Roman Catholic Intolerance.

few Republican deputies were present . Five or six hundred of the Masonic fraternity , followed , walking six abreast , and about 1 , 500 cr ' 2 , 000 citizens , accompanied by bands of music . By good management order was maintained ,

though the danger of riot Avas at times most imminent ; and it Avas only by appeals to the sacredness of the spot and the solemnity of the occasion that prevented what , at the gate of the cemetery , "might have grown into another rebellion . No proceedings have as yet been taken against the Duke .

Upon this subject an evening contemporary remarks ( editorially ) that "English Freemasons -may well believe that Cardinal Cullen's edicts against their society in Ireland are dictated merely by the caprice of power , and do not point at any

real evil in the society itself . -It is a little strange that the Pope , Avho is a Freemason himself , and who , therefore , must know better , should favour the idea that there is anything very terrible in either the beliefs or practices of the brethren of

the mystic tie . But those who are astonished to find priests refusing to bury the Prince Henry of Bourbon because they espied Masonic insignia on his coffin , should remember that Freemasonry on the Continent has , before now , been used as an

organisation for the spread of revolutionary doctrines , and that there may be a tendency among the male population in Roman Catholic countries to substitute the minimum of religious belief which is required for admission to the Order , for the elaborate dogmas of the Romish Church . "

The statement that " Freemasonry on the Continent has , before now , being used as an organisation for the spread of revolutionary doctrines , " is not the fact . That in the dark ages—Avhen -personal liberty Avas so strictly limited , and Avhen

scarce any opportunity was given for the dissemination of Liberal opinions—members of the Masonic Order found the formula of the lodge a convenient means of securingsecresyin their meetings for other purposes cannot be denied , - but if the whole body

of Freemasons are to be made co bear the obloquy of the doings of all its individual members , and are to be denounced as revolutionary incendiaries , on the same principles , Avhat a burden of sin must rest upon the Romish Church if she is to

be made responsible for all the evil deeds of her individual members , against Avhom crimes of the most revolting description are recorded as beingperpetrated in her name . On tho principle that ,

Roman Catholic Intolerance.

for the acts of a handful of its members—or even men who only used the name of Freemasonry as a cloak to conceal their real objects—our Order is to be held responsible in after generations these acts , therefore , although there

doubtless amongst them many honourable and highminded men , the whole body of Roman Catholics maybe ranked as murderers , poisoners , thieves , usurpers , and in fact guilty of every crime that can possibly be enumerated .

That a deeely-seated hatred of Freemasons and Freemasonry prevails among the Catholic priests is not to be wondered at . Ignorant themselves for the most part , their chief object seems—instead of diffusing light throughout the Avorld—to be to

foster ignorance and prevent the acquisition of knoAvledge . That Freemasonry per se , or the Freemasons as a body , have ever done any act Avhich would tend to be subversive of the Roman Catholic or , indeed ,

any other religion , is untrue -. and the " Infallible " head of the " Holy Church / ' a Freemason himself , must know this . It seems extraordinary that he should encourage , by his own example ,

his minions in persecuting and oppressing a body whose principles are directly against any interference Avith either religious or political opinions , the mere mention of which in a lodge is by the Constitutions of every governing'body of the order

absolutely prohibited . Freemasonry is UOAV , and has through successive generations , been an active agent in throwing doAvn the barriers of ignorance and superstition , and in the dissemination of knowledge ; and it is

but natural that a body of men , dealing vrith an ignorant and blindly superstitious people , should fear the loss of the great poAver they possess if the enlightening principles of our noble Order should extend its influence into their preserves .

In spite of all the opposition—in the face of all attempts to exterminate it — in defiance of Bulls , anathemas , and excommunications—Freemasonry still finds faithful adherents in the very strongholds of the Roman Catholic Church , and

truly may it be said that magna est Veritas et praevalcbU . The following passage , which has excited great indignation amongst the French Freemasons , occurs in a recent letter Avhich Pius IX . addressed

to Monseigneur Darboy , the Archbishop of Paris : — " You are not ignorant of the fact that these Masonic societies , and other associations of iniquity