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Article MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES . ← Page 2 of 3 Article MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES . Page 2 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Notes And Queries .
the re-union , the assembling together , and every other operation of this lodge , as diametrically opposed to our Holy Catholic religion , destructive of every tie of celestial and earthly authority , contradictory of every maxim of the Gospel , and tending solely , under the deceptive veil of flattering novelty of a badly conceived philanthrophy , and of a specious liberty , to disorder , to entagle , and even to entirely destroy as much of religion , of honesty , and of beneficence as is to be found , not only among
Catholics , but also existing among the well-meaning citizens generally , prohibiting and absolutely forbiddding every member of our diocese , of whatever grade and condition , to assemble in the said lodge , to co-operate even indirectly in its union , in its propagation , to induce or advise any one to frequent it , and to provide even as much as a , place for its meetings under any pretext whatever , obliging every one to denounce to us , all those whom they may know as belonging to the said lodge under
what--ever title , whether as members or as assistants , and such prohibition , aud obligation to denounce we this day publish , under the very grave pain of excommunication , to be incurred , ' ipso facto , ' without any other denunciation , the absolution from which is found in the pontificial constitutions which have established it against all secret societies , reserved to the Roman Pontiff alone . " The said lod societyor unionbelongingas in truth it
ge , , , , does , without any tergiversation , to the class of secret societies which have been condemned by various constitutions of their Holinesses Clement XII ., Benedict XII ., Pius VII ., and Leo IV ., of blessed memory , as well as by the actual sovereign prelate , Gregory XVI ., we are now simply making known to the members of our diocese the nature of the condemnation , together with the penalty which is found implicitly and explicitly ,
under various circumstances , to have been sanctioned against it by the Roman Catholic Church , the infallible mistress of truth . Although , in truth , Clement XIL , by his constitutions , which begins 'Emineti , ' of the year 173 S , and Benedict , by another of his , which begins , "Providas Romanum , Pontifieum /' of the year 1751 , have expressly condemned the Society of Freemasons , under tbe penalty of excommunication reserved to the Roman Pontiff , and Pins VII ., by his constitutions , which begins , " Ecclesiam a Jesu Christo , " of the year 1 S 21 , may have specially prescribed the Society of Carbonari under the
same penalty of excommunication , notwithstanding , from the context of these constitutions it is easy to see , that in virtue of them , every secret society is condemned of the class of Freemasons , and of the Carbonari , that as tending to shake off the light yoke of religion , and to disturb the exercise of legitimate authority . In order , therefore , that any union or society of a similar kind , which might be vomited forth from hell into the world , should not be able to impose ov ^ the simple , its supporters
maintaining that they are not under condemnation of the Holy See ; the immortal Pontiff , Leo . XII ., in his constitution , which begins , " Quo graviora mala , " of the year 1 S 25 , having confirmed that which his predecessors , Clement XII ., Benedict XIV ., and Pius VII ., had decreed ; and , having fully republished their before-mentioned constitutions , not only condemned in the most solemn manner all secret societies existing up to that time , of whatever denominationbat hemoreoverextended the
, , , apostolic anathemas against any other secret societies which might , iu future , be formed under any name , ' S ' ocietates occultas oinnes' are the words of his constitution , ' "' Tarn qua ; nunc sunt , tam qua fortasse ueineeps erumpent , et qua ea sibi adversum ecclesiam et supremas , pate states eiviles proponunt qua supsnus commemoravi mus , quocumque tandem nomine appellentur , nos pei-petuo prohibemus sub ejusdem poenis , qua continent ™ pradecessorum nostvorum Uterisin hue nostra
, constitutione jam allatis , quas expresse confirmamus . '" " Therefore , the lodge , established in the city of Senglea , is condemned by the Holy See as a secret society , as well as any of its meetings , and , in now condemning it , we are merely publishing that condemnation thereof , to which the penalty of excommunication has always been attached , with the reservation of its being absolute to the Roman Pontiff , except in case of death , as all the high pontiffs above quoted have , in succession ,
expressly stated . " Our pastoral solicitude having thus far been fulfilled by us in condemning , in proscribing , and in showing our detestation of the aforesaid lodge and any of its meetings , and having announced the terrible penalty of excommunication to be incurred , " ipso facto , " without any other denunciation , in the terms of the aforesaid constitution of Leo XIL , by every one , of whatever condition aud grade , who should dare to belong to the said lodge , union , meeting , society , or any other denomination ,
Masonic Notes And Queries .
