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FREEMASONRY
IN IRELAND
r

T H E

REV.

E U G E N E

COYLE,

P.P.

P U B L I S H E D FOR T H E A U T H O R
THE

AUTHOR

BY
1*2

SEAMUS

UPPER LIFFEY

O'DOHERTY
STREET,. DUBUW

C O N T E N T S . "
CHAPTER
I.
II.
III.

PAGE

FREEMASONRY

....

IV.
V.

Very respectfully dedicated, to the

young ' men

of

Ireland,

Protestant,

by the

and

Author.

VII.
VIII.

IX.

....

....

....

12

....

....

....

19

ITS OATHS AND PENALTIES

....

....

24

ITS

ORIGIN,

....

EXTENSION

STRENGTH
VI.

....

T H E ONENESS OF MASONRY THROUGHOUT T H E

Christian

Catholic

....

P A P A L CONDEMNATIONS

WORLD
DEDICATION.

....

ITS N A T U R E

....

FREEMASONRY IN

AND

NUMERICAL

....

....

....

31

....

....

....

38

IRELAND A N D

T H E BIRTH

OF ORANGEISM
....
....
FREEMASONRY AND ORANGEISM IN T H E
CENTURY....
....
....

XI.
XII.

....

60

REFLECTIONS AND CONCLUSIONS

....

....

68

CONTINUED

....

....

77

AN

....

ADDENDUM :
RULERS,

Reproduction in permanent form of articles originatty contributed

52

....

DOMINANT

weekly to Honesty, 1928.

45

T H E S A M E D U R I N G T H E FIRST QUARTER OF

T H E 20th CENTURY
X.

....
19th
....

....
HYPOCRISY,
VICE

NORTH

OF
AND

OUR

THE

PRE-

IMPERIAL

SOUTH

....

85

F R E E M A S O N R Y IN I R E L A N D
B Y T H E R E V . E U G E N E COYLE, P.P.
C H A P T E R I.
H A T we may call the modern Anti-Christian and
therefore Pagan movement that to-day strides the
world like a veritable Colossus, owes and has owed .
much of its rapid and triumphant progress throughout the
world to the secret and very powerful organization of Freemasonry. Having its origin i n England, about the year
i t is a child of the Pseudo-Reformation. It is to-day,
and has been for the. past two .centuries, the central enemy
of the Catholic Church. To-day especially i t looks upon the
Church as the only real bulwark of Christianity. Protestant
Christianity, it is aware, is everywhere permeated with the
Masonic. spirit; Masonism has everywhere spiked its guns.
Hence if at any time i t were much of an enemy, it is to-day
a helpless captured slave. It has one great enemy, and hence
the destniction of that enemythe Catholic Churchis
the one sole ultimate aim and object of Freemasonry i n
every land. I n pursuance, therefore, of its ideal of a godless
Masonic State, the destruction of religion, morality, family
life, and of all natural and patriotic ties, are among the
main objects for which it is incessantly, perseveringly, and
cunningiy labouring i n every land. Hence the great and
saintly Pope Leo X I I I . , speaking of the incessant warfare
that is being waged on earth by the forces of the Kingdom
of Satan, says " the leaders of that war are no other than
the strongly organized and widespread organization called
the Freemasons." Later on he declares the objects of Masonry
to be " the utter overthrow of that religious order of the world
which Christian teaching has produced, and to substitute a
new state of things according to their own ideas, based on
the principles and laws of pure Naturalism."
(Humanum
Genus, pages 84 to 89.)
Although now it is 203 years since it was first' established
n Irish soil, and had a very great celebration i n June, 1925,

^0^nn,

FREEMASONRY

IN

IRELAND

i n Dublin, on the occasion of its second centenary, it never,

because of the strong Catholic Faith of the great majority
of our people, and almost as equally as strong a spirit of
nationality, got a real grip on the nation as it has succeeded
i n doing in so many countries of Europe and America. Heretofore, although our people suffered from many evils owing to
its presence i n our midst, especially from the injustice done
them from being deprived of many positions of emolument
in their own land to which they were entitled, it never entered
the real National household. It was always on the street,
never further than the doorstep. It never crossed the
threshold, never secured lodgment within. Alas ! Alas ! !
that cannot be said any longer, for to-day it is a well-known
fact that many of our children, brought up i n the household
of the Faith, and ostensibly professing National and Patriotic
principles, have joined for personal advancement and worldly
reasons this secret Anti-Christian organization :
This
contagion, if unchecked, will gradually weaken that glorious
heritage of Faith, as well as that great spirit of Nationality
that has been so interwoven i n our history, and which are
the chief glories oj our race.
As there is great ignorance on this subject of Freemasonry,
and very erroneous and misleading ideas prevailing as regards
its nature, its history, its characteristics, and its secret
operations i n every land, I propose, at any rate, to tell what
Freemasonism is, and what it stands for. I am awareno
one more sothat this has been done by far abler pens than
mine in this country, but these publications have appeared
in monthly magazines that, from the nature of the case,
reached a small number of readers. A n d I for one, believing
in the imminence of the danger, am convinced that it only
can be met effectively by reaching the ordinary r e a d e r call him the man i n the street if you willand telling him i n
popular language what Freemasonism in reality is, and thus
exploding many misleading views.
Here I shall refer to a few of the very valuable contributions
of recent times at home with us, which, if they were within
reach of the ordinary reader, would, I am convinced, send
Freemasonry and all it stands for " on the r u n . " A t any
rate, I believe they would check its further growth. (1) In the
Lyceum, Dublin, 1892, a very valuable and able series of

FREEMASONRY

IN

IRELAND

articles were published by the Editor, Rev. T. A . Finlay, S.J.,

entitled " Our Brothers the Masons," in which he explained
the nature of the Cult, the horrible oaths accompanying it,
and the crimes and terrorism arising therefrom. (2) In 1917
in the Catholic Bulletin, from April to July, there appeared
a number of able articles written by the Rev. T. H . Burbage,
C.C., on the nature and crimes of Masonry. (3) A n d last
year, from April to July, there appeared i n the Ecclesiastical
Record four splendid articles which display a very comprehehsive~knowledge of the subject. B u t lest any Protestant
fellow-countryman should be prejudiced against these works,
or anything that I should say, I would direct his attention
to the work of the Rev. Penney-Hunt, an English Protestant
Clergyman (Freedom Press, 8 South Parade, Nottingham,
1926). The Rev. author shows the Anti-Christian and Pagan
character of Masonry, and the terrible and alarming extent
with which it has permeated the Anglican church. Those
who have followed the controversy about the' Anglican
prayer-book will have noticed that one of the Anglican
Bishops has propounded theories much in keeping with
Freemasonism and Paganism. So my Protestant fellowcountrymen could not do better than read the Rev. PenneyHunt.
There is not the slightest doubt that a correct knowledge
of what Freemasonism is, is r a r e ; and rare even among
many educated Catholks and Protestants. This is no doubt
due, i n no small degree, to the veiled and mysterious nature
of the Cult, and to silent, secret and insinuating propaganda its
votaries make among their acquaintances to entice them
into the Masonic net. English and Irish Freemasons are
ever and always declaring that English and Irish Masonry
is quite different from that of the Continent, or the Freemasonry that is i n active eruption in Mexico to-day. There
may, they say, be an Anti-Christian or an Anti-Catholic
tinge about the Masonry of the French Grand Orient, or the
Masonry of other lands, but i n England and Ireland it is
thoroughly Christian, having for its main object the mutual
benefit of its members and the general good of the community.
Many Catholics, as well as Protestants, are deceived and
believe all this, and are of opinion that while Freemasonry
may not be a genuinely charitable organization, but rather

FREEMASONRY

IN

IRELAND

utilitarian, it is a rather blameless if not praiseworthy society,

and that it must have been banned by the Church merely
because of its secrecy. They rather think, too, that it was
European and South American Masonry that the Pontiffs
had in mind when they issued their condemnation ; but by
no means British and Irish Masonry. I hope to prove
conclusively later on, when I am dealing with the solidarity
and oneness of Masonry throughout the world, that all these
views are contrary to the truth.
Another very plausible argument used to disprove the
accusation of Anti-Christian principles underlying Masonry
is the following : Surely the Right Rev. Archbishop, or Bishop,
so-and-so, who is a Freemason, is a very good holy Christian
man, and if Freemasonry were Anti-Christian or Anti-Catholic
he would not be i n it. A n d again, are not so-and-so, and
so-and-so," our neighbours, good Christian merchants, and
Professional men, Freemasons for years. These are among
some of the plausible arguments that come usually from hps
as sweet as honey. A n d there is an element of truth i n them
all, and hence the greater danger of misleading honest people.
The natural conclusion many come to is " What is good
enough for the Archbishop, Bishop, doctor and merchant
so-and-so is good enough for me."
A l l this reasoning is founded on ignorance of the fact that
Freemasonry is the same i n essentials the world over; the
same i n Ireland as i n Mexico ; the same i n its nature ; the
same aims and objects ; the same system of degrees, of outer
circles and inner circles ; the same symbols, the same general
liturgy, the same horrible oaths, and the same dreadful
penalties for violating them. Yes, Lord Glenavy, Judge
Wylie, or Sir B . Cooper would be received as honoured guests
i n any Grand Lodge i n the world, equally as honoured guests
in the Grand Lodge of Mexico of which President Calles is
a prominent member, or i n the Grand Orient of France or
Italy, as they would be i n the Grand Lodge of Canada or
U.S.A. A n d i n any one of these Lodges they would be
as much at home i n spirit and i n truth as an Irish Catholic
would be i n a Catholic Church i n France, U.S.A. or Mexico.
I n fact, we must remember, and never forget, that at the
celebration i n Dublin, 1925, there were delegates from a l l
the Grand Orients and Lodges of Europe, Asia, Africa

FREEMASONRY

IN

IRELAND

America and Australia. They came across oceans and seas

to honour their Irish Brethren ; to rejoice with them and
encourage them to further Masonic progress. Would they
have come if they had not common aims and objects, if
they were not one i n spirit with their Irish Brethren ? Not
a bit of i t .
Here you will again ask, if Masonry be an anti-Christian
organisation, how is it that men like the Protestant Archbishop
of Armagh, and many prominent clergymen, become members
and Grand Chaplains of the Order, and occasionally preach
-heautiful sermons on " the Grand Architect of the Universe,"
the beauties of Masonry, its benevolence, its charity and its
grand spirit of Brotherhood ? Before replying, by giving
the reader the key to the seeming enigma, I would remind him
that i n a l l countries, even i n countries where Masonic persecution of the Church is actually going on, the public, just
as i n Ireland, are edified with beautiful discourses similar to
t h a t i n D u b l i n , June 1925. This is one of \h& strange phenomena
of Masonry. W h y , I may here ask, if Masonry be the grand
thing its Grand Chaplains preach on festival occasions, all
the secrecy ? W h y hide its light, and the glorious tidings
it preaches, under a bushel ? W h y prefer darkness to light
in most of its activities ? W h y ?
The key to the true explanation of many things that are
hard to understand is that Masonry everywhere has a dual
personality and manifests itself i n either guise, according
as circumstances demand. We have the outer personality
and the inner, just as we have the outer circles of Masonry
as well as the inner.
A man is not a fully fledged and
perfect Mason until he reaches the 33rd degree, and becomes
what is known as a K j u g M j o L K a d o s t . In the outer circles
the three first are known as the symbolic degrees,
namely, Apprentice Mason, Companion Mason, and
Master Mason. I n these degrees and some others the
members know very little about real Masonry.
These
degrees are merely the porch of the Masonic House and of
its various sanctuaries.
The general feature of the outer
degrees, as of all Masonry, is its Anti-Catholic spirit and
atmosphere. These degrees unceasingly labour to secure
every position of emolument they can for a brother; and,
of course, are backed up by all the influence of the inner

10

FREEMASONRY

IN

IRELAND

members. Support a Mason, right or wrong, is their motto.

These circles contain very many who joined for social and
commercial advantages, and who do not know much about
the aims and objects of inner Masonry. Wealthy, prominent
and influential men are gladly received. They give an air
of respectability and moderation to the Society, and are
splendid for propagandist purposes. A n Archbishop, Bishop,
or prominent clergyman is much sought after, and their
joining kills among many of the denomination to which they
belong any Anti-Christian prejudice "that may exist. Those
in the outer circles, or even an Archbishop who may be
suddenly raised to a nominally high degree, know very little
of the inner secrets, or of full Masonry. They are, however,
in the net, and will be used for all they are worth. " A figurehead " who is accepted, no matter what' degree may be given
to him, is not trusted until he proves his worth and his
adaptability of assimilating the true Masonic ideal. LOTUS
X V I . of France and Marie Antoinette were, at one period
of their lives, Honorary Masons, and were finally put to death
through the machinations of Masonry. Mr. Cosgrave has,
I understand, several University degrees, but he knows little
about the working of a University. So it is with many
prominent " figure-heads " in Masonry. The personnel of the
outer personality of Masonry, its organization to some extent, as
well as some of its activities, are as a rule more or less known
to the public. It publishes its Calendar, holds festivals, makes
speeches, and stands for tolerance and liberalism i n religion.
It, i n a word, looks as innocent as a lamb.
The real heart, core, soul and spirit of Masonry is centred
in the inner circles. They are the inner personality. This
portionthe main portionis definitely Anti-Christian,
Pagan, and anarchical. In the words of one of the Brethren,
Professor J . Ferguson of Edinburgh, i n his book on Masonry,
" Its objects are to abolish all religion and all government,"
the meaning being every government that it cannot control
and is not Masonic in spirit. Although it has a duplicate
personality, it is the same organization, the outer circles are
the recruiting grounds where the real Masonic soldiers get
their early training, are tested as it were ; and, if found worthy
and reliable, are sent forward for active service i n the field i n
the Anti-Christian army.

FREEMASONRY

IN

IRELAND

11

How very appropriate here to quote the words of warning

of Leo X I I . , i n which he warns the Faithful to be on their
guard against Masonry; " Beware of their blandishments
and honeyed words,"'he says. " H o l d it for certain that
none can have any share i n the work of these sectaries without
becoming guilty of a most grievous crime. Be deaf to the
words of those who, to entice you into the lower grades,
declare vehemently that nothing is permitted i n them at
variance with religion." " They are," he says, " the darkness
of the'light and the false light of the darkness."
\
F o r the honour of this old land, I would like to believe that
all Christian Ministers of Ireland who are identified with
Masonry know not what they do, and are mere figure-heads.
Of this"l am certain, that i n the Anglican Church, so-called
Christian Ministers are fully identified with the spirit of
Masonry, and all it connotes. No one can read the book
of the Rev. Penney-Hunt without being convinced that
Masonry has not only permeated the Anglican Church but
has gripped her with a deathlike grip.
Lest anyone may think that the number of Freemasons i n
the inner circles is very few i n Ireland, let me remind the
reader that i n 1877, when there were not half as many Masons
as there are to-day, there were sixty Knights of Kadost i n the
land. In the list copied from the Masonic Calendar there was
one Viscount, five Baronets, five highly-placed army offia-r<?,
two Judges, the H i g h Sheriff of the City of Dublin, and the
City'Analyst. To-day there are 120 i n this land who have
reached the- highest degree of Masonry, sworn and pledged
to devote all their energies to the destruction of the Catholic
Church. A number of these men are doubtlessly i n the
Belfast Parliament; a number, too, i n the D a i l and Senate,
legislating for the most Catholic people i n Europe, and
holding at the present time the Free State Government i n
the hollow of their hands. Out of the forty-two thousand
Masons there are i n Ireland to-day, at least twenty thousand
of that number are i n the inner circles of Masonry, and
actually working for the main aims and objects of Masonry,
while the remainder i n the outer circles are definitely A n t i Catholic and are enrolled i n an Anti-Catholic organisation,
which, like the spider's web, is one whole, and hence they are
morally responsible for the deeds of the whole organization.

12

FREEMASONRY

IN

CHAPTER

IRELAND

II.

Papa! Condemnation.
In the previous chapter I have given a very general idea
of what Freemasonism is ; pointed out some of its characteristics, and alluded to some of the misleading ideas that
prevail, especially in Great Britain and Ireland, regarding it.
In this chapter I intend to remind my readers of the very
severe terms in which, during the past two centuries, it has
been condemned by the Sovereign Pontiffs. It has been
expressly anathematised by no less than ten Pontiffs, and
directly or indirectly condemned by practically every Pope
who sat on the Chair of Peter during the past two centuries.
For Catholics, at any rate, this should be final and decisive.
A n d , remember, they have not condemned Freemasonry
merely i n this country or that, but i n every country in the
world, for everywhere and always it has been the same secret,
irreligious, Pagan organization. Cardinal Gasparri, writing
in the month of June, 1918, i n the name of the Pope, to
Monsignor Jouin, to thank him for his great work against
Freemasonry, refers very particularly to his successful efforts
" i n establishing conclusively, in spite of lying assertions,
which sometimes deceive Catholics themselves, the identity
of Freemasonry with itself everywhere and always, and the
consistent continuity of the Freemasons' Policy, whose design
is the rejection of God, and the destruction of the Catholic
Church."
These condemnations are so many that for want of space,
I shall only be able to give three or four that are typical
of all.
Clement X I I . , i n 1733, just 21 years after the establishment
of Masonry in England, and seventeen after its introduction
to the Continent of Europe, issued the first Papal condemnation, and this condemnation has never been revoked or toned

PAPAL

CONDEMNATION

13

down by even one Sovereign Pontiff. He says : " Under an

outward semblance of natural probity, which they require
and which they regard as sufficient . . . they (the
Freemasons) have established certain laws and statutes
binding themselves towards each other . . . but since
crime ultimately betrays itself, their assemblies have become
to the Faithful such objects of suspicion that every good man
regards affiliation to them as a certain indication of wickedness and perversion."
Hence the Pontiff : " F o r the sake of the peace and safety
of civil Governments and the spiritual safety of souls, and
to prevent these men from plundering the House like thieves,
laying waste the vineyard like wolves, perverting the minds
of the incautious, and shooting down innocent people from
their hiding-places, pronounces the sentence of major
excommunication.''
" Wherefore," he says, " to each and all of the Faithful
of Christ, of whatever state, grade, condition or order, We
ordain stringently and i n virtue of holy obedience, that they
shall not under any pretext enter, propagate, or support the
aforesaid Societies, known as Freemasons or otherwise named ;
that they shall not be enrolled in them, affiliated to them, or
take part in their proceedings, assist them, or afford them i n
any way counsel, aid or favour, publicly or privately, directly
or indirectly, by themselves or by others i n any way whatever,
under pain of excommunication to be incurred by the very
act, without further declaration, from which absolution shall
not be obtainable through anyone except through Ourselves,
or o u r Successor, the Roman Pontiff for the time being,
unless i n the article of death."
Here the very grave sentence of major excommunication is
declared against these " enemies of the common weal."
Leo X I I . reproduces the three condemnations of his predecessors, Clement X I I . , Benedict X I V . , and Pius V I I . , and
refers to the destructive ravages of Masonry i n the Universities
of Europe, and condemns its impious and irreligious propaganda throughout the world. In a very special way he
condemns " the impious and cruel oath by which the members
bind themselves not to reveal to anyone the secrets of their
organization, and to execute the death sentence upon those
who reveal them to their superiors, clerical or l a y . " Knowing

