Leo Xiii.'S Letter To The Italian People.

threads of socialism , communism , and anarchism . The character is effeminated , and so many souls not knosving hosv to bear their sufferings svith dignity , or hosv to get relief in a manly way , leave this svorld by cosvardly suicide . These are the fruits svhich our Italians have reaped from the Masonic sect . And after all this Freemasonry

is bold enough , boasting of the great services rendered to Italy , to come to you and to give us and all those svho listen to our svords and remain faithful to Jesus Christ , the calumnious title of foes of the Fatherland . Of svhat kind of merits this criminal sect possesses , to repeat my statement , is shosvn by their acts . These acts prove that Masonic patriotism is nothing but a

sectarian egotism eager to dominate everything and to rule the modern states , svhich are to unite all posver in its hands . These acts relate that in the spirit of Freemasonry svords as political independence , equality of the . states , are aiming . it nothing else but to pave thc svay in our country to independence of the man from God , to liberty , the faults nnd the crime , lo the

confederation of one party to the detriment of the other citizens , to the tricks of the favourites of this century , to enjoy life fully and to the return of a people redeemed by Divine blood , to discord , immorality , and the disgrace of paganism . And no one needs to be surprised at this . A sect svhich after iy centuries of Christian civilisation

endeavour to fight against the Catholic Church and to curtail the Divine sources , svhich denying absolutely the supernatural , repells all revelation and all the good arising from tbe same , svhich is founded , svith its aims and svorks solely on a sveak and morally corrupted nature

such as ours is . Such a sect cannot be anything but a monster of pride , cupidity , ant ! lust . And svhen these three sensual passions are united they increase the oppressions and the crimes , till they assume immense dimensions , and bring about the oppression and dosvnfall of a svhole nation .

Take note therelore that , svhen I am addressing you nosv , I accuse Freemasonry of being a foe to God , the Church , and to our Fatherland . Consider Freemasonry practically as your enemy , and defend yourselves svith all weapons svhich reason , conscience , and faith have given you in your hands against such a cruel enemy . Do not be carried asvay by its beautiful

aspect , or blinded by its promises , or persuaded by its inducements , or intimidated by its threats . Remember that Christianity and Freemasonry are opposed to each other on principle . To approach the latter means to create a deep abyss to the former . You svill nosv understand , beloved sons , the impossibility of a compatibility of the tsvo doctrines , viz ., the Catholic

and the Alasonic . My predecessors have warned you publicl y , and I likewise repeat this publicly . Those , hosvever , svho unfortunately has * e joined one of these pernicious societies may knosv that they are heresvith requested to sever their connection svith them at once if they tlo not svant to lose their Christian community , and

to have tlieir souls lost for time and eternity . Further , the parents , teachers , anel guardians are heresvith informed that a stern duty exhorts them to prevent , by all possible means , their children joining this criminal sect , or , if they are already members , to bring them back . ln a matter of such importance , and as seduction is

easy in our days , the Christian must guard himself against thc first step , must be afraid of the least danger , and , using the utmost caution according to the teaching of the gospel , be as harmless as a dove , and as wise as a serpent . The fathers and mothers of families should guard themselves against receiving unknosvn persons in their

houses and against giving them their domestic confidence , or at least those svhose * reli gion is not sufficientl y knosvn . Bo on your guard , lest under t-. e cloak of a friend , teacher , doe-tor , or other benevolent man , a sly agent of this sect be concealed . Oh ! In hosv many families has not the wolf in sheep ' s clothing already made his invasion V

It is ; i good thing to see the many societies which exist nosv in every class of human life in great number , ss ' orkcrs' unions for mutual suppoit , others for science , literature , arts , ancl if they are animated by a good moral and religious . spirit , they become certainly useful antl valuable . But if they are pure even in this respect , lure and there : the poison of Freemasonry has

penetrated , and is still penetrating ; be suspicious in general antl avoid societies svhich rid themselves of all religious influences , as such are likely lo be directly or indirectly governed by Freemasonry ; also those , svhich kept up b y the seel , are its orchard and school . Philanthropic , *!! societies , svhose nature and aim are not svell knosvn , should not be joined by anybody

svithout the advice of svise and experienced persons . As a letter of introduction for the Masonic goods , their serves often thai boasting philanthropy svhich is put against the Christian charity svith so much pomp . Brsvare of being friends or confidants of people svho are suspected of belonging lo Freemasonry , or to one of ( heir Brotheihocds . They are knosvn by their

fruits anel consequently avoided . Bess-arc not onl y of those svho , as manifestly impious and godless brothers , bear the mask of that Sociely in their face , but avoid also every familiarity svith those svho , under the mask of general tolerance , from false regard for all reli g ions ,

Irom stupid zeal , unite the princi ples of the gospel svith those of the revolution , or Christ svith Belial , the Church wilh God , svith the existence svithout God . Books and journals svhich infuse the poison of godlessness , and svhich nourish in the human mind the lire of unbridled and sensual passions , clubs and reading

