New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-05-11
MASONIC.

MASONIC.
1t las been stated that the Iberalist
Mr.. Charles Bradlaugh, OF England, hae
Withdrawn from the order of Free Nason
because the Prince CT Wales was made
grand master. It IS no. an importar
fact, and concerns none so much as Mr.
Bradlaugh. The Norniag Sta', however
the Catholic Journal Of this city, takes oc.
casion to state that Mr.. Bradlaugh is a
notorious infdel," and proceeds to ar.
raign the Masonic order for ever admitting
such q man to membership. !. endeayors
to make general case Of inconsistency
between the beliefs Of many and the dis
beliefs Of one We quote:
]: appears that this individual is a ao,o-
rIous infldei, and certain spoonv Nasons are
| green enough to believe that Free Masonry
| recognizes the existence of God. In tact.
Numbers OF them in this country hold AMI
| state publicly that no one eau belong 10 the
order who does not believe in Goo.
What Masonry recognizes, @ what
church recognizes It, is not to the point.
Mr.. Bradlaughs act has been construed
as an affront to the Prince Of Wales.
That IS hot right, but it viii rot greatly
grieye the American heart Ar. Brad.
| hugh is atleist;c in creed and non
Catholic. That lie has been a Mason
does not OF itself destroy the haternal
benefits and beauties Of an order Which
IS older than the Roman Catholic Church,
and needs 10 apologist. The Pope vas
once Mason, and now is sail to be in
tallible. Masors would rot claim so
much for him, though, even j: he had
remained in the order. The S,cr says:
1t is only in Protestant countries that
parties calling themselves Christians are
found in the order. In France. Italy.
Spain, ETC., q hree Mason Is identical V .th
an lntldei--an atheist. When men baud
themselves together in open. undisguise;,
hatred OF Christianity, they al themselves
Free Masons. And it is not only at Christ
lanl!y that they scott, but at all religion, at
the very idea Of worship, the yerv thought !
OF Deity. In this country, in England, in
all Protestant countries, these same intidel
MasGns are recognized as dear brothers by |
good Protestant Masons, who claim that
Masonry is {. religion.
The same argument might be ased
against free schools, against republican
form OF government, against tie choos-
ing Of rulers by the people, and other |
principles advocated by parties calling
themselves Christians in Protestant |
countries. It may be true tina. Catholics
in Italy and Spain call Masons infdels;
Americans who have wholly adopted the
religion OF those countries do the same
thing; bat such an assertion from the |
confessional OF secrets against a society |
which has no secrets cave those Of in
ltlatlons and formula Of recognition Tor |
its own protection is not. an infall;bie |
dogma. We are no. prepared to state |
that Masonry is the best institution in |
the world, OR that Jesuitism is the worst: |
but 1t IS safe to assert that Christian |
men can be found in both orders. George |
Washington was a Mason, and very good |
man, at least so considered in America,
though lie is less popular in Italy and |
Spain. following him is g long list Of |
statesmen, divjnes and men ct respect
ability who have been and are Masons;
men who are considered very decent at |
home IN our little United States, Who ve..
under the Roman Christian rules Of ItaIy
and Spain, would he called infdels. In
our own city, at the present tine, are the
Rev. Nessrs. Tudor, Ried, Carpenter,
DUNCAN and Dr.. LeacocE, none Of whom
are notorious scofers at Christianity, at
religion or at The thought Of Deity or the
IDEA OF worship, yet they are an honor to
the Masonic fraternity, and Masonry hon
ors them. There need be no clash be-S
tween Masonry and religion; few men
have both and suffer 10 internal incon-
Tenience. Instances frequently occur when
Roman Catholic clergvmen ref'1se 70 off
,iate at funerals whore Masons in recalia
were invited to participate. The latest
Instance was painful alike to the friends Of
he DECEASED and to,the Iasons, who
leldad to the Church. In such cases a
title more of Masonic charity and q little
ess OF Roman intolerance would have
zen quite as agreeable. The composition
VI this world is So fixed that all men and
Kings are not wholly good. The reason
ble thing is to hold fast to tha. which is
,ood, and the fair thing is to let men be
heir own judges of what is best for them. +
he Pharisee business of egotistical holi- L
less is not popular in this country, what
yer may be thought of j. in Italy and
pain.