Skip to main content
Museum of Freemasonry

Masonic Periodicals Online

  • Explore
  • Advanced Search
  • Home
  • Explore
  • The Masonic Monthly
  • Aug. 1, 1882
  • Page 24
  • SECRET SOCIETIES.
Current:

The Masonic Monthly, Aug. 1, 1882: Page 24

  • Back to The Masonic Monthly, Aug. 1, 1882
  • Print image
  • Articles/Ads
    Article SECRET SOCIETIES. ← Page 3 of 4 →
Page 24

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Secret Societies.

society in the world . If its " Monita Secreta " may be credited , it has three normal degrees , and the fourth , a secret and mysterious grade to which very few attain . Originally , undoubtedly religious in the fervent and militant piety of " Ignatius Loyal , it soon , under the perverted direction of Lainez and " Acquaviva , " interfered in political

and religious questions : and whereas Roman Catholic countries have suffered from that mysterious body , France especially owes to the Jesuits , as a fair inference of cause and effect , from unhallowed teaching , secret persecutions , and faithless acts , the horrors of the French Revolution .

Ireland , during the last century , and Scotland and England up to the close of the first three decades of this , boasted of many secret societies , as " the Peep of Day Boys , " " the United Irishmen , " " the Defenders , " and many more ; while in France , Spain , Italy , and Germany , we are told , of countless secret political associations , which ,

under the various names of "Turgenbund , " " Templiers , " "La Marianne , " "the Li Decisi , " "Les Bon Enfans , " and many more , gave great trouble to the authorities , and paved the way for constant uprisings and even revolutions . Some forty years ago we can remember the Chartist organization in this country , and in "Sybil "

we have a graphic description of a trade combination—initiation . As a curious counterpoise to this statement , we are told that China and Japan are overrun with secret societies , one of which , " the Triad Society in China , " has attracted the notice of many able writers .

In this our own epoch we have seen the rising , though let us hope the fall is not far off , of Fenians and Nihilists . These " dynamite " heroes , as they have been well called , who war Avith society , and on the lines of savage unforgivingness and barbaric cruelty , can only as such , be put down by the strong , iron , pitiless hand of supreme authority .

Those who take the sword must perish by the sword , and no lawabiding man , no one imbued with the benevolent , and civilizing , and ennobling principle of English law especially , can have any pity for these foolish and wicked men , who , by their senseless and insane proceedings , set both law and order , humanity and decency at defiance ,

and throw back for many generations probably the peaceful and assured progress of the human race . Freemasons have been sometimes accused of being a secret political society , friends of confusion , fautors of revolution . Nothing can be less true than such a charge , often repeated , easily refuted .

Freemasonry is a secret society no doubt , but especiall y tolerated and sanctioned by laAvful authority in the countries where it pursues its beneficent mission . Its secrecy , let us note , is only lawful in that it is allowed by the State , and in England Freemasonry is specially pro-

“The Masonic Monthly: 1882-08-01, Page 24” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 23 May 2025, django:8000/periodicals/msm/issues/mxr_01081882/page/24/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
ART AND THE BUILDERS OF MONTE CASSINO, CEREMONIOUS DEDICATIONS, MASTER WORKMEN, ETC., IN THE MIDDLE AGES. Article 1
CURIOUS BOOKS.—I. Article 5
THE DIVERTING HISTORY OF THE COUNT DE GABALIS: Article 6
THE TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. Article 6
SOME ACCOUNT OF THE ROSICRUCIANS. Article 7
CRAFT CUSTOMS OF THE ANCIENT STONEHEWERS, MASONS, AND CARPENTERS. Article 9
THE GREETING Article 9
BESPEAKING THE MASTER. Article 11
LODGE USAGES. Article 13
With the Greeters: Article 15
THE SEVEN CHIEF POINTS. Article 17
THE WORSHIPFUL KNOCKS. Article 17
CONCERNING USAGES. Article 17
DRESS. Article 18
THE MANNER OF CALLING UPON SECONDS. Article 18
THE MANNER OF SETTLING QUARRELS. Article 18
SECRET SOCIETIES. Article 22
FAR EASTERN ANCIENT RITES AND MYSTERIES. Article 26
WHERE SHALL WE GO TO FOR A HOLIDAY? Article 28
"FROM LABOUR TO REFRESHMENT." Article 30
THE LEGEND OF THE INTRODUCTION OF MASONS INTO ENGLAND. Article 31
EARLY HAUNTS OF FREEMASONRY. Article 46
SHOULD LADIES BE BANISHED FROM OUR RECREATION BANQUETS ? Article 50
ST. GEORGE FOR MERRY ENGLAND. Article 53
LET US ALL BE GIPSIES. Article 56
WELL DONE, CONDOR! Article 57
THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR. Article 59
EXTRACT OF THE DEFENCE MADE BY SEVENTY-FIVE TEMPLARS. Article 60
Page 1

