The call of the North. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1923-1924, 1923-12-05
(From the pen of a Jesuit,

(frOul LuS pCh VI q S>~s
Priests are often asked by nomina
Catholics why they should not b
free to join the Masons. The answer
is that the beliefs and principles o.
Catholics and Freemasons are oppos
ed to each other, as is evident
I.
From Authority-An the Pope'
who have condemned Freemasonr!
say that a Catholic cannot be Ma
son. The chief ones are: Clement
XII, in 1913; Benedict XIV, in 1751
Plus VII, 1921; Leo XII, in 1926
Plus VIII, in 1929; Gregory XVI, IL
1889; Plus TX, in 1916 and 1865, ane
on four ether occasions; Leo XIII
five different time, but especially II
the Encyclical "Humanum Genus" o.
April 20, 1884, and Plus x, in 1911.
No Catholic, who has not lost bl'
Judgment will believe that in mat
tiers of religion he knows more thar
all these Popes combined.
II.
From Private Experience.-lt is
fact that when a Catholic becomes
Mason and lives as such he ceases tx
practice his religion. 1t is not be-
cause they forbid him to do so in the
Lodge but because they make an un
believer of him.
Those very persons who on thell
initiation into Masonry endeavor tx
steer a middle path, going both t.
the Lodge and to the Church, end b!
becoming unbelievers.
Whoever wishes a proof of this
statement need only make a list o.
our best known public men, wht
were Catholics in youth and are nov
well known as Masons, and he will
see that none of these retains any Of
his Catholic faith.
III.
From Public EXPERIMENTAL the
revolutions engineered by Masonry
have been so many prosecutions Of
religion. Amongst others may be re-
called the French Revolution of 1889
the Italian of 1S4S, the Spanish Of
1869, that of the, Commune of Pari:
in 1871; that of Portugal in 1910
and that of Mexico in 1911 and Later
years.
Intrinsic.-A man cannot be at thu
same time Catholic and a Mahome
tan because Catholicity and Ma
hometanism teach different doctrines
For the same reason man cannot
be Catholic and Mason.
Let US compare some Fundamental
propositions of both religions.
Catholic Proposition.-God is thu
Creator of the world out of nothing
Masonic Proposition.-God is the
architect of the universe, and formed
it of eternal matter.
Catholic.-God is One in Essence
and three in Persons.
Masonic.-No one knows anything
about God. Any concept that can bt
formed of Him is incomplete and er.
roneous. One concept of God is a.
good as another.
Catholic is free to impose
laws on men.
,Masonic.-God is not free to decree
laws. The laws of God are the force:
of nature.
Catholic.-God has manifested Him
self to the world; by reason and by
revelation. Gods revelation has beer
made through His Prophets and Apos
ties and through His Son Jesu:
Christ.
Masonic.-God manifests Himself
to the world by means Of the uni
verse. Apart from that revelation
there is no other knowledge of Him
Catholic.-Man has the obligation
of processing the religion which Hi.
Creator wishes. .
Masonic-Man is free to profes.
any religion (liberty of conscience,
Catholic.-The Catholic is the onl,
true religion.
Masonic.-All religions are or may
be true. There is no certainty on thi.
point.
Catholic.-Man's soul is immortal
and consequently will live for eterni
ty. ..y... .-.'
, Masonic.-The soul of man can on
~ be said to be immortal as long a,
it is.pot swallowed up by the Being
Of God, of which it is an emanation
Catholic.-After death there is al
eternal life Of happiness for the good
and an eternal hell for the wicked. !.
Masonic.--Masonry does not con
Germ itself with what happens afte
death.
Catholic.-Hum laws are no
binding if they are opposed to,the di
vine law.
Masonic Human laws are binding
whenever they are passed by ma
jority. They are independent Of tn
divine laws.
Catholic.-The Supreme Lord o
the world is the God whom Catholic
recognize and adore.
Masonic.-The supreme being o