The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-12-28
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THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND FREE MAsoNs IN BUE-
NOS AYREs.-Snce the Mortara case has transpired
the Catholic Church has had some trouble in Bue-
nos Ayres, connected with movements the Liber-
ais in that country.
1t is well known that the Catholic Religion does
not tolerate secret societies of any description,
which are not controlled, or at least authorized, by
the Head of the Church. The Free Masons have
always been particularly under the ban of Rome,
and the celebrated constitutions" IN eminente, of
the 28th of April 1873, and Providas, of the 28th
OF May, l75l, Illuminated by Popes Clement NIL,
and Benedict XIV, denOunce anathema against all
Catholics who join the ranks ofheretic Masons.
Notwithstanding the terrible penalties decTeed
in those Bulls, the best citizens of Buenos Ayres
have not hestated to enter Masonic lodges and the
Order in the Porteno province is in a highly
tourishing condition, embracing in its ranks men
of all grades of society," and of much inhuence-re-
Ilgious, social and governmental. Most of these
MasOns have preserved their relations to- the CathO
lie Church, and have never considered that they
were guilty of mortal sin-the Bulls of the Popes,
to the contrary, notwithstanding they had
associated together for the exercise of good works.
the care of the sick, the relief of the poor, and
burial of the dead.
In the month of August last, one of the Masonic
fraternity died. aud notice appeared in the papers
calling upan the members of the Order to attend
his funeral at the parish church of San Miguel
where he had been communicate. The Bishop of
Buen0s Ayres Immediately ordered the doors of the
church to be closed and published proclamation,
in which he reiterated the Bulls of Clement MI.
and Benedict XIV, declaring that these DEGREES
had been confirmed by the Kings of Spain in all
their dominons, and consequently were recognized
as binding in all the dioceses of America which, in
the last century obeyed the authority of Philip V.
and Ferdinand VI.
The action of the Bishop made an extraordinary
sensation in Buenos Ayres. The Masons at once
came out of their retirement, and the most promi-
nent men in the city arranged themselves upon the
side OF the Square and Compass, in antagonism to
the Gross, which thus endeavOred, they claimed, to
violate the principle of Liberty of Conscience
guaranteed by the Constitution.
In the mean time the Bishop has remained firm;
and, at the latest dates, the Masons, their side,
were determined to press the matter to a decisive
conclusion, satisfied that, in the nineteenth
tary, and in a free Republic, they had moral
right and a constitutional right to be Masons, if
they pleased, and yet preserve their belief in the
faith OF the Roman Catholic religion.
Finding 1t impossible otherwise to influence the
Bishop, the Masons attached his salary in the Leg
islature in the hope that the want of funds might
induce him to remove the ban.
1t is the impression among the public generally
that, If the quarrel be not compromised, the MasOns
will prove too strong for the Bishop and, the
attachment ofthe PortenOs is probably stronger for
their benevolent Societies than for the RomiSh
religiOn-whch more than one-half of them do not
sincerely believe in-the result of this quarrel
may be separation of Church and State so necessa-
ry for the prosperity of the Buenos Ayrean people
and the placing of the Church of Rome upon the
same footing with other religious bodies. Until
such change is made Buenos Ayres can never
hope to emulate the advancement of the United
States.
This is the history of the affair as published in the
papers of the day, and it bids fair to much
excitement in South America as the Mortara case
has in Europe.