The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-05-08
FRENCH MASONS RESENT STORY ! OF CRITICISM Grand Orator of Supreme Council of Masons Denies
 Caillaux is Member. HIS INFLUENCE
 IS NEGLIGIBLE Some Deputies Are Masons But Their Actions Are For
 Good of Country.

An article entitled "CafIlaux's S. cret Power Through French Mason ry," by Charles Johnston, published in The Times Sunday Magazine Sec ton of Feb. "A, has aroused much discussion. A number of prominent members of the Masonic order in America have disputed the assertion that atheism hourished among French Masons, and that their influence has aided the Caillaux element in French politics.
 John H. Cowles, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of the Thir- ty-third and Last Degree of the An cient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Southern Jurisdiction, with offices in Washington, has sent to The Times letter he received re- gently from R. Raymond, Grand Orator of the Supreme Council of French Masons, in which M. Ray mond says in part:
 M. Caillaux is not a Mason His influence is and always has been null and still less, if possible, with those of the Scottish Rite He has never been either officer or member of any Masonic Council of Direction.
 'It is true that a. certain number of Deputies and Senators are Free masons, more or less active, but their action has always been republican and inspired by those principles of liberty for which we, with you, pour out our blood.
 "Unhappily, Latin Freemasonry is not as powerful as its enemies say it is, because if it had been so its beneficient influence would have aid ed in alleviating more evils and en- Tightening the people with the high ideas which are it's basic princi- pies.
 'It has always been admitted that the word liberty includes, with Ma sons, liberty of thought which is to say that all wholesome ideas are list ened to and developed by them, but that all financial or other combina- tions have no interest for Free masons who, in their temples, carry on the education of men worthy of the name.
 "Freemasons are neither atheists 6Ar -militarists, as is insinuated; certain among them have had to contend with those who sought to abolish liberty of thought, liberty of the instruction of children, and liberty in the criticism of our old institu- tions and administrations, the failure and downfall of which are proclaim ed by the present war, thus con- firming Masonic ideas and the justice of Masonic statements.
 ITO all these allegations of hidden or occult action among Freemasons we oppose our most strenuous de- nials; and if he who wrote the arti- cle is honest, and of good faith, we have to say to him that his good faith has been strangely imposed upon. Besides, if France has been saved, it has not been by the three year law, (three years are not neces- sary to the making of a good soldier as you very well know,) nor has it been by those who attack Freemason- ", of which they complain, but by the entire nation, foreign to all these base political struggles and loving only it's liberty.
 Many Freemasons have died fol their country, preaching by example, while their enemies seek to propa. gate dissension and disunion by theil accusations, and prosecute their po litical hatreds, instead of buryins them in the common devotedness.
 French Freemasons know thei duty. They are guided, not by men but by their Masonic consciences penetrated by our principles. In stead of speaking evil of their enemies they show forth the example of cour age, of devotion of national unity and of total sacrifice in the defens of our great Masonic principle-lib erty.
 "All Freemasons here in Franc are admirers of the discouTses of you wonderful President, who has s clearly and so eloquently summed u, their own thoughts at this presen moment, when the fate of the worl is being decided; and, side by side, W are united for the final victory of ou ideas.
 General Joffre is, in fact, a Free mason, but, like all Freemasons, h remains free, without need of an guide for his actions other than hi conscience, enlightened by Masoni