Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-01-17
Lefty, Pure and of Advantage
to Members.
BISHOP COLEMAN TO POPE LEO
THE Latter's Secret Society
Order Discussed.
Surprise Expressed at the Pope's Declara-
, tfen--A Defence OF the Fraternities--
Their Aim Is Lofty and Pure, and of
Spiritual Advantage to the Members.


refused the sacraments, has caused con- !
siderable comment among society men /
generally. For long time the Masonic !
order has been under the ban of the 5
church. American Masons think that the
Pope's action against them may be due TO ]
the condition Of the order in some COIN {
tries on the continent of Europe. On the /
continent generally the Masons are OPP
posed to the union of church and State. !
The Popes ire, they say, has been narticu-
larly aroused against the Italian Masons,
members of the order declaring that this
is due to the well-knowned strained rela-
lions between the Quirinal and the Vatican.
1t is said that the Masons are the mainstay
of King Humbert in his contest with the
Vatican and that Leo has Judged all
Masons throughout the world by those IN
Italy.
One of the best-known Masons Of the
country is lit. Rev. Leighton Coleman,
Bishop of the Diocese of Delaware Bishop
Coleman was for three years Grand Pre-
late of the Grand Encampment knights
Templar, and during his residence Ill
PENNSYLVANIA was the Grand Chaplain OF
the Grand Lodge of Masons in that State.
He is also Royal Arch Mason and
member of the Scottish Rite, thirty
second degree.
The bishop has been very much inter
ested i'll the recent decree, and is not dis
4 posed to be back ward about expressing his
opinion of this recent attack on the secret
societies from such a high source as the
Pope of Rome In voicing the sentiments
of members of the fraternities, the bishop |
may be also regarded as speaking lor the |
Episcopal Church.
WHAT THE BISHOP SAYS.
Discussing the matter Bishop Coleman
has made the following statement to a
representative of the Press:
my attention having been called to
what purports to be decree issued by the
Pope from Rome. putting under the ban of
the Roman Church certain secret So
ceties and having been asked an opinion,
j do not hesitate to say that in my iudg-
ment there is no cause for such denuncla-
ton, as | have no immediate knowledge
from personal membership in any of the
secret societies except the Masons, of which
order have been u member for nearly 80
years, having taken all the degrees except
the thirty-third. | mention this fact as
establishing claim Of a rather intimate
knowledge of the various degrees of Free
masonry, and, therefore, giving me some
what of right TO speak positively OF the
principles and opinions of that fraternity
t1f have been correctly informed, the re.
cent pronunciamento from Rome does not
include the order of Free Masons. That
has been included, unless again am mis-
Informed, i'll former similar publications.
and therefore what is said now i'll regard
to the secret societies is, presume, similar
to that which had previously been said in
regard to the order with which myself
have been connected. The ground, there
fore, covered by this fresh prohibition
seems to include all the secret societies
that are not formally under the auspices
of the Roman Church.
"In discussing, therefore, the pronunCia-
mento i may i'll general, be Justified III re-
ferring to the common principles under
lying other secret societies than those
recognized by the Roman Church. While
Of iatt
under the ban, | am sufficiently ac-
guainted, from sources ! believe to be
authentic, with the fundamental princi-
Oles of those societies to warrant the ex-
PRESTON Of the belief in the really religious
character of those principles. This re-
bership in the order belongs to the very
constitution and life OF FreGmasonry."
The bishop cited instances from the
manuals on Freemasonry in which quota
tions from the OLD and New Testament:
are used during the ceremonies Of thu
order.
A RELIGIOUS ORDER.
The bishop continued IF Masonry b,
not a religious order, | fail to understand
Its significance. | am not now claiming
that in all its degrees it is an exempnlca
ton OF what is technically known as til
Christian religion as distinguished, for eX
ample, from the religion that prevaile
among the Jews before the advent .
Christ, but when one comes to knigh
Templarism, for example, the religu
which forms the basis OF instruction an
of exempliication is the Christian relglo
per Sc. A man may lie 4 Mason up ID
certain degree without being Christian
but beyond certain degrees he CunGu
unless he perfumes himself, De anythin
but believer in Christianity. Masour
from one end to the other Is a relgiUt
society, and is in some of its degrees
Christian society. 1t is ON this aCe0un
that is, the Christian character Of ii
tenets of this society and those inpl
Gated, that | wonder that 1t should
thought proper or necessary Tor chr,
.tian bishop anywhere To uenounce the
tenets am endeavoring TO speak OF til
pronunciameuto with all due respect.
is the deiverance of u brother bIAhO
Without wishing to enter the domain
theological controversy, may say
passing am as much oil a bishop Us Is t
Bishop of Rome. | regret that the
should be any difference of opinion
this subject of secret societies, and we
would gladly welcome any expression
confidence from the prelate Who, betal
of his distinguished piety aud eVldt
desire for the welfare OF his fellows
entitled to our respect and admiratiF
however 50 much some of us tina oursci
irreConGlably opposed to some oi
views which he, no doubt, with evld'
sincerity, has seen tit to pronulghte,
no new attack 1t covers ground alrei
traversed by other representatives OF
same communion, and is but u proof
that ignorance and prejudice So oil
encountered by societies whose aim
honestly pure and lofty.
OF SPIRITUAL ADVANTAGE.
t 81 have often been asked as to whet
/ thought these societies were Of
spiritual advantage TO their members
believe they are. | have seen eyideuce
~ good upon the moral character of *
whom other means failed to reach.
one could be more pronounced an al
lutte than myself in depreCating the ide
such societies being u substitute for
church. They are not ana never can
and they have never claimed or pretell
TO be. will not say, because do not
lieve it, that a man is absolyed from
religious duties and obligations by
~ son of his membership in the soGl'
in question: bul am Just rs
to say that they may be made h
" toward the fuliilmeng OF his raltg
duties and obligations. Therefore.
minister of Christ, feel myself pertt
justified in belonging to and upholdln;
Plantations of this kind, Certain il
would not continue my membership
the Masonic order If mad ever disCuy
iii it, or in its members even the siigl
hostility to those religious principle
which have been IndOetrinated from
youth
True, in France there has been at t
some such hostility shown by some Il
bers of the Masonic fraternity, On
IN very account MasOus in other parts o
world, notably in England, under
direction Of the Prince Of Wales, r,
any fellowship with irreigiohs MasI
u ~ E-.t T