by all those who may propagate , frequent , assist , or entertain it in their houses , even persuading others to frequent it , affording it any help , favour or co-operation , whether public or private , and secretly , directly or indirectly , by himself , or by means of others , even the least influence or participation in anything which may regard the said lodge , society , union , or meeting , not being excepted from the penalty of the said excommunication , we now consider it to be our indispensable duty to address
ourselves , in this deplorable affair to you , oh very beloved members of our diocese , in order that you may understand the very great horror and profound indignation you ought to feel for this lodge , union , or society , and which is now by us publicly condemned , that you may regard it as the common sewer of all filth , endeavouring , though continually in vain , to vomit forth the things of hell against the immaculate purity of our most holy Catholic religion , as the most pernicious orgiesseeking to convulse all
, order which reigns upon the earth , fomenting only an unbridled liberty in everything , unrestrained by any law , as a means of gratifying the most wicked and disorderly passions . The supporters of the said lodge or society , in order to conceal their malignant intentions , make use of false promises and hold out the most fallacious hopes ; do not allow yourselves to be beguiled by their seductive language , which is in fact that of humanity , of fraternity , and of reform in appearance , but all
directed to discord , universal disorder , and the fatal ruin ofevery religious and philanthropic establishment . Let the very solicitous eagerness they evince to conceal all the operations of the society make you totally distrust every word they utter , for honest undertakings are always exhibited with confidence , and crimes , and iniquity only , concealed under the darkness of secrecy . Fathers of families , and you who preside over the education of youthwatch with the utmost diligencethat these precious
, , charges confided to you do not become contaminated by this pestilence which , confined till now within the hidden retreat of one house , threatens at length to insinuate itself amongst us ; examine the books which they read , look to the character of those with whom they associate , it now being a too well known artifice of these secret societies , to gain over youth , seducing them under the specious pretext of literature , and of communicating to them , with a deceitful appearance of disinterestedness ,
scientific knowledge . Fly them all , oh very beloved members of our diocese , as from the presence of a deadly serpent , the society , the vicinity , and every connection with all those monsters of iniquity , who desire among us , to confound the light with the darkness , striving , if it were possible for them to succeed , to obscure the former and make you to embrace and follow the latter . As you are unable to derive any benefit from msn who are disturbers of all order , who do not show any
veneration for God and for his religion , and who do not maintain any regard for the authorities , whether ecclesiastical or civil , men feigned and dissembled , who , while vaunting social probity , and a ferved love for their fellow creatures , wage the most atrocious warfare against every thing tending to render human society honest , tranquil and happy ; let them , in a word , be considered by you , as so many dangerous individuals , like those mentioned by the Pontiff Leo XIIin the often quoted constitutionto
,, , whom the Apostle St . John prescribes that hospitality ought not to be granted , denying even common salutation to them , and endeavour , instead , to bring towards you men of probity and honesty , who , convinced of the duty of rendering to God and to Cassar that which is clue to them , endeavour strictly to discharge the obligations incumbent on them , both toward God and toward man . " Finallywe being tho ministers of that most merciful God
, , who desireth not the death of a sinner , but that he be converted and live , and pastorally governing this Catholic flock , in the name of that Eternal Pastor , who ran to seek the lost sheep , and having found it , embraced it most affectionately , and with much rejoicing brought it on his shoulders that it might again enter into his sheep-fold , with our heart greatly afflicted , and abounding with all pastoral and paternal commisseration , with tears in our eyes , we paternally exhort , without any
exception , all those who , living in this eminently Catholic country , are despising truth and justice , and who are running after error and iniquity by belonging to a secret union which the prince of darkness has united , but which the God of truth and light willeth to be absolutely dissolved , and all good men desire to see at once destroyed ; such , then , we most fervently beseech in the last place , and ardently conjure them in the Lord , to trust to the supreme pity of the God of Mercies that they may obtain from Him grace to be
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Notes And Queries .