Leo Xiii.'S Letter To The Italian People.

rooms , svhere the Masonic spirit is alive and anxious , to destroy something or to put the stamp on a Christian , svhich causes ^ terror . It is not sufficient svith regard to a sect svhich has attacked everything , to confine oneself to the defence but to go courageously to svar against it . And this you can do , beloved sons , by putting pressure against pressure , school against school , society

against society , congress against congress , action against action . Freemasonry has taken possession of the public schools , but you may resist them svith your private schools , with those ior clerical and religious pupils of both sexes , and principally you , parents , do not trust the education ot your children to schools which are

not safe . Freemasonry has appropriated the hereditary public Charity . Freemasonry has placed the pious svorks in the hands of its adherents , but you , as far as concerns you , trust it to the Catholic Institutes . Freemasonry opens and keeps up houses in which vice dominates , but you do your best to give a refuge to endangered honesty . Freemasonry bears religiously

and civilly an anti-Christian stamp , but you assist in deeds , and svith money , the Catholic faith . Freemasonry has founded societies for mutual assistance and institutes of importance for its osvn partisans , but you can do equally svell through your brothers , even through all poor people b y showing that true and open-minded Charity is the daughter of Him , svho

makes the sun rise and the rain come dosvn on just and unjust people . This struggle of the good svith the bad extends over everything . Freemasonry holds many congresses to discover nesv methods of combatting the Church , but you do the same to understand better the means for your defence . Freemasonry multiplies its lodges , but

you should ssvell the Catholic societies and Church conferences , benevolent societies and prayer meetings , and do your best to maintain and increase the splendour of God ' s temple . The sect , svi . ic . o has nosv nothing to fear , shows no . v its face in broad day-light , but you , Catholic Italians ni * ke also an open confession of your faith ; take your glorious ancestors as your example ,

svho , in resisting the tyrants , tortures , and deaths , fearlessly confessed and confirmed it svith the testimony of their blood . The sect endeavours to humble the Church and to lay her like an ordinary servant to the feet of the State . But do not you cease to care for your Church and to ask for her in a legal svay the liberty and independence due to her .

Freemasonry endeavours to loose the Catholic unity by solving discord even among the clergy , by creating strife and propagating discord by inciting people to insubordination , revolution , and schism . But you , by tightening tbe holy knot of benevolence and obedience frustrate its intentions , publish its aims , and bli ght its hopes . Like the first adherents to the

laith , be one heart and one soul , rally round the pulpit , congregate round the See of St . Peter , unite svith your pastors and protect the hi ghest interests of the Church and the Pope , svhich are al the same the hi ghest interests of Ital y and the entire Christian svorld . The Apostolic See has alsvays been the zealous and

powerful guardian of * Italian greatness . Be , therefore , Italians antl Catholics , free men , and not sectarians , be faithful to the Fatherland and to both Christ and his visible representative , and be convinced that an Italy which is directed against Christianity and Papacy is contrary to the Divine svill , and consequently doomed to be ; tlamnpd

Beloved sons , religion and Fatherland speak at this moment , simultaneousl y out of my mouth ; do not be afraid on account of the number of your foes , their impudence and power ; since God is stronger and is svith yoii , ^ hosv can they fight against you :- In order that God may shosv all the more grace towards

you , and fi ght and triumph svith you , double vour prayers together , by practising Christian virtue , and especially , be charitable to the poor , and renew your faith dail y b y asking humbly and fervently for the Divine mercy . As a good omen , and as a token of my ; atherly love , I give you , beloved sons , heresvith , the Apostolic benediction .

Written in Rome , at St . Peters , on Sth Dec , 1892 , the 15 th year of my priestly reign . LEO PP . XIII .

The Newly Discovered Dumfries Mss.

THE NEWLY DISCOVERED DUMFRIES MSS .

We have great pleasure in publishing the follosving annotations by Bro . Dr . Begemann on Bro . W . J . Hughan ' s Notes on the Dumfries MSS . — '' I have to note as to the MSS . discovered since Gould ' s ' Calendar ' as follosvs : To add : I . t'KAND I . OIIUK r . SMii . Y :

c . Dow / and IJiaiirh : Hughan MS , anel DnnifrV = No . 1 , M . S . e . Colne Hi 11 .. ih . C . ia-i . ' a . ' , ! . *> . eluimcrly the "Hub" ) and Clapham MS . g . Sundry Forms -. Dumfries , No . 3 ; but nosv , as we

have three copies of this form , I should like to make another branch thereof , namely : a . Harris llr . mch . There are two Harris MSS ., and the Dumfries MS ., No . 3 , not being the very ori ginal . I svant to avoid the latter title , because there are five so named , and the name " Dumfries Branch " svould be

uncertain . II . SI . OA . N'K I-. SMII . V : b . Hope liranch : Waistell M . S . c . Alnwick Brunch -. Watson MS .

