A Roman Catholic Archbishop's Denunciation.

A ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP'S DENUNCIATION .

THE English community in Yatta were greatly incensed lately by the interference of the Yattesei Police , afc the instigation of the priests , with their arrangements for a charity performance in aid of the orphans of Freemasons . The

interference resulted in the opera house being closed against them , thus limiting fcheir sphere of success . The following is an extract from the Lenten Pastoral issued by His Grace the Archbishop , Bishop of Malta :

" There is a sect a thousand times cursed by the Church which does nothing but say and repeat , in every way , that beneficence and charity are its object , its law , its life . It is Masonry . But is it true that charity animates Masonry ? Leaving words to those whom they satisfy , let us examine the facts , and facts tell us that where war is waged against God ,

where the cry is death to the Papacy , where the fall of thrones is praised , where the image of the crucifix is trampled under foot , where faith is lost and outraged , morals are foul , the heart is corrupted , no love , no charity dwells , but envy , rancour , execrable hatred . ' The facts say , ' these are the words of the Great Leo XIII ., ' that Masonic patriotism is but sectarian

selfishness , desirous of ruling over everything , lording it over the modern states , which gather and centralise everything in their hands . The facts say that in the intentions of Masonry , the words political independence , equality , civilisation , progress , aim at facilitating . . . the independence

of man from God , the licence of error and vice , the league of a faction to the detriment of other citizens , the art of the lucky ones of the time , of enjoying life more comfortably and more delighfully , the return of a people redeemed by the divine blood to the divisions , the corruption , the immoralities of paganism . '—( Encyclical Letter of the 8 th December 1892 ) .

"It was for these reasons that the same Supreme Pontiff pointed out Masonry to the whole world ' as the enemy , at one and the same time , of God , of the Church , and of the Fatherland . ' It is true that these are not wanting , and there are several , especially among us , who , not having yet penetrated the mysteries of the guilty sect , deceived by the mellifluous words

of beneficence , brotherhood , charity , are thoughtlessly lulled thereby , and do not care about anything else ; but if they truly seek charity , brotherhood , beneficence , are they without a field where to exercise the beautiful virtue , to unite themselves more closely to their neighbour , to be generous to the poor of Jesus Christ , in the bosom of the Catholic Church , to which they one

day belonged ? Is not the Catholic Church the mother of the beautiful love ; she who alone has and can give true love , perfect charity ? And even supposing that subsidies are not wanting in Masonry and mutual help among the so-called Brethren , is that sufiicient to constitute charity 1 To love our neighbour with the love of charity , with the true love of friendship , is to wish

every happiness to our neighbour , is to help him , as far as we can , to attain to that happiness . And since the greatest good is his eternal happiness , the salvation of his soul , to assist one ' s Brother in the flesh , to poison his mind , to corrupt his heart , to deprive him of his faith , which is the beginning of all salvation , not only is it not charity , but it is the most execrable of murders .

Charity is only from God , whose image we all have engraved in our souls ; it is only through Jesus Christ who alone , by his grace , can restore that image in us , whenever it is darkened or erased ; it comes to us only from the most pure bosom of the Catholic Church , which infuses the divine image in our soul , with the wholesome milk of her sacraments and the grace of which she is the only trustee . " — " Stirling Observer . "

The " Masonic Eecord" is advocating less Masonic talk and more Masonic work—less Masonic saying and more Masonic doing . Less glorying in what Masonry has been and better exemplification of what it should be now . It says : " Ifc is while a Brother lives and can appreciate the efforts made on his behalf , that we must act if we hope to make our actions worth anything at all . "

Depression And Discouragement.

DEPRESSION AND DISCOURAGEMENT .

LODGES , as well as individuals , have their periods of depression and discouragement . It is thought that in the economy of nature the still , frosty night and tossing of the tempest are as necessary to the growth and ultimate strength and perfection of the monarch of the forest as are the pearly dewdrops , the gentle zephyr , and glad warm sunshine . There are times when interest grows dull , enthusiasm ebbs , and the work of the Lodge

seems utterly dull and spiritless , when nothing useful has been accomplished , and the time seems worse than wasted . Yet we can never live up to our ideals , cannot always be doing great things . Yet to do one ' s duty , to do the best one knows , is really , truly great . We must , as individuals and as unit Lodges , remember that we are only one of many , that though our meetings

are not large and enthusiastic , and that they may be of seemingly little consequence , yet from night to night , week to week , year to year , throughout the world , meetings of our great family are being held , each doing something for our common cause , each contributing of its means , moral as well as

material , for the betterment of the race , each teaching the principles of that fraternal affection that drives from the heart all base passions and brings mankind into sweetest fellowship . Each Lodge , however small , must do its part . We cannot do too much . All are not sufficient " to reach and

Depression And Discouragement.

minister to the needy and afflicted in all the walks of life . " Let each Lodge seek to know and then to do its full duty , then each shall find its reward in the grand sum total of kind ministries that shall help to bless and redeem the race . — " New Zealand Craftsman . "

Theatrical & Entertainment Notes.

THEATRICAL & ENTERTAINMENT NOTES .

" FATJST " has been chosen by Sir Augustus Harris to open the season of opera in English at Drury Lane , on Easter Eve , the principal parts being played by Madame Fanny Moody , Miss Meisslinger , Messrs . Hedmondt , Green , and Manners . Other members of the company will be Madame Amy Sherwin . who took part in the Easter season at Drury Lane last year , Madame Duma , Madame Amadi , Miss Strong , Miss Pauline Joran , Messrs .

Brozel , Bispham , and Bevan ; the conductors being Signor Mancinelli , Mr . Glover , and , it is believed , also Mr . Feld . During Easter week the operas will include " Tannhauser , " " Hansel and Gretel , " " Cavaleria Rusticana , " " Pagliacci , " and " Carmen . " The English version of " Die Walkure" will probably be revived during the second week , and an English version of M . Bruneau ' s " L'Ataque du Moulin" is also in contemplation .

AMONG the attractions this season at the Empire of India Exhibition will be a Belvedere Tower , nearly 200 feet high , similar to those erected at the World ' s Fair , Chicago , and at the Paris and Philadelphia Exhibitions . The tower will be handsomely designed , provided with two passenger lifts ,

and have several balconied storeys . The top platform will accommodate about one hundred persons , and from this an excellent view may be obtained , while the tower itself will be a striking feature of the Queen ' s Court , and will , at night , be illuminated by a lighthouse lamp of 4 , 000 , 000 candlepower .

A NEW naval drama , " True Blue ; or Ashore and Afloat , " by Messrs . Leonard Outram and Stuart Gordon , was produced at the Olympic on Thursday evening to an appreciative audience , the spectacular effects being both elaborate and striking , while the acting was good all round . The piece is largely associated with routine life on board a man-of-war , and interest is well sustained throughout . We shall give a more detailed notice at a later date .

THE latest attraction at Olympia takes the form of " Living Photographs . " Mr . Paul ' s theatrograph depicts in most realistic form scenes from popular plays , acrobatic and . saltatory turns , & c , in the most effective manner , the movements of the life-size performers being quite astounding in their fidelity to nature .

An exceptionally interesting programme was presented at the Haymarket Theatre on Thursday afternoon at the performance given " as a compliment to , and for the benefit of Mr . Hermann Vezin . " Mr . Vezin himself took part in the third act of " Othello , " in which he played the Moor to the Iago of Mr . Beerbohm Tree .

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