Grand Lodge Of Emergency.

W . Bro . the Rev . G . PORTAL said he was quite ready to agree to the motion being amended , so that the return should be ordered by 0 L . through the G . Secretary . The motion was then agreed to .

INTOLERANCE OF THE WOMAN CATHOLIC PKIESTHOOD . Bro . the EA RL of CA RNA RVON then moved , that" the Grand Lodge having seen with regret the antagonistic position assumed by the Roman Catholic Church towards Masonry , desires the Board of General Purposes to draw up a statement of the principles of the Order , that the same may be sent to the masters of all Lodges under the Grand Lodge of England , in Roman Catholic Countries , to be used by them as they shall think fit . " He very much regretted that this motion should have fallen to his share ; the subject was so

important , was of such deep interest to so many parties , not being confined to tliis or any other Country , but extending over the whole world , that he should have rejoiced to have seen it brought forward by some worshipful Brother , of higher standing and experience , whose words would fall with greater weight , and have more effect , than he could possibly expect in his own case . But in the absence of such an influential worshipful Brother he cheerfully accepted the duty of coming forward with the motion on the paper . It was painful to dwell on the subject of the motion ; on the persecution which so

many of their brethren abroad suffered , on account of their adherence to Freemasonry . It was the more painful to feel that there existed at this day a Hierarchy , which believed that its pretensions were upheld , and " the cause of Religion advanced , by placing under the ban of excommunication , and by inflicting acts of oppression on Freemasons—on individuals who were members of their church , who refused to comply with no ceremony , who did not refuse their assent to a single dogma , and who only claimed the right of entering

into membership with the society of Freemasons . Unfortunately however , the case was as he had stated it ; the Roman Catholic Hierarchy now as in former times did not hesitate to denounce any study or pursuit , which she did not either control or sanction . j Unfortunately they were not to be taught by the experience of the past that such a strife must be unsuccessful , and that no pretensions could abide on such a frail and slender foundation . In other ages and countries , and even to this day , wherever the Roman Catholic Church had sway , the name of Freemason was synonymous with atheist . The pure doctrines of Freemasonry , in those countries , continued to be regarded with suspicion—he had himself heard Freemasonry calumniated , traduced , and loaded with

the most monstrous calumnies . And thus it was in former timessocieties which reflected similar organization , and principles , were persecuted , and suffered in the same way . Their Great Order , Freemasonry , was so oppressed , but their predecessors never swerved , or doubted ; they steadily adhered to the principles of the Order—they fought a gallant fight , and they ultimately achieved victory . ( Cheers . ) And he felt persuaded if the successors of those gallant Masons in foreign countries were again assailed , they would struggle in defence of their princilesand those struggles would

p , ultimately meet a like reward . He would not go into details of oppression at present . In many parts of the world , Roman Catholic Freemasons were at that moment undergoing severe personal inconvenience , and were even interdicted from participating in their civil and religious privileges . ( No . ) A worshipful Brother said "no , " but he would tell hiin that Roman Catholics , because Freemasons , had been refused by their priests the rites of marriage and burial ( hear ); and if that was not interfering with their civil and religious privileges

he did not know what such interference meant . He understood that a communication had been received from a country with which we had hitherto greatly sympathized , that the Grand Master of France had addressed the Grand Master of England , entreating his advice and co-operation in the present crisis of affairs , and that that communication had been left for months without a reply . ( Hear . ) He had beard something on that head , but he would give credence to no report until it was confirmed officially . He would only say he hoped it would be contradicted . No one would more sincerely

rejoice than he would to hear a denial of this publicly made . The remedy he proposed for the lamentable condition of things ho had indicated was simply this—that those Masons well versed in the principles and history of the order be requested , with the greatest dispatch and care , to frame a statement of the principles which governed the Society of Freemasons in every age . If Freemasonry had one great principle , one main-spring of its existence , it was religion . If there was another principle equally well established , it was that Freemasons rigidly declined to interfere in political matters . The great Society of Freemasons had seen the rise and fall of potent nations in the past ages of the world—of Carthage , of Greece , of Rome—it had seen ancient and modern institutions fade , and it had