FREEMASONRY

IN

IRELAND

the danger of becoming affiliated i n the lower and milder

grades, the recruiting grounds for the soldiers of darker deeds
in the inner circles, he admonishes the Faithful to avoid those
men who are " the darkness of the light, and false light of the
darkness." " Beware," he says, " of their blandishments
and honeyed words. H o l d it for certain that none can have
a share i n the work of these sectaries without becoming guilty
of a most grievous sin. Be deaf to the words of those who,
in order to entice you into the lower grades, declare vehemently
that nothing is permitted i n them at variance with religion."
Gregory X V I . , in a very comprehensive sentence, sums up
the evils of Masonry when he compares it to a reservoir i n
which " is congregated and intermingled all the sacrileges,
infamy and blasphemy which are contained i n the most
abominable heresies."'
Pius I X . expressly draws attention to the widespread
misleading opinion prevailing among Catholics, founded upon
ignorance of the true facts, that the Freemasons were a
harmless, philanthropic body of men banded together for
mutual assistance, and from whom the Church has nothing
to fear.
" Who does not see," he says, " how far such an idea is
from the truth ? What is the meaning of that close association of men of every kind of belief ? What is the purpose
of their secret meetings ; of the dreadful oaths taken at their
initiations that they will never divulge anything pertaining
to their associations; of the unspeakable penalties they
imprecate upon themselves should they prove false to their
promises ? "
The great Pontiff, Leo X I I I . , i n a great number of his
famous Encyclicals, refers to the " deadly poison circulating
to-day in the veins of human society," which he declares to.
be none other than the poison and virus of the spirit of
Masonry; and expressly includes i n his condemnation all
who adhere to Masonry i n any way because a l l share, even
though they are not active participators i n any crime. H e
says : " Even though there may be persons among the
Freemasons, and these not a few, who are neither themselves
partners i n their criminal acts, nor aware of the, ultimate
object at which they aim, neither these persons nor the
affiliated societies, which perchance do not approve of the

PAPAL

CONDEMNATION

extreme objects of the Masonic sect, are for that reason to be

considered as alien to the Masonic federation, for as the
whole principle and object of the sect lie in what is vicious
and criminal, to join these men, or i n any way help them,
must be unlawful."
Again he says : " T o wish to destroy the religion and the
Church which God Himself has established, to bring back
after a lapse of eighteen centuries the manners and customs
of the Pagans, is audacious impiety. To have i n public
matters no care of religion, and i n the arrangement and
administration of civil affairs to have no more care for God
than if H e did not exist, is a rashness unknown to the very
Pagans." No language could be stronger, straighter, or
more emphatic than this.
The last Pontiff I shall quote will be Pope Benedict X V . ,
who, i n 1917, when confirming the previous ordinances of
his predecessors, declared : " A l l those who enrol their names
i n the sect of Freemasons or similar associations plotting
against the Church or the legitimate civil authorities, incur
by the very fact, the penalty of excommunication, absolution
from which is specially reserved to the H o l y See."
F o r the sons of Catholic Ireland, that has ever been remarkable for the fidelity of her children to the Chair of Peter, a l l
this should be final and conclusive. Her fidelity to the
Chair of Peter is the greatest glory of our land. A n d is this
glory going to be dimmed or tarnished i n this our generation ?
A n d are her sons of to-day going to be unworthy of the
Confessors and Martyrs of both her Faith and Nationality ?
Neither should these condemnations of the Sovereign
Pontiff go unheeded by our Protestant fellow-countrymen.
To many of them, indeed, who must necessarily be aware of
the traditional caution, care, prudence and moderation with
which the Holy See is ever accustomed to use i n not only her
legislation, but i n all her pronouncements, these remarkable
condemnations must afford conclusive proof of the antiChristian character, and of the essential wickedness of Freemasonry. A n d the very suggestion that Pope after Pope,
with a l l the knowledge at their disposal, and with all their
love for the preservation of Christian Faith and morality,
had condemned Freemasonry without sufficient knowledge
of what it was, is too absurd to be entertained for an instant.

16

FREEMASONRY

IN

IRELAND

What Court has had the same knowledge of the forces at

work in the world ? A n d therefore the Popes, at all times,
had the most correct knowledge of Freemasonry. They had
at hand the whole range of Masonic literature; had some
of the most able and learned men of their time i n the Vatican,
to devote their time and ability to the study of Masonry,
and to give them the full fruit of their labours. In addition,
too, they had at various times adepts of the Craft at hand to
consult, who, moved by the stings of conscience, and aided by
Divine Grace, abandoned Masonry, repented, and for safety
sought refuge i n Rome. A n d , finally, the fruits of Masonry
and Masonic Government were visible, and scattered here
and there throughout the world, and none were as well
qualified to judge as the H o l y See what the nature of these
fruits were. The tree is ever and always known by its fruit.
Hence more than forty years ago the great Leo X I I I . , when
making reference to the condemnation of his predecessors,
could sav with absolute truth :
" What is of the highest importance, the course of events
has dictated the prudence of our predecessors. The Sect of
Freemasons, i n the .course of a century and a half, has brought
upon the Church, upon the power of Princes, upon the public
well-being precisely the grievous harm which Our predecessors
had foretold. Such a condition has been reached that henceforth there will be grave reason to fear, not indeed for the
Church, for her foundations are too firm to be overturned
by the efforts of menbut for those States i n which prevails
the power either of the Sect of which we are speaking, or other
Sects not dissimilar, which lend themselves to it as disciples
and subordinates."
^

.**
P These words of the Pontiff ring as true to-day as they did
forty years ago. They were true of the past century and
a half. They were true i n his own day. A n d what a
prophetic ring is about them to-day? Since then Freemasonry has greatly increased. Since then we have had the
systematic efforts that were made by Masonry i n France,
and Masonic French Governments, against a l l religion and
morality ; efforts to root out religion and banish God from
the schools; Universities, Courts, and everywhere i n France
where men congregated. I n the words of a Freemason
statesman, " the lights of Heaven, were to be extinguished,"
T

PAPAL

CONDEMNATION

17

We have had the persistent campaign of assassination that

was carried on against the Catholic Dynasty of the Hapsburgs,
and the many attempts that were made on the Catholic
K i n g of Spain. We have had the famous anarchical rising
in July, i n 1909, i n Barcelona, where Ferrier Y . Guardia,
a very prominent Mason, and active member and agent of
the Grand Orient of France, organised and headed the
Masonic riots.
They continued for two days and during
that time 102 persons were killed and 312 seriously
wounded. Nuns were violated and killed, and the corpses
of 38 nuns were disinterred and left lying on the public streets.
And" practically all the churches, convents, and-Catholic
institutions were destroyed. The atrocities would even
astonish demons. A n d when the Spanish Government
brought Ferrier Y . Guardia and five others to justice there
was a howl raised i n the Masonic Press of Europe and of
England against Spain, and especially the Catholic Church.
A t home we have had the Belfast pogrom organised, paid for,
and rejoiced at by the Masons of Britain and Ireland. We
have had the tragedy of Russia. A n d we are just having at
present exhibitions of Masonic fury and hate i n Mexico.
There the underground spirit of Masonry is heaving, and i n
a fury, Vesuvius-like, is sending forth its eruptions with which
it hopes to extinguish Christianity under the weight of its
hot, boiling, hellish lava. Further, we are witnesses of the
perils that surround ordered Christian society i n almost
every country, even our own, irreligion, immorality, divorce,
race suicide, the abnormal rush for pleasure, and the veiled
Paganism of the dancing halls, even in our own land. A l l
these evils, and many others, threaten society to-day, and
threaten no less than this dear old land of ours. A n d one
and all are to a large extent the result of the Masonic spirit
that is everywhere burrowing, plotting, and planning secretlv
and cunningly to overthrow Christianity and bring about a
Pagan civilisation inferior to that of ancient Greece and Rome.
It is the war of the Kingdom of Satan against that of Christ.
A n d we are warned b y Leo X I I . that the leaders in that
war are none other than " the strongly organised and widespread organisation called the Freemasons," whose object
he declares to be " the utter overthrow of the whole religious
order of the world, and the establishment of a new state of

18

FREEMASONRY

IN

IRELAND

things according to their own ideas, based on the principles

and laws of pure Naturalism."
Arrayed i n all her beauty, strength and comeliness, and
standing forth to-day, practically alone, against the mighty
evils that surround us, personified in the spirit of Masonry,
is the Spouse of Christthe Catholic Church. Let us look
to our own land and we shall see that many of the evils of
the Masonic spirit are i n our very midst. These evils have
gripped a section of our people as they have never done
before. Let us, however, all join and check their growth,
remembering that our chief strengthour only s t r e n g t h is in the -fervent practice of our Catholic Faith, assisted by
the spirit of true Patriotism and Nationality. A n d speaking
plainly:
the
Partitionist-Imperialistic and
MasonicPartitionist-Imperialistic combine that is running the
Government of the greater part of our unfortunate Partitioned
Isle, bodes no good to either F a i t h or Fatherland.

THE

ONENESS

OF

CHAPTER

MASONRY

19

HI.

The Oneness of Masonry Throughout the World.

| .

s
(

In this third chapter on Masonry I purpose to prove conclusively that it is everywhere one and the samethe same
i n Ireland as i n Mexico, and the same in Mexico as i n France,
and the same i n France as i n England. I do so, because
many Catholics, and non-Catholics, in Britain and Ireland
seem to believe that there is a wide and fundamental difference
between Masonry in these Isles and that prevailing i n France,
Mexico, and even the United States. A n d Freemasons i n
these countries, for obvious reasons, take very good care to
confirm this prevailing idea. They are anxious that Freemasonry should be considered merely as a benevolent society,
founded on Christian principles, and that it is too bad, and
to be deplored, that the Catholic Church is so narrow-minded
as to condemn it simply because it does not, i n its humility,
wish " to let the right hand know what the left hand doth."
It is quite different, they say, from Continental Masonry.
I n a word, it is real British Empire Masonry, and therefore
" the last word on " C h r i s t i a n benevolence," and everything
great and good and grand that our glorious Empire stands for.
The schism, more apparent than real, that took place in
1878, between the Grand Orient of France, and British, Irish,
and some American jurisdictions is the foundation of these
misleading views. It is true that i n 1878 the French Grand
Orient, erased the name of the " Grand Architect of the
U n i v e r s e " from its constitution, and that the British and
Irish Grand Lodges disapproved and declared that if the
Grand Orient Masons were to be received in the Lodges of
these Isles, they would be required to make a profession of
faith in the " Grand Architect of the Universe." The real
meaning of this apparent schism was that the Grand Orient
of France was rather imprudent and quite too frank ; and
that their conduct was calculated to injure Freemason propa-

20

FREEMASONRY

IN

IRELAND

gaada in these countries. British and Irish Masonry

thoroughly realised that if it were known publicly in Ireland
and Britain that they approved of this frank declaration of
their French brethren, recruits would come in rather slowly
to their " outer circles," and the cause of Masonry injured.
Hence the exigencies of public opinion, and no fundamental
difference, was the real reason of the apparent schism. We
must ever remember, also, that when the Latin peoples,
who are mainly Catholics, fall away and cease to be Catholics,
they usually fall away completely and become Atheists.
It is Catholicism or nothing. Not so usually with the British
or Irish Protestant. H e may not believe i n the Trinity,
Incarnation, or many other Christian doctrines that his
particular church teaches, but he is slow to disbelieve i n the
existence of a Supreme Being. A n d hence the great necessity
of preserving in the constitution the " Grand Architect of the
Universe." Otherwise, the Irish recruits would be frightened.
We, therefore, can see why the Grand Orient could afford to
be frank, and why British and Irish Masonry had to dissemble.
Brother Mackey, one of the greatest of Masonic authorities
and authors, admits that the explanation I have given is
the true explanation of the pretended differences between
Anglo-Saxon and Continental Masonry.
I should say here that the symbolic and rather cryptic
term " Grand Architect of the Universe," does not necessarily
imply a Personal God i n the Christian sense. It is an expression so vague that i t can be interpreted, and actually is
interpreted, to express the belief of Protestants, Mohammedans,
Jews, Atheists, Materialists, Indifferentists,
Liberalists, Naturalists, Pantheists, Polytheists, and every
other ist under the sun. A l l may subscribe, and actually
do subscribe, to this formula, and actually do sit together,
work together, and plot and plan together i n the Masonic fold!
Now for the proofs showing the essential solidarity and
oneness of Masonry throughout the world.
(1) A n American Grand Master, writing on the subject,
says : " The absolute oneness of the craft is a glorious thing'.
Neither boundaries of States nor oceans separate the Masonic
fraternity. Everywhere it is one."
(2) Brother A. J . Mackey, next to Pike as a Masonic
author, says : " The doctrine of Freemasonry is everywhere

THE

ONENESS

OF MASONRY

21

the same. While the ceremonies and ritual may vary in

different countries, the science and philosophy, the symbolism
and religion of Masonry continues and will continue to be the
same wherever true Masonry is practiced."
(3) " It (Freemasonry) does not require of the members
of the Masonic order any Profession of Christianity, but
freely admits Jews. Mohammedans, and others who reject
Christian doctrine." (Brother T. Lawrence in his work
" Freemasonry," 5th edition, page 28.)
(4) Brother A . Pike, so eminent as a Mason and so distinguished as a Masonic author that he is called the " Pope
of Masonry," says:
"Masonry propagates no creed except
its own simple and sublime one taught by nature and reason."
(5) The Rkista, an important Freemason journal, says :
" The formula (it is only a formula) of the ' Grand Architect
of the Universe' is the most large-minded and righteous
affirmation of the immense principle of existence, and may
represent as well the revolutionary god of Mazzini as the
Satan of Carducci."
(6) The universal solidarity and oneness of Masonry is
very fully asserted i n the official report of the International
Masonic Bureau, 1908, which says : " From a serious study
of Masonry, of its history in every country, of its rituals,
its customs, its efforts and its successful accomplishments,
we have confirmed the conclusion that between all the Grand
Orients and all the Grand Lodges which have sprung from
the parent Grand Lodge of England in 1717, there exists
uniformity of principles, of symbols, of customs, and of
spirit, which go to prove that all the regular Masonic associations have the same common origin, pursue in general the
same ends, and possess the same aspirations. There exists
in every organized Masonic activity a common store of ideas,
a resemblance of form testifying to a common origin, and
showing that all Masons belong to the same family (these
common ideas and inspirations being) above all those of
French Masonry."
The ends and aspirations of all Masonry are, therefore, the
same as the Grand Orient of France, and everyone should
know what thee snds and aspirations ar.
Thus far, to any unprejudiced and reasonable mind; I have
proved from Masonic sources the essential oneness of Free-

22

FREEMASONRY

IN

IRELAND

masonry everywhere. Now I shall prove the same irorn the

trong bond of union that is well known to exist between th
various Grand Lodges and Grand Orients throughout the world.
(1) When the great festival took place i n Dublin i n June,
1925, held to celebrate the second centenary of Masonry i n
Ireland, and during which the Protestant Archbishop of
Armagh, preached on the beauties of the craft, there were
representatives present from the principal Grand Orients
and principal Grand Lodges of the world. They came over
oceans and s..as to Dublin to rejoice with their Irish brethren
and encourage them to further Masonic success. Would
these representatives have come if there was any fundamental
difference between them ? Would they have come if they were
not all within the Masonic fold, one in heart, one in soul, one in
mind, one i n spirit, i n the cause of Masonry ? Not a bit of it.
(2) Would the Grand Lodge of Ireland send representatives to the great Masonic functions in France, Canada,
U.S.Aj, etc., as they have always done, if they were not one ?
Not a bit of it.
(3) The American Grand Lodges and the Irish Grand
Lodge are confessedly i n very close union. The American
Grand Lodges are affiliated with the Grand Orient of France,
and i n their two leading journals, The Freemason and The Age,
they fully approve of the anti-Christian policy of the Grand
Orient of France. The Irish Grand Lodge never stated,
and never will, that it does not also approve.
(4) The American Lodges, that are i n so close union with
our Irish Grand Lodge, have recently led a campaign and
supported it with plenty of money and a powerful press,
in support of the anti-Christian Oregon school laws. These
American Masons are i n very cordial union with our Brethren
of the Grand Lodge of Ireland.
(5) I n the New Year's message (1927) of the Grand Master
of the Grand Lodge of Mexico, after sending greetings to
all the jurisdictions, stated expressly that the Grand Lodge
of Mexico was on the most cordial and friendly terms with
the Lodges of England, Ireland, Canada, U.S.A., and other
countries, and that a magnificent unity i n aim and purpose
existed between them all (Freemason, February 25th.)
A l l sections of Masonry, therefore, no matter in what land
it dwells, whether it be Ireland, France, Mexico, Italy, U . S . A . ,

THE

ONENESS

OF

MASONRY

23

are one i n origin, one i n purpose, one i n their characteristics,

one i n secrecy, one i n general liturgy, one i n their terrible
oaths and dreadful penalties for breaking them, and one i n
their cosmopolitanism and anti-Nationalism. A l l have a
common purpose, sometimes concealed, sometimes half
manifested, and, as i n the case of Mexico to-day and France
of yesterday, sometimes fully manifested, according to its
strength or weakness in the various countries i n which it is
operating. It is ever burrowing, plotting and planning in
furtherance of its great objective. Just listen to two very
important Masonic authors on this subject. Brother A . Pike
says : " W i t h tongue and purse, with the Press, and if needs
be with the sword, we will advance the cause of human progress
and labour to enfranchise human thought, to give freedom
to the human conscience, above all from Papal usurpation."
Brother J . Buck says : " The genius of Freemasonry and the
genius of Rome constitute the most complete antithesis possible
to imagine. No such complete denial of every claim set up
by Catholicism can anywhere else be found as confronts
it i n Freemasonry. Just as fast as the world is converted
to the ethical principles of Freemasonry, just as fast and so
far the world repudiates every principle and every claim and
practice of Roman Catholicism."
These quotations speak for themselves and tell us that
Christianity as represented by the Catholic Church is the
enemy. A n y bulwark that Protestant Christianity may
have been, i n other generations, to the onward march of this
secret diabolical organization is, in the opinion of prominent
Masonic authors, non-existent to-day. I ts guns are spiked and
all its positions captured. To-day, alone in the world, to do
battle against a l l the secret forces of Masonry, is the Catholic
Church. Therefore it hates her with an inveterate hatred.
Should, therefore, a Propagandist Freemason strive to
entice you into its diabolical net, and with honeyed words
speak of its great work and many worldly advantages, be on
your guard. He is either one from one of the outer circles,
and knows very little of what he is speaking, or from the
inner,' and, therefore,' a wolf in sheep's clothing. In either
case avoid him, and be not enticed for any worldly consideration into the net, for, like the spider's web, it is much
easier to get in-than out. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.

