The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1910-02-05
FATHER BRESNAHAN MISoUoTEp

The Star has received the follow
ing communication from Father Bres-
nahan.
The Catholic church first excom-
municated Frgema sons IN 173s and ey-
er since that tine the Catholic who
becomes q FrevuaSOn. is guilty of a
gri-voUs sin and puts himself outside
~ the church The prohibition OF his
church prevents q Catholic from join
ing F-eenasonry. \ ci.u-ch that in
al centuries has been the great advo-
cate OF charity would undoubtedly
not condemn any society Of men for
its beneVoleGcc. or wantoaly lesislate
10 deprive her children of the money
and help. they might require in the
hour II need. The reasons OF her con-
iemnation are:
/ Masonry is undoubtedly sect
With code OF belief. ritual and cere-
monies standing for mere naturaIism
in religion and for morality founded
on merely human motives. one cam
not be a Mason and a Catholic at the
same time any more than he could be
both Mormon and Catholic. The God
Of Freemasonry is nature" CRevue
MacOnniQUe 1880.
>. 1t is undoubtedly certain that
the MaSons have been noted in Italy.
marked hatred of the church and If
Albert Pixies book Morals and Dogma
OF the Ancient and Accepted Scottish
Rite Of Freemasonry" be authentic the
esoteric doctrine of the higher degrees
is essential anti-Christian and i'm
moral.
). II IS contrary T. morality to
pledge oneself to absolute secrecy from
those who have a right 10 demand a
revelation. It is contrary TO morality
10 swear 10 keep secret something you
know nothing about.
4. Masonry in this country by put
ting all religions on a level. Christian
and anti-Christian alike. practically
fosters the spirit of Indifference. which
! is only unbelief in disguise and sub
! sti-ltrS i'll .G,. mind Cf enc ignorant the
lodge for the church. Some nom
Catholic denominations have come out
strongly against secret societies. but
they lack that universal power to COM
mand which only divine authority like
the Catholic church can exercise. The
condemnation of the knights OF Ply
thias. the Odd Fellows and the Sons
Of Temperance was based on the con-
viction that these societies were do
ing harm 20 the faith of Catholics.
In none of my lectures did 1 say
anything approaching the blasphem-
+, Gus statemen Mt that the Bible contained
! the mere opinions of men The Cath
| Ollie church taught. centuries before
| any other Christian denominations
around US were heard of. that the
Bible is the inspired word OF God but
! from the fact that Christ did not write
anything. that the New Testament was
! not completed for years after Christ's
! ascension. and that by IFS private in
! depreciation mon left to themselves
! can never core to a knowledge OF the
true gospel OF Christ. I showed that
The Bible is not the only guide to the
truth.
( Tonight | shall explain the devotion
J of Catholics to the Virgin Mary and 7
shall tel my audience why beads are
used in praying.
W" have carefully read Father Rres-
nahan'S communication about being
misruoted in the Star but we cannot
see any difference between what lie
says in this communication and what
the Star contained of his lectures We
Admit Ne could not repnrt him word
for word. but We leaV" ii with those
I who. with unbiased minds heard him
and read what the Star contained to
confirm the correctness OF our reports
He objects to the report which said
the Bible contained the mere opinions
! of men. He certainly did say that n
/ portion of the Bible was accepted by
/ that other portions were rejected as
spurious: that all denomnational sects
were the outgrowth Of mems opinions
. md nj n ScTinrnr,.