased his " esteem and veneration for the society . He xe & ected within himself that from , the earliest periods they had numbered among their Order persons the most
respectable—prelates , bishops , cardinals , sages , princes , and monarchs . He recollected that one of the greatest heroes in Em'ope glorified in the title of Grand Master , and he regarded this quality as the sole consolation for human misfortunes , and the necessary effusion of human bloocL
Two kings , one of whom occupied the first throne in the world , Avhile the other aspired to the epithet of the first of men , enjoyed , in the bosom of the society , a goodness of heart which cannot be conferred by the Crown or the purple . The young King of Naples , informed of these
circumstances , felt his bosom animated by the purest sentiments of humanity and benevolence . In a short time he was desirous of becoming a member of an Order which offered to him the most refined pleasures ..
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Memoirs Of The Freemasons Of Naples. No. I.
MEMOIRS OF THE FREEMASONS OF NAPLES . No . I .
LONDON , SATURDAT , FFBBTTABT 10 , 1801 .
[ Recent events in -Naples having dn'eeted the attention of all men on Naples and its inhabitants , the following sketch relative to our Craft in Naples will probably prove interesting to our readers . ] The Society of Freemasons had existed for a long time
in many of the Sicilian States , when a Greek , arriving at Naples about the middle of the last century , established a lodge there . Accustomed to live encircled by their faithful friends , these habits proved their greatest strength . They readily procured persons -who appeared
to them most worthy of confidence , and iu a little time a great number of men of distinction , and of the first families in Naples , were initiated into the society . Astonished to see they were so well supported , not reflecting that this Order has virtue for its founder , they were
surprised at their rapid increase , and proud of their infant institution . They had scarcely tasted the sweets of this establishment , however , when King Charles , who then reigned at Naples , was accidentally informed of the assemblies , and of the persons Avho composed them .
The society , for want of time , had not yet exhibited at Naples those benign effects which always flow from it , nor produced those fruits which hare deservedly procured for it the protection of the greatest men of all ages . These consist in examples of virtuous actions , foundations in favour of the poor and aged , receptacles
for the orphan , and seminaries of instruction for the rising generation . The innocent mystery by which the society is preserved , or some abuse , perhaps , which often will dishonour the most noble designs , alarmed the King for the security of his religion , and for the safety of the
State . The existence of this society offended the monarch , and the rise of a , new Order , in which he was assured the first courtiers had secretly enrolled themselves , all added reasons for his publishing an edict in 1751 , which interdicted the Freemasons , and threatened to prosecute
them according to the laAvs , and . as disturbers of the public repose . About the same time , Benedict XIV . hurled the thunder of the Ckiu'ch against an Order which excelled the conclave as the sun outshines a twinkling star .
Some have imagined that his holiness was instigated to do this by the solicitations of the King of Naples , and others intimate , that , being himself a Mason , he thought he would thereby stifle suspicion , and calm the minds of the i gnorant and Aveak . We should be tempted to
put this conjecture upon it in reading the hol y bull , if it were sufferable to pass conjectures upon the edicts of this reli gious monarch . It is also mentioned that the Master of the lodge , overcome by the exigence of the times , and to preserve the society , was on the point of discovering to the king the social arcana of his Craft .
The Prince seemed , in fact , reconciled , and his silence at the effects of the edict appeared to be a tacit revocation . Many members who had opposed the Court on the Masonic prosecution obtained distinguished employs-One of them was charged with the education of the Prince , and became his confessor . The most zealous
members , who had been driven away for some time by this courtly storm , now came and made their liberal offerings on the altar of the society , which they had reluctantly postponed from the temper of the times . The society was insensibly re-animated at Naples , became
more numerous than ever , and more zealous , because it was still in its youth . - Brotherly love , that heavenly gift—the most efficacious in consoling the miseries of this life , and too often unknown to kings , appeared now to expand its blessings through the whole city .
The Grand Lodge of London being considered as the soiu'ce of Masonic legislation , that of Naples obtained statutes and permission for forming their Provincial Grand Lodge . New motives engaged them afterivards " to separate , and after having formed themselves into a
National Lodge , it contracted alliances with the \ mited society of Germany . They afterwards established new lodges in the . kingdoms of Sicily and Naples .
Charles , becoming King of Spam , intended to place the crown of the Two Sicilies on the head of Ferdinand the Fourth , his son . This young Prince was invested ivith public authority at an age when men begin to think and act for themselves , and to make choice between tho object of their esteem or disapprobation . His character
was aided by judgment ; and the good of his people , with the embellishment of his States , formed the most striking fruits of his political life .
During his youth , when no pains had been spared to impress on his pliant mind opinions the most inimical and prejudicial to the Freemasons , he noticed among them one of the most respectable and esteemed of his cotu'tiers . His mind , the irreconcilable enemy of prejudice , was rejoiced at this discovery . He now had an
opportunity of learning , from a man in whom he placed the greatest reliance , those details which increased his " esteem and veneration for the society . He xe & ected within himself that from , the earliest periods they had numbered among their Order persons the most
respectable—prelates , bishops , cardinals , sages , princes , and monarchs . He recollected that one of the greatest heroes in Em'ope glorified in the title of Grand Master , and he regarded this quality as the sole consolation for human misfortunes , and the necessary effusion of human bloocL
Two kings , one of whom occupied the first throne in the world , Avhile the other aspired to the epithet of the first of men , enjoyed , in the bosom of the society , a goodness of heart which cannot be conferred by the Crown or the purple . The young King of Naples , informed of these
circumstances , felt his bosom animated by the purest sentiments of humanity and benevolence . In a short time he was desirous of becoming a member of an Order which offered to him the most refined pleasures ..