24

FREEMASONRY

IN

IRELAND

:!.
1" -

CHAPTER

IV.

Its Oaths and Penalties.

How necessary it is to give our Catholic people and nonMasons generally some knowledge of what Freemasonry is,
was made more manifest to me than ever when I read some,letters with reference to Masonry that appeared recently in
The Standard. It seems that even among educated people
the amount of ignorance is colossal. Many of them, I take i t ,
being tolerant, broadminded, and truthful themselves, and
seeing Masons so plausible, insinuating, and apparently so
God-fearing, when the subject of Masonry is discussed or
alluded to, find it difficult to believe what they are told about
it, and not what their Masonic friends would wish them to
believe. They do not realise that Masons cannot make known
the secrets of Masonry to Cowans, or non-Masons, and that
the oath taken even in the first degree of Masonry, that of
Apprentice Mason, binds them " to hide, conceal and never
reveal any part or parts of the secrets or mysteries which are
already known to them, or may be learned by them afterwards." When speaking to non-Masons on the subject,
they must ever be clothed in garb of hypocrisy and deceit.
They must always play the Masonic game.
Dr. Hennessey, of Dublin, the Irish Medical Secretary,
in several letters to The Standard, entitled " Freemasons and
the British Medical Association," while admitting that he
knows practically nothing about Masonry, upbraids another
writer, " Correspondent," who evidently does know what
Masonry is, and tells h i m how dangerous it is to attack
Masonry. To tell the truth about Masonry, according to
the Doctor, is to attack Masonry and Masons. He tells
" Correspondent" to beware lest the Medical Masons i n
England, and institutions controlled by Masons, refuse to
employ young Catholic doctors from Ireland. He blandly

ITS

OATHS

AND PENALTIES

25

says he has it from a Medical English Mason that if he were

not free to employ Catholic doctors, he would not be a Mason
at all. There is not a Medical Mason i n the whole world
who would not tell the doctor the very same thing. He
forgets the Masonic oath is there, and that there is a terrible
penalty for infringing it. Dr. Hennessey may rest assured
that no Masonic Doctor in England or anywhere else will
employ a Catholic doctor, if a Masonic qualified medical man
from England, Ireland, or anywhere else is looking for the
position. The Masonic doctor must get the position, so an
Irish Catholic doctor, or doctors, are employed simply and
solely because Masonic doctors do not want tk* position.
And
I may tell D r . Hennessey that the Medical Mason of whom
he speaks would very soon cease to be a Mason if he dared
to appoint a Catholic Doctor to a position which a Brother
Mason wanted. On this very subject, within the past four
years, I have made inquiries from at least six Irish Catholic
doctors, who have been working in England for many years,
and every one of them confirmed what I bad already known.
British Medical Masons cannot play hide-and-go-seek with
the Masonic oath. A n d what is true of Irish Catholic doctors
is equally true of every other profession or trade. Let us,
therefore, not act the slave by toadying to a secret organisation
that will only employ Catholics when it suits them to do so,
and when they must.
If the Doctor had lived for some years of his life in Northern
Ireland, he could never have written the letters he did to The
Standard. Masonry and Orangeism i n active operation there
would have taught him a lesson that he would never have
forgotten. Orangeism, as is well known, is modelled on
Masonry in almost every respect, and is everywhere controlled
and dominated by i t , for every Orange Grand Master, Grand
Chaplain, Deputy Grand Master, and Master of every Lodge
is also a Freemason. A n d now after observing events around
me in four Ulster counties for thirty years, I can candidly s?y that, except i n one case, I have never known an Orangeman
or Mason to vote for a Catholic, or appoint him to any position
of emolument,, no matter what his merits or qualifications
were, so long as a Mason, Orangeman, or relatives sought the
position. The one case was where three Orangemen, District
Councillors, had a very great grudge against the Orange

28

FREEMASONRY

IN

IRELAND

greatest Masonic authority, Brother Pike,, says: " P a r t of

the symbols are displayed to the initiated, but he is intentionally led astray by false interpretations."
A n d again, " Masonry
conceals its secrets from all except the Adepts, Sages and
the Elect, and uses false explanations of its symbols to
mislead those deserving to be misled." Here I shall give a few
of the oaths. They have to swear that " it belongs to Masonry
to teach the great Unsectarian Truths," whatever they are.
They swear " to sustain by all means and under any circumstances, liberty of speech, liberty of thought, and liberty of
conscience i n religious and political matters." Liberty of
speech, thought and conscience are what the inner powers
of Masonry dictate. From this oath it is very easy to understand the Carson campaign, the Belfast pogroms, the Curragh
Mutiny, and many other operations during the last two
centuries, as well as the Calles persecution. Another oath is
" to obey all. the laws of the Order, to accept all its doctrine
and belief, and to consecrate one's whole life, influence,
strength and intellect to gain the objects of the Order."
Another is " t o vindicate Right and Truth (Masonic Right
and Truth, of course) by might and violence, if necessary,
and as directly ordered by Masonic Superiors." Another,
" to obey without hesitation any ocder whatsoever of a
Masonic Superior." A n d yet another, " to assist a Brother
and espouse his cause, whether he be right or whether he be
wrong." The above are a few of the oaths taken at random
from hundreds of others, but I think they are sufficient
to enable the reader to judge as to the character and trend of
Masonry. I cannot sum up this portion of my subject better
than by quoting the words of the " Dictionaire Encyclopidique de la Theologie Catholique," pp. 2.74-5 : " The
Order exacts from its members a total consecration of themselves, of all their faculties and powers, to the work of the
Society. They have to place at its service their liberty,
their honour, their property, and to foreswear allegiance
to their country and their Church. They have, at the same
time, to bind themselves to inviolable secrecy, and to a
complete and blind obedience to the Superiors of the Society,
whom they do not know, and to whom is committed the right
ef lifs and' death over all the members, as well as the right to
ablige the latter to the most unjust and immoral acts,"

ITS

OATHS

AND

PENALTIES

29

Now I come to the drsadful penalties imposed for the

violation of Masonic oaths. I have not space to give more
than a few. No I. Penalty : " T o have his throat cut across
from ear to ear, his tongue cut out by the roots, and his body
buried i n the rough sands of the sea, a cable's length from the
shore, at low-water mark, where the tide ebbs and flows
twiceinthe 24hours." No. I I . : " To have his body severed in
two in the centre and- divided to the north and the south,
his bowels burned to ashes in the midst and scattered to the
four winds of heaven." No. I l l " To have his skull smote
off and his brain exposed to the scorching rays of the
meridian sun."
These penalties speak for themselves, and they are occasionally carried out, and, like most things in Masonry, they
are carried out secretly, and rarely become the subject of a
newspaper sensation. However, all the people in the higher
circles of Society, whom we read of, as having been found
dead i n their hotel, or somewhere else, do not die, by
any means, from heart disease. There are other causes :
Masonry is one.
I shall conclude this chapter by giving an account of a'
portion of the ceremony of initiation to the 33rd degree.
Throughout the whole ceremony of this degree, as well as in
several other degrees, the technical Masonic words, " Nekam,"
meaning vengeance, and " Makah," death, are frequently
used. In preparation for the ceremony there are always a
number of daggers at hand. A coffin is prepared. A t the
foot of the coffin three skulls are arranged. The central one
is crowned with laurels, the other two are crowned respectively
with a royal diadem and a Papal Tiara. Before the central
one, representing the head of the reputed Masonic martyr,
Jacque De Malay, the candidate with uplifted dagger in his
right hand, genuflects. Then with due Masonic fury, he
pierces the skull crowned with the Tiara, saying while he
does so, " Hatred and death to Religious Despotism," and then
pierces the royal diadem skull, declaring " Hatred and Death
to Civil Despotism."
Then he swears with uplifted dagger
not only to combat i n the manner symbolised in his ceremonial
civil and religious despotism, but in the same manner to
punish ah traitors to the Craft, but especially those who
disobey the orders of the Higher Chiefs,

26

FREEMASONRY

IN

IRELAND

candidate, and voted for the Catholic. The result, however,

was that the three of them were very nearly torn asunder
in the villa.ge on the evening of the election by the infuriated
Orangemen and had to get police protection on their way
home.
A digression is, I think, here pardonable i n order to give
by two typical examples an idea of what Masonry and
Orangeism means to the Catholics of Northern Ireland.
In the early years of this century, Co. Tyrone, although it is
Nationalist by a large majority, had a Unionist County
Council, that is, the Unionists had a majority of two on the
Council. Then there were 33 rate-collectors for the county,
and only one of the 33 was a Catholic. He died. For the
vacancy there were two candidates, a Catholic who was
probably the most popular young man with all classes and
creeds i n Omagh and the locality around, and an Orangeman,
who was certainly the most unpopular. The day of the
election came. The Catholic was proposed by a Nationalist
member, who pointed out that a Catholic had filled the
position, and that surely they would not be deprived of
the one position that they held out of 33. The Orangeman
was proposed, the vote taken, and the result was that out of
33 rate-collectors for the large County of Tyrone, there was
not one Catholic. Not very long after this, i n County
Monaghan, where there was an overwhelming majority of
Nationalists on the County Council, the Medical Superintendentship of the Asylum became vacant. Dr. Donaldson, a
Protestant, was the worthy assistant. He was unanimously
selected, and rightly, to fill the position. Almost immediately
afterwards the position of a Medical Superintendent i n
Omagh Asylum became vacant.
Dr. O'Doherty, a very
popular and able young Catholic man, had been the Assistant
Doctor for eight or nine years i n the Asylum. He applied
for the position and was turned down by a majority of two
for an Orangeman and Mason, Dr. Patrick, who came from
Belfast. The Monaghan case was eloquently referred to,
but justice, fair play and eloquence do not count with Freemasons and Orangemen. The Masonic and Orange oath
is what does the trick.
I think these two typical cases should cure Dr. Hennessey
and many others who imagine that Freemasonry is a harmless

ITS

OATHS

AND PENALTIES

27

if net praiseworthy society ; and that we are attacking i t

doing something really wrongif we tell Freemasons themselves and others as well exactly what it is. The great and
saintly Leo X I I I . says that the leaders i n the great antiChristian war that is being waged against the Kingdom of
God on earth are none other than " the powerful and widespread Society called the Freemasons."
(" Humanum
Genus," pages 8-1-89). I am afraid, however, that the
Imperial mind and the Imperial outlook that is so fashionable
to-day i n certain quarters, and especially i n and around the
capital of the twenty-six counties, accounts for some of the
apparent Masonic ignorance. Many, indeed, I know, find
it hard to believe that anything so imperially branded as
Masonry can be anything but praiseworthy. Yet it j s so
immoral, so criminal, so anti-Christian, so Pagan that it must
strive to conceal the greater part of its activities from the
public gaze.
Now for just a sample of the oaths and penalties that are
so characteristic of the craft from the very beginning. A n d
when we remember, as I have explained i n a previous chapter
that those in the outer circles do not as a rule know the real
purpose and trend, the real aims and objects of Masonry,
the oaths and penalties become all the more startling,
unjustifiable and immoral. For instance, even in the firstdegree, that of Apprentice Mason, the candidate must swear
" to hide, to conceal, and to never reveal any part or parts of
the secrets or nxysteries which are already known to him,
or may be i n any way learned by him at any future time."
After the initiation the candidate swears " to obey all signs
and summonses handed, sent or thrown from a Brother
Master Mason, or from the body of a just and lawfully
constituted body of Master Masons. How immoral, how
opposed to liberty of thought and to liberty of conscience,
of which Masonry is continually boasting, is all this. To
subscribe to and swear to obey a society whose main aims
and objects are concealed, and shall only be revealed gradually,
in case the candidate is promoted to the higher degrees and
inner circles, is, to say the very least, against all moral law.
Masonic authorities admit that the outer members me
purposely misled as to the greater part of what Masonry
stands for. For instance, one of the greatest, if not the

30

FREEMASONRY

IN* IRELAND

I have just given a portion of the ceremony of the 3Srd

degree. A t least 120 are living to-day i n Ireland who have
gone through this ceremony. A n d as I stated i n m y first
chapter, some of them, doubtlessly, are members of our own
Senates and of our Parliaments legislating for the most
Catholic nation i n Europe. To-day the Northern Government .
is completely Masonic. I n Southern Ireland Masonic influence
is predominant i n both Dail and Senate. This is the " Free
and Independent Ireland " of which our statesmen are so
proud.

ORIGIN,

EXTENSION

CHAPTER

AND STRENGTH

31

V.

Its Origin, Its Extension, and Present

Numerical Strength.
Before the Reformation, i n the countries of Europe, the
various trades were organised into guilds for their own
protection and for the common good. A l l these guilds had
a distinctively religious character, and were guided, i n all
their activities, by Catholic principles. In fact, they were
almost as religious i n character as any of our Catholic
Sodalities of the present day. W i t h the Reformation the
guilds disappeared, so far as their religious character was
concerned, and if they remained organised, they remained as
purely trade associations. In London, towards the end of
the 17th century, a very important guild, that of Masons,
survived as a trade association. It received, doubtlessly,
because of its numbers and importance, several privileges
and exemptions from the Governments of the day, for i t
became known as the Association of Free Masons. A t the
same time there existed in England, with London as its
headquarters, a Secret Society known as the Rosicrucians,
of which little is known except that it was partly of Jewish
origin. This Secret Society and the Free Masons amalgamated
towards the end of the century, and became generally known
as the Society of Freemasons. A n d this amalgamation
became the parent stem of the organisation that is spread
throughout the world, and is to-day the leading anti-Christian
force and chief enemy of the Church of Christ. In 1717 the
different Lodges came together and appointed a Grand
Master, and thus, i n Protestant England, with London as its
headquarters, was formally launched what has become the
greatest and most powerful secret organisation that the
world has ever known.
From the very beginning, i t is evident from the constitution
that'its most fundamental characteristic was its indifference
in the matter of Religion^ which in reality always means

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FREEMASONRY

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the absence of a l l real religion. A Presbyterian clergyman

from Scotland, the Rev. James Anderson, i n conjunction
with John T. Desaguliers, a Huguenot refugee, drew up the
Constitution and ritual, which to the present day remain
the groundwork of the Masonic organisation all over the
world. In the days of the Catholic Guilds, the . Guild of
Masons, like all the others, promised service and loyalty to
God and Christ, and the motto of all was : " B e true to God
and H o l y Church, and use no error or heresy." What a change !
Anderson and Desaguliers furnished a rule which at most
and at best implied Naturalism and Religious indifference,
namely, " to follow the religion i n which all men agree,
leaving the particular opinion to themselves, that is to be
good men and true, or men of honour and honesty, by whatever denominations or persuasions they may be distinguished."
Soon after the Italian Constitution and others prove conclusively that Masonry was One fundamentally. According to
the Italian Constitution, " Masonry recognises its God in the
principle of the natural and moral order; prescribes no profession of Religious faith, and proposes to itself as its first
object to unite all free men in one vast family, which may
and ought to take the place of all Churches, thereby to
constitute the true and only Church of Humanity." Thus,
Naturalism and indifference to all religious belief were its
fundamentals. It also showed from the very beginning a
strong tendency towards cosmopolitanism and Internationalism, which would supplant the Christian duty of
Patriotism and loyalty to country. Anderson plainly states :
" If a Brother Mason should be a rebel against the State,
and if convicted of no other crime, they are not to expel him
from the Lodge, and his relations to it remain indefeasible."
We see, therefore, that from the beginning it was opposed
to the Church of Christ, and was intended to take its place
as the Religion of Humanity.
Before the middie of the 18th century it had spread into
all the countries of Europe and America. A n d about this
time it received a great new impetus and a great addition of
strength i n becoming amalgamated with another Secret
Society which had practically the same aims and objects,'
and which was very strong i n Germany, and known i n history
as the Society of the German Illuminists. Although the Jews

ORIGIN,

EXTENSION

AND STRENGTH

33

were a strong element i n Masonry from the beginning, they

acquired a preponderating influence i n the organisation from
about the middle of the' century. This Jewish element was
Paitheistic, and believed the universe to be God. Thus
from almost the very beginning, the Jews all over Europe
became a powerful, wealthy, anti-Christian element in the
councils of Masonry. A n d to-day, more than ever, their
influence is felt, and wealthy Jewish Masons and Jewish
syndicates control not alone the greater part of the Press of
Europe, but that of England and America.
About 1750 it had taken root i n the following countries:
England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Germany, Russia, Spain,
Poland, Hungary, Italy, Turkey, North and South America,
China, Africa. In no country on the Continent of Europe
had i t spread with greater rapidity, taken deeper root, and
inflicted more injury on the Catholic Church than France.
Here, unfortunately, owing to the Jansenistic and Gallican
movements, it found good soil i n which to sow its antiChristian Masonic seed. The Faith of many had grown
cold, and impiety and irreligion were prevalent among a large
section of both the upper and lower classes of society. Hence
with Masonry to fan the flame, the spirit of revolt against
.Church and State became rampant. Soon, as a result, the
Jesuits, the advance guard of Catholicity, were driven from
France, as well as other Continental countries. A n d the
revolt against the State reached a climax i n the Revolution
of 1789. A l l Masonic authors glory i n the fact that i t was
Masonry brought the revolution about, and glory as well i n
the excesses and the anti-Catholic fury that accompanied it.
Rouseau, Hjlxelins, and Voltaire, the great apostle of the
anT>CBristian movement, were noted Freemasons. So were
all the members of the famous or infamous Jacobin Club of
Paris, as well as the leaders of the Reign of Terror, Robespierre,
Danton, and Morat. Coming to the 19th century, the
French Revolutions of 1830, 1848, as well as.the rising of the
Paris Commune i n 1871, and many other contemporary
revolutions i n other countriesaU were children of the same
Masonic parent, and all had i n view the destruction of the
Cathloic Church. A n d the fury of the anti-Catholic spirit
that was shown in all these revolutions, was as great and
terrible as if directed by the demons of hell in person,

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In Italy the assassination of Count Rossi, the Prime

