(No. V.)—Priestly Opposition To Freemasonry In Prance.

" 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 undutifully to inferior magistrates . He is

cheerfully to conform to every lawful autho-The reverend father , in reply to this , admitted that he did not consider that there was anything unchristian in the Craft degrees sanctioned by the

Grand Lodge of England , and known as the Bite M-ancaise in France , but he said that in the higher degrees there were things done which were purposely concealed from the excellent men who joined the subordinate degrees , and which had lead

the Holy See to condemn the whole system . We pointed out the injustice of this , even if the charges were true , as in that case English Craft Masonry would be condemned for the sins of a body which it did not recognise in any way . But we also

assured the worthy father that the charges in question were utterly false as against any Masons . He then said Rome would never tolerate any

secret society whatever , nor allow any matters to be kept back at the confessional . Here he gave us the key to the entire question—the priesthood cannot endure that anything , however trivial , should remain undisclosed at confession , and from

their point of view we cannot say they are wrong , for the great power of the Catholic Church is built upon the basis of the confessional . We deplore this state of things , but fear it is irremediable . A suggestion has , however , been made to us by a

Catholic friend , who ardently desires to join our Order , but under existing- circumstances is debarred from so doing , that if the Earl of Zetland and the Grand Lodge of England were to memorialise the

Holy Father , it is not impossible that His Holiness might sanction the English degrees up to and including the Royal Arch . As we have alread y remarked , the priests admit that English Craft Masonry is very different to continental Masonry ,

and we fear this is partly true . If , then , the Pope could be induced to make an exception in favour of the English Order , a vast number of good and pious Catholics would immediately join us , and the English system would be brought into use in all

Catholic countries . The effort , it is true , might be all in vain , but it would certainly in any case be appreciated as a kindly act by our Catholic fellowcountrymen , many of whom would be bright ornaments to the Craft .

It will be remembered that when Pio Nono issued his famous Allocution against the Freemasons the Grand-Orient of Italy , then dating from Palermo , replied in a circular in which his Holiness was reminded that when he was Count

Mastiai Ferretti , and long before he had begun to indulge hopes of wearing the mitre of St . Peter , he received "the rite of Masonic baptism , and swore eternal brotherhood , according to the customary oath taken on such occasions . " In his

youth Pope Pius the Ninth , like Bro . Louis Napoleon , advocated principles directly opposite to those which he now professes and enforces . Indeed , it has been alleged that they both became Masons in order to use Masonry for their own

purposes , and that their subsequent conduct is dictated by fear lest others should copy their example . Napoleon III . is , however , by no means to be considered as an enemy of the Craft in the same sense as the Pope , although he has repeatedly acted unfraternally to his brethren .

The Pope doubtless believes that Garibaldi , " the first Mason of Italy , " has been assisted in his work of liberation by the Freemasons , and this may be true , for if the Roman Church deliberately excludes from her membership all those who join

our brotherhood , it is not to be wondered at that a spirit of retaliation should sometimes be aroused . It is needless to remark that there is nothing essentially Protestant in Freemasonry ; but , nevertheless , the Pope and all his priests are

making themselves Protestant missionaries when they attack Freemasonry , and we would suggest that the next time the dignitaries of the Roman Catholic Church proceed to cast up the number of converts which their reli gion is making , they should at the same time take into account the

large number of honest large-hearted Christian men who are repelled from their communion by their totally unnecessary and groundless vilification of Freemasonry ; and we rather think they will be startled at the result . Attempts to un-Christianise

or sectarianise the Craft are equally reprehensible ; and though appearances may be opposed to bright anticipations , we would fain hope that as " peace on earth and good-will toward men " become more widely extended , " so Freemasonry ,

being the noblest synonym for those Christian watchwords , may become even yet purer in its development , and still better understood by those who are members of the Order as well as by the oiitside world .