the re-union , the assembling together , and every other operation of this lodge , as diametrically opposed to our Holy Catholic religion , destructive of every tie of celestial and earthly authority , contradictory of every maxim of the Gospel , and tending solely , under the deceptive veil of flattering novelty of a badly conceived philanthrophy , and of a specious liberty , to disorder , to entagle , and even to entirely destroy as much of religion , of honesty , and of beneficence as is to be found , not only among
Catholics , but also existing among the well-meaning citizens generally , prohibiting and absolutely forbiddding every member of our diocese , of whatever grade and condition , to assemble in the said lodge , to co-operate even indirectly in its union , in its propagation , to induce or advise any one to frequent it , and to provide even as much as a , place for its meetings under any pretext whatever , obliging every one to denounce to us , all those whom they may know as belonging to the said lodge under
what--ever title , whether as members or as assistants , and such prohibition , aud obligation to denounce we this day publish , under the very grave pain of excommunication , to be incurred , ' ipso facto , ' without any other denunciation , the absolution from which is found in the pontificial constitutions which have established it against all secret societies , reserved to the Roman Pontiff alone . " The said lod societyor unionbelongingas in truth it
ge , , , , does , without any tergiversation , to the class of secret societies which have been condemned by various constitutions of their Holinesses Clement XII ., Benedict XII ., Pius VII ., and Leo IV ., of blessed memory , as well as by the actual sovereign prelate , Gregory XVI ., we are now simply making known to the members of our diocese the nature of the condemnation , together with the penalty which is found implicitly and explicitly ,
under various circumstances , to have been sanctioned against it by the Roman Catholic Church , the infallible mistress of truth . Although , in truth , Clement XIL , by his constitutions , which begins 'Emineti , ' of the year 173 S , and Benedict , by another of his , which begins , "Providas Romanum , Pontifieum /' of the year 1751 , have expressly condemned the Society of Freemasons , under tbe penalty of excommunication reserved to the Roman Pontiff , and Pins VII ., by his constitutions , which begins , " Ecclesiam a Jesu Christo , " of the year 1 S 21 , may have specially prescribed the Society of Carbonari under the
same penalty of excommunication , notwithstanding , from the context of these constitutions it is easy to see , that in virtue of them , every secret society is condemned of the class of Freemasons , and of the Carbonari , that as tending to shake off the light yoke of religion , and to disturb the exercise of legitimate authority . In order , therefore , that any union or society of a similar kind , which might be vomited forth from hell into the world , should not be able to impose ov ^ the simple , its supporters
maintaining that they are not under condemnation of the Holy See ; the immortal Pontiff , Leo . XII ., in his constitution , which begins , " Quo graviora mala , " of the year 1 S 25 , having confirmed that which his predecessors , Clement XII ., Benedict XIV ., and Pius VII ., had decreed ; and , having fully republished their before-mentioned constitutions , not only condemned in the most solemn manner all secret societies existing up to that time , of whatever denominationbat hemoreoverextended the
, , , apostolic anathemas against any other secret societies which might , iu future , be formed under any name , ' S ' ocietates occultas oinnes' are the words of his constitution , ' "' Tarn qua ; nunc sunt , tam qua fortasse ueineeps erumpent , et qua ea sibi adversum ecclesiam et supremas , pate states eiviles proponunt qua supsnus commemoravi mus , quocumque tandem nomine appellentur , nos pei-petuo prohibemus sub ejusdem poenis , qua continent ™ pradecessorum nostvorum Uterisin hue nostra
, constitutione jam allatis , quas expresse confirmamus . '" " Therefore , the lodge , established in the city of Senglea , is condemned by the Holy See as a secret society , as well as any of its meetings , and , in now condemning it , we are merely publishing that condemnation thereof , to which the penalty of excommunication has always been attached , with the reservation of its being absolute to the Roman Pontiff , except in case of death , as all the high pontiffs above quoted have , in succession ,
expressly stated . " Our pastoral solicitude having thus far been fulfilled by us in condemning , in proscribing , and in showing our detestation of the aforesaid lodge and any of its meetings , and having announced the terrible penalty of excommunication to be incurred , " ipso facto , " without any other denunciation , in the terms of the aforesaid constitution of Leo XIL , by every one , of whatever condition aud grade , who should dare to belong to the said lodge , union , meeting , society , or any other denomination ,
Masonic Notes And Queries .
