Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Narrative Of The Extraordinary Proceedings Of The Inquisition Of Portugal, Against The Freemasons.
He Society , and the basis or foundation of all others . You will here see tliree others of our worthy and honourable Brethren resisting with me the atrocious cruelties of a tribunal , that has long abjured every fedim . ? of JiKinanity , and bearing up against the most insupportable , and horrible torments , that could be exercised against us , without being ' dnvea thereby to satisfy the detestable curiosity of our executioners , who were at the same time also our judges .
- / ° , w : l' ! lere obta'n not 0 I " l y some general information respecting this internal tribunal , . but be apprized of the means to avoid , becoming a pi-ey to it : The anuchristian proceedings of its established judges will be ' laid open , and you will there see men , who , under the cloak of Religion , and masque of Hypocrisy , conceal the most unbounded luxury , insatiable avarice , and cruel revenge ; deaf to the common principles of Humanity , ana still more so , to the divine calls of Charity and Benevolence . the
oucn are men , and such the institution which should be exposed in proper colours to all mankind , who are interested in being put on their guard against their dangerous machinations : It is rendering ' an essential service to ; Society to lay them open in the fair face of day . , JViasonry lias been vilified , as well as its professors persecuted , and the press lias teemed with absurdities , answering well to those who have written , tor , in fact , all must live , and the public are now promised a Work , winch is to give a mortal stab to the Society , by proving that its sole end is , " to abolish Subordination , and to re-establish in the world _ the pretended primitive Equality of all Mankind . " This foolish
assertion , refuted and destroyed by an experience of 3000 years , is in itself a complete proof how little those who mean to aim this threatened blow , know of the Regulations of our Lodges , the true spirit of Masonry , and the uemgn influence of its inimitable Laws . But , Brethren , this though a new species of persecution raised against us , is far more easy to be overcome , than the barbarities of an Incjuisition . We have only to follow rhe counsel of Gamaliel ; we cannot better refute the impertinence ol than b
garretteers , y sovereign contempt , and adhering on all occasions to the practice of our rules and laws , which so fully and comprehensively teach us our DUTY TO GOD , to our NEIGHBOURS , and to OURSELVES . To this , Bicthren , 1 exhort you , as the only means of being gloriously distinguished from other men , even in those realms to which we may arrive when tiie Lod ge of Life is closed . In this narrative will find a true and exact account of the prison
_ you in which ^ was immured , and of the proceedings against me , nearly similar to which in almost every respect were the proceedings against Brothers , Alexander Jauues Mouton , and Joao Thomas Brusle , who were condemned to be banished from the Patriarchate of Lisbon for five years ; a sentence which they would willingly , have pronounced against themselves , to avoid again falling into the fangs of so merciless and diabolical a tribunalor its satellites . M own sentence was to be chained to the
, y oar for four years iu the gallies , from which , however , I was fortunately relieved .--- ' i . here was a fourth sufferer among us , but he succeeded in making Ins escape from this hell ; and , that Heaven may preserve all true Masons from this tyrannical tribunal , is the sincere prayer of
Honourable and worth y Brethren , Your affectionate Brother , Valley of Jehosophat , ' J , COUSTOS , Year oi the Foundation of the Temple of Solomon , . ' MSIDCCCIII .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Narrative Of The Extraordinary Proceedings Of The Inquisition Of Portugal, Against The Freemasons.
He Society , and the basis or foundation of all others . You will here see tliree others of our worthy and honourable Brethren resisting with me the atrocious cruelties of a tribunal , that has long abjured every fedim . ? of JiKinanity , and bearing up against the most insupportable , and horrible torments , that could be exercised against us , without being ' dnvea thereby to satisfy the detestable curiosity of our executioners , who were at the same time also our judges .
- / ° , w : l' ! lere obta'n not 0 I " l y some general information respecting this internal tribunal , . but be apprized of the means to avoid , becoming a pi-ey to it : The anuchristian proceedings of its established judges will be ' laid open , and you will there see men , who , under the cloak of Religion , and masque of Hypocrisy , conceal the most unbounded luxury , insatiable avarice , and cruel revenge ; deaf to the common principles of Humanity , ana still more so , to the divine calls of Charity and Benevolence . the
oucn are men , and such the institution which should be exposed in proper colours to all mankind , who are interested in being put on their guard against their dangerous machinations : It is rendering ' an essential service to ; Society to lay them open in the fair face of day . , JViasonry lias been vilified , as well as its professors persecuted , and the press lias teemed with absurdities , answering well to those who have written , tor , in fact , all must live , and the public are now promised a Work , winch is to give a mortal stab to the Society , by proving that its sole end is , " to abolish Subordination , and to re-establish in the world _ the pretended primitive Equality of all Mankind . " This foolish
assertion , refuted and destroyed by an experience of 3000 years , is in itself a complete proof how little those who mean to aim this threatened blow , know of the Regulations of our Lodges , the true spirit of Masonry , and the uemgn influence of its inimitable Laws . But , Brethren , this though a new species of persecution raised against us , is far more easy to be overcome , than the barbarities of an Incjuisition . We have only to follow rhe counsel of Gamaliel ; we cannot better refute the impertinence ol than b
garretteers , y sovereign contempt , and adhering on all occasions to the practice of our rules and laws , which so fully and comprehensively teach us our DUTY TO GOD , to our NEIGHBOURS , and to OURSELVES . To this , Bicthren , 1 exhort you , as the only means of being gloriously distinguished from other men , even in those realms to which we may arrive when tiie Lod ge of Life is closed . In this narrative will find a true and exact account of the prison
_ you in which ^ was immured , and of the proceedings against me , nearly similar to which in almost every respect were the proceedings against Brothers , Alexander Jauues Mouton , and Joao Thomas Brusle , who were condemned to be banished from the Patriarchate of Lisbon for five years ; a sentence which they would willingly , have pronounced against themselves , to avoid again falling into the fangs of so merciless and diabolical a tribunalor its satellites . M own sentence was to be chained to the
, y oar for four years iu the gallies , from which , however , I was fortunately relieved .--- ' i . here was a fourth sufferer among us , but he succeeded in making Ins escape from this hell ; and , that Heaven may preserve all true Masons from this tyrannical tribunal , is the sincere prayer of
Honourable and worth y Brethren , Your affectionate Brother , Valley of Jehosophat , ' J , COUSTOS , Year oi the Foundation of the Temple of Solomon , . ' MSIDCCCIII .