The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-26

English friend. high up in Masonry and
resident here, for a few facts concerning
while harassed by a fierce denuncation from the
Vatican. prefer to let you have his reply in
his own language. as follows:
Some few months since the Italie Ia news
paper published in Rome, in French, and enjoy
ing extensive circulation throughout the
kingdoml contained very interesting article
entitled Black and White Masonry 1t pointed
out the success which had attended the Black
Masons' (Jesuits efforts to regain the position
and power they appeared to have entirely lost
IN the Italian peninsula, and it showed the pre-
dominating power they were insensibly and
quietly acquiring over the education of the
rising generation, more particularly amongst
tie upper and middle classes. The writer of the
paper went SC far as to assert that the eventual
and entire success of Black Masonry was a mere
question of brief space of time, at the same
time pointing out that whilst Black Masonry
from nothing had risen to omnipotence, on
the other hand White or Freemasonry, had fallen
backwards and backwards till. as political
social lever, it had ceased to have the slightest
Importance. The writer of this article, whether
of clerical sympathes or not, certainly has not
erred gravely in his descriptions of the outward
view offered to the independent observer of the
relative positions of those rival forces the Jes
ults and Freemasons, In Italy.
ANY unbiased critic of Italian political and
social life who has had for some years free oppor
tunities of mixing with Italians, cannot but de-
heavily in favor of the Black Masons. Rightly
or wrongly many an Italian believes that the
Jesuits hold in their hands the formation of the
coming race which is to people and govern Italy;
and such Italian, looking forward a generation
or two, cannot but find hopeessiy closed pros
pect before him. This, of course, is the pessi-
mistic view. Only twenty or thirty years ago
Italy was reduced from the state of political, re-
ligious and social oppression, to which the com
bined autocracy of church and state had reduced
her. A generation of single-hearted patriots suf
feed to overthrow these yokes; but. unfortu
nately, on their passing to the great ma ority,
they were not followed by men similarly in
spired
When the struggle for the independence of
Italy commenced, one of the principal agents
availed of by the patriots of the day was Free
masonry. on which they grated the Giovana
Italia and the 'Carbonari' True nowadays it
is easy for the Freemason, sitting in his arm
chair, toQuery any statement by saying, but
that was not true Freemasonry'-'it was dis
tortion of the craft Well, let it be so; but
never was a distortion more hallowed in its in
tention, than was that of Freemasonry when
it's chiefs availed themselves of the perfect ma
chinery it offered to assist in freeing their
country from the despot who held their souls,
and the despot who held their bodies-the
church and the state
Nevertheless, it is deeply to be regretted, that
when Freemasonry had accomplished its task
the freedom of the people-its leaders did not
redirect it to its normal channels. This they
did not do, and their successors, ignorant of the
original and simple plan of Masonry, saw in 1t a
handy piece of machinery for use in threatening
the government with the forces of
the masses-possibly only for the
accomplishment Of their own ends. The active
components of Masonry, its militant character
having terminated, their country having no
longer any fear for its political and religious lib
critics, retired from activity, and were followed
by new generation, who knew neither the
original plan nor the substituted object which
NOD hoo Vkolr~ tod htO lat
ter (generaton) objectless. conceived the idea of
making Masonry anti-clerical society, their
hatred for the religious tyranny to which their
forces had been subjected being fully present to
their minds hence evolved increGulity. impiety,
skeptical freedom of thought, eliminating in
open and avowed atheism.
THAT these phases should have developed one
another rapidly and extensively is not
prising when one recalls the bitter slavedom to
which Italians were exposed when mother
church WAS omnipotant: and it may be even a
subject for surprise that still here and there in
Italy some smoldering fire of pure Masonry
bursts forth again and again into gradually
steadying light. The power OF the Black Masons
needs no explanation; the Society of Jesus is too
we'll known to need description. My endeavOr
has been. in SO far as an alien can do, to obtain
what information [ could as to the present con-
dition of Freemasonry as body, as corpora
ton, as a social or political force.
Taking the city of Naples typical city,
should say that here JeSuitism is omnipotent.
The project, who is representative of the cen
trail government. last week presided at the inau
guration of the Jesuit schools for boys at the
Canocchia. The Jesuits have purchased an i'm
menSe building, and opened it with all due sol
emnity, and save one international school for
boys. and another for girls. supported by for
eigners resident in Naples, Mrs Schwabes fe
male charitable school, and the Protestant mis-
sion schools, school in Naples is free from
priestly influences. Indeed, searched vainly to
find an educational establishment supported by
Masonry, and yet without doubt there are many
thousand men in Naples who are now, or have
been at some period Of Their lives, active in some
branch of the Masonic order.
''On inquiry. l found that Italian Masonry is
divided into three or more distinct bodies about
onehalf own allegiance to body of Deputies in
the Italian Chamber in Rome, but are il-disci-
plined, occupy themselves in petty local political
questions, all having more or less pro- ounced
character Of opposition to the government of the
day, and all possessing decidedly antclerical
tint.
Another group. numbering perhaps quarter
of the Masonic bodies in Italy, has its seat in
Milan, and occupies itself mainly in movements
for the benefit of the working classes. A third
group, that most resembling Freemasons in
other countries, depends from supreme body
existing in Turin. This body it is rumored,
considers the visible presence of the Bible as
necessary adjunct to their mysteries. In Naples
the first and last bodies only represented and
they agree only in disagreeing completely each
with the others. They are as nearly separated
as are the Black and White Masons-why. does
not appear. Those depending from Rome meet
in convent near the general postodice, which,
since the abolition of conventual establishments,
has become, with all such buildings, municipal
property, and being unsuited for residences have
been let to all kinds of societies
1.-THE Turin body. in Naples, reside in an
other convent nearer the Museum, whore they
have for neighbors two courts Of law, which
utilize the refectory and chapel of the disused
convent for court rooms large mendcity
society, a public gymnasium. free drawing
oddlv enough in manv Of the cells which they
once inhabited as owners now live monks as
tenants.
'The present active strength of the two groups
in Naples is unknown In fact, their whole pro-
seedlings are carried on in the most mysterious
and secret way possible. Only very rarely and at
long intervals is their banner seen at some