The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1875-06-19
Free Masonry in New York.

Last Wednesday, June 2d) New York city was to
have a grand Masonic ceremony, the occasion being
the dedication of the new Masonic Temple. Over
twenty-five thousand of the Brotherhood were to be
in the procession. There was to be a great gathering
Of the Craft from all points of the compass, and the
ceremonies were to be of a highly interesting charac-
ter, especially to the initiated. The condition of the
order in the United States is to-day q highly pros
porous one-decidedly different from what the out
side world esteemed it after the so-called @ Exposure
of Morgan, some forty years ago. Then there were
many who believed that Morgan had, by a shameful
violation of pledges Voluntarily taken, given a death
blow to Masonry. Anti-Aiasonry became a political
watch-word. But in the lapse of years, experience
has taught the American people the unreasonableness
Of the opposition, in face Of the vast amount of good
accomplished by the order, wherein it has been q
friend to the friendless, has taken care of the sick,
soothed the last moments of the dying, and fed the
widow and ftherless. Says a recent number of the
fila California:
We suppose that there may be perfect unity of
sentiment between those who fully believe 10. the
rights, principles and practices of Free Masonry and
certain denominations of religion. The Roman
Catholics have the lead in opposition. Yet, many Of
their great men and teachers have been, and still are
Free Masons. 1t is said thst even the present Pope,
Pho Mono. is q Mason, although he may not be afili-
ated with any Lodge or other organization of the
order. Although we know Of no obligation nor test
required in assuming the membership which need
keep any professor of religion from joining the
brotherhood, yet the Catholic Church thinks and acts
otherwise; consequently, when Earl Ripon, Of Eng
land, who held the high and honorable position of
Worshipfnl Grand Master of the Free Masons of
England, became q convert to the doctrines of the
Roman Catholic church, he had to retire from his
position as head of the craft, and did so abjuring
Free Masonry altogether. But the place thus vacated
was filed by electing the Prince of Wales to the po-
sition thus made vacant. On the 2Sth of April the
Prince was installed, with much and fitting ceremony.
It is to be presumed that the Marquis of Ripon sur
rendered his position, not because of any conseienti-
Gus objection to the rites and principles of the order
to which he had belonged for n long time, and to the
brightest honors Of which he had aspired, and finally
attained. But as a good Catholic, he observed what
the church denounces. The substitution Of the
Prince of Wales is an event Of much Importance.
He will some day, should be survive the Queen, be-
come King of the British Empire. And, as such,
his Masonic position will be, as it is even nov, Of
very great importance to the Graft. In his address
to the brethren, after his installation, the Prince
said every Englishman knows that the two
national words, / may say Of the Craft, are loyalty
and charity Those are their w~atchwords; and so
long as they never mix themselves up in politics, so
long will, 1 am sure, this great and ancient order
flourish, and will maintain the integrity of the
throne and Of our great Empire All Of which is
proper, because fidelity TO the institutions Of the
country Of which Free Masons are subjects or citizens,
is n binding duty. We know o. no valid reason
why any Christian man Of good character might not
become and remain a member Of the order. We
have seen il, as well as Odd Fellowship, tried in
times when charity was godlike with all, in cholera
and yellow fever scOurges, anu the most ~skeptical
could not avoid awarding praise for the grand evil
dences gwen Of the charitable and ~brotherly spirit
Of the orders