Christianity And Freemasonry.

results , while at the same time they treat as so much ecclesiastical persiflage , wanting in acuteness of discernment and understanding , the vindictive and questionable statement . " that the Mason bad learned and sworn that he

would accept the truth—that was to say—that side by side with the principle of a good there existed the principle of evil ; that this world was never created , but was a mixture of eternalism and dualism . " From this it is

perfectly evident that the ecclesm militant , in permitting this extraordinary flight of an embittered imagination to take command , has flown far beyond the boundaries of pure and simple truth , and lost hia thesis in a quagmire of blundering impotency and error , forgetting to act upon the

axiom " Forbear to judge , for we are sinners all . It is , however , bnt common charity to assume that he has been confounding the work of the Illuminati of Adian Wieshaupt , a Professor of Canon Law , or that of the Benedictine Monk ,

Pernetti , with tbe virtuous , moral and loyal principles of Freemasonry , whose sublime truths and secret knowledge aro guided by the most rigid rites , uncontaminated by BuperstitionB , innovations , and corruptions . •••# •*

It is indeed making au extraordinary demand upon average human intelligence and at the same time straining to the utmost point human credulity , when we are informed from the safe entrenchment of the pnlpit , which should be occupied by teachers enunciating truths of moral philosophy

and Christian ethics , that "the whole government of this diabolical sect proceeded upon the principle that Christianity was the foe of the human race . The object of their future energies was the destruction of the Holy See because , as they themselves said , if the See of Peter could

be destroyed , Christianity was gone . If it were not that there is a God above , and that this Lucifer was himself but His creature , and could after all but go certain lengths , who would not feel that Christianity could not last long under the attacks of such an insidious and dangerous foe . "

To use terms such as this , with reference to and in connection with Freemasonry , only proves how far a perfervid imagination—not guided by reason or experience —will influence the chimerical and visionary assailant , whose extravagant and reproachful enthusiasm leads him

to denounce the Order with religious phrensy , and in terms strictly within the lines of incomformity with facts or truth . It is extremely difficult to comprehend tbe grounds which actuate the fierce opposition of . the Romish Church to Freemasonry , save upon the assumption that it is duo to

the overpowering lust for power , which it has so painfully exemplified in past ages , a recrudescence from which it is now suffering at the present time , only eventually to discover that it has been engaged in the fruitless task of " beating the air , " and following the ignis fatuus of desire .

The expulsion from the communion of a church and deprivation of its rights , privileges , and advantages , may appear of serious moment to those who accept and affect its teachings and doctrine , but to those who bold divergent views it matters nothing . Therefore , to the true and

consistent members of the Craft , it is of little moment when they are seriously informed , that " we have the word at least of six occupants of tho Holy See , giving publicly to the faithful in Encyclicals , knowing what they did of this sect from those who , by the grace of God , having been

entangled in its meshes , had escaped and left it , and had given in their confession to the proper authorities . Each of these Pontiffs was able to say of this sect that it was the instrument of the fallen angel , and they forbade that the sacraments of the church should be administed to

anyone who remains a member of it . " This Brutum fulmen of the Romish Church will only provoke a smile , the brethren of the Order will not give it the least consideration , and it is a matter of perfect indifference whether it conveys the greater or the lesser excommunication , they will charitabl y

exclaim damnant quod non intellignnt , they condemn what they do not understand . The promulgators will receive the indulgent commiseration of the Craft , which numbers within its ranks all classess of society , men of all shades of thought and opinions , members of all denominations , social ,

religious and political , from powerful Emperors . Kings and Princes , to the humblest mechanic . Citizens of all nations , be they in the North , South , East and West . Mahomedans and Hindus , Europeans and Celestials , Hebrews , Copts ,

Armenians and Africans , Malays and Polynesians , and other members of the human family throughout the habitable globe , who can recognise in tbe Kadosh the elevated character and sublimity of tho truths which distinguish

Christianity And Freemasonry.

the foundations of Freemasonry ; an Order upon whose Lodges the sun never sets , among which no unfriendly feeling exists ; whose members preserve an upright position with reference to their fellow-men , who , in acting justly to themselves , never fail to do so to tho brethren and the world . The harmless thunderbolts of

the Romish Church fall far short of their intended destination , hurled when and by whom they may , they provoke no retaliation , only pity and compassion for those human instruments in the hierarchy who , while praying for mercy at the hands of their Heavenly Father in the temple sacred

to His worship , will , iu the same place with energetic words and expressions , pitilessly deny that mercy to otJters , exhibiting in their insignificent actions none of that tenderness of heart , that human sympathy , that compassionate

pity , which in past centuries were shown by Him , whoso form upon the Cross , in spotless statuary , graces the altars , whicb adorn the temples , in which they invoke His spiritual aid . —CALCHAS , in Freeman ' s Exmouth Journal .

Ladies In Freemasonry.

LADIES IN FREEMASONRY .

fj iHB Masonic Review reprints the letter which appeared JL in our issue of 29 th July , under the above heading , and then remarks : It has ever been a maxim in the Masonic Fraternity that " no woman" should be initiated into its " mysteries . " The reasons for this to a Master Mason are obvions and

imperative . As far as we are informed , it was also true of all the mysteries of the ancients , that women were absolutely excluded . The fact cited by " Sister Ethel " that " ladies have boen admitted even up to the 33 rd degree in Spain , " may be

true ; we cannot question it . But , from the same article , " Sister Ethel" will learn that the Masonry of Spain is sadly mixed up . It is not the pure , unadulterated Masonry of England , from which " the Masonry " of the world , and also the extenuations and imitations of Masonry

has been derived . Everything that is called " Masonry " is not necessarily " Masonry , " although to be a " Mason " may be one of the pre-requisites required before initiation into the subsidiary order . Some of these orders are , at tho present day , exceedingly popular . We may cite , for

illustration , the Order of "the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine , " that in less than a dozen years has attracted so many to its Temples . This is but one of many that might bo named . This Order requires that those who apply to

be admitted to its Temples shall be not only "Masons , " but either a " Knight Templar , " or a member of the 32 ° of the A . A . Scottish Rite . They are , therefore , all " Masons , " and are hence a " body of Masons , " but not a " Masonic Body . " This is true of many others .

Now , to gratify the cravings of " Sister Ethel , " why not introduce the Order of the " Eastern Star , " which is composed entirely of the wires , daughters , and mothers of

" Masons , " and to which more or less many Master Masons are attached . This would open a new field to such as " Sister Ethel , " where an opportunity would be afforded for au enlarged sphere of usefulness and social enjoyment .

We are assured by those who know , that it is everything that can bo desired ; and ive know , and all know , that there is no hand that can so tenderly and lovingly " do good " as can the hand of woman .

The " Eastern Star " is not and does not claim to be a " Masonic Body , " but it comes as near to boing a " body of Masons " as it is possible for the " better halves " of Masons to become !

In anticipation of the meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge Bro . W . Frank Wescott issued an early edition of the Devon Masonic Register containing the names of all tho Grand Officers , the P . G . Officers , the Officers of the various Craft and Mark Lodge ? , Royal Arch Chapters , Knights

Templary Encampments , Rose Croix Chapters , & c . A tabulated statement is given of the number of votes and by whom held in the Province for the great Masonic Charities . The book is replete with every possible information respecting tbe work of the Order in Dovon , and should bo in the hands of every member .