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

on the Bible , as by the Imprecation of heavy Punishments , to preserve with inviolable Secrecy . We therefore revolving in our Mind the groat Mischiefs which generally accrue from this Kind of Societies or Conventicles ,

not only to the temporal Tranquility of the State , but to the spiritual Health of Souls : And that therefore they are neither consistent with civil nor canonical Sanctions ; since wc are taught by the Divine Word to wat'th , like a faithful Servant , Night and Day ; lest this Sort of Men break as Thieves into the Houseand like Foxes

endeavour to root up the vineyard ; left lest they should prevcrt the Hearts of the simple , and privily shoot at the Innocent : That we might stop up the broad AVay , ivhich from thence would be laid open for the Perpetration of their Wickedness with impunity , and for other just and reasonable

Causes to us known , have by the Advice of some of our venerable Brethren of the Roman Church , the Cardinals , and of our OAvn mere Motion , and from our certain Knowledge and mature Deliberation , by the Plenitude of the Apostolical Power ,

appointed and decreed to be condemned , and prohibited , and by this our present ever-valid Constitution , we do condemn and prohibit the same Societies , Companies , Meetings , Assemblies , Clubs , or Conventicles , De Liberi Muratori , or Freemasons , or by whatever other Name they are distinguished .

AVherefore all and singular the Faithful in Christ , of whatever State , Degree , Condition , Order , Dignity , and Preeminence , whether Laity or Clergy , as well Seculars as Regulars , worthy all of express Mention and Enumeration wo strictly , and in Virtue of holy Obedience ,

command that no one , under any Pretext or Colour , dare or presume the aforesaid Societies De liberi Muratori , or Freemasons , or by whatever other Manner distinguished , to enter into , promote , favour , admit , or conceal in his or their

Houses , or elseAvhere , or be admitted Members of , or be present with the same , or be any wise aiding and assisting towards their meeting in any Place ; or to administer a « iy Thing to them , or in any Manner publickly or privately , directly or indirectl y , by themselves or others , afford them Counsel , Help , or Favour ; or advise , induce , provoke , or persuade others to be

admitted into , joined , or be present with this Kipd of Societies , or in any Manner aid and promote them : But they ought by all Means to abstain from the said Societies , Companies , Meetings , Assemblies , Clubs , or Conventicles , under the Penalty of all that act contrary thereto incurring

Excommunication ipso Facto , without any other Declaration ; from ivhich no one can obtain the Benefit of Absolution from any other but us , or the Roman Pontiff for the Time being , except at the Point of Death . AVe will moreover and command , That

as well Bishops and superior Prelates , and other Ordinaries of particular Places , as the the Inquisitors of heretical Pravity universally deputed , of what . State , Degree , Condition , Order , Dignity , or Pre-eminence soever , proceed and inquireand restrain

, and coerce the same as vehemently suspected of Heresy , with condign Punishment : For to them and each of them , we hereby give and impart free Power of

proceeding , inquiring against , and of coercing and restraining with condign Punishments the same Transgressors , and of calling in , if it shall be necessary , the Help of thc Secular Arm : And we will that printed Copies of these Presents , signed by some Notary Publick , and confirmed by

the Seal of some Person of Ecclesiastical Dignity , shall be of the same Authority as original Letters would be , if they were shewn and exhibited Let no one therefore infringe , or by rash Attempt contradict this Page of our DeclarationDamnation ,

, Command , Prohibition , and Interdict : But if any one shall presume to attempt this , let him know that he will incur the Indignation of Almi ghty God , and of the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul . Dated from Rome at St . Mary ' s the

Greater , in the Year of the Incarnation of our Lord 1738 , the 4 th of the Calends of May , ( 28 th of April , N . S . ) in the 8 th of our Pontificate .

A . Card , Vice-Datary . C . Amalns , Vice-Secretary . A isa de Curia N . Antonellus . The Place t of the Leaden Seal . 1 . B . EUGENIUS

Registered in the Secretary of the Briefs Office , & c . In the above-mentioned Day , Mouth , and Year , the said Condemnation was fixed up aud published at the 'Gates of the Palace