Minister of Pius I X . , and the spoliation of the Papal States,
were the deeds of Masonry. Ca^our, Garabaldi and Mazzini <) J
w^re very famous Masons. A n d their deeds were blazoned
forth in"the Masonic Press of England, Ireland and America,
as the greatest deeds of history, ancient or modern, and as
sounding the death-kneil of the Catholic Church. Since then
we have had the assassination of the pious Garcio Moreno,
President of Ecuador, the Portuguese Revolution, the
Armenian massacres, when over two million Catholics were
put to death, and scarcely a whisper about the whole affair
in the Masonic Press of Europe, England and America.
It was probably the greatest Masonic victory of the 20th
century, if Calles does not beat the record. A n d we have
had, too, the Belfast pogroms and butcheries throughout the
Six Counties, the K l u - K l u x - K l a n movements in America,'
and the Mexican atrocitiesall the handiwork of Masonry.
A n d yet, after a l l , we have Catholic gentlemen writing in
the Press and telling our Irish people that Freemasonism is
a rather praiseworthy organisation, and suggesting that it
is a sign of intolerance to speak of it except i n terms of praise.
M y God ! i what, within recent years, has come over the
mentality of a section of our people ? To me, it seems, that
there exists in our land to-day a class of Catholics that
consciously or unconsciouslyI know notare so Imperial
i n soul and outlook that they cannot believe that any
organisation that is patronised by our glorious Empire and
its props i n this country can be other than one worthy of
respect and honour. To rub shoulders with these Imperial
Masonic friends at banquets and Rotarian club meetingsthat are intended to prepare them later on for the Masonic
outer circles, seems to many of these gentlemen and ladies,
our would-be new aristocracy, as the nearest thing, i n pleasure
and delight, to the third heaven. Yes, I think it will take
another quarter of a century to get the " Reliquiae " of the
Slave out of the bones of a section of our people.
Alone, standing forth against all the power of Masonry,
is the Catholic Church. Alone she stands i n the world to-day,
for God and Christ, for religion and morality, against the
anti-Christian Masonic spirit that is so much i n evidence in
the world to-day, even in our own Catholic land. This

ORIGIN,

EXTENSION

AND STRENGTH

35

aecursed spirit of Masonry is not only abroad i n the land,

but is making very remarkable progress. Soon the capital
of the Twenty-six Counties will be a Freemason stronghold.
We have many evils, God knows, to contend with in this
Partitioned Isle: social evils, economic evils and National
evils, of which the greatest is Partition, but any of them
and all of them put together, great as they are, would be
small i n comparison to the evil of Freemasonry, if it once
got a real solid grip on the nation. A n d it is one evil, so
secret and insidious i n its operations, so plausible i n externals,
so seductive i n its worldly charms, that we cannot afford,
either from a Catholic point of view or a National point of
view, to have any truce or parley with it. It is an enemy of
all religion, and a deadly enemy of our Nationality. A n d
Ireland's main safeguards in the present as in the past are
the spirit of religion and the spirit of Nationality. Avoid
Imperialism ; shun i t , for it is the best recruiting ground, i n
fact, the only recruiting ground, for Freemasonry i n our land.
Now, as to the numerical strength of Freemasonry i n the
world to-day. It is very difficult to say what its strength is,
for, i n the first place, there are many secret societies i n the
world, like Orangeism and the K l u - K l u x - K l a n , that are
modelled on Masonry and dominated by i t ; and the numerical
strength of all these societies we have no means of knowing.
Father Gruber, S.J., who has made a special study of Masonry,
and especially this part of i t , says with great truth : " Freemasonry is more powerful in its allied associates than it is
in its personal membership." In the second place, in giving
statistics. Freemasons make a. distinction between active
members and accepted but non-active members, and as
a rule only give the numbers of active members. Before the
French Revolution the numbers were comparatively small.
Since then i t has attained an extraordinary development in
numbers, prestige and power. The great majority of the
Governments of the world to-day are completely Masonic,
and, in the case of practically all the others, the Masonic
influence is powerful. The official Tableau General des
Loges, by Brother M . Rebold, in 1850, tells us that there
were 5,000 Masonic Lodges in the world, and half a rnillion
of active members, and at least eight millions who, though
accepted members, took no direct part in Masonic activities.

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According to the Tableau Universal des Loges, M&conique,

published i n 1910, there were 22,4-1-7 Lodges, with a roll of
1,774,878 active members. It does not give the number of
non-active members, but keeping i n mind the same proportion
as above, there would be about twenty millions. Finally,
in the Kalender fur Freimaurerei of C. V a n Dalen, published
by Brother Zechel, there were, i n 1926, 28,000 Lodges, and
3,860,000 active members. Canada and U.S.A. had 3,091,100,
England had 258,000, Scotland 50,000, and Ireland 43,000.
He does not give the number of non-active accepted members,
but i n the same proportion as above, there would be about
70,000,000. A s regards Ireland, Brother Gould wrote that
in 1920 there were 530 Irish Lodges, of which 59 were i n
Dublin, and 28,000 active members. Finally i n 1925, notwithstanding the retirement of many British A r m y and other
officials from the Free State, there were, according to the
Leipsic Calender, 540 Lodges, and 43,000 active members,
showing an increase of 15,000 since 1920. The number of
Masonic Lodges i n Dublin i n 1920 was 59, i n 1925 there were
70. H o w many Masons and how many Lodges there are
to-day I know not, but probably there are to-day 100 Lodges
in Dublin alone.
These figures speak for themselves and need no further
comment.
I shall conclude this chapter by giving a general conspectus
of European and other Lodges, taken from the " Revue
Internationale des Societies Secretes " of the 18th of April,
1926:GENERAL CONSPECTUS OF EUROPEAN LODGES.
Name.
Grand Lodge of
England
Ireland
Scotland
Sweden
Norway
Pole Star, Norway
Denmark
Poland ...

Headquarters.

,.
....

London
Dublin
Edinburgh
Stockholm
Oslo
Trondhgeim
Copenhagen
(Brussels)

...
...
...
...

Lodges. Members.

3.889
540
1,107
46
17
4
17
13

ORIGIN,

EXTENSION

Name.

AND STRENGTH

Headquarters.

Grand Lodge of
Holland
Belgium
Luxemburg
Orient of France
France
Switzerland
Vienna
7
Yugo-Slavia
Eoumania
Bulgaria
Greece
Turkey
Orient of Spain
Spain
Portugal

L a Hague
Brussels
Luxemburg ...
Paris
Paris
Geneva
Vienna
Rome
Belgrade
Bucharest
Sofia
Athens
Constantinople
Madrid
Barcelona
Lisbon

I t a l

3?

Lodges. Members.

114
24
1
419
164
38
14
502
18
14
11
18
10
70
21
80

8,160
4,100
100
44,000
8,000
4,800
1,300
25,000
600
614
1,000
1,000
2,600
5,000
950
3,000

O T H E R COUNTRIES.
Name.

Lodges. Members.

Africa
91
North America 17,008
Central America 274

3,450
3,091,100
29,270

Name.

Lodges. Members.

South America 574

Australia ... 1,225
Various
150

35,930
103,600
21,000

There are i n the world 28,000 Lodges and 3,860,000 Freemason active members.

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CHAPTER VI.
The Nature of Freemasonry.
In previous chapters I have referred to some of the
characteristics of Masonry : its secrecy, its terrible oaths,
and dreadful penalties imposed for breaking them ; its antiChristian character, its oneness and sameness i n every land ;
its system of degrees by which its votaries are initiated into
the higher and inner circles; its duplicate personality, and
its cosmopolitan and anti-Nationalism. Further, as the tree
is known by its fruit, I have, i n a very general way, referred
to the fruits of Masonry, as witnessed i n superabundance
throughout the world during the past two centuries. Whereever i t had power and influence, its trail has been blazoned
by revolution, assassination, by persecution, by immorality,
and by a Paganism as loathsome, if not more so, than that of
- Ancient Egypt, Assyria, Greece and Rome. No wonder the
great Pope Leo X I I I . , when speaking of the ceaseless waif are
that is being waged by the power of the Kingdom of Satan
against the Kingdom of Christ on earth, should say that the
leaders i n that warfare are none other " than the strongly
organised and widely-spread organization known as the
Freemasons," and that he declares " its main aim and object
to be " the utter overthrow of the' whole religious order of
the world which Christian teaching has produced, and the
substitution of a new state of things, based on the principles
and laws of pure Naturalism (" Humanum Genus," pages
84-89.) We see, therefore, that the Church recognizes i n
Masonry the leadership of the Kingdom of Satan on earth.
A n d from eminent Freemason authorities, we learn that
Masonry sees i n the Catholic Church its chief enemy in bringing
about its anti-Christian Masonic world. I could quote many,
authors, but, for want of space, I shall just give three that
are typteal of w#ay ethrs :

NATURE

OF

FREEMASONRY

89

" The genius of Masonry (writes Brother Buck) and the

genius of Rome constitute the most complete antithesis
possible to imagine. No such complete denial of every claim
set up by Catholicism can anywhere else be found as confronts
it i n Freemasonry. Just so fast as the world is converted
to the ethical principles of Freemasonry, just so fast and
so far the world repudiates every principle and every claim
and practice of Roman Catholicism." The New Age, a very
famous Freemason publication, says i n 2*lay, 1918 : " Before
the insistent liberty of to-day the Papal Court stands condemned as practically the last autocracy left on earth. Before
the world can be made safe for democracy, this autocratic
Church must be cleared away." A n d again, from Brother
Pike, one of the greatest of Masonic authorities: " W i t h
tongue and purse, with the Press, and if needs be with the
sword, we will advance- the cause of human progress and
labour to enfranchise human thought, to give freedom to
the human conscience, above all from Papal usurpation."
From a l l this, to the Catholic as well as to the non-Catholic,
it is, I think, sufficiently clear what Freemasonry exactly is,
and what i t stands for. In this chapter I hope, however,
to get still closer to Masonry, and to show that the. so-called
" Grand Architect of the Universe," so many times dilated
upon by Grand Chaplains of the Order, on festival occasions,
with the purpose of deceiving the unwary and thus getting
a larger number into the Masonic net, is not the great and
good God whom we Christians adore, love and serve.
Here I should mention, as it has been made plain many
times in Masonic official documents, and by Masonic authors,
that many of the Masonic Brotherhoodthose i n the lower
"circles do not understand the full trend and purpose of the
organization of which they are members. A s I have already
said, the outer circles are merely the porch of the Masonic
House, with its many inner sanctuaries. They are the
recruiting grounds from which soldiers are drawn to supply
the active inner, service. In the outer circles, however,
they are of the household, sworn to be faithful to the Craft,
and are gradually promoted i n proportion as they show
themselves apt pupils of the instructors, and become morally
attuned to Masonic ideals ; and thus capable of being trusted
and promoted to higher and inner circles. " Part of the

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symbols," writes brother A . Pike, the Masonic Pope, " aire

displayed to the initiated, but he is intentionally led astray
by false interpretations."
A n d again the same author.says
" Masonry conceals its secrets from all except the Adepts,
Sages, and theElect, and uses false interpretations of its symbols
to mislead those deserving of being misled." This statement
alone of Brother Pike, called the Masonic Pope, because of
his eminence i n Masonry, is worthy of the Father of l i e s ,
and gives the keynote to the whole Masonic system.
When a candidate joins the Craft, he may be i n religion
a Protestant, a Jew, a Mohammedan, a Brahmin, a Mormon,
an Agnostic, etc., but he is supposed to make a profession of
faith i n the " Grand Architect of the Universe," and that
Architect, of course, is what the Protestant, Brahmin, or
Buddhist believes him to be, but it is the duty of Masonry,
it is the cult of Masonry, to,teach him and finally unfold to him
what i n reality underlies the symbol of " Grand Architect,"
or, i n other words, to tell him who or what the Grand Architect
is. In the first degree, that of Apprentice Mason; i n the
second, that of Companion Mason; in the third, that of
Master Mason, known as the symbolic degrees, and i n other
^ degrees also, the candidate takes the accustomed oath,
'vjcepeats the sacred words, is initiated by many fantastic
ceremonies, and is freely and very copiously edified by
allusions to the " Grand Architect " and the Bible. Now,
to secure a position he desires, or custom he longs f o r ; to
get promotion i n his service, or to get promotion for a son
or relative, he is on the straight road. A l l the influence of
Masonry, from top to bottom, is at his command, for one of
the oaths taken under severe penalty is to assist a Brother
Mason and espouse his cause whether he be right or whether
he be wrong. Hence, whether his promotion inflicts an
injustice on a non-Mason, in technical Masonic language
called a " Cowan." or injures the efficiency of the service,
it matters not. If Freemasonry gets him there, he has a
right to be there, and has no need to be grateful to anyone ;
nor has he any apology to make. Masonry, as the world
wags to-day, is undoubtedly a great worldly asset, and many
are tempted and join. They succeed or succumb, according
as the matter is viewed. If all this makes Masonry a Benefit
Society, it certainly is one. B u t i n return far its feeneifo,

NATURE

OF

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41

he must practice its cult, its religion; and i t is a religion,

having ceremonies, a liturgy, a code of morals, of which the
reader has some idea by this time. Through time, if he be
a Catholic, deprived as he is now of the Sacraments and without
the Grace and Blessing of God, his moral nature may become
sufficiently attuned to Masonic ideals, as to merit promotion
and secure an entrance into the inner sanctuaries of Masonry
He may reach so far as to get a full explanation of the symbol
" Grand Architect of the Universe." B u t before he reaches
the highest degree of illuminationlong before thenhe
will realize that the God whom, as a boy, his mother taught
him to adore and love is not the God of Masonry.
In the work of Brother Ragon, who is considered the
greatest authority on Masonry, and who is called " the sacred
writer," the reader will get the full revelation concerning
the " symbolic Grand Architect." This revelation does not
come i n all its fulness until the Mason becomes what is known
as the Sovereign Inspector General of the Order. In a word,
in simple language, the Grand Architect of the Universe is
no other than man himselfunregenerate Humanity.
Here
I could give a long quotation describing how the Nature
Godthe great all of Masonry, gave birth to its greatest
work, Manthe great Architect of the Universe ; but I shall
not sully this page by giving it at length. The following may
be of interest: " The dual principle, Male and Female, is
represented by the Square and Compass; by the Compass
symbol of Osiris, the symbol of the sun ; and by the Square,
symbol of the earth Isisthe Female. How absurd all
this is ; yet i t is Masonry.
Masonry, then, has its Deity. A n d , according to all
Masonic authors, it has its religion, its symbols, its liturgy,
its ceremonies, and its code of morals. But in what does
its worship consist! Like the ancient paganism of Egypt,
Assyria, Babylon, Greece and Rome, which personified the
human passions as Deities, the religion and worship of
Masonry personifies the same Passions, and is a deification
and worship of unregenerate. humanity. It seems to have
been founded on some type of Jewish Pantheism. Its
obscene and degrading character is sufficiently indicated here
by the nature of the symbolism; and cult it makes use of.
Ami a w e r i i n g t the verwhelming majority ef Maatnic

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writers, its secret cult is derived from the ancient " mysteries "
of Assyria, Egypt, Greece and Rome. For those who have
read a little of these Pagan civilizations, it is unnecessary to
say what they were. They were nothing more nor less than
that obscene, lascivious, unspeakable and indescribable form
of worship, i n which " the generative processes of natuie,
symbolized by the human organs of reproduction," were
the object of obscene homage to millions of votaries. The
core, the kernel and centre of Masonic worship is exactly the
same. What exactly is race suicide ? What are companionable marriages ? What is Free Love, Divorce, many of our
Ballroom Dances, etc., if not the worship of unregenerate
Humanity. They certainly are not Christianity. Whether,
dear reader, the worship of Masonry, under the form of the
" Grand Architect of the Universe," is the express or implied
worship of Satan makes little differenceis not worth
inquiring into here as it all comes to the same thing.
Should any reader question what I have said about the
nature of Masons' worship, I must only refer him to Ragon,
Pike, Webb, Smith, Macken, Preston, Hutchinson and others.
Freemasonry being what it is, no wonder the learned Father
Belliot, i n his great work on Masonry, should write as follows :
\
" It is beyond doubt that there exists i n the world to-day
V _ a n organized religion, which is a veritable religion of evil, and
that religion is Freemasonry. Its God is identical with the
Deity worshipped by the Ophites, an extreme section of the
Manichaians. I n brief, it is Satan himself, with or without
I
disguise. In fact, it has actually occurred on several occasions
i
|hat Freemasons have openly celebrated the praises of the
Satanic g o d ; i n 1882, at Turin, where Carducci's Hyym
., / toSatan was chanted i n a. crowded theatre ; at Pales-mo,
v / wrlere"Ripsordi, another Panegyrist of Satan, was received
/ in triumph i n a public school; at Geneva, where the Standard
/ of Satan was set up and honoured during a public celebration
/ (September 20th, 1884); at Rome, where Professor Moronelli
i/' delivered, in the course of the same year, a public eulogiurn
of S a t a n ; at Brussels, where the Society of Free Thought
gave a public conference on the Rehabilitation of Satan."
So great is the ignorance of many educated Catholic*,
that they are unaware that the Life of Our Blessed Lord ;
the Last Supper, where He washed His apostles' feet and

NATURE

OF

FREEMASONRY

4S

instituted the Blessed Eucharist; His Sacred Passion and

Death on the Cross are all made a mockery ofmost blasphemously parodied i n the liturgy of several of the inner
degrees of Masonry, especially in the 18th degree, known also|
as the Rose Croix degree, and one of the most highly esteemed
of Masonic degrees. This should be enough for any Christian,
Catholic or Protestant. Here I shall leave the reader to
judge for himself the meaning of the following taken from
the opening passage of the rite of initiation to the 18th degree :
" M . W . S . E . and P., Generals, what is the hour ?
First G.The ninth hour of the day.
M.W.S.Then i t is the hour when the veil of the temple
was rent i n t w a i n ; and darkness overspread the
earth; when the true Light departed from us, the
altar was thrown down, the blazing star was eclipsed,
the cubic stone poured forth Blood and Water,
the W o r d was lost, and despair and tribulation sat
heavily upon us. (A solemn pause.)
M.W.S.Since Masonry has experienced such dire
calamities it is our duty, E and P, to endeavour
by renewed labour to retrieve the loss." (The Rose
Croix of Heredom, pages 19-22, privately printed
for the Supreme Council 33rd degree : London, 1926).
Does this mean that the direct object of Masonry is to
retrieve the defeat which its Founder and Master suffered,
namely, Satan, by the Death and Passion of Our Divine Lord ?
So far as I am able to judge, I see no other meaning.
Now I think I have given my readers a fair general idea
of what Freemasonry isits nature and its characteristics
and its history. It is also my intention to deal specially
in the following chapters with Freemasonry i n Ireland.
I shall now conclude by quoting a very striking and eloquent
passage from an article of the Rev. Father Burbage, C.C.,
in the Catholic Bulletin, 1917 :
" I t (Freemasonry) bears unmistakably the brand of
Anti-Christ.
To an extraordinary extent it fulfils the
substance of that tradition which has been handed down from
generation to generation. It is opposed to every existing
worship, true and false. It is opposed to Christianity,
Mahommedonism, Judaism, to the religions of Buddha and
Confucius ; and to every other perversion of religious thought

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that has hitherto existed. It insists on building temples

and raising altars of its own. It has its own special Ritual
and ceremonies, its priesthood, and secret worship. It has
set up its new-fangled Paganism as a substitute for the
religion of the true God. It wallows i n blasphemy and crimes
of bloodshed and injustice.
" It has despoiled and profaned churches. It has robbed
and cast out the Ministers of God. It has torn the children
from the fold of Christ. It has delivered individuals to
torture and death, and plunged nations into sanguinary
wars. It has done these things and many things more with
a hypocritical pretence to virtue and love of humanity that
could scarcely be surpassed by the father of lies, from which
it springs. No such embodiment of evil has ever existed
in the world, or is ever likely to exist. Heresies have existed
that, have imperilled human souls and damaged the cause
of God. Men have bound themselves together for the
promotion of unjust and evil ends. But we search i n vain
for anything that strikes so deliberately and persistently
at everything that the uncontaminated human soul holds
sacred.
Unless Anti-Christ be Satan incarnate, as some
indeed have held, then Freemasonry is Anti-Christ."

