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Article FREEMASONRY AND THE SPANISH INQUISITION. ← Page 3 of 4 →
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Freemasonry And The Spanish Inquisition.
canons and laws of the kingdom . —The mystery of the Holy Trinity is neither maintained nor combatted in the masonic lodges , neither is the religious system of the natural philosophers approved or rejected ; God is designated as the Great Architect of the Universe , according to the allegories of the Freemasons , which relate to architecture . In order to fulfil my promise of speaking truth I must repeat , that in the masonic lodges nothing takes place which concerns any reliious systemand that
g , the subjects treated of are foreign to religion under the allegories of architectural works . Do you believe as a Catholic that it is a sign of superstition to mingle holy and religious things with profane things?—I am not sufficiently acquainted with the particular things which are prohibited as contrary to the purity of the Christian religion ; but I have believed till now , that those who confound the one with the othereither by mistake or a vain
, belief , are guilty of the sin of superstition . Is it true that in the ceremonies which accompany the reception of a Mason , the crucified image of our Saviour , the corpse of a man , and a skull , and other objects of a profane nature are made use of?—The general statutes of Freemasonry do not ordain these things ; if they are made use of it must have arisen from a particular custom , or from the arbitrary regulations of the members of the lodge who are commissioned
to prepare for the reception of candidates , for each lodge has particular customs and ceremonies . That is not the question ; say if it is true , that these ceremonies are observed in masonic lodges?—Yes or no , according to the regulations of those who are charged with the ceremonies of initiation .
Were they observed where you were initiated ?—No . What oath is it necessary to take on being received a Freemason ?—We swear to observe secrecy . On what?—On things which it may be inconvenient to publish . Is this oath accompanied by execrations?—Yes . What are they?—We consent to suffer all the evils which can afflict the body and soul if we violate the oath . Of what importance is this oathsince it is believed that such
for-, midable execrations may be used without indecency ?—That of good order in the society . What passes in these lodges which it might be inconvenient to publish?—Nothing , if it is looked upon without prejudice ; but as people are generally mistaken in this matter , it is necessary to avoid giving cause for malicious interpretations ; and this would take place if what passes when the brothers assemble was made public .
Of what use is the crucifix if the reception of a Freemason is not considered a religious act?—It is presented to penetrate the soul with the most profound respect at the moment that the novice takes the oath . It is not used in every lodge , and only where particular grades are conferred . Why is the skull used ?—That the idea of death may inspire a horror of perjury .
Of what use is the corpse?—To complete the allegory of Hiram , architect of the temple of Jerusalem , who it is said was assassinated by traitors , and to induce a greater detestation of assassination and other offences against our neighbours , to whom we ought to be as benevolent brothers . '
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry And The Spanish Inquisition.
canons and laws of the kingdom . —The mystery of the Holy Trinity is neither maintained nor combatted in the masonic lodges , neither is the religious system of the natural philosophers approved or rejected ; God is designated as the Great Architect of the Universe , according to the allegories of the Freemasons , which relate to architecture . In order to fulfil my promise of speaking truth I must repeat , that in the masonic lodges nothing takes place which concerns any reliious systemand that
g , the subjects treated of are foreign to religion under the allegories of architectural works . Do you believe as a Catholic that it is a sign of superstition to mingle holy and religious things with profane things?—I am not sufficiently acquainted with the particular things which are prohibited as contrary to the purity of the Christian religion ; but I have believed till now , that those who confound the one with the othereither by mistake or a vain
, belief , are guilty of the sin of superstition . Is it true that in the ceremonies which accompany the reception of a Mason , the crucified image of our Saviour , the corpse of a man , and a skull , and other objects of a profane nature are made use of?—The general statutes of Freemasonry do not ordain these things ; if they are made use of it must have arisen from a particular custom , or from the arbitrary regulations of the members of the lodge who are commissioned
to prepare for the reception of candidates , for each lodge has particular customs and ceremonies . That is not the question ; say if it is true , that these ceremonies are observed in masonic lodges?—Yes or no , according to the regulations of those who are charged with the ceremonies of initiation .
Were they observed where you were initiated ?—No . What oath is it necessary to take on being received a Freemason ?—We swear to observe secrecy . On what?—On things which it may be inconvenient to publish . Is this oath accompanied by execrations?—Yes . What are they?—We consent to suffer all the evils which can afflict the body and soul if we violate the oath . Of what importance is this oathsince it is believed that such
for-, midable execrations may be used without indecency ?—That of good order in the society . What passes in these lodges which it might be inconvenient to publish?—Nothing , if it is looked upon without prejudice ; but as people are generally mistaken in this matter , it is necessary to avoid giving cause for malicious interpretations ; and this would take place if what passes when the brothers assemble was made public .
Of what use is the crucifix if the reception of a Freemason is not considered a religious act?—It is presented to penetrate the soul with the most profound respect at the moment that the novice takes the oath . It is not used in every lodge , and only where particular grades are conferred . Why is the skull used ?—That the idea of death may inspire a horror of perjury .
Of what use is the corpse?—To complete the allegory of Hiram , architect of the temple of Jerusalem , who it is said was assassinated by traitors , and to induce a greater detestation of assassination and other offences against our neighbours , to whom we ought to be as benevolent brothers . '