Freemasonry In Malta.

FREEMASONRY IN MALTA .

A MALTA correspondent forwards the " Pall Mall Gazette " the following article from the " Gazzetta di Malta " of 26 th May , which he thinks may be of interest to many readers in this country : — The executive committee of the Anti-Masonic League has just been formally constituted under the high patronage of his Excellency the Archbishop of Malta , and its elements are

such that they ensure its eminence and the earnestness of its work . Its object is , in view of local circumstances , to keep a watch . on the Press and the people , without , however , losing sight of the corrupt doctrines and ideas that are stealthily creeping under different forms into the islands . The league holds its meetings in the Bishop ' s Palace , where he , besides his patronage , takes an active part in the proceedings .

Among its Officers we note Dr . P . Debono , one of Her Majesty ' s judges in the Superior Courts , President ; the Hon . P . Trapani , a head of a department in the Civil Service , Vice-President ; ordinary members , Judges Ganado and Pullicino , Magistrate P . Frendo Azzopardi ; Drs . V . Frendo

Azzopardi and S . Castaldi , Deputy Crown Advocate in Her Majesty ' s Criminal Court ; F . Mizzi , editor of the " Gazzetta di Malta" and member of Government Council ; Chevalier Galizia , late superintendent of Public Works , and others , in all , thirty-four members , of whom most are clergymen .

It appears that some believe , or pretend to believe , that the formation of this league was uncalled for and unnecessary , for they say that Masonry in Malta is purely a benevolent institution or , at worst , a topers' club . Such is not the case . Freemasons aim at ousting the holy religion of our forefathers and supplanting it by Protestantism , and it is no exaggeration to add that the substitution of the English language in place

of the Italian is another means of attaining that end . In fact , language is one of the insurmountable barriers against the extirpation of the Roman Catholic religion from these islands , therefore , there can be no doubt that there is not a single Mason , be he English or Maltese , who is not actuated by that motive in supporting so strenously the introduction of the English language .

Moreover , let those who maintain , in good or bad faith , that no attempts were ever made to overthrow the Roman Catholic religion be reminded that ever since 1847 Freemasons took the trouble to scatter secretly among the lower classes , who swallow everything , a mutilated version of the

Gospel in Maltese . We know for a fact that a tailor , who was supposed to be a very indifferent Catholic , received from London on several occasions packets containing scores of these spurious versions of the Gospel in Maltese , and it must be admitted these Maltese versions could not have been

published for the use of English people or for the benefit of the Holy Church . Undoubtedly they want to turn us Protestants , and they would surely have been far more successful if it were not for the great bulwark of the language . Let it therefore not be

said , even for fun , that Masons in Malta are simply philanthropists or merry-makers . Masonry is one all over the world , and all Lodges are recognised by each other . Nay , according to history , English Masonry is the source * of universal Masonry , although in Malta , for reasons easily understood , they try to pass it off as a harmless institution .

Meanwhile , the league , in order to warn the lower classes against subversive readings , have decided to renew the publication of a Maltese paper , formerly in great favour ,. The Bishop , to show his support to the publication of this paper , has addressed to Judge Debono , the president of the League , the following letter : —

Mu . PRESIDENT , —The decision arrived at by the A . M . L . established by us over which you so worthily preside , to publish in Maltese a popular paper intended to diffuse sound notions among the people , and keep aloof from the errors which are spreading among us , is the proper means of fighting that

wicked sect—the enemy of God and of mankind . In fact , this is the weapon which his Holiness Leo X 1 I 1 ., the reigning Pope , in his encyclical letter , " Humanum Genus , " has strongly recommended to the Eomah Catholic clergy and laity , so as to come out victorious in the great struggle between tho powers of darkness and the children of light .

Although Masonry has not gamed much ground here , still its spirit is pervading everywhere and everybody . Hence , religious indifference ; hence , little regard , if not utter contempt , to constituted powers ; hence , unbridled licentiousness in reading and conversation , and in the habits of life ; hence the immorality which is eating away the very backbone of the Maltese upper classes . Your enterprise is holy and patriotic , and we not only bless it with all our heart , but recommend earnestly to all good Catholics to join you in supporting and encouraging your paper , & c .

As a mark o £ our goodwill and affection , we impart to you and all the members of the league our pastoral blessing . P . AKCH . AND BISIIOI - OF MALTA . To Judge Debono , President A , M , L ,

Cheshire Charity.

CHESHIRE CHARITY .

A MEETING of the Committee of Benevolence of the Province of Cheshire was held at Crewe , on the 28 fch ult ., Colonel Dean presiding . Several petitions for relief were considered , and grants made in necessitous cases . Bro . Armstrong thought the time had come when the Committee might enlarge their work in this direction . Hitherto

they had only made grants out of their interest on invested capital ; but their income now was something like £ 300 or £ 400 a vear , and he thought that to limit their grants to £ 120 a year

was only stultifying the Charity Institution . In London the Masonic Fund yielded an income of about £ 2 , 000 a year , but the grants made in " needy" cases were five or six times that amount .

Bro . P . Broadsmith emphasised this , remarking that as far as possible any uninvested capital should be applied to relief cases . Bro . H . Jackson Vice-Chairman expressed his sympathy with the opinions of Bros . Armstrong and Broadsmith , and said the question for them to consider was whether they had sufficient

now invested in the funds of the Institution , and whether it would be wise to trench upon their income from the Lodges . Bro . Byrom asked whether anything had been done in the direction of appealing to the Lodges in the Province for an annual subscription of two guineas to supplement the fund for the relief

of necessitous cases . The Chairman said that the Charity Council had had the subject under consideration , and were quite unanimous in their opinion that it was one of the best things tbat

had ever been proposed in the Province . An appeal had been made to the Lodges , and several had already responded to it . The question of enlarging the number of relief cases by four was deferred to the next meeting for consideration .

The chairman announced tbat the Earl of Egerton had exercised his power , as Provincial Grand Master , to present E . W . Potter on the foundation of tbe Boys Institution , and the meeting resolved to accept a boy and a girl for election to the Boyal Masonic Institutions for Boys and Girls .

Messrs . J . Lyons and Co . are prepared to provide dinners at the Crystal Palace , on Sundays , at the usual Table d'Hote prices , 5 / - and 7 / 6 , between the hours of 6 and 8 . 30 p . m ., in the Garden Hall . Tables will be reserved if ordered in advance . The Picture Gallery , with new collection of pictures , is now open on Sundays .

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THE CRITERION RESTAURANT , PICCADILLY . THE EAST ROOM RE-OPENED For the service of the highest class Cuisine and Wines . The East Boom has beeu entirely Be-modelled and Re-decorated in Louis XV . style , and the windows lowered to the ground . The East Boom , * approached either from Piccadilly or Jermyn Street , is now one of the most comfortable and elegant salons in Europe . THE EAST ROOM , The Criterion Restaurant , PICCADILLY .