Our Archaeological Corner.

whereof , we have hereunto subscribed our names , and affixed the Seal of the Grand Lodge this oth day of November , in the year of Our Lord 1801 . " Robt . Leslie , G . Sec . " Edw . Harper , D . G . Sec .

The Seal bears the iuscrijition " Grand Lodge in London of Free and Accepted Masons , according to the Old Institution , " and is affixed under the signatures . The name " Jon-. 'than Smith" is duly signed in the margin , and beneath in the other margin , " Lodge No . 2 . S , Bear and AV'heatsheaf , Thames Street , London . " Such I . think , is an accurate description of the

above , though probably you may have seen similar ones before . The name of the Lodge is unfortunately not inserted , but in your most interesting " Memorials" the No . 258 of the "Ancients , " at 1813 , is described as " Hercules Tower ,

Threadneedle Street , London , " corresponding to the piesent " Lion and Lamb , Cannon Street , London , No . 192 . " I fear I have been somewhat prolix in my description , but I fancied you might be interested in its perusal . Trusting you are in the

enjoyment of good health ; believe me , A ^ ery truly and fraternally yours , J . HORDEUS JUICES , P . M ., 120 , 892 , Past Prov . J . G . Warden , Herefordshire .

The Attack Of The Church Of Rome On Freemasons And Freemasonry.

THE ATTACK OF THE CHURCH OF ROME ON FREEMASONS AND FREEMASONRY .

BY THE EDITOR . TUE attack ivhich the Romish Church is now making on Freemasonry is not a new one , but it seems to be even more bitter , and is certainly more vituperative than the older incriminations and condemnations .

AVe think it well , therefore , to present to our readers all the attacks in their official form , which we have found ourselves , or take on the faith of others . The first ' in point of time , is a general decree which was passed by the Council of Avicuion in

132 G . Bro . Fiudel alludes to it in his history in a footnote . AVe have ourselves seen extracts before of the decree , and Bro . Albert Mackey , in America , has given us the first transcription " in extenso " iu English of it , in the "Voice of'Masonry " for

September , at page 653 . He has taken it from Hardouin ' s ivell-known " Acta Conciliovum et Ep istolse Decretales ac Constitutiones Summorum Pontificum , Paris 1714 . " The decree is a remarkable one , as it condemns all secret confraternities who ' congregate in some place once a year

under the name of a confraternity , sometimes all wearing a dress with certain curious signs and marks , they elect one of their number as chief niajorem , to whom they awear obedience in all things . " Some have thought that this decree was

directed against the " Vehmish Societies , " but it appears to me that it was mainly directed against the "Sodalities of Operative Masons , " in which opinion Bro . Albert Mackey concurs apparently . Of course one difficulty is plain , that at that time the

operative lodges Avere under the active protection of the church , and their ceremonies and legends were purely in accordance with the dogmas and decrees of the Church , We cannot explain the seeming paradox , but proceed to give the decree from Bro . Albert Mackey ' s paper in the " Voice of Masonry " : —

CHAPTEK XXXVII . Concerning the societies , unions and confederacies called confraternities ivhich are to be utterly extirpated . Whereas , in certain parts of our provinces , noblemen for the most part and sometimes other personshave established

, unions , societies and confederacies , which are interdicted by the canon as well as by the municipal laws , who congregate in some place once a year under the name of a confraternity , and there establish assemblies aud unions , and enter into a compact

confirmed by an oath that they will mutually aid each other against all persons whomsoever , their own lords excepted , and in every case that each one will give to another help , counsel and favour ; and sometimes all wearing a similar dress with

certain curious signs or marks , they elect one of their number as a chief ( niajorem ) to whom they swear obedience in all things ; whereby justice is offended , murders and robberies ensue ; peace and security are banishedthe innocent and the poor are

, oppressed , and the churches and ecclesiastics in a town infested by such societies , suffer various injuries and great damage to their persons , possessions , rights and jurisdictions . Wishing at once to check these