The Newly Discovered Dumfries Mss.

d . Sundry Forms : Thomas W . Tesv MS . The William Watso MS . stands by itself , and svould be a member of a supposed " Plot Family . " Nosv as to your Introduction * I add some remarks in accordance with your svishes . 1 . Under " The Kilwinning MS . " you say at the conclusion : " that it svas a production of the sister

Kingdom is evident from its containing a charge in which every man that is a Mason is bound to be leidgeiiicn to the King of Eng ' and . " I cannot agree svith you in this conclusion , for the term King of England is found in so many copies that sve cannot believe all of them to be of Scottish orig in . You will find the term in most of the copies of the Grand Lodge Family

( confer Freemason , 1892 , July 2 nd ) , namely * . a . Grand Lodge MS ., Phillipps MS ., Nos . I and j , Kilwinning MS . ( not in Cama MS . ) . b . Dowland MS ., Clerke MS ., Pnillipps MS ., No . ,,, Papsvorth MS ., Hughan MS . ( not in York MS ., No . b , and Dumfries MS ., No . / . ) c . York MSS ., 1 , 2 , and 5 .

d . Lansdowne MS ., Antiquity MS . ( in the Probity MS . the charges are missing ) . g . Melrose MS ., No . 2 , Aberdeen MS . ( not in Wood MS . and Dauntesey MS . ) . The words " of England" are not in the Colne , Buchanan , and Harris Branches , but they arc found in 16 copies of the Grand Lodge Family , as well as in the

Spencer Family , while they are missing in the whole Sloane Family and the Roberts Family . This being the case , it seems impossible to me that the addition of the words " of England" could be a characteristic feature of the Scottish Constitutions , for all these copies are not likely to have come from Scotland . And it would be most astonishing that several copies found

in Scotland have not the distinguishing feature , eg ., the Atcheson-Haven MS . and the Dumfries , MSS ., Nos . / and , ? . Besides , it is evident from the foot note to the Melrose MS ., that the original came from England , and sve have the addition also here . Therefore I am of opinion that sve are not svarranted in making any such conclusion from the addition of the svords in

question . * !' 2 . The Dumfries MS ., A '» . / , as reprinted in Smith ' s History of the Old Lodge of Dumfries , is of the Dow / and Branch of the Grand Lodge Family , and especiall y agrees in various readings svith the York MS ., No . 6 , as reprinted by Bro . Hughan ( " Masonic Magazine , " VII ., p . 370 , ff . ) . In the prayer , both of

them add the name of " Jestts , " and have "joy " instead of "bliss . " The form of address is "Good Brother and Fellow" instead of the usual " Good Brethren and Fellows . " Both MSS . have seven or eight times the obsolete svord " clipped " in precisely the same passages instead of " railed" or " named "in other copies ; besides the two copies always agree in

employing the svords " culled or " mimed . In the Euclid legend both say in respect to the reward of his travail , " as would content him , " and then go on , " After this was proclaimed . " In the history of Solomon ' s Temple the tsvo agree another time in quite a peculiar passage , viz ., " and gathered together masons of divers countries and sent them into divers lands . "

The St . Alban legend offers the reading : " and he was himself a helper to make masons , " and immediately after they agree in the svords . * " Presently after thc decease of St . Alban . " These particulars may suffice to show the close resemblance of these two copies , though there are still more remarkable agreements between them .

Nevertheless , neither have come frem the other , for sve meet with some differences which prove that there must have been an older prototype for both of them . So in the history of Lamech's children the Dumfries MS ., No . 1 , is correct in reading : " By his wife Adah he got tsvo sones and called them Jaball and Tubal , " whilst thc York MS . changes the latter half of the sentence by

wrjting : " and called them both Jaball , " aftersvards distinguishing "the elder Sonn Jabell" and "the younger Tabell , " where the Dumfries MS . has the two correctly . In the Euclid legend the York MS . reads ; " And that the King and all his Councell granted to him one and sealed this comon , " where the Dumfries MS . has : " anel that the King and all his councell

graunt him money and seall his commissione , " where " anone , " or '' anon , " is the correct reading . Afterwards , for instance , the King ot Tyre is styled "Irani in the York MS ., but ' •Jerusalem" in the Dumfries MS . These particulars will do for the time . ( 3 ) . The Harris MS ., No . 1 , as reprinted in llic Freemasons' Chronicle for April 22 nd and 291 I 1 , 1882 , 1 '

not exactly a transcript of the Dumfries MS ., No . 3 ; bul they are , both of them , offsprings from an older prototype , sometimes the former being more orig inal , somttimer the latter . The marginal titles of the Dumfries MS . are svritten as superscriptions in the Harris MS ., the latter being in some cases more complete aim

often more correctl y arranged , whilst the former are not ! il'va \ -s in their propi-r places . Some margin " •> - - ... ni , es . no . u-. not appearas superscriptions in the Harris MS ., and some superscription"" 0 ' the latter MS . are missing as marginal titles in the former , but the corresponding phrases have crep t into the running text . Wherefrom we may conclude that ( To be continued . )