Freemasonry Considered In Its Relation To Society.

In all the charges brought against the order , neither the Pope nor Cardinal Cullen is so unwary as to be caught by quasi Masonic revelations . They are too astute to found their charges on books repudiated by the craft—books which are mere frauds

on the public . Having referred to the authorities , it may be interesting to turn to the other portions of his pamphlet . Had he simply condemned Freemasonry on some of the grounds set forth , without endeavouring to lift the

veil of secrecy winch separates the Institution from the outer world , he would have only done what any man has a perfect right to do ; but when , with a prurient curiosity , he endeavours by illegitimate means to gain an insight to that " mysterious light which none but craftsmen over saw" he

, loaves himself open to suspicion . He condemns Freemasonry on account of —1 . Its secrecy . 2 . Owing to set forms of prayer being used in Masonic ritual . 3 . Because it admits persons of all religious persuasions . 4 . On account of the vanity

of its titles . 5 . Because of the objectionable practise of laying Foundation Stones . G . Its treating irreverently the Word of God . 7 . Its profanation of the ordinance of the Oath , besides several other objections of more or less magnitude . Some of these points belong to the domain of theology , but it will not be out of place to reply to

them in a paper of this kind . 1 . As has been shown already , although in the strict acceptation of the term Freemasonry is not a secret society , yet it has profound secrets carefully guarded , and notwithstanding what Mr . Kerr or any of the

enemies of the order may say to the contrary , those secrets have not been and will not be divulged . . The objection as to secrecy finds favour in many quarters . It is well answered in the words of Mackey " Its force is immediately destroyed when

we reflect that to no worthy man need our mysteries be for one moment covered with the veil of concealment , for to all the deserving are our portals open . But the traditions and esoteric doctrines of our order are too valuable and too sacred to be

permitted to become the topic of conversation for every idler who may desire to occupy his ( moments of leisure in speculations upon subjects which require much previous study and preparation to qualify

the critic for a ripeand equitable judgment . "" Sickles answers the objection from a different point of view . He says : " That origin ( the obligation of secrecy ) must be found , and can only be found in the intrinsic value and divine excellence of the

principles of secrecy itself . Among the ancients , silence and secrecy were considered virtues of the highest order . " ! Most people who urge this as an objection are imioraut of the fact , or affect an obliviousness of it , that at its inception the doctrines taught by Freemasonry were of such n . nature as to clash with most of the

relig ious beliefs of the tune , and to have openly promulgated these would have led to certain death , and to the destruction of the institution . Secrecy was thus imposed on Masonry as a necessity , and in each succeeding generation , the same means were resorted to in order to preserve the

mysteries from the popular gaze . In this age , happily , Freemasonry does not clash with any religion which teaches the existence of the one true God . But the

question is not whether Freemasonry is in harmony with revealed religion , or whether its doctrines should be openly promulgated without restriction . Freemasonry must be taken as it is . Tt has come down to

outtime surrounded by secrecy , and the veil which hides it can only be opened to the worthy seeker after truth . 2 . " The offering of prayer to God by reading set forms is its invariable practice , " and this is considered a grave objection by Mr . Kerr . WellFreemasons have ancient

, precedent for such a practice . The same practice prevails in many Christian Churches ; aud in the synagogue service of God ' s ancient people set forms of prayer alone are offered . It might save some people from another practice , equally

objectionable , the saying of sermons called prayers by them , if they had set forms to guide them . 3 . Another very objectionable practice is the union of all relig ious denominations . Thisas has already been shownis one of its

, , chief glories , and while bigots fight for forms and creeds , Freemasonry teaches that men may differ in many points , religious and political , and yet feel that they are brethren all journeying to the same bourne .