(No. V.)—Priestly Opposition To Freemasonry In Prance.

It is evident that inside the Romish Church there is not unanimity upon the question of Freemasonry . The Pope ' s attack on our Order was brought about by the fact that the Archbishop of Paris had attended the funeral of Marshal

Magnan , the Grand Master of the Grand-Orient . It is also well-known that , sub rosa , we have even Catholic ecclesiastics in our ranks ; but we confess that we do not like the position of those brethren . It is true that Freemasonry is a secret society ;

• but it is secret in seeking to do good only that it may achieve the reward that is promised " openly' ' to the righteous . There is an essential difference between secresy and darkness . Some men , as we read in Holy Writ , " love darkness rather than

light , because their deeds are evil ; " but , nevertheless , there is also the command which Freemasonry literally fulfils , that we are not to let the 'left hand know what the right hand doeth . Freemasons seek to do the good work which they have

¦ undertaken in secret ; but they must not , therefore , be confounded with those who love darkness because it hides their misdeeds . Any man may be proud to say , "I am a Mason , " while resolutely declining to disclose the secrets of the

• Order ; but the man who belongs to a secret society which has unworthy objects will be ashamed to avow his connection with it , and will seek to gain his ends by the underhand and deceitful means which , rightly or wrongly , have been ascribed to the Jesuits .

As an illustration of the bitter and uncrupulous manner in whicli the priesthood persecute Freemasons , we may state that in consequence of having attended a Masonic meeting of English Lodges , and spoken in defence of French

Craftsmen , a French brother was compelled to resign a valuable public appointment which he held . Soon afterwards , being taken ill , he , as a member of the Catholic Church , sent for the family confessor , when the reverend father declined

to attend unless our brother would consent to a'ive up Masonry . This being refused , the haughty ecclesiastic forwarded a message to say that if our brother died he should be refused the burial offices of the Church ! Such are some of the obstacles to Freemasonry in France . —J . A . H .

PEUDESOE , Masonically , to tlie pupils of Masonry , becomes the guiding star , sending her rays of light to brighten tlie pathway of the frail , the weak , and timid . It directs the footsteps of the weary , through the dreary and dismal ways of darkness and gloom , to u temple of peace and harmony .

The Knights Templars.

THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS .

By ANTHONY ONBAL HAVE . ( Continued from page 288 ) . BOOK II . —CHAPTER IX . —( contd . )

John , Duke of Bedford , m 1320 , made a regulation for the privileged place called Parish Garden , alias Wideflete or Miles , the purport whereof was as follows : —That every person flying thither for sanctuary should give an account

whether it was for debt , or felony , or transgression , after which their names were to be registered , and each one to pay 4 d . for the same ; then to make oath not to do anything in that place , during his protection there , that might any ways bring a

scandal upon , or be prejudicial to , the same ; but to his utmost to honour and defend the same place ; also that he would well and truly observe and keep all the ordinances made for the good of that place . Also that he would not depart thence

without leave , or go out of it by day or by night , and that if he did so it should be at his own peril . If his coming was for felony , he should be kept there under the custody of six men of the society all the night until the morning , unless

security was given for him , or a good account of his reputation . If he struck any person there , he was to be taken in custody till he paid to the

Lord , as a fine , 6 s . Sd . If he had any suit there with any person , the fee to the Seneschal or Steward was 4 d ., to the Bailiff 4 d ., and to the Lord 4 d . If any person committed felony , either within or without the aforesaid place , and this

after his first admittance , he was to forfeit the benefit of the place , and be committed to the king's bench prison . If any person flying came to the said place , though without being guilty of felony , should return again , if he afterwards retired

with leave , he should be received in the form aforesaid , aud should , every time he returned , pay 4 d . to the Lord . If any tenant or other person should be guilty of lewdness , he was to pay to the Lord 6 s . 8 d ., and lose the privilege of the place .

The charter of the 22 nd of King Henry III . confirms to the Templars the manor of Littleston , granted them by Otho Fitz-Williarn , as does that of King Stephen , the manor of Bistelesham , given them by Robert , Earl Ferrars .

Bernard Baliol , conferrred on them lands at Dinnesly and Hitchin , in Hertfordshire . It was agreed between the Nuns of Elneston and the Templars