Catholics And Freemasonry.

CATHOLICS AND FREEMASONRY .

TflHE following additional letters on this subject are extracted 1 from the " Catholic Times : " SIB , —When "A . M . " states thafc the "Oddfellows . . . are condemned by the Church " he speaks with more definitiveness than does the Church herself . Will he kindly enlighten ns with his authority for the condemnation ? Among the " Nobis Reservati" mentioned in my " Faculties " it says : " e . g ., M ' assonicEe , vel alii ejusdem generis adscript ! . " Oddfellowship bears no possible resemblance to Freemasonry . It is not even a secret society .

I can easily understand why " Prophet" was not initiated into the mysteries of Freemasony . Freemasons are no dullards , and no doubt they not only detected " Prophet ' s " object in pretending to join them , but they also were keen to the knowledge that a man who could treat so flippantly the sanctity of his religion could be no fit custodian of the secrets of Freemasonry .

Nearly twenty years ago I had a very dear Protestant friend who was high up in the Masonio Craft , yet who would often say to me : " For God's sake , never be a Mason I Would to God I could have known what Masonry meant : I never would have joined ; but it would mean ruin to my family to give it up now . " I have another Protestant friend—also a Mason well advanced in the Craft , or rather he was—and he will put himself to any inconvenience to prevent young men from becoming Masons . The reason he gives for his inconsistency is that " The devil ' s in it ! " I enclose my card and remain in more senses than one an

ODDFELLOW 15 th May 1899 ;

Sin , —I am sending you by this post a copy of the " Rivista Antimassonica Universale , " published in Rome by the "Union Antimassonica Universale , " in which you will find ( see page 234 ) reproduced BIr . T . May ' s letter as it appeared in the "Catholic Times" not long ago , with a forcible reply to tho same ( see page 235 of the above-mentioned periodical ) from the pen of the editor , who has devoted the last twenty years of his life to study and combat Freemasonry .

Please do publish the reply for the good of all those persons who have a benignant opinion of the Craft through ignorance of its real nature and deeds . I should suggest to them also to read regularly the " Rivista Antimassonica , " or " La Franc-Magonnerie Demasquee , " in order to know exactly tbe doings of Freemasons and their object in view .

The " Roman Question , " to begin with , and many other anti-Catholic deeds are the work not of the Italian , French , or Spanish , and the like nations as nations , but simply of Freemasons , who ' are found everywhere and form a majority in the governative bodies of the same nations , viz : in the Ministry , Parliamentary Chambers , Army and Navy , Courts of Justice , Local Boards , & c .

The Catholics abroad are having a fierce struggle with the different Masonic Lodges for religious liberty , justice , and morals . But they need help and support , which they are patiently expecting , especially from England , from which place it is the general belief on the Continent Freemasonry was imported into their respective countries ; and the same is there supported at the present day morally , if not materially and financially , by the English Freemasons .

Are not the Catholics abroad backing , with reason , and in different ways the Catholics in these islands in their religious battles at home ? And why should the Catholics here remain apparently passive before the ever-growing struggle which is going on between our Continental brethren and the members of the impious and turbulent Craft . Are not their interests ours , and ours theirs ? It is true a certain number of Masses are annually offered up through the Catholic Union of Great Britain for the delivery of the Holy Father from his present sad position ;

prayers are also said by Catholics in this country for the welfare of tbe Catholic religion abroad as well as at home ; protests are here made from pulpits and platforms every now and then against the aggressions , robberies , and vexations of different descriptions , which take place in Italy , France , and so on to destroy the Catholic Church ; but , to my knowledge , up to the present day nothing in England has been done directly to strike the Continental enemies of the Catholic Church , who are , to call them by their proper name , Freemasons .

Again , in denouncing the latter it seems tbat here one dare not even call them by their own name . For instance , the following utterances are used : The "Italian Government , " the "French Parliament , " or the "Spanish Ministry , " instead of saying more correctly the " Italian Freemasons , " the " French Freemasons , " & c , have issued such an anti-Catholic decree or a similar assertion .

Here may come the old excuse that English Freemasonry has nothing to do with the Freemasonry abroad , therefore it does not interest the Catholics here . To this I repeat what has been already said above , that is—Are nofc the Catholic interests abroad ours , and vice versa ? Again , does not the " Roman question " interest us as it does the Catholics all over the world ? Again , who can tell us whether there is no connection whatever between English and Continental Freemasons ? No profane , to use the expression of the Craffc , and not even its members of the first and second degree , can enlighten us on that point .

Coming to the practical side of all that has been said , may I suggest—( 1 ) that the Catholic Truth Society would acquire more importance hy adding to its publications some tracks on Freemasonry ; ( 2 ) that some of us interested in the matter bring every now and then this important subject before the English public through the local press ; ( 3 ) thafc the clergy speak from the pulpit and public orators from the platforms to enlighten the people

as to the-nature and deeds of the Craft ; ( 4 ) that prayers , Masses , and Holy Communions be offered for the conversion of the members of Freemasonry , " ¦ ¦ * is already done in several countries ; ( 5 ) that the number of subscribers to tlio above-mentioned anti-Masonic periodicals be increased ; ( 6 ) that the )*<* ad quarters of the anti-Masonic association established in Rome be financially supported by an annual offering .

Trusting that some good result will follow the publication of this letter , and that a national anti-Masonic committee , in connection with the one in Rome , may be formed soon , as has already been done in many countries .

