The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-01-10
MORE ABOUT Plus TX AND MASONRY.

A New Story About Napoleon III Follows
the Assertion that the Pope Was Mason.
The Paris Figaro continues the discussion
of NJ. FlOquets statement of Plus lX's con-
nection with masonry with very inter-
esting story. Mastai Ferretti became q
priest at the age of twenty seven years. IN
1917. Shortly afterward he went to Chilli
in company with Mgr. Mussl, who, as
Nunclo. was sent on a diplomatic mission
to that country. When Mastai returned to
Rome he was made president of st.
Michaefs Hospital. At the age of thirty
two he became Arch bishop of Spoleto. Ger
tainly, as archbishop of that town. he
could not very we'll become q member Of an
association prescribed by the church. On
several occasions the imputatiOn was de-
MED by Plus IN himself, and nothing could
be more opposed to the department of q
Freemason than his conduct throughout
life.
A single fact has given rise to all those
false rumors which were circulated. and
have been even published in the LarOusse
dictionary, the chief asylum OF all i'm
probabilities and that was that ii the
Mastai Ferretti family there were four
brothers. and that one of the brothers OF
Plus TX was an officer in the gendarmerie
and q member Of the CarbOnarl. He was
dismissed from the service. and banished
on account of his connection with that
society. But the Archbishop of Spoleto
secured his pardon. This was not the
| first time that the Archbishop OF Spolet0
pleaded for the condemned members OF
secret societies.
One day his servant told him that
stranger who had refused to give his name
wanted to see HIM. The Bishop gave orders
| to admit him. The stranger was a care
worn and hagRard young man very plainly
dressed. do you remember, Monsignor."
said he. when you were III Rome you used
| in the Via Lataf"
Yes" replied the Bishop.
"a lady with two children" continued
| the stranger. used to come every day to
| served you at the altar. 1t was the Queen
| H0rtense and her two sons, Charles and
| LOUIS"
| That is all perfectly true" said the
| Arch bishop. "but what are you driving at!'
II am Louis. yonr former altar boy, and
| l have come to ask you for protection"
| And here the future Emperor told the
| future Pope that he was a member OF the
| Sercognani, who attempted to march upon
Rome to break down the temporal power o,
| the Pope. They were beaten by the troops
and Louis Napoleon. fugitive. begged the
| Archbishop to save him in the name OF hil
mother. The great heart of the Archbishop
| was equal to all the most difficult circum
stances. Louis Napoleon was concealed in
the Archbishop's palace. Furthermore
| the Arch bishop went to Rome and pleaded
the cause of the fugitive SO well that wheI
he returned to Spoleto he was able to give
him safe conduct, and sent him to the
frontier. after presenting him with ], 200
| francs for his travelling expenses, for a
| poleon at that time was penniless.
| This anecdote was told by Pope Plus TX
| himself TO a few OF his intimates. One of
| them told it to the writer in the Figaro
and this is the first time that it ever ap
| peared in print. 1t is also said that as lone
as Napoleon remained in power he never
forgot the generosity Of Plus IX, and wat
| faithful TO his benetactor to the very limits
| of his engagements with the friends OF
| Orsini. He remembered SpOleto. and at the
same time recollected his reception among
| the Carbonari. His political contradiction
are explained by his desire to serve Plus
| TX and MazzIni at the same time-that II
to soy, in the language of the Figaro, tic
serve God and the devil"