The Relation Of Theism To Freemasonry.

Rite grades , but has also symbolic or blue lodges connected with it . The whole system is so entirely unlike our own , that we can make no comparison between them . A good many years ago the Grand Orient gave permission to its lodges to do as they pleased about admitting Atheists . Many of their lodges have abolished the demand of belief in God , and admitted many who cannot be classed with Theists .

And yet they would not , perhaps , like you to call them Atheists . The old Atheism of the French Revolution is not the fashion among the French infidels of our day . The philosophy that is in vogue among them is that of Auguste Comte , who was born at Montpellier in 1798 , and died in Paris in 1857 . He was trained a Roman Catholic , but broke away from that system , ancl established the philosophical school of Positivism , His idea isthat we can onlknow what is tible of proof to

, y suscep our senses ; the conception of God he dismissed , as one founded only in imagination , not in rational demonstration . The only religion he taught was one of Humanity . He conceived Humanity as being the universal unity of all intelligent existence : and therefore the highest conception for the human inind to reach . For God , whose existence he thinks can never be proved , he substitutes Humanity . This Comtean philosophy is now the most popular among French non-believers .

They don't spend any time in denying the existence of God , and therefore don ' t wish to be called Atheists ; but they glorify Humanity , and propose to pay that adoration and service to it which Theists pay to God . in one word , instead of worshipping God , they propose to worship themselves and their fellow men . Two years ago these Posifcivist Philosophers , finding they were very strong in the lodges of the Grand Orient of France , determined to bring out their battering rams and undermine the old system of Freemasonry . Their own constitution had said : —

" Elle ( Franc-maconnerie ) a pour principes , 1 ' existence de Dieu , et l'immortalitc de 1 'ame . " This expressed nothing but the simple truth , that Freemasonry has always had for its foundation princijDles the existence of God and the immortality of the soul . A proposition was made to strike this out . It was referred to the lodges for a year ; at the session of 1877 it was stricken out . They claim that it was clone in the interest of entire

liberty of conscience ; to let every one think as he pleases about whether there be a God , or whether he has a soul . But the practical result is , as no doubt the design was , to give aid ancl comfort to the Positivist philosophy , in the substitution of the worship of Humanity for that of God . This year , at the session of September , another move was made to conform the rituals to the change of the constitutionin other wordsto strike out from the

_ ; , Masonic work all reference to the existence of God and the immortality of the soul . The consideration of this was postponed to the next year , and referred to a committee ; but from the composition of that committee , and the temper of the Grand Orient , there is no doubt that the rituals of French Masonry will in another year be entirely emasculated of all its original features as a Theisti ' c system ; and French lodges will become Positivist debating schools , under the stolen and dishonoured flag of

Freemasonry . Perhaps some of you , my hearers , may think it is a discredit to Freemasonry that this state of things could exist . It would be , if we suffered it to go without protest . But the protest against this piratical invasion of the ancient system has been almost universal . Grand Lodges , and Grand Orients , ancl Supreme Councils of the Scottish Rite , in all parts of the world , have not only uttered an indignant protest , but have withdrawn all fellowshifrom the Grand Orient of Franceand disclaim

p , any sort of affinity with such a system of Masonry as it advocates . In some nations portions of the Christian Church have become utter rationalists , and deny all the truths of revelation ; but as the system of Christianity cannot he held responsible for the designs of bad men who seek to pervert it , no more can Freemasonry , after it has uttered its strong , determined protest against this French