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CHAPTER

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45

VII.

Freemasonry i n Ireland, and the

Birth of Orangeism.
U p to the present I have treated of Freemasonry as a worldwide organisation. Now I shall speak of its spread i n Ireland,
its influence on the history of our country, and of how it has
been used as a political weapon by England to hold the
country for the Empire. I hope to show that Imperialism
to-day, more than ever, is making use of Masonry and of its
offshoot, Orangeismits associate and allyfor its own
ends ; to make Ireland thoroughly Imperialistic ; to k i l l
the spirit of N a t i o n a l i t y ; to being about the final conquest,
and utilise and exploit our country as two Imperial Provinces
whose raison d'etre on the map of the world to-day is to
give strength, prestige, money, men and glory to the British
Commonwealth of Nations, known also as the British Empire.
I hope also to show that with Permanent Partition agreed
to, at any rate acquiesced i n by the people of Southern
Ireland, and backed by a native Government, that has signed
away i n their name that inalienable right of the nation, its
integrity and unity. Imperialism to-day, supported by
Freemasonry and an Imperialistic section of our own people
in' the South, and by Freemasonry and Orangeism i n the
North, has every hope of succeeding where Cromwell and his
Ironsides and Landlordism ignominiously failed. Thus the
Imperial policy to-day as ever is to keep Ireland harnessed
to the Imperial chariot, while the National policy is to cut
the traces.
To-day the National danger is threefold. (1) This ancient
' nation is partitioned into Southern and Northern Ireland;
(2) that this heinous act has got the full imprimatur of the
two native functioning. Governments, and (3) that Freemasonism of the South has at present the balance of power,
and is keeping Cosgrave in power and office. The position

46

FREEMASONRY

IN

IRELAND

in Ireland to-day is this:One Government completely

Masonic, and the other kept in power and permeated and
dominated by Masonry.
Here, I should remind you, that Masonry, through its
members, is now, as always, until it succeeds i n getting
complete power, very blandly, very plausibly, verv
insidiously, and i n a very Christian-like manner, telling us
that it has nothing whatever to do with politics, and that
it teaches all its members to live as good citizens, and obey
the " h u m a n and Divine law." As the Protestant Archbishop of Armagh put it, in St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin,
in June, 1925 : " Masonry teaches its members to live as
good Christians, and obey both the human and Divine
l a w . " A splendida magnificent statement, no doubt.
B u t did the Senior Grand Chaplain forget, or did he think
that we forgot, or had been living i n the moon, and hence did
not know that those distinguished Masonic Brothers, Carson
and Galloper Smith, backed up by English and Irish Masonry,
had preached from the housetops the violation of all Constitutional L a w some years ago; that masonic officers on the
Curragh had preached the violation of their Oath of
obedience as soldiers of the K i n g ; and that the Belfast
Pogroms had violated every law, " human and Divine " ?
Were the Belfast Pogromists brought to justice for even one
of their numerous atrocities ? If not, did the Senior Chaplain
speak out i n defence of the " h u m a n and Divine l a w " ?
Was Carson sent to gaol or any of the Curragh mutineers ?
No, and not even a whisper of complaint from the Senior
Grand Chaplain. It is very probable that he secretly rejoiced
at the promotion of his Masonic Brethren. B u t what about
the " human and Divine law " which Masonry teaches all
its members to obey ? The assertion, therefore, that Masonry
has nothing to do with politics, and that it teaches its members
to be loyal to established Governments, is contrary to a l l
historical fact. It is, indeed, a well-known historical fact
that Masonry supports those Governments whose constitution
and administration are i n harmony with Masonic ideals ;
and that, i n the beginningin the days of its weakness,
it works secretly and stealthily, but i n the days of its strength
openly, for the destruction of all others. Hence i n Protestant
countries, where the Governments are actuated by what

THE

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ORANGEISM

47

I may call Liberal and anti-Christian principles, Freemasonry

poses as constitutional, but in really Catholic countries,
where the Governments are guided by Christian principles,
it actually is, or aims to be, disruptiye and revolutionary.
I have never known an exception to this rule.
Freemasonry was established in Ireland in 1725; so a few
years ago, in June, 1925, it celebrated its second centenary.
Seventy years later its more democratic offshoot, Orangeism,
whose constitution, secrecy, liturgy, oaths and penalties are
practically identical, was established i n the North of Ireland.
It is no exaggeration to say that these two organisations,
from the very beginning, have dominated the inner councils
of the Protestant and anti-Irish Party in Ireland. There
is such an anti-Catholic and anti-Irish and anti-National
virus i n both that it has not only, kept alive, but increased
a hundredfold, that religious and racial hatred that would,
in accordance with what happened i n the country, not only
before but after the Reformation, long ago have ceased to
exist. During their whole career, they have been England's
best friends and Ireland's worst and bitterest enemies. A n d
they are so to-dav. It is well, therefore, to recognise this
truth, although it" is bitter. If, therefore, Southern Masons
say they are loyal to the Free State Governmentthey do
not say they are loyal to the Irish Nationit is not for love
of it, but because at present there is no alternative. They
are therefore concentrating with all their force to making
it an Imperial Province, and as like Mother England as
possible. Hence, so far as Imperialism is concerned, and
" Ireland a Nation," there is not one iota of difference between
Judge Wylie, L o r d Glenavey, Sir Bryan Cooper, the Duke
of Abercorn, Sir James Craig and Major Mylesall are distinguished Masonic Imperial Brethren, anti-Catholic and antiNational to the inmost fibre of their being. This being the
truth, why not recognise it ? W h y be hypocrites ? A n d
through Masonry, assisted by a section of ex-Nationalists,
even a section of ex-Republicans, who have cashed their
former beliefs, England has every hope to-day of making
Southern Ireland as loyal as the North, and when that day
comes beyond a reasonable doubt, she will permit a reunion
of the two Imperial Provinces. She is not yet by any means
sure of her ground, but she well knows that a contest is at

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IRELAND

present going on in the land that will either secure for her,
before the century has gone half its course, a loyal Imperial
Province of the Empirethe final conquest brought about
by the treachery of a portion of the old Irish themselves,
or that such a revival of what she will call the old rebellious
spirit will take place as will finally convince her that all her
dreams of final conquest are to be shattered for ever. How
will the issue endan Imperial Province or a Resurgent
Nation.
A very remarkable feature of Masonry during both the
18th and 19th centuries, and a feature which shows the
extreme cleverness of Irish Masonry, or of England, or of
both, was the fact that a far larger number of units of British
Army officers were affiliated to the Grand Lodge of Ireland
than to that of England. The rebel danger was always
recognised, and hence every precaution, public and private,
was taken to be ready for the onslaught whenever it should
come. Thus the officers were bound to their Irish Masonic
Brethren by a double oaththe soldier's oath of obedience
and the Masonic oath, which obliged them " to assist a
Brother and espouse his cause whether he be right or whether
he be wrong."
In the Curragh Mutiny we witnessed the fidelity of the
officers to the Grand Lodge to which they were affiliated.
Y o u may say it took some courage i n the officers to do what
they did. Not the least. In the circumstances, the Masonic
oath was easily kept, for they were merely acting in conjunction and according to the wish of the Masonic British Government. A n d manytoo manyIrish were under the belief
that the Asquith Government were really in earnest and
yielded through weakness merely to the Curragh Mutineers.
Far from it. The apparent earnestness of Asquith, the
Curragh Mutiny, the Carson campaign, and the Belfast
Pogroms were plots from beginning to end. Probably no three
enjoyed better how the Irish were fooled than Asquith,
Carson and Birkenhead, when they met i n the Grand Masonic
Lodge i n England, and drank to the success of Masonry.
A t the present time, let us be under no mistake, the
prominent Masonic members of the D a i l and Senate are i n
constant and close touch with the British and Belfast Governments, plotting as to the best means of promoting the interests

THE

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ORANGEISM

49

of Masonry and Imperialism i n Ireland. Cosgrave, although,

of course, he would deny i t , is a mere factotum i n their hands,
kept i n powerallowed to retain his salaryby their votes
and influence. That he is a Catholic, and a practical Catholic,
too, is an immense asset to Masonry i n an overwhelming
Catholic Province, now known as " I r e l a n d " to the
Imperialists, and causes many unsuspecting people to believe
all goes well. Yes, poor Ireland, your enemies are cleverer
and far more numerous than many of your sons believe.
There is not a Masonic Government i n the world to-day,
and there are many ; there is not a Masonic Lodge i n England,
Ireland, Scotland, Canada, France, U.S.A., or anywhere else,
that is acquainted with the situation, that does not hate you
because of your Catholic Faith, and on that account principally
will oppose your claims to Nationality and your efforts for
Freedom. Knowing this, we should not be too hard on
Wilson of the Fourteen Points for not backing up our case
for self-determination at Versailles. He was a Mason.
Ireland was a Catholic Nation. So he dared not interfere.
If he did, the penalty for breaking the Masonic oath was
near at hand. Probably many of you do not know i t , it was
Wilson's Government which was predominantly Masonic,
that secretly supplied arms and ammunition to the Mason
and Brigand, Corranza, i n Mexico, to aid him to depose the
lawful President, Huerto, who was a Catholic, and thus
bring war, destruction and persecution to that sorely tried
land. Yes, without exception, Masonry is the greatest curse
in the world to-day. Could it be otherwise ? Listen to the
great Pontiff, Leo X I I I . , when he tells you that the leaders
in the war that is being waged by the forces of Satan against
the Kingdom of God on earth are none other " than the
strongly organised and widespread organisation of Freemasons,
whose objects are no other than the utter overthrow of that
whole religious system which Christian teaching has produced,
and the substitution of a new state of things based on the
principles and laws of pure Naturalism." (Humanum Genus.)
Another very significant fact, pointing to the conclusion
that England always used Masonry to keep her grip on the
country, was that the old R.I.C. and Dublin Metropolitan
Police were strictly forbidden to join any Secret Society,
" except the Societies of Freemasons." Is i t not strange that

50

FREEMASONRY

IN

IRELAND

the worst Secret Society that the world has yet produced
has been favoured and patronized by a Power that is ever
and always boasting of its Christianity ? Y e t i t is not
strange, if we really knew England.
Towards the end of the 18th century, although England had
a large army garrison i n Ireland, a powerful Landlord.
Garrison, as well as a strong Freemason Garrison, yet events
took place that made her and her associates realise that
for full security i t would be necessary to have a more democratic Masonry i n the land. Hence the birth of Orangeism,
modelled on Freemasonry, and at all times directed and
dominated by it. The first Orange Lodge, D y a n No. 1,
was established i n Co. Tyrone, on the borders of Co. Armagh,
The formation of the Society of United Irishmen i n 1791,
the rapidity of its spread, and the great danger of a union of
the Protestants of the North, especially the Presbyterians,
with their Catholic fellow-countrymen, frightened England,
Landlordism and Freemasonry, and hastened the birth of
Orangeisman evil birth both for Ulster and Ireland. The
Society of United Irishmen had its headquarters i n Belfast.
Many of its leaders, animated by the spirit of Tone, had come
to the conclusion that " the influence of England was the
radical vice in Irish government, and that Ireland would
never be free, prosperous or happy until she was independent,,
and that independence-was unattainable while the connection
with England lasted." A n d many of them, too, subscribed
to the aims and objects of Tone, namely, " to subvert the
tyranny of an execrable Government, to break the connection
with Englandthese are my objects; to unite the whole
people of Ireland, to abolish the memory of past dissension
and substitute the common name of Irishman i n place of the
denominations of Protestant, Catholic and Dissenter; these
are my means." This was the seed that was sown i n Ulster
and was taking root. This was the doctrine that was bringing
National union. B u t i t was the seed and doctrine that
England, Landlordism and Freemasonry hated. The seed
of disunion, the seed of hatethe cocklewas sown, was
well watered and nourished, and soon grew up a goodly crop
flourished, and smothered the crop of wheatthat sprung
from National seed that was planted by Tone and the United
Irishmen. Surely an enemy of Ireland has done this, and

THE

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51

an enemy of Ulster. Orangeism continued to grow and

flourished, and produced its evil fruit i n due season, while
the seed sown by Tone and the United Irishmentheir
doctrines and their principles were quenched i n the blood
of some of the best of Ireland's sons.
From then till now, Orangeism has dominated the North.
A n d the same spirit that gave it. birth and that drove
thousands of Catholics to Connaught, remains to the present
day. Some i n the. South think that practically all the
Protestants of the North are Orangemen. They are not:
Probably not one i n four of the male population belong to
the Order. But, unfortunately, such is its secret organised
power and influence that it dominates the whole Protestant
population. There are many, however, of the Protestants
of the North that would, I am certain, deal fairly and squarely
with their Catholic neighbours, were it not for the presence
of Orangeism i n their midst. A n d I have not the slightest
doubt that were i t not for its influence, that long ago the
great majority would have developed a National outlook,
and Ireland's and Ulster's history would never have witnessed
so many scenes of biood. England and Freemasonry are
to blame for all.
I have been intimate during the past thirty years with a
number of Protestant Ministers, Episcopalian and Presbyterian, and all of them deplored the evil influence of
Orangeism as much as I did. Many of them had a really good
National outlook, but were afraid to express publicly what
they really believed. To do so would almost be equivalent
to a notice of dismissal from the parish. I remember one
gentleman who refused to preach what is known, as the
Orange sermon on the Sunday before the 12th of July. They
were wroth and threatened pains and penalties. They again
came and said they would get another minister to do so.
He refused the church. Their rage knew no bounds, and the
poor gentleman, for a whole year or more he remained i n the
paiish, had to suffer a great deal, indeed.
The man who would lay the evil spirit of Orangeism and
Masonry would be the greatest benefactor and greatest
saviour of Ireland and Ulster since the days of St. Patrick.

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CHAPTER

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IRELAND

VIII.

Freemasonry, and Orangeism During the

Nineteenth Century.
In my last chapter I gave y o u a n account of Freemasonry
during the 18th century in Ireland. I also gave you a general
description of the birth of that more democratic Masonry
Orangeismwhich took place during the last quarter of
the century, and the necessity there was for its existence on
the part of Landlordism, Freemasonry and England.
Now I shall say something of both during the 19th century.
The first Orange Lodge was founded i n Co. Tyrone, on
the very border of Co. Armagh, in 1795, and was called Dvan
No. 1; and soon Orangeism spread over all Ulster. A n d
right loyally from that day to this did it serve as an important
garrison to hold Ireland for the Empire, and to assist in killing
that spirit of,Irish Nationality that so obstinately persisted
i n living, moving, and having its being, i n spite of all the
efforts that were made to put it to death. During the century,
we have to record, notwithstanding the array of power i n
the landthe A r m y , Landlordism, Freemasonism and
Orangeismthe glorious resurrection of two native forces,
out of the very tomb, as it wereCatholicism and Nationalism.
The Catholic Church came forth, like the early Church from
the Catacombs f breathed the air of a new-born life ; grew
i n health and strength and vigour, as the decades passed by ;
built her churches, monasteries, convents, hospitals, and
schools; and stood forth at the end of the century as the
greatest miracle the world had yet seen of what Faith and
loyalty to God and Christ our K i n g can accomplish when
they live, move, and have their being in the hearts and souls
of a devoted people. In the beginning of the century her
only churches were the Mass-rocks, with no other canopy
but that of heaven ; her only school the barn or the sheltered

DURING T H E NINETEENTH CENTURY

53

hedge. A t its close what a glorious and magnificent sight

do we behold ! A n d she came forth into the 20th century
displaying the same missionary spirit that was her pride and
her glory before Dane, Saxon or Norman set foot on our
shores. Pari passu with this glorious resurrection, we had
anothera resurgent National Ireland on its march to
Freedom. The fidelity of our ancestors to these two
unpurchaseable treasures was such that i n our day we should
esteem them beyond anything that the world can give. A n d
both appeared at the dawn of the 20th century, strong,
vigorous, and apparently immortal.
It is no part of my plan to trace Freemasonism and
Orangeism in their ceaseless efforts to thwart and retard the
progress of the Church, and of Ireland's a Nation on her march
to Freedom, during the 20th century. Suffice here to say
that all during the century both did their best; but victory,
after many sacrifices and struggles, went to the possessors of
that double F a i t h F a i t h i n God and Faith i n Ireland a
Nation, and that Ireland free and Gaelic. The march at
times may have been halted, and at times have slackened,
but it was never at any time long and seriously interrupted.
However, I think it is well to bring before the reader just
a few records of the history of the century, which are typical,
and which prove the bitterness and hatred, and at times the
fury with which the Masonic and Orange spirit sought to
retard our progress, and our efforts towards freedom. They
shall also prove the fidelity of Orangeism to Landlordism,
Freemasonry and England.
No period"serves better this purpose than the early 'eighties
of the centuryjust nearly half a century ago. L a n d lordism, which assisted at the birth, rise and spread of
Orangeism, was at this very time seriously threatened in
the exercise of its tyrannical and autocratic power i n the
land. Parnell and the Land League were abroad, and had,
working i n conjunction and harmony, compelled the British
Government to pass the B i l l of 1881, which was the first
real curb on Landlord tyranny, and gave the tenants, for
the first time, since Irish land was stolen and confiscated,
a legal right of ownership i n the land they tilled, fixed a
judicial rent, and gave other advantages. The first tenants
i n all Ireland to enter the Law Courts and secure reductions

