The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-03-23
ATTACK ON MASONRY
Rev. Joseph Woods, of Jesuit
College, Lectures.
CLAIMS IT IS ANTI-CATHOIIC
Asserts Also Order Il Authorization.
Especially in England. France, and
ItRIy-Gives Reasons for Opposition
OF Church-Says Name of God Has
Been Erased from the Charter.

'Freemasonry'' was the subject OF a
lecture delivered by Rev. Joseph NJ.
Woods OF the Jesuit Theologate, Wood
stock. Md. in Gonzaga Hail. ! street be-
tween North Capitol and First streets
northwest. last night
The principles Of Freemasonry are
ahti-Catholic and anti-Christian. said
Father Woods. 1T is not so hard 70 I'M
derstand why the Catholic Church should
be opposed TO Freemasonry in countries
like France and Italy.
In those countries the lodges have
shown by their deeds, by their persecut-
ing treatment and by their open rejec-
ton of religion that they are emphatieal-
Christian.
Different in America.
But in America and England it is quite
different Here Freemasonry poses as
the friend Of religion, and processes TO
be staneh uphelder Of divine and hu-
man law. In all its proceedings God Is
recognized with an outward show Of
honor and respect. The lodges boast OF
their benevoIence and their charity"
DR.. Woods did rot deny that these
things were true OF Masonry in this coun-
try and England.
1T was not because of these things
that the Catholic Church condemns the
craft. 1t has not a word to say against
the good it does or may do. But these
good things, like the benevolence of the
sect, are only the accidental and second
airy element OF FreemasOnry- Mems
lives are happily often better than their
principles. as happens. indeed. with many
Masons
What the Catholic Church does con-
denim in Freemasonry are its principles.
and these principles are the same in all
Freemasonry. IN America. In England.
on the continent Of Europe. everywhere
the principles Of FreemasOnTy are anti
Catholic and anti-Christian, and here the
Catholic Church has placed the organi-
cation under the BAN
Position Of the Church.
After asserting that the Catholic Church
is opposed 10 Freemasonry as an or
gained body and not individually. the
lecturer gave a history Of Freemasonry.
its origin, and the principles Of Masonry.
as outlined by the different authorities
who have written on the subject.
Some date the origin OF Masonry from
Adam and Eve said DR. Woods. in the
Garden Of Eden, bat Henry Leonard
Sullson Masonic historian. in the En-
cyclopedia Americana. dates modern Free
masonry from III. It's authors are
james Anderson and John Theophilus
DCsaguliers. who. with others. formed
the first lodge in London in III. 70 these
two men was intrusted the task of
drawing up the new constitution. II was
discovered they had changed the theory
~ the institution from Christian 10 the
adoption OF the universal creed, based
on the Fatherhood Of God and the
brotherhood Of man. so as 10 admit men
or all religions, nationalities and stations
in life
After reviewing the history Of Free
masonry Dr. Woods undertook TO prove
his statement that tie principles OF Free
masonry are anti-Christian and anti
Catholic. distinguishing the Freenaasons
Of the continent of Europe from those Of
America and England. He said that it
was an easy task 10 show that the prin-
ciples Of the lodges Of Continental Europe
were anti-Catholic and anti-Chdstlan. The
proofs. he said, were 10 be found in the
utterances Of the organs of these lodges.
Quotes from Reviews.
Here the lecturer quoted at length from
different Masonic reviews. Most of those
he cited placed the god Of Masonry as
nature, and its religion the religion Of
nature. and another which said that there
was but one religion-that Of worshiping
humanity
$50 far did Freemasonry OF France go
they had actually crossed from their
deeds and charters the name. Of GeA-
'All this said Dr. Woods. lis proof
enough to show that the continent OF
Europe rejected revelation, rejected the
divinity Of Christ, His redemption and
His resurrection, and this was the retec-
ton Of Christianity itself"
To prove his statement that the princi-
pies Of Freemasonry Of America and Eng
land though not carried to their natural
consequences, were anti-Catholi0 and
anti-Christian, DR.. Woods argued that
the theory of Freemasonry as founded
in England. and changed by the Masonic
architects and authors. had adopted the
universal creed, based on the Fatherhood
Of God and the Christian creed, and all It
implies was replaced by universal creed
that any man of any religion might ac-
cept.
This Is not Christianity as understood
ny orthodox Christians" he added. The
only God they may acknowledge is the
God Of Pantheist, the Jew, the Buddhist.
the nationalist. He is not the God of
revelation, and. therefore, not the God
OF the Bible This certainly is not true
Christianity.
Christ Not in worship.
Masonry IN America and England
leaves Christ outside it's worship. In its
basic principles 1t has set aside Christ.
This it must do to be true to its funda-
mental principle"
j. Wise Brown sang '"The Rosary" and
Father Joseph Himmel made speech. in
which he said he was glad 20 see so
many ladies' present, and he was sure
the ladies could know and learn much
about Masonry that some men do not
know. He introduced Father Woods.
Announcement was made that next Sun
day evening Father John Brosnan. OF
Woodstock. would speak on ''X-rays and
radUm," and that two weeks from last
night. April ;. Rev Timothy Brosnahan
would speak on The production of
wealth and the claims of labor"
Death of Niles Thompson.