A Roman Catholic's Notion Of Freemasonry.

" But what a damning proof do we not find in those trials , " continues Barruel , " where tho candidate is taught to strike with his poniard tho pretended assassin of their Grand Master ! In common with the Templars , it is on Philip-le-Bel that thc 3 wreak their vengeance ; and in every other king the sect behold this pretended assassin . " *

The foregoing is purely imaginative , no such ceremony forms any part of Knight Templary , nor do we believe it ever did . The next assertion is equally untrue , but we will quote our author ' s own version of it before saying anything further . Pie tells us that"Opening at random Carlile's Manual of MasonryI

, find the following passage in a charge delivered before the brethren of the Royal Arch Masonry : — ' Companions , it is said , the Masonic system exhibits a stupendous and beautiful fabric , founded on universal wisdom , unfolding its gates to receive , without prejudice or discrimination , the tvortliy professors of every description of genuine reliion or hnoided concentratingas it were

g ge ; , , ¦ into one body , their just tenets , unincumbered with the disputable peculiarities of any sect or persuasion . This system originated in tho earliest of as ; es , aud among the wisest of men . " 'f Carlisle was not a Mason , but having been

imprisoned in Dorchester jail ( we believe for blasphemy ) , he there professed to meet with certain Preeniasons who , he said , told him all that he published , except that portion which he derived from books . This very improbable story needs no refutation , as it carries its own condemnation on the face of it . The quotation given by Mr . Robertson neither isnor ever wasany

, , portion of Royal-Arch Masonry . Our Companions in that degree could never have heard any thing like it , and all Mr . Robertson ' s strictures on that point are decidedly beyond the mark . They do not affect Royal-Arch Masons . Mr . Robertson is not one whit more felicitous in his

pourtrayal of what he terms the Kosierucian degree . His authorities have played him false , and if he will inquire of any Preemason what they know of the Rose Croix , or 18 th degree , or Knight Templars , they will immediately tell him , " Oh ! they are the Christian orders of Masonry . " He says , —

" In the Eosicrucian degree , which is one of the highest grades in Masonry , impiety assumes a bolder tone . " Christ himself , in the eyes of these sophisters , is the destroyer of the unity of God . He , according to their impious notion , is the great enemy of Jehovah ; aud to infuse the hatred of the sect into the minds of the new adepts , constitutes the grand mystery of the

degree , which they have called Eosicrucian . " To this we reply that if he will turn to the Book of Common Prayer , and look out the collect for the ' fourteenth Sunday after Trinity , he will see if its language is Christian or not . That collect is used in every Rose Croix Chapter . As the following has

before appeared in print , we are doing no wrong to append it here . It is sung at all the meetings of the 18 th degree upon the reception of a candidate : — " Grateful notes and numbers bring , " Whilst the name of God we sing j Holy ! Holy ! Holy ! Lord , - lie thy glorious name ador'd . Men on earth and saints above , Sing the Great Redeemer ' s love .

Whilst on earth ordained to stay , Guide our footsteps in thy way . Mortals raise your voices high Till they reach the echoing sky . Men on earth and saints above , Sing the Great Redeemer ' s love . " If these verses , perhaps not very good as

poetrywhich is no part of our inquiry—if we say any one can show us the impiety , the want of Christianit y , or can assert that they countenance the monstrous falsehood , which Mr . 'Robertson puts forth , of our representing Christ as being the great enemy of Jehovah , then we no longer can understand our own language .

How any man can come forward and impute to his fellow-men such horrible ancl untrue sentiments is beyond all comprehension , but that fostered by theological hatred . The Rose Croix brethren , thank God , believe in the most Holy , Blessed , and Ever-Glorious Trinity ; and though all the powers of darkness should

combine with the Romish Church , not the least of those powers , nothing would cause the brethren of the Rose Croix , and higher degrees , ever to deny their Most Blessed Lord ancl Saviour .

While on this point we will ofier a remark on the faith of those who are called Knights Templar amongst us . In every encampment each member invocates the help of " Christ our Prophet , Christ our Priest , and Christ our King . " Amongst other portions of Scripture , the following , from the English version of the Holy Bibleare used : —Hebrewschapiv . verses

, , , , 1—16 , both inclusive ; Ephesians , chap , vi ., verses 10—17 , inclusive ; ancl I . Epistle of Peter , chap , ii ., verses 1—17 , inclusive . Others mi ght be added , but the above are sufficient to rebut all such wicked assertions , as Mr . Kobertson has made , touching the faith and practice of Orders of which he knows

nothing , and has gathered only lies and deceit from men ignorant of what they wrote about , but keenly alive to suit their own purposes . We shall conclude with one more extract . Mr . Robertson states , —•

"The Masonic republic aimed at the overthrow of monarchical , clerical , aristocratic , and popular rights , and sought the establishment of a sort of bureaucratic- government , whereby the fraternity might safety propagate its religious and political principles , and monopolise all place and power . And in some countries the attempt had a partial and temporary success . "

Preemasonry has been long looked upon as utterly free from political partisanship . It has nothing whatever to do with state craft . The Most Worship ful Grand Master the Earl of Zetland , Earl de Grey and Ripon , and the other noblemen who are members of the Craft , would scorn to use it for political purposes , and we will even go so far as to say , if they were

inclined to do such a thing , they could not . The Most Eminent Supreme Grand Master of Knights Templar , ancl his conclave , are not employed disseminating any political doctrines . Theirs is an order of Christian kni ghthood , commemorative of times long gone by , and having no affinity with modern

politics . The Most Puissant Sovereign Grand Commander and the members of the Supreme Grand Council , are the last to interfere in political matters . Its chief is well known in academic circles for his erudition . Several of his officers have the honour to hold Her Majesty ' s commission , and the other members are men