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were the Orange tenant-farmers of Ulster. They hastened

to reap the harvest that was sown and tended by the labours
and sacrifices of their fellow-countrymen. Others fought the
battles; they rushed for the spoils.
But when the
Nationalists of Ulster resolved to hold meetings and invite
Parnell and his lieutenants to address them in 1882 and
] 883, the Ulster Landlords and Freemasons got into a fury,
called upon the Orangemen of Ulster, reminded them of their
oaths and asked them to prevent their rebel meetings, to
come armed, and drive them back to bogs and mountains,
and chase Parnell and his gang from the sacred soil of Ulster.
It mattered not that in five of the nine counties the
Nationalists were in a majority. They were rebels and
Catholics, and did not count. A l l this was clone in the name
of civil and religious liberty. It was a direct challenge to
the right of the Nationalists as citizens to the right of public
meeting and free speech. It was a challenge the Nationalists
had to take up, irrespective of the consequences, or to live as
slaves i n their own land. There was no alternative. The
two most famous of these meetings were the meeting i n
Dromore, Co. Tyrone, i n 1882, and that of Roslea, Co.
Fermanagh, on the 15th of October, 1883. The Dromore
meeting passed off successfully, as a sufficient body of military
and police were present to keep the two crowds apart. One
death took place, that of an Orangeman of the name of
Given, who was bayonetted by a soldier in making an attempt
to get over to attack the Nationalists.
Nettled by the success of the Dromore meeting, the Landlords, Masons and Orangemen solemnly vowed, military or
no military, police or no police, they would go in such strength
and with such arms to Roslea, from every quarter of. Ulster,
including Belfast and Derry, as would ensure success. As
this Roslea meeting was an historic one i n the annals o f
Ulster, I think it is only fair that I should give it more than
a passing notice.
The Nationalists used no trains, as all these were chartered
and requisitioned by the Orangemen, but came on foot from
Tyrone, Fermanagh and Monaghan. They selected a large
field outside the village. Their arms were very limited
indeed, but any firearms that could be found were prepared
and got ready for " the day." No man was.without a black-

DURING T H E NINETEENTH CENTURY

55

thorn, and although I saw only a small portion of the crowd,

I never saw since, nor most probably shall I ever see again,
as many blackthorns as I saw on the 18th of October, 1883.
A n d as the Orangemen engaged no field, but. went specially
there to drive the Nationalists from theirs, the Nationalists,
on the evening before, prepared an immense heap of fairsized stones such as i n Ulster, at any rate, are gathered off
hay fields before the hay is cut. This was a very welcome
addition to whatever arms they had.
I remember the morning of the 1 Gth of October remarkably
well. I made a gallant attempt to get to the meeting, which
. was only three miles distant, but failed because I was
considered too young to mix among men on such an
important day. I remember, too, it was the first occasion
I saw a revolver. A n old man, a near neighbour, came out
on the road as the crowd was passing by, and had no less
than six revolvers with him, which he gave to as many young
men. I was surprised, but found out later that this old
man had been a prominent Fenian in the locality i n his
early days.
When the Nationalists reached the field they made an
immense crowd. It was smaller, I was informed, than the
Orange crowd. No wonder, for they had corne from every
part of Ulster. They were all fully armed, and L o r d Rossmore
was at their headthe Grand Master of the Monaghan
Orangemen. They proceeded out of the village of Roslea
to attack the Nationalists, and drive them from the field,
when they were stopped at a bridge, where a large body of
dragoons were drawn up i n fighting trim, under Captain
MacTiernan. The altercation that took place between
MacTiernan and L o r d Rossmore I have from a bystander,
who heard all that passed. Rossmore demanded as a right
that MacTiernan should get out of the way until the Loyal
Orangemen should deal with the rebels. The Captain
maintained that he had his orders to keep the crowds apart.
Rossmore then demanded that he be allowed to pass, or he
. would order his men to sweep MacTiernan (the Captain was
-a Catholic) and his Papish dragoons off the bridge. Taunted
by insulting language, the Captain's ire rose, and he told
Rossmore he might attempt to pass, but it would be his
duty to leave his head i n a different place from his body

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F R E E M A S O N R Y IN

IRELAND

on the bridge. Rossmore and the Orangemen, on hearing

MacTiernan, and seeing his determination, had no more
stomach for fight. Foiled and enraged, he addressed the
Orangemen, and ordered them right about face, and to go
and wreck the Catholic church some 200 yards distant.
Thither they went with fury i n their eyes, and vengeance
in their hearts. As the word " halt " was called out opposite
the church gate, the old venerable soggarth aroon, the Very
Rev. Peter Duffy, appeared, slightly bent under his 88 years
of age. He cooly opened the gate, asked Rossmore and his
infuriated Orangemen if they wanted to see the church,
and if they did, they were welcome. Dazed, annoyed, o r dumbfoundedor I know not whatby the coolness of the
aged pastor, then, after a few minutes' consultation, marched
past, and soon after made for the railway stations, firing
revolver shots by the thousand as they went. Soon the
stations were a regular Bedlam, and as the trains moved
along the Ulster valleys to Belfast, Derry and other places
there was as much ammunition spent as i n some of the big
battles of the Great War.
The Nationalist meeting was held and was a great success.
I often thought what a loss of life there would have been
had these two crowds come into contact. This I do know,
the Nationalists would have defended themselves to the last.
Rossmore, as a punishment, was for a few years deprived
of the Commission of the Peace. B u t , i n any free country,
if he escaped the gallows, he would have got penal servitude
for life.
It took two such Societies as Freemasonism and Orangeism
to stage such a scene in the last quarter of the 19th century.
A n d the irony of it all was, there never were two organisations
on the face of this earth that have boasted so much of " civil
and religious l i b e r t y " as the same pair. Of'the hundred
and more oaths of Masonry and Orangeism, probably more
than half of them are oaths to maintain " civil and religious
liberty."
Such is Masonry i n every land. It was to the cry of " civil
and religious liberty," to the shibboleths of egalite, liberty,
and fraternite, that the Masons in France hurried their
victims in hundreds to the guillotine. It was to the same cry
that Ferrer Y Guardia af the French Grand Orient, and his

DURING T H E N I N E T E E N T H C E N T U R Y

57

fellow-Masons, i n 1909, in Barcelona, i n Spain, wrecked

97 Catholic churches and other buildings, killed 102 Catholics,
wounded 312, and disinterred the corpses of 38 nuns, and
left them lying on the streets of Barcelona. It was i n the
cause of the same " civil and religious liberty " that the
Gordon Riots were organised and carried out in London ; in
the same cause the A . P . A . ' s and the know-nothings burned
churches in A m e r i c a ;
i n the same cause the Belfast
Pogromists acted, when they broke every law, " human and
Divine." A n d it is i n the same sacred cause that Calles is
murdering i n Mexico to-day. Yes, Masonry is everywhere
and at all times the same, and acts i n strict accordance with
its bitter anti-Christian spirit. A n d human nature being
the same the world over, I have not the least hesitation in
saying that if it got a grip on a section of our Catholic people,
who are not more Catholic than the French once were, scenes
as revolting as any that ever took place in Paris or anywhere
else might be witnessed i n the City of Dublin before this
century yet reaches its meridian. A n d yet we have many
Imperial Catholics, who, because Masonry bears and wears
the stamp of Imperial respectability, seem to think that both
it and its " decoy duck," Rotarianism, should be patronised.
We all have been horrified at the appalling atrocities that
have taken place and are now taking place i n that unhappy
land, Mexico. Do we all, however, recognise that Masonry
is " the hidden hand " that pulls the wires ? The French
Journal, La Victoirewhose proprietora French contributor
to the Catholic Bulletin points outwas once i n touch with
the Freemason " Underworld," lets in an illuminating light
on the sinister conspiracy.
" It i s , " says La Victoire, " by the order of the Grand
Pontiffs of the International Lodges, of which he is the
obedient and devoted servant, that Calles is executing a
plan he elaborated in 1925. This chief has so well fulfilled
his mission by crowding with corpses the smoking ruins of
churches that the K u - K l u x - K l a n has voted him congratulations, and the Scottish rite of the Freemason Brotherhood
the Medal of the Supreme Council, as a token of gratitude
at the same time notifying all Masonic Corporations of
the fact, including the Rue Cadet (the Paris Masonic
centre).

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What is happening to-day in Catholic Mexico may happen

in Catholic Ireland if Freemasons once get a thorough grip
on the nation.
In the North, where Freemasonry and Orangeism have
dominated so long, they have left their mark on the character
of the Ulster people, and not for the better. I myself have
lived in four Ulster counties and I distinctly remember
when out of a population of 400 families, or approximately
1,600 souls, half that number, 800, attended their house of
worship on Sunday. To-day i t is no libel to say that, of the
same number, 150, 100, and i n some parishes 50, are the
congregations attending. What a contrast on Sunday to
see any number between 1,100 and 1,400 out of a Catholic
population of 400 families, or 1,600 souls, attending Mass,
summer and winter ! I mention this not to gloat over i t
far from it, but to point out that the tree is always known by
its fruit. If, according to the Rev. E . Penney-Hunt, Masonry
has permeated the Anglican Church, I am afraid the same is
only too true as regards the Protestant Churches of the
North.
Landlordism, for which Masonry and Orangeism fought so
long and so bitterly, went down " unwept, unhonoured and
unsung." Not a tear shed over its bier, nor one great and
glorious deed left to its account to be written on its tomb.
Bereft of their once great and powerful ally, they both went
on their accustomed course and clung to England more
closely than ever. In the last decade of the century the
Gaelic League and Irish-Ireland movements arose, but they
awakened no responsive chord i n Orangeism or Masonry.
To them the language of the nation was gibberish ; its history
before they s arrived that of barbarous tribes; its songs,
traditions, dances and games were Irish, and therefore to
be despised and spurned. Nothing Irish but Irish land,
Irish Catholic custom and money deserved respect. They
have no country; their own they despised, and the other
they would like to consider their spiritual home used them
for political purposes, but otherwise despised them. Oh,
what bitter fruit these two organisations have produced
since their inception, and in this our day, for Ireland, Ulster
and themselves !
In stating all this, I am not unmindful of the number of

DURING T H E NINETEENTH CENTURY

59

great and glorious patriots that have come out of t h *

Protestant ranks, but all of them have appealed to Masonry
and the rank and file of Orangeism in vain. To me, however,
their memories are just as dear as those of my own faith
none dearer ; none that I hold i n greater veneration than
those of Davis, Tone, and Mitchel. Yet all of them were
Nationalists in spite of Orangeism and Masonry. A n d it is
very doubtful if any of our Protestant patriots were even
for a very short time identified with either. A n d if the
Orangeism of the North, and Freemasons of the North and
South, knew the history of the United Irishmen, they would
know that Henry Joy McCracken and others were hanged,
drawn and quartered because they loved Ireland and strove
to set her free. A n d yet they are lovers of another country
and haters of their own, after a residence of 300 years. This
would never have been were it not for Masonry and Orangeism.
They may say they love Ireland, but no man loves his country
that does not desire to see her free, independent and prosperous. W h y should I write like this ? Orangeism and
Masonry will never change. The 200,000 Orangemen or
more, and 50,000 Masons, or more, will live their lives and
die their deaths aliens of the nation that nurtured them and
gave-them all they possess. There is no National hope for
them precisely because they are i n the clutches of Masonry
and Orangeism. To me, therefore, it seems that the cause
of Ireland a Nation must be won without them and i n spite
of them. Mitchel preached, and Davis wrote for them i n
vain. To the immense majority of my Protestant fellowcountrymen I would say : avoid these two secret antiChristian Societies, and anti-National Societies as well.
A n d if you have any doubt about what I have said about
them, all I will say to you is, study the situation for yourself.
A n d as the tree is always known by its fruit, study especially
their history. If you do so with an open mind I will guarantee,
you shall come to much the same conclusion that I have.

60

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CHAPTER

IRELAND

IX.

Freemasonry in Ireland in the Twentieth Century.

In the early days of the century, as should be well-known to
those over 40 years of age, a movement was abroad i n the
land to secure fair play and justice for Catholics in the matter
of appointments to the Railways, Banks, and other public
institutions i n the country. It was a notorious fact that all
the higher and more lucrative positions were in the hands of
Protestants, and that there was little or no chance of promotion
for Catholics, no matter what their merits or qualifications
were. In the old R.I.C., although nine-tenths of their number
were Catholics, there was not at this time more than one
Catholic County Inspector. Out of the hundreds of District
Inspectors, there were just a . few Catholics, and of Head
I Constables, there was about one i n four. It was the same i n
all the Departments of the State, and in all the public
institutions of the country, such as the Railways and Banks'
While the agitation was going on for fair play and justice,
Freemasonry was scarcely ever mentioned. Yet i t was
the secret oath-bound organisation that, with England's
full permission and blessing, was behind the scenes, ever
mindful of the oath " to assist a Brother and espouse his
cause, whether he be right or whether he be wrong." Like
Landlordism, it was her garrison i n the land, to hold Ireland
for the Empire. A n d remarkably well it carried out the
Imperial mandate, serving its own material interests at the
same time.
In those days I took a great interest i n the movement,
for even then I knew something of the curse of Masonry,
and its more democratic associate, Orangeism. The heart
and soul of the movement was centred in the Dublin Leader,
undw the editorship of Mr. D . P. Moran. Practically unaided
by either the daily or local National Press, he carried on

IN

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61

the campaign week after week for fair play and justice for
Catholics i n all departments and institutions of the country
with a vigour and ability that has rarely been excelled by
any Public Press of the land at any time i n our history.
His great work i n the Leader in those days seems now to be
forgotten. But those who were interested i n the movement,
and close observers of the work the Leader accomplished
against great odds, will agree with me when I say that
Ireland owes a deep debt of gratitude to Mr. Moran for
his magnificent advocacy of the claims of his Catholic fellowcountrymen i n the matter of public appointments i n the
early days of the century, when the Public Press, to a very
large extent, was only National i n name.
I was i n close touch with the Great Northern Railway,
and knew exactly the then state of affairs. It was a Freemason and Orange preserve. A l l the Inspectors and higher
officials, practically 90 per cent, of the stationmasters and
clerks, were Protestants, mostly Masons and Orangemen.
Even in "the lower positions, such as carpenters, masons,
gangers, porters, and milesmen, Protestants always got the
preference wherever they were available.' The Masonic
doctrine was, Catholics are all right as hewers of wood and
drawers of water, and nowhere do I think i n the world was
Masonry more faithful to its oath than in all the Departments
of State and public institutions, such as Banks, Railways,
etc., i n Ireland. The Masonic control was practically
supreme, and certainly they used i t with a vengeance i n
the interests of the craft.
As bearing on the subject, I shall here relate an incident
that came under my own observation, and that was the
cause of grave injustice to a large number of Catholic
employees on the G.N.R. I am glad to say to-day that,
with the assistance of the Leader' I did something to curb
Masonry and prevent much further injustice being done.
A Masonic Permanent W a y Inspector was sent to that part
of the line which runs between Bmndoran and Bundoran
Junction, i n 1903. Although all the better-paid positions
were in the hands of Protestants, counting heads, the Catholics
held two-thirds of the positions. The new Inspector very
soon came to the conclusion he could staff the whole line
with Protestants, and hence scarcely a week passed ttiat

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Carpenter so and so, Porter so and so, Ganger so and so,

or Milesman so and so, was not dismissed by the Inspector,
and a Protestant put i n his place. Soon a large number of
Catholic workmen, in the various parishes along the line,
who had spent years on the railway, were out of work.
Petitions for investigation went to the Head Inspector,
Enniskiilen, a prominent Mason, and to the higher authorities;
but they all went in vain. From being two-thirds of the
employees, when the Inspector came, the Catholics now,
at the end of his first year, were reduced to one quarter.
They were now all threatened, and said it was only a matter
of time until they would have to go also. Some of the
dismissed men were natives of the parish i n which I then
was, and hence I could not stand idly by i n the face of such
glaring injustice. I became their spokesman, gave all the
facts to the Leader, tried to get them published in the daily
Press, and in the so-called Nationalist local Press, but failed
every time. The Leader alone in Ireland stood up i n the face
of injustice that would take tears" from a stone. I tried all
the authorities of the railway, but found that the Inspector
could do no wrong. A t last a few of us determined that we'
would strike the G.N.R. i n the most vulnerable spot, its
pocket, and made a beginning by putting a number of brakes
on the roadthere were no motors in those daysand convey
passengers to fairs and markets. In a word, we commenced
a boycott on a small scale. The result was the Brakes and
the Leader beat Masonry. A. guarantee was given that,
within a reasonable time, the dismissed men would be taken
on until they would reach the number of two-thirds the
Original number of Catholics on the line previous to the
coming of the Masonic Inspector. Hitherto he was supported
in everything he did by the G.N.R. authorities. A n d now
when they recognised that he was a beaten and despicable
man, they very, soon afterwards transferred him ; but at
the same time promoted him. A n d he deserved it, for he
served the cause of Masonry only too. well. This is one of
the many incidents I could give of Freemasonry in operation
in the Northern counties, and hence the reader will recognise
that my knowledge of Masonry is not only theoretical but
practical, and now extending over a period of thirty years.
A greata magnificent fight was put up by the Leader

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T H E - TWENTIETH

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63

against the injustice of all the railways, banks, etc. The

daily and local Press, as I have said, gave no assistance.
They were afraid of the Masons, as the Press is to-day to a
very large extent; afraid of its. influence and afraid they
would lose advertisements. The result of the movement
however, was a great change for the better in most respects ;
and victory for those who stood for fair play and justice.
But here I must record how extremely difficult it is to fight
Masonic influence. The Leader stood for and demanded
competitive examinations for clerkships on the railways.
It won. The railways promised competitive examinations,
but when they came into operation they adopted a plan
that would go far to neutralise the result of the victory.
A number of marks were duly allotted to each subject, but
they also allotted a large number of marks to what they
called " general appearance," which was decided by the
candidate going before a Masonic Board. Hence, if those
whom they wished to appoint made any fair examination,
they were pulled up to the top by getting full marks or
whatever number were necessary for them to succeed.
I could tell some very amusing stories about the G . N . R .
examinations, and the marks for general appearance. I n
one particular case it became the subject of amusement
for a whole parish. Three boys went to Dublin from the
same parish to a railway examination for clerkships. Two
of them were Protestants, one a Catholic. Everyone knew
in the parish that the Catholic was far better educated than
the others. He was at a very excellent school, and he was a
particularly brainy boy. His general appearance was remarkably good also. One of the others especially was the opposite
of a beauty i n appearance, and his manner was anything
but prepossessing. The result was the Catholic boy beat
them i n the written exam., but failed on " the general
appearance " test. The more ugly boy of the two scored
almost full marks on " general appearance." The result
was the. two Protestant boys got positions ; the Catholic
boy failed.
We have no competitive examinations for positions under
the Belfast Government. Practically all the Six County
Nationalists consider this a grievance. I do not. I know
enough of Masonry and Orangeism to recognise that, exam.