survived and flourished over all , because the end and object it had in view were of a universal and an enduring character . He trusted the statement which his motion contemplated would be framed in a conciliatory and a temperate manner , for he felt assured , if his plan was carried out with judgment and prudence , it would do much to sooth existing prejudice , and to allay unworthy douljt and distrust . XV . BRO . AIUA yielded to no member of that Lodge , however distinguished , in those feelings which , on such an occasion , he conceived ought to animate every brother Mason and every man . In

rising thus early to second the motion , he did so in the hope of inducing the Noble Brother to introduce other words into the motion , so as to make it more universal in its application . It was known that lately the King of Hanover had consented to become Grand Master of a Freemasons' Lodge , in which Jews were not admitted . Now , by this , the King appeared to wish to promulgate to the world that Freemasonry was a Christian Order , and that only those who professed Christianity were to be admitted into the Order . This was a matter for the Grand Lodge to take into consideration

quite as much as the matter comprised in the wish of his Noble brother . Nothing more subversive of the true principles of Freemasonry could be introduced than such an exclusion . Let the principles that actuated them as men , Masons , and gentlemen be known , and let it also be known that the widest toleration of all creeds was the foundation stone of Masonry . He hoped his Noble brother would alter his motion , which , if necessary to the Roman Catholic Church , was necessary to the Protestant Church likewise . If carried in its present formhe feared the motion would attract

, little notice and carry less weight . Bro . the EARL of CARSAHVON had , individually , no objection to alter the motion so as to make it more general . He thought , however , the making of it particular , made it more consistent with its importance . R . W . Bro . HAVERS confessed that he never addressed the Grand Lodge with greater emotion than on the present occasion . Giving the greatest credit to the feelings which a and enthusiastic

young Mason might well be supposed to possess on such a question , he could have wished that no Mason had ever given expression to sentiments which that noble Brother had uttered . Agreeing with all he had said in reprobation of oppression—agreeing with all he had uttered in the way of sympathy towards our foreign brethren , still

he could not help deploring that the question of religion had been raised , or that any Mason had uttered a word of reproach against any religion . If any brother , whatever his position or object—if any brother could bo permitted to stand up and rate in set terms the professors of other religions , that principle of permission must apply to one and all . If necessary to rate the Roman Catholic , why not rate the Jew ? Such a course was contrary to the spirit of the Craft . He said it in the earnest spirit of a true Mason , that he hoped the words of the noble Brother would be confined to the walls

of the Grand Lodge , and remain with those who heard them . If spread throughout the world , they might assist to cut away one of the main foundations of the Craft—its tolerant and unsectarian spirit . He was satisfied that nothing would be taken by the motion , for it was the principle of Freemasonry to interfere with no man ' s religion . But this motion could not be carried ; the means were inadequate to effect ifs avowed objects . Certain individuals complained of persecution—were they going to send the statement of principles to

the persecutors ? No—they were going to send it to the members of the Lodges were persecution took place , who were already well enough instr uctcd in their own principles . Perhaps they proposed to send the statement to somebody else—to the Roman Catholic priests ; but it was not the priests who were persecutors ; they were onl y carrying out instructions , which they were bound to obey . He had been in Paris lately , and had there heard Roman Catholic priests approve of the principles of Masonry , and at the same time avow they had the

no discretionary power on subject of giving freemasons marriage and burial rites . Well then , if it was no use applying to the priests , he supposed they would have to send a remonstrance to the pope , to entreat him not to persecute Freemasons . But the pope might say , that it would be first as well to do what they could to prevent one set of brothers from excluding Jews . Then it was said , that this statement was to be sent to the different Lodges in Roman Catholic countries ; but he askedwhere were those Lod ?

, ges he knew of none except in South America . Ho protested against interference in matters of religion . Look at the Mauritius , they sent a petition to France , and because the French Lodges could not deal with it , they sent it to the Grand Lodge here to be dealt with . Last December twelvemonth , a petition was sent here on which the present motion was founded ; that petition was suffered to drop without remark , vote , or sympathy . ( No . ) He must remind the Grand Lodge , that the selection of the Freemasons' Society was a