by all those who may propagate , frequent , assist , or entertain it in their houses , even persuading others to frequent it , affording it any help , favour or co-operation , whether public or private , and secretly , directly or indirectly , by himself , or by means of others , even the least influence or participation in anything which may regard the said lodge , society , union , or meeting , not being excepted from the penalty of the said excommunication , we now consider it to be our indispensable duty to address
ourselves , in this deplorable affair to you , oh very beloved members of our diocese , in order that you may understand the very great horror and profound indignation you ought to feel for this lodge , union , or society , and which is now by us publicly condemned , that you may regard it as the common sewer of all filth , endeavouring , though continually in vain , to vomit forth the things of hell against the immaculate purity of our most holy Catholic religion , as the most pernicious orgiesseeking to convulse all
, order which reigns upon the earth , fomenting only an unbridled liberty in everything , unrestrained by any law , as a means of gratifying the most wicked and disorderly passions . The supporters of the said lodge or society , in order to conceal their malignant intentions , make use of false promises and hold out the most fallacious hopes ; do not allow yourselves to be beguiled by their seductive language , which is in fact that of humanity , of fraternity , and of reform in appearance , but all
directed to discord , universal disorder , and the fatal ruin ofevery religious and philanthropic establishment . Let the very solicitous eagerness they evince to conceal all the operations of the society make you totally distrust every word they utter , for honest undertakings are always exhibited with confidence , and crimes , and iniquity only , concealed under the darkness of secrecy . Fathers of families , and you who preside over the education of youthwatch with the utmost diligencethat these precious
, , charges confided to you do not become contaminated by this pestilence which , confined till now within the hidden retreat of one house , threatens at length to insinuate itself amongst us ; examine the books which they read , look to the character of those with whom they associate , it now being a too well known artifice of these secret societies , to gain over youth , seducing them under the specious pretext of literature , and of communicating to them , with a deceitful appearance of disinterestedness ,
scientific knowledge . Fly them all , oh very beloved members of our diocese , as from the presence of a deadly serpent , the society , the vicinity , and every connection with all those monsters of iniquity , who desire among us , to confound the light with the darkness , striving , if it were possible for them to succeed , to obscure the former and make you to embrace and follow the latter . As you are unable to derive any benefit from msn who are disturbers of all order , who do not show any
veneration for God and for his religion , and who do not maintain any regard for the authorities , whether ecclesiastical or civil , men feigned and dissembled , who , while vaunting social probity , and a ferved love for their fellow creatures , wage the most atrocious warfare against every thing tending to render human society honest , tranquil and happy ; let them , in a word , be considered by you , as so many dangerous individuals , like those mentioned by the Pontiff Leo XIIin the often quoted constitutionto
,, , whom the Apostle St . John prescribes that hospitality ought not to be granted , denying even common salutation to them , and endeavour , instead , to bring towards you men of probity and honesty , who , convinced of the duty of rendering to God and to Cassar that which is clue to them , endeavour strictly to discharge the obligations incumbent on them , both toward God and toward man . " Finallywe being tho ministers of that most merciful God
, , who desireth not the death of a sinner , but that he be converted and live , and pastorally governing this Catholic flock , in the name of that Eternal Pastor , who ran to seek the lost sheep , and having found it , embraced it most affectionately , and with much rejoicing brought it on his shoulders that it might again enter into his sheep-fold , with our heart greatly afflicted , and abounding with all pastoral and paternal commisseration , with tears in our eyes , we paternally exhort , without any
exception , all those who , living in this eminently Catholic country , are despising truth and justice , and who are running after error and iniquity by belonging to a secret union which the prince of darkness has united , but which the God of truth and light willeth to be absolutely dissolved , and all good men desire to see at once destroyed ; such , then , we most fervently beseech in the last place , and ardently conjure them in the Lord , to trust to the supreme pity of the God of Mercies that they may obtain from Him grace to be