The Pope And Freemasonry.

THE POPE AND FREEMASONRY .

LONDON , SATURDAY , OCTOBER 21 , 1865 .

The absurdity of the avalanche of invectives hurled by his Holiness against the class he describes as " vulgarly termed Masonic" almost pre-, eludes criticism , but yet it behoves us to make some remarks upon the subject on behalf of the Order .

Matters of religion we touch not upon , except those which are universal amongst Masons , and which include charity and love towards all men ; but it appears most iniquitous in our eyes that his Holiness should animadvert upon a class which has

ever exerted itself in promoting * the advancement of civilization , notwithstanding that the feebleness of the "Allocution" quite certifies in itself that it will receive but little attention on the part of educated men .

In all parts of the world the value of the Masonic Institution is so firmly established that no argument can either hide or hinder its extension . His Holiness complains that the brotherhood develops and extends with impunity ; this in itself

is an assumption that some wrong is committed by the class which appears so obnoxious to the Papal See . The institution of Masonry , upholding as ifc does all intellectr . al progress , must necessai'ily be

offensive to the ruler of the Vatican , whose empire , ever depending upon the slavery of the mind , now quickly fades—not as did the old Roman Empire , from the luxm-ious degeneracy of its monarchs , but because the improved education of the

multitude reveals to the mass the fallacies of the Papal pseudo-autocracy . The truly benevolent aud christian system supported by the Craft is instanced by the fact of the liberal support which there is rendered to all who

need assistance . In every quarter of the globe a -Freemason finds friendly aid . His connection with the Order is in itself sufficient to satisfy those who may be in a position to aid him , either by means or influence , if he himself is sincere , and the fact ° f his beins * one of the brotherhood is some

guarantee . Those who are acquainted , with the statistics ofthe subsci'i ptions annually received on account of the -Masonic Charities can judge of the accordance of deed with profession among the members of the U'aft , wherein may be seen a practical confutation of those insinuations which have been substituted

The Pope And Freemasonry.

for arguments . Based as the Masonic institutions are upon principles which are in themselves the pillars of Christianity , their foundations stand too firm to be shaken by the attacks of those who , fearing the liberal spirit they attempt to

intimidate , endeavour to work upon superstitions scarcely to be found in the most ignorant . There can be no doubt that Ereemasonry will yet extend " with impunity , " notwithstanding the carking of those who fear its influence in

promoting civilization and destroying that servile bondage desired by a degenerate priesthood ; but yet the Order is , to use the words of the poet , " Like some tall cliff that lifts its awful form , Swells from the vale , and midway leaves the storm , Around its base though clouds and tempests spread , Eternal sunshine settles on its head . "

Classical Theology.—Lxxxi.

CLASSICAL THEOLOGY . —LXXXI .

XI . —JUNO AND JANUARY . Virgil says , in praise of a country life , in his Second Georgics ( line 798 ) , — " Happy the man , who , studying nature ' s laws , Through known effects can trace the secret cause—His mind possessing in a quiet state ,

Fearless of Fortune and resign'd to Fate ! And happy , too , is ho , who decks the bowers Of Sylvans , and adores the rural powers—Whose mind , unmoved , the bribes of courts can see , Their glitfc ' ring baits , and purple slavery ; Nor hopes the people ' s praise , nor fears their frown ,

Nor when contending kindred tear the crown , Will set up one , or pull another clown . " We believe Juno to have been no friend of the Trojans , but ifc would seem by the " Royal Seer's " advice to ^ Eneas , the name of Juno was of great

moment . Thus Dryden recites , in the third iEneis , —¦ " The prophet first with sacrifice adores The greater gods ; their pardon then implores . Besides , if faith to Helenus be due , And if prophetic Phccbus tell me true ,

Do not this precept of your friend forget , Which , therefore , more than once I must repeat . Above the rest great Juno ' s name adore . Pay vows to Juno ; Juno's aid implore ; Let gifts bo to the mighty queen designed And mollify with prayers her haughty mind . "

Ill fact , Juno is often mentioned m the ^ Eneiad , and had much to do with the adventures of its heroes . Through Juno's jealous dislike of . / Eneas we are told , she would soon have brought him to an untimely end , had nob the great Father of Light

and Ruler of Destiny decreed differently . Venus has sketched , according to the poet , the portrait of her rival Juno , to Neptune thus addressed : —