Page 1

1 Article
Page 2

Page 2

1 Article
Page 3

Page 3

1 Article
Page 4

Page 4

1 Article
Page 5

Page 5

1 Article
Page 6

Page 6

3 Articles
Page 7

Page 7

2 Articles
Page 8

Page 8

1 Article
Page 9

Page 9

2 Articles
Page 10

Page 10

1 Article
Page 11

Page 11

2 Articles
Page 12

Page 12

1 Article
Page 13

Page 13

2 Articles
Page 14

Page 14

1 Article
Page 15

Page 15

2 Articles
Page 16

Page 16

1 Article
Page 17

Page 17

4 Articles
Page 18

Page 18

3 Articles
Page 19

Page 19

1 Article
Page 20

Page 20

1 Article
Page 21

Page 21

1 Article
Page 22

Page 22

2 Articles
Page 23

Page 23

1 Article
Page 24

Page 24

1 Article
Page 25

Page 25

1 Article
Page 26

Page 26

1 Article
Page 27

Page 27

1 Article
Page 28

Page 28

2 Articles
Page 29

Page 29

1 Article
Page 30

Page 30

2 Articles
Page 31

Page 31

1 Article
Page 32

Page 32

1 Article
Page 33

Page 33

1 Article
Page 34

Page 34

1 Article
Page 35

Page 35

1 Article
Page 36

Page 36

1 Article
Page 37

Page 37

1 Article
Page 38

Page 38

1 Article
Page 39

Page 39

1 Article
Page 40

Page 40

1 Article
Page 41

Page 41

1 Article
Page 42

Page 42

1 Article
Page 43

Page 43

1 Article
Page 44

Page 44

1 Article
Page 45

Page 45

1 Article
Page 46

Page 46

1 Article
Page 47

Page 47

1 Article
Page 48

Page 48

1 Article
Page 49

Page 49

1 Article
Page 50

Page 50

2 Articles
Page 51

Page 51

1 Article
Page 52

Page 52

1 Article
Page 53

Page 53

2 Articles
Page 54

Page 54

1 Article
Page 55

Page 55

1 Article
Page 56

Page 56

1 Article
Page 57

Page 57

2 Articles
Page 58

Page 58

1 Article
Page 59

Page 59

2 Articles
Page 60

Page 60

2 Articles
Page 61

Page 61

1 Article
Page 62

Page 62

1 Article
Page 63

Page 63

1 Article
Page 64

Page 64

1 Article
Page 24

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Secret Societies.

society in the world . If its " Monita Secreta " may be credited , it has three normal degrees , and the fourth , a secret and mysterious grade to which very few attain . Originally , undoubtedly religious in the fervent and militant piety of " Ignatius Loyal , it soon , under the perverted direction of Lainez and " Acquaviva , " interfered in political

and religious questions : and whereas Roman Catholic countries have suffered from that mysterious body , France especially owes to the Jesuits , as a fair inference of cause and effect , from unhallowed teaching , secret persecutions , and faithless acts , the horrors of the French Revolution .

Ireland , during the last century , and Scotland and England up to the close of the first three decades of this , boasted of many secret societies , as " the Peep of Day Boys , " " the United Irishmen , " " the Defenders , " and many more ; while in France , Spain , Italy , and Germany , we are told , of countless secret political associations , which ,

under the various names of "Turgenbund , " " Templiers , " "La Marianne , " "the Li Decisi , " "Les Bon Enfans , " and many more , gave great trouble to the authorities , and paved the way for constant uprisings and even revolutions . Some forty years ago we can remember the Chartist organization in this country , and in "Sybil "

we have a graphic description of a trade combination—initiation . As a curious counterpoise to this statement , we are told that China and Japan are overrun with secret societies , one of which , " the Triad Society in China , " has attracted the notice of many able writers .

In this our own epoch we have seen the rising , though let us hope the fall is not far off , of Fenians and Nihilists . These " dynamite " heroes , as they have been well called , who war Avith society , and on the lines of savage unforgivingness and barbaric cruelty , can only as such , be put down by the strong , iron , pitiless hand of supreme authority .

Those who take the sword must perish by the sword , and no lawabiding man , no one imbued with the benevolent , and civilizing , and ennobling principle of English law especially , can have any pity for these foolish and wicked men , who , by their senseless and insane proceedings , set both law and order , humanity and decency at defiance ,

and throw back for many generations probably the peaceful and assured progress of the human race . Freemasons have been sometimes accused of being a secret political society , friends of confusion , fautors of revolution . Nothing can be less true than such a charge , often repeated , easily refuted .

Freemasonry is a secret society no doubt , but especiall y tolerated and sanctioned by laAvful authority in the countries where it pursues its beneficent mission . Its secrecy , let us note , is only lawful in that it is allowed by the State , and in England Freemasonry is specially pro-

  • Prev page
  • 1
  • 23
  • You're on page24
  • 25
  • 64
  • Next page
  • Accredited Museum Designated Outstanding Collection
  • LIBRARY AND MUSEUM CHARITABLE TRUST OF THE UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1058497 / ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2025

  • Accessibility statement

  • Designed, developed, and maintained by King's Digital Lab

We use cookies to track usage and preferences.

Privacy & cookie policy