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or no exam., i t would be all the same to us. A n d in Merrion

Street, I am fully convinced, that if Masonry had sufficient
control i n any Department, the exam, would not stand long
in the way of the Masonic candidate or candidates. This
particular phase of Masonry is not confined to Ireland.
It exists everywhere where Masonry has full power. It is
a well-known fact that General Foch, Petain, and many
other Catholic officers were kept i n the background, got no
promotion during practically the entire war. They were
promoted only when it could not be helped, when the Masonic
Generals made a mess of things, and when both England
and France were on the very brink of defeat. This is how
Masons act the world over, " to assist a Brother and espouse
his cause, whether he is right or wrong."
Coming further into the century, we had the Solemn^
League and Covenant, the Carson revolution, the buying and
bringing i n of arms, the Belfast Pogroms, the brutal assassination of inoffensive country boys i n various parts of the Six
Counties, and the driving out of hundreds of others. A l l .
this and far more was organised and financed by the Masons
of England, Ireland and Scotland. The Orange Masons
the more democratic Masonsdid the drilling, marching
past, and carried out the Pogroms and assassinations, for
which not a single one was brought to justice from that day
to this. B u t Carson, Birkenhead, Churchill, the Duke of
Abercom, L o r d Glenayy, Major Cooper, Major Myles, and
other lieutenants of Carson, were responsible for all the
plans and for all the money that was necessary to carry
them out.
The net result to-day, after all the sacrifices that were
made i n recent years i n the cause of Irish Freedom, is that
430,000 Nationalists are helots i n their own land, and the
territory i n which they dwell-the most historic territory
of the Irish nation-is incorporated with Britain, with the
consent of the Free State Government, as expressed by their
seal and signature, and up to the present moment with the
full acquiescence of the majority of the people of the Twentysix Counties. Another result is that we are' told by Free
State statesmen that this not only means but actually is
the Freedom and Independence of Ireland, and hence the
Final Settlement of the Irish question. Not even will they

IN

THE TWENTIETH

CENTURY

61

raise, they saywhy should they ?a single finger to get

anything more than we have.
Freemasonry is, as everyone knows, i n full control i n the
Six Counties. B u t what about the Twenty-six ? Here
Masonry is going ahead by leaps and bounds. It has
increased from 28,000 i n 1920 to 43,000 i n 1925, as I have
already pointed out. In the city of Dublin alone there were
59 Freemason Lodges i n 1920, i n 1925 there were 70, and as
Freemasonry has had a great push on since 1925, when they
saw that the Free State Government was completely on the
run, and delivered into their hands, they may possibly have
to-day 100, or at least 90 Masonic Lodges in the great Catholic
City of Dublin. It is questionable now whether Barcelona
in Spain, or Dublin is the most Masonic city in Europe i n
proportion to the population. Yet when strong Free State supporters are told this, they say it is too bad, but all goes
well as y e t ; isn't Mr. Cosgrave a very practical Catholic,
and he is at the head of affairs ? Yes, M r . Cosgrave is a
practical Imperialist Catholic, and the fact that he is so, '
and some other members of the Government, lulls many good
people into a false security. That he is a practical Catholic,
and is nominally at the head of affairs, is by long odds the best
asset that Freemasonry has in the Twenty-six Counties to-day.
Their one great wish, I am sure, is long may he reign.
These are cardinal facts in the situation to-day : (1) That
Mr. Cosgrave's Government could not finance an election
to-morrow without Freemason money; (2) that he could
not hope to be returned if he did not get Freemason support;
(3) that even at the present time he would have to put up
the shutters if the Grand Lodge of Masons raised their
linger i n opposition. I would, therefore, like some supporter
would point out how this condition of affairs is calculated
to promote the interests of Faith and Fatherland. Verily
the position of the Free State Government is the saddest
and most humiliating spectacle on the earth to-daythe
bond slave of the Grand Masonic Lodge of England on the
one hand, and of the Grand Lodge of Ireland on the other.
Really, when we come to analyse i t , the men who plotted
and financed the Carson campaign are the men who really
count i n the Government of Ireland, North and South,
namely, Glenavey, Churchill, Birkenhead, the Duke? of
t

66

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Abercorn, Major B . Cooper, Sir James Craig, Judge Wylie,

and Major Myles. Their Government is Irish Freedom,
and the full settlement of the Irish question.
Is it, therefore, any wonder, dear reader, that Freemasonism
is getting stronger and stronger as years pass by i n the
Twenty-six Counties ? Is i t any wonder there are almost
100 Lodges at this very hour i n the city of Dublin. A n d
I have proved from the highest Church authorities, and
from Masonic authorities as well, and from its history, that
Freemasonry is an anti-Christian organisation to the core.
I h i v e proved also from its history i n our own country that
it is the very essencethe very quintessence of Imperialism
and anti-Nationalism i n our land. Is this the force that
is going to predominate i n a land that has been remarkable
throughout its history for her strong attachment to the
Catholic Faith and to the ideal of Ireland a Nation ?
A t this very hour there are some Departments of the State
in Merrion Street that are completely under Masonic control.
This is what the Catholic young men are up against. I know
this from some of themselves, and others know i t as well
as I do. It is a great pity some of the strong Free State
supporters throughout the country could not see a muster
of the L a n d Commission Department officials; know the
number that are Freemasons, and the important positions
they hold. They would get the greatest surprise of their
lives, and they would soon ask themselves, " Is this a resurrection of the old regime that we thought had passed away ? "
Yes, recruiting for the outer circles of Masonry from the
ranks of officialdom has been going on at an accelerated
pace as year succeeded year. A n d few indeed i n a position
as high or higher than a Metropolitan Police Sergeant has
escaped the attention of the recruiting agents. Many have
rejected the advances with disdain, but many, too, have
succumbed. These officials cannot write i n the Public Press
and tell what they know. If they were at liberty to do so,
what a tale they could tell. One of them, i n a fairly high
position, and remarkable above all for his strong, fervent
Catholic Faith, told me more than once that the greatest
benefit that could be conferred on the country would be
for some man to arise, take control, and do with Freemasonry
what Mussolini did i n Italy.

IN

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CENTURY

67

Is it any wonder then that many, seeing the state of affairs

that exist, and knowing all the sacrifices that have been
made i n recent yearssince 1911on the altar of Freedom,
are pessimistic and apathetic to-day ? Men talk oftentimes
of the material damage done to the nation, and deplore i t ,
but the material damage is only a bagatelle compared with
the moral damage that has been done. The moral evils
have been many, but the astounding spread of Freemasonry
is, to my mind, easily the greatest. If we compelled the
Truce, won the truce i n fact, which was undoubtedly Ireland's
trick, every trick since then has been England's. We must
not, however, give up hope. Despair was never a National
vice. But we should recognise that we are to a large extent
to blame ourselves. We allowed her to divide the National
Forces; she divided and she conquered. A n d we are as
we are to-day as a consequence. We must re-unite them,
come weal come woe, on peril of National death. Hitherto i n
our history disunion meant delay. The nation lived on.
It means more to-day, for we have reached such a stage
when continued disunion, or the want of National unity,,
will mean National deaththe Final Conquest. W h y
do I say this ? I say this because England has succeeded
in recent years i n doing something she never did before.
She has inoculated us with two poisons, and if these poisons
are allowed to remain i n the system sufficiently long, death,
National death, shall be the consequence. The first is the
poison of Partition. It must be rejected and ejected from
the National system, otherwise this historic nation dies.
The second is more deadly, and more far-reaching even i n
its consequences. This is the poison of Freemasonry, an
anti-Christian as well as an anti-National poison. We
must as a nation get rid of both. If we do not, the historic
Iristi nation is dying. The only question remaining is as to
the time i n the immediate future when Finis shall be written
on its tomb.

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IN

CHAPTER

IRELAND

X.

Some Reflections and Conclusions.

I think I have shown as clearly as the noondaj'' sun that
Freemasonry is a secret anti-Christian organisation, having
as its great aim and object the destruction of the Catholic
Church i n every land. I have shown also that Masonry,
and its offshoot and associate Orangeism, have always been
and are to-day anti-National and Imperial to the very core
of their being, and have always been used by England as
her chief agents i n keeping us within her ImperiaL grasp,
and exploiting our country for the Empire's use and benefit.
We are to-day suffering from many evils, National evils,
economic evils, and social evils. Our country is literally,
slowly but surely, bleeding to death. B u t there is no evil
in our midst that has been increasing at an enormous and
alarming rate since 1921, and has got for the first time
during two centuries a grip on a Catholic section of our people
the evil and curse of Masonry. A n d unless we fully realize
the imminence of the danger, and make up our minds
definitely to check its growth and remove the cancer from
the body politic, all the other evils shall remain, and
our hopes of a glorious national future for our country must
be abandoned for ever. Partition, economic exploitation,
emigration and national . degradation shall become our
heritage. Freemasonry will increase and multiply, and as
years and decades roll by it shall become more dangerous to
the Catholic Faith of our sons and daughters than any and
all the persecutions of the past. Do we realize as we should
the danger that is in our very midst ? It is precisely because
I am firmly convinced we do not that I am sounding a note
of warning. Do we realize that the City of Dublin, the capital
ef the Twenty-six Counties' Government, is in proportion
to its population the most Freemason city in Europe, with

REFLECTIONS

A N D CONCLUSIONS

69

the possible exception of Barcelona ? A n d that practically

every Department of State is permeated and honeycombed
with the Craft ? No wonder Colonel Claude Cane, the
executive head of Masonry i n Ireland, could recently state
at the Masonic Headquarters i n D u b l i n : " I was recently
asked to contribute a paper to an American Masonic paper ;
and I was able to write with pride that never had Irish Masonry
been so strong and united as it is at. the present day." So
spoke Colonel Claude Cane, the executive head of Masonry,
when he was presented at a luncheon i n the Freemason
ball with a saloon motor-car in recognition of his services
as Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ireland.
Sir William Smyly, who presided at the luncheon, is a
distinguished member of the medical profession, but to
many people i n Ireland his name will recall its association
with that" of his mother, who was famous as the founder
and promoter of those institutions which bear the ill-omened
title of " Birds'. Nests."- These nests were the cages into
which were gathered those unfortunate " birds," the little
children of poor Irish Catholic parents, robbed of their faith
and brought up as perverts.
W i t h Freemasonry increasing with such phenomenal
rapidity, I was really surprised that the subject was not
dealt with at the recent Catholic Truth Conference. It met
in a city that has increased its number of Lodges from 59
in 1920 to somewhere between 90 and 100 i n 1928, and
probably the latter figure is nearer the correct number.
This fact alone should make a Catholic Conference think
very seriously. I am aware that the public treatment of
such a subject would not be pleasing to the Government
that has had the destinies of the Twenty-six Counties in
its hands during the past six years ; nevertheless, it is an evil
that must be fairly and squarely, dealt with sooner or later
and the sooner the better. I am aware, too, that many,
ecclesiastical and lay, are living i n a fool's paradise as regards
the spread of Masonry, and its predominant influence in
Irish Government, North and South. Some of them meet
stern facts by saying with a shake of the head, *' Oh, things
are not quite so bad as that. Do you think President Cosgrave
and Professor O'Sullivan, who are very practical Catholics,
would tolerate such a state of affairs ? " As I have already

TO

FREEMASONRY

IN

IRELAND

said, the fact that Mr. Cosgrave, although a full blown

Partitionist and Imperialist, is a practical Catholic, is about
the best asset that Freemasonry has, as it lulls many into a
false security. Another great asset of Masonry is that
many, ecclesiastical and lay, labour under the delusion that
the Irish Question is satisfactorily settled, whereas the real
truth, known clearly to our kith and k i n i n America, as M r .
Cosgrave knows to his cost as he had to get police protection
throughout his American touris that at no time i n our
history was i t more unsettled, or more difficult to settle,
than i t is at the present day. I take it that it is the same
mentality that cannot see the absurdity of having this year
a National celebration of the passing of the Emancipation
Act, while the real truth is that a half a million Catholics
are, in this present year of grace, nnemancipated.
The
Venerable Archdeacon Tierney, P . P . , V . G . , Enniskillen,
expressed the view of every thinking and self-respecting
Catholic of the North-east, at the Catholic Truth Society
Conference, when he said that people living under the penal
laws could not stultify and make hypocrites of themselves
by taking part i n any such celebration, and that therefore,
there could not, and would not be a National celebration of
Emancipation i n 1929. The sane, natural and self-respecting
thing to do is to postpone the celebration until a united
free and emancipated Nation should be i n a position to take
part. Verily, since first Mr. Cosgrave declared that " Ireland
was independent, free and prosperous," hypocrisy and makebelieve are the two most flourishing industries i n the twentysix counties.
Great, however, is Truth, and the truth is that this historic
nation is neither free, independent, nor emancipated. Nor
will burying our heads i n the sand, and saying all is well,
Mr. Cosgravea practical Catholicis at the helm, check
the spread and influence i n our country of the most antiChristian organisation that ever appeared on earth.
The example of Mexico should be a warning. Fifty years
ago Catholic Mexico had far fewer Masons than we have
to-day. It had a thoroughly Catholic government. Its
leading ecclesiastics and prominent Catholic laymen, I am
sure, never dreamt that i n two generations their Catholic
nation would be undergoing a persecution that is shocking

REFLECTIONS

A N D CONCLUSIONS

71

the whole Catholic world. They possibly cried out all is

well, and allowed Freemasonry to take root, grow, and
prosper. According to its plans in all Catholic countries,
it gradually but surely placed its Masonic Brethren i n a l l
the key positions i n every Department of State and finally
captured the whole governmental authority i n the country.
Then, but not till then, it came out i n full and open antagonism
to the Church. And to-day we see what we see in Mexico.
B u t there are whispers going around i n Dublin, emanating
from Masonic Senatorial sources, that Freemasonry has
nothing whatsoever to do with the persecutions i n Mexico.
I have given some study to the state of affairs i n Mexico,
and I find that Freemasonry is the sole cause of the unhappy
state of that great Catholic land. The truth is out, now that
the Freemasons of America and the K u K l u x K l a n have
sent congratulations to Calles, and the Medal of the Supreme
Council of the Scottish rite, in testimony of the glorious work
he has done and is doing for Masonry. I expect Colonel
Claude Cane, long ago, has been notified of these facts, as
they have been sent to all the Jurisdictions.
M y dear reader, what has happened i n Mexico may happen
i n Catholic Ireland. A n d as the Mexican Masons had the
Masonic Government of U.S.A. near at hand to help them
by influence and arms, so would the Masons of Ireland,
if they ever got sufficient influence i n this country to attack
the Church, which God forbid, have a Government equally
as Masonic as the U.S.A. across the Channel to give them a
helping hand i n waging war against the Church of St. Patrick.
The history of France is also staring us i n the face, and
should teach us to beware, keep on guard, and have no
truce or parley with Masonry. France for centuries was
the most Catholic of nations. It was the eldest daughter of
the Church. To-day, and for a century and a half, its
Government has been Masonic. Out of a population of
over forty millions of people barely fourteen millions are
practical Catholics. Her schools are godless. A n d yet no
one will say that her episcopate and priesthood are not as
zealous, learned and pious as those of Ireland. In a word,
the eldest daughter of the Church is as she is to-day mainly
because, of. Freemasonry. And what happened in France
may happen in Ireland. To-day, Freemasonry with us

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FREEMASONRY IN

IRELAND

is a twig, which we can both bend and break. I n twenty

years, or less, if we allow it to grow and increase, it may
be a sapling that we can neither break nor bend. Hence,
cost what i t may, both from a religious and national point
of view, we must treat i t as our deadly enemy.
I could point out to you the ravages of Masonry i n Portugal
and some of the South American Republics, but i t would be
only a repetition of what I have said about Mexico and
" France, a history of secret plotting, of assassination, revolution, irreligion, immorality, and paganism. B u t what I have
to say of Italy is more to my present purpose.
Before the war, Nathan, a Jew, Atheist and Freemason,
was Mayor of the City of Rome. E v e r y appointment he
made during his term of office was given to a Mason. The
then Government was Masonic. I t did the same. The
country was poor, degraded, seething with discontent.
I t had almost reached the very verge of bankruptcy. H i g h
salaries and corruption were the order of the day. Such
was the condition of Italy when Mussolini and the Facisti
came on the scene, saved the Italian nation, and probably,
too, saved the Church from what has happened since i n Mexico.
H e suppressed Masonry as the main cause of all the trouble
i n Italy, both to Church and State. To-day the Catholic
Church i n Italy is i n a flourishing condition, and the Italian
nation is the most orderly and progressive nation i n the
entire world.
The conclusion from a l l I have said is, that we, Irishmen
and Irishwomen, must not only check the further growth
of Masonry, but so far as possible root it out of the nation.
We must guard and preserve with our lives, if necessary,
the two greatest glories and treasures of our race, our Catholic
Faithfor we are a predominantly Catholic nationand
our Nationality, that have conquered and overcome all the
persecution and tyranny of the past. Our first duty,
therefore, as a people proud of our two unpurchaseable
treasures that have been handed down to us, sealed with
the blood of our ancestors, is to realize that an enemy of both
is i n our midst to-day, more treacherous, more dangerous
and insidious than any we have met i n the past. Our second
duty is to realize how he came here, and grew to be so strong
and influential as he is to-day, This enemy has been here

REFLECTIONS AND CONCLUSIONS

73

for two centuries, but never got a foothold until recently i n

the real national household. To-day it is different, and i t is
important to ask and know the reason why.
The fundamental reason, i n my opinion, is that the national
forces that were so united and fought so gloriously between
1918 and 1921 allowed themselves to be divided by England.
She again divided and she again conquered. One section
held out, and is holding out to this h o u r ; the other made
terms with the ancient enemy, which they c a l l " full Freedom."
A n d to maintain this so-called Freedom, and keep their salaries
and jobs, they have allied, themselves with Freemasonry,
ever the friends and the friends to-day of the enemy, and
hence as a consequence, a natural consequence of this,
you have the phenomenal spread of Masonry and its predominating influence, both North and South. Alas 1 the
crafty enemy, called to-day our greatest friend by the section
who have made, friends with Baal, and with the " Mammon
of iniquity," Freemasonryexactly did, and we allowed
her to succeed i n doing, what she did almost three hundred
years ago, during the glorious and magnificent years of the
Confederation of Kilkenny. Then a l l the winning cards
were i n Ireland's hands, with the great Owen Roe O'Neill
the greatest trump of a l l , had only Ireland preserved her
national unity. B u t England, through Ormond, split the
Confederation.
Rinucinni, Owen Roe O'Neill, Heber
McMahon, the Bishop of Clogher, and other Irish Bishops,
who stood for Ireland's National Freedom, were deserted
by the Anglo-Irish nobles and Anglo-Irish Bishops, who were
the Imperialists of their day. W i t h divided ranks Cromwell's
work was comparatively easy. Ormond, I think, was a
Kilkenny man, and is it not strange that another Kilkenny
man, three hundred years afterwards, should play the enemy
game equally as faithfully i n another crisis of our history,
although he had once stated that " Irish Nationality and
British Imperialism would never m i x . "
The Confederation of Kilkenny had seen six glorious years
and raised the hopes of our ancestors to as high a pitch as
the glorious years from 1918 to 1921 did our's. After the
Confederation of Kilkenny, because of disunion, we had a
Cromwell. After 1921, because, too, of disunion, we have
had worse than a Cromwell, if that were possible. We have