Yours , & c , n , J . CLEMENTE , Slough , 15 th June 1809 . r < £ -8 . —I am willing to assist any one who would like ' to put himself in "" "feet communication with the publishers of the above mentioned papers , as well ag for ibe sending of any donation to the Treasurer of the committee of the anti-Masonic Association in Rome . Leo XIII , has blessed the Anti-

Catholics And Freemasonry.

Masonic Association and has condemned more than once , like several of his predecessors , Freemasonry all over the world . [ We cannot find space for a translation of fche long article in the " Rivista Antimassonica ; " but its general drift is to the effect that Masonry is atheistic , and the writer recommends Mr . May to read Hutchinson ' s " Spirit of Freemasonry , " edited by Rev . George Oliver ( Richard Spencer , 314 High Holborn , London , 1853 ) , which proves that Masonry is an adorer of " the great Mesauraneo , " in other words of the sun . —ED . C . T . ]

Freemasons In Kilts.

FREEMASONS IN KILTS .

THE doings of the members of Kilwinning Lodge , the Scottish organisation of Masons , which meets- in Brooklyn , New York State , and who recently appeared in the kilts of their native country at the initiation of three entered apprentices , have interested members of the Craft of other Lodges in the States . The suggestion ( says the " Brooklyn Eagle" ) now comes from an American and a Mason , who is not in any way connected with the people of Kilwinning , that the feature should be mado permanent .

" There is every reason to believe , " said this Mason , " thafc the appearance of the Officers of the Lodge in kilts at each installation would be a great thing for tho Order . I am a Canadian by birth , and the spectacle of men in skirts is nofc afc all unusual to me . But as an American citizen , I have learned to appreciate the fact that our people in America like to bo entertained . I was at the latest communication of Kilwinning Lodge , and was mightily interested in the proceedings . "

It is not at all likely that the suggestion of the outsider will be adopted , although the men of Kilwinning are loyal to the land of their birth . Yet there is a belief that the costume may be adopted . There has been so much criticism about the fact that they departed from the precedent so long obtaining in this country as to appear in kilts that they are not at all pleased

with the notoriety or prominence , to use a gentler word , that their work the other night called forth among Masons . Scottish Masons are pre-eminently hospitable to visiting Brothers . That fact is attested by Dr . Peacocke , of the Health Department , who says he never had a jollier time than when he visited a Lodge in Glasgow—by the way , another Kilwinning Lodge .

"You never saw such a time , " said the doctor . "After the Lodge was called off , it seemed to me as if tables stored bountifully with the best things in tho way of meat and drink in the land grew up like mushrooms in the Lodge room . I shall never forget that night . " The suggestion that the members of the Lodge should appear in the Highland garb has been repeated to several members of the Lodge .

" What dae ye think ? " asked Maister Cook , the Junior Warden . " Are tbey gaun tae see us every nichfc dressed up like Guisers ? There ' s nae yis fur us tae be showin' oor legs tae thae fellae . s every nichfc . If ony veesitors come tae see us we wull gie them a guid Scottish welcome , but that ' s aw there is aboot it . Wer ' s no goin' tae mak' a show o' oorsels every nicht fchat the Lodge has a coomunication . "

" A' dinnae see ony hairm in it , Eck , " said Mr . McDougall , who is alleged to own a costume of the Highlands worth from 200 to 300 dollars , with all its wealth of cairngorms and jewels . ' * A' dinnie see ony hairm in it . A ' m suire we can afford it . We ' re aw rich . " " It'll be an awfu' expense , " suggested Jeemie Lamberton . " Maybe the Lodge ' ull pit up price . But it'll be an awfu' tax on the Officers if this thing gangs through . "

" A'd be in favour , " said Maister Keer , " o' every man weerin' the same kind o' tartan if this gangs through . Something prominent—like the Macdonald tartan—that's really a verra bonnie thing . Ye ken it ' s a fou . o ' colour . Red an' white an' green an' blue—a' mixed up thegetber . " " That would be verra weel , " assented Samuel Macdonald , one of . the

firsfc Trustees of tbe Lodge , in his dignified Inverness way , " but who is going to select these garments 1 Who will pay for them after they are selected ? " " Dinnae fash yersel' aboot that , " said Brother Jenkins , who is not an Officer . " A' think we ' re aw wullin' tae pit up if it ' s the general sentiment o ' the Lodge . "

" I'm quite sure , " said Mr . Blaedonald , and , as an Inverness man , secure in his use o £ the English language , " that as lar as I am concerned there will be no objection to putting my hand in my pocket for anything that will be of any benefit to members of the Order . " "Man , yer richt . " ejaculated Brother Colquhoun , who had his demit to

the Lodge from a sister Lodge in far-way Caledonia , " man , yer richt . Aw'll pit ma han' in ma pocket for onything that'll help us oot . A think that onything that'll help the Scots in this country or that will forward the glorious cause o' oor Fraternal Order'll be a guid thing . A ' m a Scotsman , but first , last , an ' aw the time A ' m a Mason . "

As a matter of fact , the idea seemed to strike the members of the Lodge as a remarkably good thing , and it came with greater force from an outsider than if it had been suggested in the Lodge meetings . It may be that the suggestion from tho outside may take root in the Lodge , which in its brief career has caused much commotion in the Masonic

world . If the Officers and the members decide that there shall be a kilted uniform to the Officers , it is needless to say that the sporran will be replaced by the apron , and that , instead of the cairngorm , as the favourite Scottish jewel , the Caledonian smoky topaz , is known , will be replaced by the more fitting jewels of tho members of the ancient Craft . — "Leeds Mercury . "

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Books , new music , & c , intended for review should be addressed to the Editor , FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE , New Barnet .