Criticism of Masonry

The second point we have spoken of leads us to ask how CRITICISM OF MASONRY. far it is desirable to permit the use of Masonic titles for purely THE letter we publish below, from a recent issue of the public buildings ? but here we are at once met with a difficulty, " Tablet," is deserving of passing notice, firstly as affording and that, too, an insurmountable one, inasmuch as it is virtually proof of the very flimsy evidence on which opponents of the impossible to prevent the use of Masonic names, even if there Craft may base their criticism, and secondly as showing how the was any wish to do so; but in the vast majority of cases there is innocent use of the name of Masonry in connection with pro- really no need or desire for prohibition , men of the world clearly ceedings entirely unconnected with the Order may be seized understanding that the mere name has little to do with what upon by its detractors, in support of their tirades against us. goes on under the roof of the building concerned. This is amply Here we have a building erected in the south of London , demonstrated in many ways outside the Craft, in fact no public under the title of the Surrey Masonic Hall, which, as we believe personage or body of men appears to be proof against such will be generally admitted , has been of marked benefit to evidence of popularity, it only being necessary to refer to such Freemasonry in its district, but the accommodation it provides instances as " Her Majesty's," or other similarly named is not wholly monopolised for Masonic uses, the consequence Theatres, with innumerable other like instances, to demonstrate being that—as in the case in point—it is often let for other this. purposes, sometimes for meetings directly opposed to Masonic Would the Editor of the " Tablet " have inserted the letter principles, as for instance, when discussions of a religious or of his correspondent if in place of " Masonic " the title had been political nature are arranged for—which subjects, it is well " Her Majesty's," and if in place of Freemasonry the writer had known, are special ly excluded from consideration within the thought fit to make the Queen answerable for the remarks used ? portals of our Masonic Lodges. But in all these cases, no In such a case the letter would probably have been treated as matter how much the meeting may be opposed to the dictates the work of a lunatic, but because the Eomish Church thinks fit of the Craft, the same description of the building is used, and to oppose Freemasonry, any attack upon it or its members is the work for the time being may be associated with Freemasonry, good enough for publicity—although in giving prominence to on account of the name " Surrey Masonic Hall " having been such absurdities as that under notice it seems to us those who adopted in connection with the building, provided such a object to the Craft lay themselves open to ridicule, and show the connection is desired. weakness of the cause they espouse. It is not possible for us to examine the thoughts of the writer of the letter to our contemporary when he penned hia epistle, but in view of the knowledge he displays on other points To the Editor of the " Tablet." SIR,—It has often been remarked that English Freemasonry does not it is unfair to think he does not know the position of affairs we assail Christianity, and that whatever evils of that nature exist abroad, none have just spoken of in connection with this Masonic Hall. We of any grave importance are working here. Such opinions have never been held by me; for I have the strongest objection to Freemasonry, because it are prepared to allow that all is fair in love and war, but a sets up in the world a coherent unity in direct opposition to that of the writer who is so wilfull i Catholic Church, and is always thoroughly anti-Christian. y gnorant in regard to questions he deals Quite recently m the Surrey Masonic Hall—to give a, recent example—a with as Mr. Lee is in this instance, must not grumble if his certain " Dr. Stanton Coit " spoke thus at a " Sunday evening service or gathering for the people " : " When Huxley died thero was read over his whole utterances are guaged by the known quantity of ignorance body at the cemetery, the Church of England burial service. When he (the he displays on one of the issues. In fact his whole arguments speaker) read this in the newspapers, ho could not but feel that an act of sacrilege had been committed. That a man who had fought and taught are nullified by recognition of the fact that the holding of a against the view of life expressed in that service should be forced into such an ignominy as to have this wordy rigmarole read over his remains was to meeting in a building bearing a Masonic name does not him incomparably distasteful. AU Huxley's life was a fight against necessarily associate Freemasonry with what then takes place. what he called ' clericalism '—implying priests, bishops, and every ecclesias- tical authority. Huxley never believed in the ' sure and certain hope Let us assume a possible case that may be within the range of of a joyful resurrection,' but held that scepticism was ' the highest of all this correspondent's perception b duties.' ... In his discussions, Huxley always came out ahead. With , y reason of its association with a whip of small cords he drove the people out of the Temple where science the creed he professes : let us imagine that the Pope or some should have dwelt. Even Voltaire could not approach him. A few centuries hence he would be recognised as the one fine figure in English high dignitary of his Church has granted the use of a building, literature who devoted his whole life to the one sublime duty of opposing in bearing an unmistakable Catholic name, for some meeting principle the priests and authorities, even the lawgivers and popular educators, who had tried to suppress his sublime truths. Huxley was.a wholly distinct from Church matters—and in the exercise of great prophet and ought to be placed beside St. Paul and Thomas a Kempis." the true spirit of charity we know most Eoman Catholics Some parts of this sermon and lecture cannot with prudence he possess such a supposition is a reasonable one—what would Mr. reproduced, but the sentences above serve to show what is actually but quietly being carried out around us; and this often under the patronage of Lee say if it were sought to make the Pope or his followers those who are Freemasons -many of them Anglican clergy—and at so-called " services for the working classes." answerable for all that was said at the meeting ? We cannot Ordinary newspaper reporters, while advertising such lectures by their believe anyone but a fanatic would seek to place such a summaries, practically advance the odious and detestable principles of the preachers themselves. Such atrocious utterances should be noted. responsibility on the heads of the Eomish Church, neither can Has not the time come when—it being forbidden to sell poison for the we imagine anyone but a fanatic writing on the assumption body—the dissemination of such poison for the soul should be also legally that made publicly impossible. utterances made at a meeting held in a Masonic Hall must of I am, Sir, yours obediently, necessity be Masonic. FREDERICK GEORGE LEE. the one supreme Creator and God whose triune attributes are EOYAL ABCH. infinite, omnipotent and omnipresent. —: o:— Freemasonry has had many subtle enemies within and without, alike among the cultured and the ignorant ; her CONSECRATION: VICTORIAN CHAPTER. ceremonies have been denounced as trifling and profane , and her organisation as dangerous. Yet because of her sublime original , THE little, quaint, old-fashioned village of Eainham, in in face of all opposition, the sun of Masonry shines with unabated Essex, was the scene of an important Masonic ceremony vigour. on Monday, when Comp. F. A. Philbrick Grand Superintendent The virtues which we profess , and which so materially of the Province and several other Provincial Officers and contribute to the stability of our Order— morality, benevolence, Companions journeyed thither, to consecrate the latest additiou charity, justice, truth and loyalty—are the natural outcome of to the roll of Essex Chapters. these religious principles, so closely allied the one to the other Comp. Philbrick was assisted by Comps. A. G. Hayman as to be beyond our power of divorce. I cannot here dwell on Prov.G\H., W. Ernest Dring Past Provincial H., T. J. Balling the cosmopolitan character of our principles in teaching, but we Past G.Sw.B. Prov.G.S.E., A. Lucking P.A.G.D.C. Prov.G.D.C. cannot forget that it is deep enough to fu rnish fields of research and E. S. Gushing. Among others present were Comps. William for the studious, and broad enough to admit a membership of Shurmur P.P.G.J., F. H. Meggy P.P.G.A.S., H. C. Jones, John nearly two millions of our fellow creatures, speaking every Knight Prov.G.R., H. Dehane Prov.G.P.S., A. Vanderword language known to the civilised world. Men of the first rank of Prov.G.A-D.C., C. H. Canning P.Z. 1472, J. J. Harvey P.P.G.J., intellect and ability have directed their researches to the history E.

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