New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-10-26
at,r 0rlea,as Republican.
OFFICIAL JOURNAL Of THE UNITED STATES
OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS


The Free Masons assembled in conven-
ton at Lausanne have thought proper 10
reply to the attacks and insults leveled
against them, chiefly by the Pope and the
the organs of the papacy IN France, oy the
publication of declaration OF principles
We subioin the text of this curious docu
ment:
"Freemasonry proclaims, as it has already
proclaimed from the time OF its origin, the
existence of creative principle under the
name of Great Architect of the Universe
1t places no limits to the research of truth,
and it is in order to guarantee that liberty
to all that it exaets from all liberation
In it's workshops it prohibits all political
and religious discussion; it receives all the
prOfane, whatever be their religious or pO-
iitlcal opinions, which are things that do not
concern it, provided they should be free and
their morality good. The object of Freema-
sorry is 10 fight Intolerance in every shape;
it is mutual school whose programme may
be thus summed up: To obey the laws Of
ones country; live in conformity with the
precepts of honor; love ones neighbors;
work necessarily to promote the happiness
of mankind, and prosecute its progressive
and peaceful emancipation These are the
rules Freemasonry adopts, and the adoption
of which it imposes upon those who wish to
belong to the Masonic family. But stimuli
taneously with this declaration of princi.
pies, the convent deems it necessary to pro-
claim the truths and doctrines on which
Masonry is founded it desires that every
man should know them. To raise man in
his ewes, to render him worthy OF his mis-
sion upon earth, Masonry lays down the
principle that the Creator has given him
liberty as the most precious of all bless
ings-lberty the patrimony OF the whole of
mankind, raw from above which no power
has the right to diminish or suppress, and
which is the source of all feelings of honor
aud dignity. From the preparation for
the first degree to the attainment of the
highest degree in Scotch Masonry the first
condition, without which nothing is granted
to the claimant, is an unblemished reputa-
ton for honor and honesty. To these men,
for whom religion is q supreme consolation,
Masonry save, Practice your religion with
out let OF hi ldrance; follow the dictates of
your Gel sci ,nce.' Freemasonry is not
religion; /. has no form of worship; there
fore, it wishes for The establishment of lay
education, and its doctrine may be summed
up in the beautiful tenet-love thy neigh
Dor. To those who dread with SO much
reason political dissensions FreemasOnry
says, Il Danish all discussions from my
meetings; be for thy country faithful
and devoted servant; thou hast no account
to render u.s. The love of country, more
over, accords with the practice of all vir-
tues. Masonry has been charged with i'm.
morality! Our morality is the purest mo.
rality, the hottest morality. 1t is based on
the first of all extraordinarily. The
real Mason does good; he extends his
benevolenee to all the unfortunate with
out distinction within the limits of
his means; he therefore rejects i'm
morality with disgust and contempt.
Such are the foundations on which Free.
masonry is built up, and which secure
among all members of that great family the
closest union, whatever be the distance that
separates the various countries they dwell
in: fraternal love reigns among them. What
can better prove that truth than the meet
ing of our convent unknown to each other.
coming from widely different cOuntriesl
Hardly had we exchanged the first words of
welcome when the most intimate union pre-.
vailed between us; hands were fraternally
grasped, and it was in the midst of the most
touching concord that our most important
resolutions were passed with unanimous as
sent. Freemasons of all countries, citizens
of all nations, such are the precepts, such
are the laws of Freemasonry, such are its
mysteries! Against it the effects of calumny
will remain uDavailing. and insults without
an echo; marching peacefully from victory
to victory FreemasOnry will extend each
day its civilizng and moral influence over
the world -