The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-07-29

Ex.Attache, in New York Tribune.
OF all the subjects touched upon by Leo
XIII. in the remarkable encyclical Just
issued and which, if we are to credit the
reports that reach US from Rome concern
ing the health of the venera bic poutiff, is
destined to be his last there is probably
none more calculated To interest the Amer
lean people than that which refers 10
Free Masonry. The pope once again
condemns the craft "as defyinR God, - as
''assailing Christian institutions" as
''ridiculiug the sacraments as mere super
stitious,' and as aiming at the destruc-
tion of the popular respect for the divine
power" These denunciations, which
have come from the vatican at different
intervals during the last three decades,
must sound strange and incolnprehensi-
BILE to the Free Masons Of the United
States and England. II would be wrong
to attribute the animosity Of the Roman
Catholic church, however, toward the in
stitution to mere bigotry, or to clerical
tyranny and reaction. 1t is based on
quite different grounds. which can only
be explained by calling attention 10 the
radical difference that exists between
American and British Masonry and that
of France Italy and Austria Were the
brethren of these three countries like
those of America, the Church of Rome
would probably never have felt itself i'm
PEELED to anathematize the craft and TO
object TO Roman Catholics becoming
affiliated Herewith. Indeed as long
as they adhered to the original doctrines
OF the order. papacy maintained a passive
and even friendly attitude toward the
craft, to which many eminent prelates
have belonged When, in 1913, however,
continental Masonry began TO de-
vote its resources and its activity
70 politics instead of to works Of
charity and benevoence, the attitude of
the Church of Rome underwent change
for the worse, and since the schism has
taken place between the lodges Of France,
Italy and Austria and those OF America
and Great Britain, the vatican has con-
sidered 1t necessary to condemn Masonry
and to fight it with all the means at its
command.
The cause of the objection of the Ro-
man Catholic church 10 MasOnry-and by
that mean continental Masonry-is the
very same as that Of the schism between
the latter and the American and British
lodges. 1t is the Identification of French
and Italian Masonry with atheism-athe-
Ism, too, of the most aggressive and
militant character. In all the documents
and rites of the craft in English speaking
countries figure the mystic letters
An. GA. u, which mean "In the
name of the grand architect of
the universe" and a profession
of belief in the Deity
constitutes part and parcel of the initia-
ton of the brethren of the order In the
lodges of France and Italy, however, the
use of these symbolical letters has been
abolished and reference TO the Divinity in
any shape or form has been strictly for
hidden. Strangely enough, this elimina-
ton of all religious element from
the French and Italian lodges
owes its origin to NJ Littre,
French dictionary, who subsequently
died fervent and even bigoted Roman
Catholic. To him belongs the chief bur
den Of responsibility for a measure that
has become an overwhelming obstacle to
the principal aim of Free Masonry,
which is the establishment of sentiments
of brotherhood and union, not only be-
tween individuals, but also between ma
tions. The moment this action of the
Grand Orient of France and Italy be-
came known DEGREES were at once issued
by the Masonic grand masters of Great
Britain, the United States, Spain, Portu-
gal and Prussia, as well as Sweden, pro-
hibfting the brethren of their respective
nationalties from attending any French
or Italian lodge meetings, or even from
entering into Masonic intercourse with
members of the Gallo or Italian rite
1t should, therefore, be thoroughly
borne in mind that the anathemas of the
church are directed, not so much against
American, English, or even Spanish and
Portuguese Masons, but mainly against
those of Italy and France. The activity
OF the brotherhood in these last two coun-
tries is neither benevolent nor social but
purely political, and its openly avowed
object is the overthrow of the church and
the humiliation of every form of religious
belief. Among its publicly declared aims
Il quote from French and Italian Ma
sonic writings and speeches-are the ex-
clusion of every Catholic or religious ele-
ment from all public administrations,
from hospitals, schools; from the coun-
ellis that govern the destinies Of the coun-
try, from academical and other corporate
institutions; from committees and fam
lilies, and exclusion from everything
everywhere and forever" and the aboli-
tion in schools of every kind OF religious
instruction because the state, Which
ought to be absolutely atheistic, has the
inalienable right and duty to form the
heart and spirit of its citizens" and,
again, Ito lay religion waste in its foun-
dations and in its very sources of life
namely, in the school and in the family. "
The Italian lodges, moreover, proclaim
their determination to secure the sup
preston OF all religious corporations, the
contiscatlon of all ecclesiastical property
and the abolition of the papacy.n which
the Grand Orient of Rome declares to be
1.-THE implacable and deadly enemy of
Italy"
IL these were merely empty threats the
Vatican could afford TO treat them with
contempt But they are quite the reverse
for of the 504 members of the Italian
Chamber of Deputies there are no less
than 300 who are openly avowed Free
Masons, and for the last ten years there
has always been a Masonic aiority in
the Cabinet, Crispi, Doda, Zanardelli and
Lacava, all hold high Office ia the Grand
Orient of Italy, and the late Prime Min
lister, Depretis as well as the popular
statesman, Nicotera, were buried with
Masonic instead OF religious rites.
In the French chamber there are over
200 Mas0ns, and most of the prominen,
statesmen of the last twenty years, in
GLIDING Gam BETA, Grcvy. Tirard, Glen,
menceau, Douyler. Floquet and Ferry
have belonged 10 the fraternity The
Grand Orient Of France has taken a lead
tng part in the war organized during the
last fifteen years against the Roman
Catholics and the clergy. lie clerical
ism. VOLTA l'ennemi, is the device Of every
lodge in the country. The former grand
master, M. Colfavru, who was on tn,
board OF directors OF the Panama com