ith September.
Wueruer the first mason was named Adam and the first apron maker Eve has long since ceased to be a question of party polities. Probably the very last thing that would enter the mind of an English freemason in connection with "the order" would be that in consequence of his connection with is he might be involved in politics, All that he thinks about it is that craft is ari "ancient and honourable institution," that the King, and the King's son, and the King's brother, and many other good fellows are members thereof, and that so far from being entangled thereby in intrigues of any sort, he is taught something very different.
Shanghai is a Masonic stronghold—the Masonic stronghold of the Par East, containing as it dues bodies, neither few nor unimportant, representative of English, Scotch, Ameriewn, and German masonry. There is therefore no need to indulge in apologetics because we desire to draw attention to a recent work dealing with masonry generally but. especially with that development of it which has grown up in Roman Catholic lands. The matter is indeed of universal importance and interest at the moment since, if our author is to be believed, the most modern developments with which the name of M. Coombes is connected derive not a little of their motive power fiom the vigour with which masonry is giving back blow for blow in France.
As we have said, the ancient history of freemasonry concerns us not. For the sake of argument we; will take the assertion of A, Cowan (suggestive name to masons), in "The X Rays in Freemasonry" as correct and allow that "the authentic history of freemasonry dates from the year 1717." In that year, the first Grand Lodge was established in England, How long it took for the craft to spread to France we cannot at the moment say, but it is abundantly evident that the Roman Chu ch took very little time 10 make up its mind that the new comer was to be put down. 'The Grand Lodge of England came of age in 1738, and in the' sume' year Pope Clemens XII published the Bull, In Hminenti, excomnitnicating freemasons and all who aided: or abetted them! Why this haste? Had the coven foot s> soon become apparent? Tf so, how was it that it had een so successfully concealed from members of the Anglican and Free Churches who to this day are in considerable numbers, honoured menibers of the craft Is not the answer to be found in the very fundamental tenets of masonry? Freedom, liberty of worship and of} thought, truth, and, above all, light: these are the teachings which Rome abhorsunless they are tinged with the colours which she so skilfully infuses into them. It was for seeking truth in his own way that the mason was damned. Presently we shall quote a statement distinctly declaring this. Our author has many nice things to say of English masons, who if they would only leave the lodge and enter the fold would be very good fellows indeed! But there is absolutely nothing: too hard, too strong, or too abusive for the Continental brethren especially those of France and Italy The reason is not far to seek, but, it does seem stretching the amenities of debate rather too much to permit such statements as the following to appear with strong approve!:—" The pretended religious fiberly in_ its (Masonic) laws does not exist. It is not only a lie, but a sham-less one truth does nut 6 freemasonry... in the sect itself lying, deceit, and pertily are the sovereign ales and T hereby declare that scope of which is to undermine anil freemasonry is an institution the
destroy every frm of religion, and especially the Catholic faith, and to try and substitute diabolic worship, ele, ete." This sounds fairly strong when one remembers the estimable gentlemen whom one is ghd to know and who happen to be at the same time members of this terrible crat: But what can be expected when the}! Pope himself, ex cathedra, gives vent to such denunciations as sre to be found in the appendix? There masonry is anathematised as a "deadly enemy condemned and proclaimed contrary to right and justice... in which the greatest moral evil seemed] to be found...by nature the enemy of all virtuous living...which holds that. no tencher is to be believed on account of his office (therein lay the prime offence)... which alleges that religion and civil polity are alto-t gether apart (a dreadful crime in Papal States)...which deterniines that States are to be ruled entirely without the influence and teaching of the Church"...and so on and so on.
Is it to be wondered at that Continental masonry hits back
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.