New-York tribune., 1896-08-30
IPEEMAsoNRY AND THE cHrRcH or ROME.

The following item OF news Was published in The
New-Iork Tribune last week:
Elaborate preparations are being made in the Ro-
man Catholic countries Of Europe for The anti
Masonic international congress, which is TO take
place ~ Trent toward the close OF next month
programme the object Of the congress s. TO make
Hn0vn 20 everybody the immense moral and ma
terial evil done 10y Freemasonry TO the Church and
20 society. and TO seek remedy hy help of per
manent International organization against the
craft only those Will be permitted 10 take part in
iAe Congress who profess The most absolute Obed-
enre 10 the Roman Catholic Church and TO the
The Church Of Rome IS paying Freemasonry the
highest possible compliment by this congress. and
by Us frequent though useless attacks. When the
second Oldest institution Of the world is constantly
in dread and fear Of the older one j, shows con
clusvey by its very action that Masonry has as
sTong hold upon the people tho Church OF
Rome and with much better right Frecmasonry
has nothing i'm its history IN its tenets teachings
20 bring the blush OF shame 10 the face OF any Of
rs devotees 1t need pale the reading Of the
strociOus InQUistion. Freema s)nry does not claim
% be lrfallihle but Il never burned hereto at
the stake one year and canonized him the next
One-half Of the saints in the calendar Of the Ro-
mish Church suffered martyrdonl. not at the hands
OF the people. but from the ruling power within
the Church Masonry pursued its even way OF
enlightenment and bettersnent OF its fellows. with
oui any ambition TO rule the world or any country;
t ever held the torch Of light and liberty aloft FOR
a. the people 10 behold and to follow. In secret
and In silence it preserved the great truths, and
step by step brought them forth as fast as the peo-
pie the masses could understand and appreciate
them Let look into the countries where the
Church rules supreme and into those where
Masonry finds home and fourishes. In America.
IN England. IN Germany Masonry stands high, and
IS Army lodged in the favor Of the people. In
pries,-ridden Spain. IN darkest Russia. Masonry
Is forbidden. and what is the result; Darkness.
ignorance and oppression rule while in the fore
most countries Of the world the masses the people.
steadily advance and Masonry j. the foremost
agent 10 bring this about
=, Ihe ever recurring aHathemas hurled by the
rope against FrecnansOry fully testify TO the
s.fcngth Of the fraternity and the trembling fear
OF NE Roman Hierarchy. and IL must seem strange
70 me ordinary unbiased intellect that the wise
h"aos Of the Roman Church do not see ana realize
no" utterly useless thes" attacks are in these, the
4asi years OF the Nlnctccnth century. with frce
Pr - 70 onlRhlcn all the people who read and who
90 ther own thinking and judge for themselves
~ tAe immense moral and material evil done by
treerna sonry. The craft will 20 on in its good
"oTks OF charity and Of bcncNOlencc. and viii con-
NHNe 10 cnllgnteu an The people. no matter how
many dn'-Masoulc congresses are ordered by the
Pope. 10 matter how many bulls" may be sent
ott from ,ie Vatican. All the frantic efforts Of the
'hgTch % stop reason and reasoning are futile at
this late day. and the Pope plainly SHOWS his fear
ana The weakness Of his cause by this everlasting
pla!nt against ancient fraternity.