The Irish standard., 1907-07-06
The TWO TYPES
A Scottish Rite" Mason Re.
pudiates Anti-Religious
Brethren of the Oriental Rite
in Latin Europe.

recent address of John C.. Strother
OF Louisville. Kentucky delivered be-
fore Louisville lodge No. 400. F. &
A. NJ. reveals the fact not generally
known in this country, viz: That the
not recognize or hold communication
with the Free Masons of France and
other Latin countries
The address. which is printed in
the Masonic Home Journal from the
Scottish Rite Mason contains the fol-
lowing:
Il may say there are different kinds
OF Masonry in a sense. Free Masonry
is not known and taught and practiced
in all the world with that purity Of
belief in God as the Supreme Archi-
tect of the universe. or with that ele-
waited standard of morals as in the
lodges in this country of ours, and,
| may say. as we know and practice
1t in Louisville lodge No. 400, and in
the other lodges of this city and juris-
eliction
Free Masonry. as it exists in
France. Italy. Spain. Portugal and the
South American republics. is a politi-
cal anti-religious association, which in
recent years has developed into a sort
of anti theistic sect. which makes no
of
ion.
Free Masonry was introduced into
Franco probably about 1920, and into
the other countries named probably
later French gentlemen in great num-
hers Joined the lodges. where free
thought and unbelief were openly dis
cussed. Lodges for women were or
Ganized little less lcentious than the
lodges of men. and in them royalty
ana women Of high social and politi-
cal relations and standing became
members and devoted attendants.
I'm society SO pre- eminently free
from religious influence the Masonic
lodges presented kind of neutral
ground, on which men could hold such
intercourse as they chose. free from
the influence or antagonism OF church
or state
| In their meetings even the hstori-
cal existence of Christ. To say nothing
Of His divinity. was made a matter of
iocular dispute. and this condition
doubtless aggravated. if it did not Gre
ate. the antagonism which existed, and
Free Masonry and the Roman Catho-
lie church.
From time to time the Popes Of
Rome have issued their eGicts placing
their ban of accommodation upon the
members nf the order But the ban Of
accommodation was not only re-
sorted to by the Roman Catholic
church. but as late as 1888 Albert Pike.
grand commander of the United States
(Scottish rite). soen1nly excommuni-
Gated French Free Masons in terms
not less drastic than those used by the
Popes
This was a result of the practice
of the lodges not to require belief in
the existence of God as the Supreme
| Architect of the universe. which was
considered by them as a mere matter
! of speculation. to be accepted or re-
vidual brother. who was no longer re-
luired ia take an oath one way or the
other. and led To free thinking and
perhaps frcer action
$50 strong did the antagonism be-
tween the order and the church be-
come that in 1891 the Grand Orient Of
France passed resolutions which were
communicated with binding effect to
all subordinate lodges within the juris-
diction. to the effect that it was the
duty of every good Mason to use all
his influence to bring about the sup
preston of all ecclesiastical associa-
tions. religious. educational or charit-
l able. and to see that their property
was conf1scated to the state: and that
| ]. was tne Outy OF every Free Mason
to advocate the exclusion of all pupils
Of religious colleges or schools from
holding any official position under the
government, in any branch of the SER
vice. military, naval or civil service.
The relation of Free Masonry to
the prevailing religion in France,
Spain, Portugal and the republics Of
South America whose dominant re-
ligion is Roman Catholic is there
fore, far from harmonious in belief
or practice. The opposition of the
church to the atheistic tendencies and
to the dissolute habits of thoughts and
practice of Masons has brought about
a corresponding activity by the Ma
sons. whose political potency in France
us far in excess of their numerical
proportions, which doubtless consti-
| fytoe the, upeoop hyt pou,orf,,l fovra