Reviews.

or to any other where the sun is at its meridian : — " We may not come up to what some think should be the proper formula , of our reli gious profession ; but to this very system we OAve , many of us , nay , I will

say all of us , some of the happiest ancl cheeriest moments of our lives , some of our fastest friendships ; ancl some of our most refreshing memories . WTiatever else may betide Freemasonry ; Avhatever attacks it may have to endure ; Avhatever

condemnation to face ; it never can give up its universality , without , as it Avere , loosening the capestone of that great arch Avhich spans in its tolerating brotherhood all those of our human race , who , Avith us , acknowled ge and bov ? doAvn reverentl

y before the Great Architect of the Avorld , and the one loving Father of mankind . " If Freemasonry has to be condemned because it is , then , Theistical , admitting and welcoming all religious denominations , and all bodies of menChristian or

Non-, christian , Avho believe simply in God Most High , Freemasonry will have to be condemned . Nothing , I feel sure , will ever induce Freemasons to falter for one moment

m the avoAval of its universal teaching ; and nothing I fear that I can say , will remove the scruples of those AVIIO find the broad platform of Masonic brotherhood the great stumbling-block to their approval of its principles , and the standing-ground for

complaint , anathema , ancl condemnation . "It is impossible to argue out such a subject with those with Avhom Ave cannot agree on first principles , and therefore I leave it here , believing that by the fair , the tolerant , and the liberal mindedthe

posi-, tion Avhich Freemasonry assumes in this respect , will be alike appreciated and approved . " And again : — "Freemasonry in my humble opinion , has at any ratethe clear rihtto

, g , say this . You may condemn my principles of action and adhesion , but at any rate , show me Avhat yours are ivorth as regards practical proof . There are 250 millions of Christians in the Avorld or thereabouts , and the remaining tAVo-thirds of our fellow

creatures are Non-christian . Are Ave to utterly discard them , and ignore them , in the great struggle of life , and in any Avorks of kindness and benevolence ? Even if all Christians Avere at one it Avould

be something , but Christians unfortunately are anathematizing or antagonizing one another with a bitterness and a virulence Avhich tend more than anything else to hinder the spread of the civilizing and elevating ancl healing influence of the Christian Churchand are an undissemblecl

, source of malignant joy to the infidel and the scorner . " Why then have you a right to find fault with a society , Avhich if on lower grounds , has yet succeeded to some extent at any rate , in its aim and effect , ancl does

actually at this time include Avithin one body , not only Christians of various denominations , but even Hebrews , Hindoos , Mahommedans , and Parsees ?" Bro . Woodford would hold no lodge Avhere the government . of the country

forbade it ; but he properly points out the particular inconsistency of the Romish Church denouncing all secret societies . " Some one has said ancl the saying is a good one in its Avay , that the Church of Rome is the greatest secret society in the

Avorld I "Ancl who is there that knows anything of the Jesuit order , with its secret VOAVS , ancl the ' Monita Secreta' and hidden

' formulce , and esoteric teaching ; or of the ' secrets' of the confessional , or of the secret VOAVS and inner life of monasteries and nunneries ; or of secret conclaves , and secret agencies ?—AVIIO is there , I say , AVIIO has studied all these things , but must feel that secrecy is a great characteristic of the iiiAvard and outward organization of the Roman Catholic Church ?

" It is in vain , then , on any grounds of common sense , or fair ratiocination , or CA'en ' natural grounds , ' for honian Catholic authorities to denounce , anathematize , ancl excommunicate Freemasons , until they put a stop to their own secret societies and practices . It is , indeedrather an act of

, no little hardihood in them to profess to find fault with the secret system of Freemasonry , while such secret societies and practices are openly avoAved ancl permitted and commended under the very sanction of the Pope . If ever there Avas a case

Avhere the Freemason could fairly say , in solemn Avords , to each tolerant adversary , aud each excited accuser , ' Physician , heal thyself , ' it is Avhen , as recently , the Archbishop of Maliucs excommunicated all the Belg ian Freemasons ' en bloc ; ' when