Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-09-11
MASONRY


10 t.s Ea.;gr Of tts Rsgister.
In Tuesdays issue of the REGISTER
We read with much interest a converse
tion had by one Of your representatives
with Reverend Bishop Kahn Among
the many subjects introduced and talk
cd about, was the workings OF Masonry,
and Us they are promulgated and taught
by the Grand Orients of France and
Italy. and he refers 10 the So-called
MaSOns of those countries On this wise,
when speaking Of the Italian govern
men, iu It's hostilitieS towards the
church. 1T is my opinion Italian Free
Masonry In France and Italy is respon-
sible FOR IT, Free Masonry i'm France
and Italy IS equivalent 10 an association
of inddelS. sworn TO destroy the Chris
tlan religion" BE this opinion of the
reverend gentleman right or wrong, We
can say that their actions are contrary
TO the principles of Masonry, which are
promulgated 40 the present time, and
which have been banded down TO us for
ages. Masonry has always avoided any
thing iu It's laws, rules or regulations
and in lbs work OF creed, which would
conflict with any MaSon'S duty which he
owes Co his God. 20 his neighbor or To
himself 10 does not interfere with any
MaSou's duties which are due 10 his
country, and he can, therefore, belong
Co any political society he may choose.
He may unite with any one of the many
christian churches with which our
world abOuuds and none can interfere;
unless I'M the former case he cOnSpireS
against just government and makes
plots and assists with cOnSpirat0rs I'm its
overthrow, and i'm the latter case when
a mason becomes an infdel and joins
churches of that description, then ma
SOury comes i'm 90 assert its rights and
90 inform the mason that he no longer
conforms 90 the laws and therefore must
either DO so or he will bc forever de-
barred from meeting again with the
fraternity, or ever again participate
Ia any of It's benefits
ana glad 20 know that Masonry 10
America has been held always firmly ON
the standard of truth, justice and mo-
rality and as established by our fore
fathers in this country more than CEN
fury ago. And although We have been
Us Mas0nS prosecuted many, many times
in those years, yet she has continued ON,
and we have been as the "sheep TO- her
shcarcr is dumb, we opened not our
mouth, for we knew the time would
come in the civilization OF our great
country when our reyilcrS and pcrSocu-
tors would see and learn what was the
true intent and purposes of Masonry,
and then would assist in the cXaltation
of our Institution and of the great works
we are accomplishing 90 our God, our
ueighbor and 90 our individual selves in
the practice of the great moral precepts
of FrccmasOury.
Our good Bishop pays compliment
AIRY tribute tO American Masonry when
hc SAYS: 81 know that in America Ma
sOury is not autagonistic 90 religion, -
and Dice adds further by saying: IL re-
peat that / believe that American and
English Free Masonry is essentially
Christian. It's members are believers i'm
the Christian God, but 10 is not So with
the Masonry of France and Italy"
/ am glad tO know our reverend
Bishop has received correct iufOrma-
tion. FOR we have been eudeayoriug as
American Mason for years, 10 have our
fellOw-man know that no one can be-
come q Mason who does not believe iu
the Christian God, and those who claim
tO. of the Masonic Fraternity of France
and Italy, who DO not recognize the
Christian God are not Masous any more
SD than those of our fcllow-countrymcn
who have never passed through the
portals of the lodge. We recognize
them as clandeStine, iiiegitimately made
and We brand them as being frauds Of
the deepest dye and not worthy Of pass
ing notice.
now desire 90 correct au apparent
error boo the mind of our reverend Bishop
when he SAYS: 1.-The MaSOns of America
and England ought 20 come out and
sever their relations with the Grand
Orient of France aud similar orgauila-
tious; but so long as they Identify them
selves with such bodies they must Doe
placed under the ban of the Church"
As tO the Grand Orient of France and
similar organizations, who are atheists
"thc Christians God q number OF
years ago. when this organization pro-
mulgated their iufdcl doctrines 20 the
world, every Grand Lodge of this c0un.
try. and I'm am the Christian world, sent
out their cdicts to their members de-
nying amy Intercourse in any way
whatever with the iuldels, and IL
f,a. continued q. this lima and will for-