1i

FREEMASONRY IN IRELAND

a partitioned country, consented toagreed to by the seal

and signature of our " Imperialist young statesmen " ; we
have a half a million of our Nationals, not indeed
sold to the planters of the Barbadoes, but to a tyranny
equally as great and unrelenting. We have witnessed the
most historic scenes of our race Armagh, Benburb, the
Yellow Ford, the Graves of St. Patrick, St. Bridget, Brian
Boru and John Mitchelbeing sold to England, incorporated
as a portion of her territory, and known as Great Britain and
Northern Ireland. We have seen what was called the
" National " A r m y , formally handed over to fight the battles
of the Empire, and we are forced to keep that A r m y and
maintain it for that specific purpose. We have witnessed
our claims of millions for over-taxation, and other claims
against England, wiped out and an annual tax or tribute
of five millions imposed; while 30,000 or more of our youth
are annually fleeing to the emigrant ship because they have
neither work nor bread. A n d to put the box on the hackles,
as i t were, we have the most anti-Christian and anti-National
organisation the world has ever seen spreading like a prairiefire throughout the land and dominating both our Partitioned
Governments. A l l this is bad enough, degrading enough
for an historic nation, but, worse than all, as if i n mockery
of our degradation, we are told we have National Freedom,
that we have a National Flag, a National A r m y , a National
Anthem, Equality and Co-equality, a Geneva Conference,
a League of Nations, and that we have turned and are now
turning the economic corner, while all the time i t is as clear
as daylight that the nation is bleeding to death and its lifeblood pouring forth b y every emigrant s h i p ; and that we
are bound hand and foot b y Imperialist and Masonic chains.
We have had six years of this Government, and our poor
people the plain people of Ireland, for whom I have the
greatest sympathythe small farmers, the labourers,
employed and unemployedare now, I would venture to
say, facing a winter of poverty and destitution that will
have no parallel since the days of the great famine. If
ever there was a time a Mussolini were necessary to save a
nation or people, that hour is at hand, is upon us. However,
without the genius of a Mussolini i t can be done. We can
do it ourselves, if we only realize the imminence of the danger,

R E F L E C T I O N S A N D CONCLUSIONS

75

and unite once again for God and country. A section of

our people have got off the national p a t h ; they must get
on i t again. This is no time for Labour Parties, Farmers'
Parties, Independent Parties, etc., i n the Dail. There is
no room until the National Question is settled, no more than
there was i n the days of Parnell, for any but a National
Party. I n a free country such as Belgium, Holland, France,
a number of parties may be normal and do good, but i n
a country such as ours, partitioned and i n Imperial and
Masonic chains, and kept so under the duress of " immediate
and terrible war," a number of small parties is abnormal
and a national weakness. A real patriotic people would see
this weakness immediately.
I would therefore appeal to the Farmers' Labourers, and
all classes of our people, who stand for the Freedom, Unity
and Independence of this old land, and even for their own
bodily existence, not to dissipate their strength i n this hour
of danger, but to march solidly under the banner of a united
National Party. L e t there be only two campsthe Irish
camp, the National camp, and the Imperial Masonic English
camp. Then the issue will be clearly knit.
Irish
Nationalism versus British Imperialism.
If we get this
length, we have taken a big step out of the slough of despond,
misery and degradation. The next step would be a National
Government in Dublin that would proclaim to the world the
truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, namely,
that, the Irish Question was unsettled, and that it could never
be. settled on the basis of P a r t i t i o n ; that every inch of
Irish soil was Ireland's ; that every man, woman and child
within the four seas of Ireland was a subject of the Irish
Nation and of no other; that we, living i n the North-east,
instead of being Pariahs i n the land of our birth, are your
fellow-countrymen and fellow-countrywomen; and that we
owe no allegiance, to any other country but Ireland; that
the five millions of tribute that is annually going to the
foreigner, while 30,000 of our youth are being shipped to
foreign lands i n search of bread, must cease immediately
that whatever army is here will not and shall not take part
in the war or wars of any Empire ; nor will we contribute to
the upkeep of any such army.
We must get to this position as a nation very soon and
;

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IN

IRELAND

from this position march on, or this historic nation perishes.

I hold we can get there if we effectively will it, and unite into
one solid phalanx under a national leader. The leader is
here to lead us to victory if we flock to the national standard.
Unless this be done within a reasonable timeand it can
be done constitutionally, if I may use the expression, and
without firing a shotI for one, and I say it with full deliberation, would welcome from my heart another Easter Week
rather than see this dear old land of so many glorious memories
made the spawning bed of a secret anti-Christian and antiNational organisation, and of the worst type, of Imperialism
that ever cursed a country.

R E F L E C T I O N S A N D CONCLUSIONS

CHAPTER

77

XI.

Reflections and Conclusions

(Continued).

As an introduction to my last chapter on the subject of '

Masonry, I think I cannot do better than give some quotations
from a very remarkable letter recently received from an
Irish-American friend, who was over here during the summer
to examine the state of affairs for himself. H e has been
forty years i n U.S.A., had always a great love for the land
of his birth, and kept at all times in touch with the various
National movements. I met him soon after his arrival.
He told me the object of his visit was to see for himself how
was old Ireland, and how did she s t a n d ; that he did not
quite understand the T r e a t y ; the Freedom it brought;
the Civil War ; the Imperial Conferences ; the Imperialism
that was so marked a feature of recent years; the poverty,
and the terrible exodus, " I want to see," to use his own
words, " t h e nature of the Freedom that was so strongly
and loudly boosted by one section, and as strongly denounced
by another." I requested him before leaving to visit me.
He said he possibly would, or if he did not, he would be sure
to write me on his return, and give his impressions of the
country. He did not visit me, but a few days ago I had a
long and very interesting letter from him which gave me
much food for serious thought.
He says: " I have been home four times during the past
forty years, and your country to-day is i n a much worse
condition than ever it has been at any period during those
years" She would be much better, should there be nothing
else for i t , to be directly under the old enemy, England,
than she is to-day. To say she is Free is to mock Freedom,
which comes ' from God's right hand.' She is a slave country,
talking about Freedom which she imagines she has got.
Many of them, at any rate, think they have it. Partition

FREEMASONRY

IN

IRELAND

78

is your curse. That your country is partitioned by the

foreigners, and accepted as Freedom by two native Governments, and the majority of your people, is i n itself a sufficient
proof without any other that she is unfree." Again he
writes: " Reading of the glorious deeds that were done in
the days of the Black and Tans, and of the great sacrifices *
that were made in every part of the country i n the cause of
Freedom, I did really think I would have had the privilege
of meeting many patriots, and have come across many signs
of patriotism. There may have been patriots some years
ago, but most of them have left the country, or are dead.
Selfishness appears to be the ruling characteristic over there.
I do not say there are not some honest, sincere men, lovers
of their country, but I reckon they are too few to leaven the
selfish mass that is everywhere around them. I talked with
every class. I met Government officials with 5,000 dollar '
salaries, and officials with 1,000 dollar salaries. A l l of them
said, ' We have secured the Freedom we fought for.' I guess
these fellows must have been fighting for themselves all the
time. One of them really had the cheek to tell me, ' Ireland
is as free as America.' I asked him if Antrim, Down and
Armagh were i n his jurisdiction ? He said ' N o . ' Well
I guess ' Ireland is not free. These places used to be i n
Ireland.' I closed up the coon right away. The poor
people are dispirited and as devoid of the spirit of Nationality
as any people can very well be. Most of them have no faith
in themselves or any section of their fellow-countrymen.
Selfishness, I say again, Selfishness is the leading characteristic.
Many a time I thought of what some French General, said, as he
was leaving the field of battle and leaving his soldiers to
their fate : ' Sauve qui -peut,' or ' save who can.' It is
practically all ' sauve qui peut' over there. Everyone, or
nearly everyone, is out for self, and God help Ireland."
He continues: " I spent two weeks i n and around Dublin.
While I was there, there was nothing but banquetting,
champagne suppers, ballroom dances, royal times, I should
say, among Government officials and their wives. The main
streets were full of as good automobiles as you would see i n
America, while at the street corners and railings were collected
the unemployed, shabbily dressed, and evidently underfed.
If you strolled off the main streets just a little, you right away

R E F L E C T I O N S A N D CONCLUSIONS

79

met scenes of poverty, pinched faces, that are a disgrace to

civilisation. I have been through the slums of New York,
which is probably twenty times the size of Dublin, and I
have not seen anything i n all my life approaching the poverty
and degradation of Dublin, within a gunshot of the Gresham.
Do you call that Freedom or prosperity ? I have been
told everywhere I went i n the city that the Freemasons and
the old Castle gang really rule the roost as of old. I believe
it must be true. I knew about Rotarianism i n America, as
it was there it was born. I saw during my short stay i n
Dublin there was a Rotary meeting i n one restaurant or
other almost every night. I wonder do you people realise
what is at the bottom of it ? Well, it is intended to prepare
the ground, to make smooth the path, for the Catholics to
enter the Mason Lodges. I advise you to watch it closely,
for it is worth watching. I will give you a tipyou will see
no real Nationalist taking part i n these Rotary meetings."
F i n a l l y he said : " I am glad I am back i n America. We
may have many faults. We have a good deal of selfishness,
too, but I guess we are all Americans, first, last, and all the
time. In your country, I reckon, there are far more out
for England and her Empire than for Irelandthat is when
they are not out for themselves. Y o u have Anglo-Irish
there and Irish, when all should be Irish. I really thought
I would have witnessed at least the dawn of Freedom, or
what you call over there the ' stepping-stone ' to Freedom,
but I am going down to the grave like millions of our race,
before me, without this ardent wish being realised. The
Irish question is more unsettled to-day than ever, and what
is worse still, it has been made more difficult by your so-called
Treaty. I tell you if I had to live over there, I would rather
five amongst your people i n the North. They are more
sincere. They know they are not free and they tell you so.
In the other parts many of them imagine they are free,
knowing no better, or are hypocrites."
This letter, of which the above quotations are only a part,
gave me, as I have said, food for very serious thought.
Further, it reminded me that when dealing with Freemasonry,
I should say something about Rotarianism, so prevalent
in Dublin and other Irish cities. I may compare Rotarianism
o'the garden or lawn before the Masonic house, where tea

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FREEMASONRY

IN

IRELAND

and cake, cigars and cigarettes are occasionally served to

invited guests who intermingle and enjoy the pleasure of the
company of the very nice superior peopleImperially minded
peoplewho come out through the Masonic porch to make
merry with their guests. Later on some of the lawn and
garden guests may find themselves invited to the Masonic
house. Thus the reader will see that Rotarianism is the
most modern, most up-to-date and approved plan of
recruiting Catholics for the outer circles. It is all, of course,
done i n the name of " business." If the reader has any doubt
on the subject, I would give him the same advice the IrishAmerican gave myself, namely, " keep a close watch on the
Rotarian movement for some time."
As I pointed out i n my last chapter, if we compelled the
Truce, won i t , that trick undoubtedly was Ireland's. Y e t
we must candidly admit to-day, I think, that England has
won every trick since then. Poor Collins told us, and nearly
all those who accepted the Treaty agreed with him, that it
was " F r e e d o m to-achieve Freedom." It was to be the
stepping-stone from which we should move forward, either
by a number of short steps, or one long stride, to the fullgoal of Freedom. What, however, has exactly taken place ?
The first great stepping-stone, after the Treaty, that was
reached was one backwards towards the Empire bank of
the stream, and is called Permanent Partition. The second
was the Ultimate Financial Surrender Pact, when an annual
tribute of 5,000,000 was made to England. The third,
the Imperial Conference Surrender, including the surrender
of the little army to fight the Empire's battles. The fourth
was when an Economic Policy was put into full swing to
suit England's interests, namely, to supply beef, mutton,
bacon, etc., to feed England at England's own price, and make
our land a cattle r a n c h " a fruitful mother of flocks and
herds," and send our children to the four winds of heaven.
The fifth was the employment of Cosgrave as an Empire Agent
to tell the people of U.S.A. and our own kith and k i n there
that the Irish question was finally settled to the satisfaction
of all except a few cranks i n Ireland, and that " Ireland,"
not merely the Twenty-six Counties, was "independent,
free and prosperous." The sixth was when. Cosgrave, at
the dictation of England, no doubt, broke the very Constitu-

REFLECTIONS

A N D CONCLUSIONS

81

ion into smithereens, for which, and to uphold which, he

put 77 Irishmen to death, so sacred was it then. The seventh
was the signing of the Kellogg Pact to outlaw war, so that
the Freedom we have may be maintained for ever. These
are only some of the very big stepping-stones on the way
back to the Empire side of the river. A n d the further back
they went, the greater were the " cheers of victory," and
deeper were sown " the seeds of Peace."
The net result of all to-day, my dear readers, is that
Northern Ireland is British territory, incorporated by Law
and Statute, and known as Great Britain and Northern
Ireland; and that a half a million of Nationals are
helots of a foreign power. The remainder of the country,
the twenty-six counties, is a Dominion or Province, call it
which you will, known as Saorstat Eireann, governed by a
combination of ex-Nationalists, some of them even exRepublicans, and Freemasons, the latter being the dominant
and controlling partner of the firm.
This is called Irish Freedom, and the Final Settlement
of the age-long Irish question.
It was from this Freedom, and because of this Freedom,
as effect from cause, that Freemasonry increased its membership from 28,000 in 1920, to 43,000 in 1925, and most probably
60,000 i n 1928. It was because of this Freedom that the
number of Freemason Lodges i n Dublin alone increased from
59, i n 1920, to 70 i n 1925, and most probably to somewhere
between 90 and 100 i n 1928. Just imagine the most Catholic
city i n Europe honeycombed i n 1928 with 90 or 100 Freemason
Lodges.
Although I deplore with all my heart the many national
evils, of which Partition is the chief, the many economic
evils, and the many social evils of which the injury done to
the morale of the nation is one of the greatest, yet, i n the long
run, the greatest and most dangerous of all is the grip Freemasonry has got upon a section of our people. It is both
anti-Catholic and anti-National, and attacks the two
characteristics that have been interwoven and wed together
for centuries, and are the chief glories of our race.
To me, at any rate, the dangers our people are up against
at the present time are greater and more insidious than any
our country faced throughout its history. A n d I believe

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F R E E MASONRY

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IRELAND

firrnly that if we fail to meet them in this our generation,

the final conquest is at hand, and Ireland's history as a nation
closed for ever. Anything less than a great National
re-awakening i n the land will not suffice, such a re-awakening
as will drive from power not merely for four years or five,
but for ever, the Masonic-Imperial combine, that with
England's aid has brought this land to the state i n which we
find it to-day. This means that i n its place a National
Government be set up i n Dublin that would, while dealing
fairly and squarely with every citizen, at the same time
deal with Freemasonry as Mussolini did i n I t a l y ; that would
claim every inch of Irish soil as Ireland's ; that would refuse
to pay five millions annually to England or any other foreign
power; and that would esteem man higher than the sheep,
cow or p i g ; that, i n a word, would maintain that this land
of ours was never destined by Almighty God as " a fruitful
mother of flocks and h e r d s " for another country, but
primarily destined to feed, clothe and house Irishmen and
Irishwomen with the products of the soil. A cattle ranch,
a sheep run, a pig walk for England's benefit, is not
and should not be Ireland's destiny.
30,000 per annum
should not . be cleared out of " a climate soft as a
mother's smile," and from " s o i l as fruitful as God's l o v e "
to make room for the bullock. A n d if we tolerate i t ,
the bullock has a right to increase and multiply, and man
to go.
Y o u may tell the Nationalists of the North that you
cannot emancipate t h e m ;
that England is too strong.
E v e n should I grant you this, i t is within your power to
claim us as your fellow-countrymen, and not put your
imprimatur on our sale. Y o u will agree that any people
that are mean enough to sell their brethren and the inalienable
rights of their nation, no matter how glorious their past
may have been, have no future. Their future is behind
them.
Y o u will say, what about England and what about the
Treaty, if we carry out a National programme ? What about
England ? W h y , if our ancestors were afraid of England,
this nation that has come down to us through the centuries,
would have died hundreds of years ago. But what about
the Treaty? The Treaty that Collins signed is long since

REFLECTIONS

A N D CONCLUSIONS

83

numbered among the dead. England has broken it many

times, with the consent and approval of your Free State
Government. It has, however, left its curse behind it.
To-day our country is i n poverty and degradation, dominated
by a secret oath-bound Society of Freemasons, that throughout
its history, and to-day, is the enemy of Christianity i n every
land, and, therefore, in ours, as well as the enemy of Ireland
a Nation, that we all, I hope, love so well.
Now I have finished the work I set before myself two
months ago. I have attempted to give my readers a general
idea of Freemasonry as a world-wide anti-Christian organisation. I have described its characteristics, its nature, and
its aims and objects. A n d as the tree is known by its fruit,
I have given you a general outline of its history, and shown
you that its trail everywhere has been blazoned by war,
assassination, immorality, an anti-Christian spirit, and a
Paganism as loathsome as that of ancient Greece or Rome,
I have devoted some of the chapters to show you what a
curse i t has been at all times i n our country since it was
first introduced i n 1725, and what a dreadful curse, too,
that associate organisation, Orangeism, has been, especially
to the historic Province of Ulster. I have shown, and I hope
clearly, that to-day Freemasonism and Orangeism i n the
North, and Freemasonism i n the South, aided and abetted
by England for her own purpose, have a dominant influence
in this land of ours. A n d while the Nationalist elements
quarrel, dispute and wrangle, as their fathers did before them,
to their own undoing, Freemasonry and England are united
as one man, to bring about the final conquest, and to write
Finis on the tomb of Irish Nationality. I have shown,
I think, the imminence of the danger to our nation, and that
it can be met i n one way, and i n one way only with any hope
of successby National unity, North, South, East and West ;
that Mother E r i n to-day calls upon her sons more vehemently
and urgently than ever, to compose and settle their quarrels
and come to the rescue. Finally, I have written solely
because I felt i t was a duty I owed to Fides et Patria. And
hence liberani animam meam.
Now I shall conclude by giving you a very instructive
quotation from that great American Catholic, Arthur Preuss,
who has written one of the best books on Freemasonry that

84

FREEMASONRY

IN

HYPOCRISY T H E PREDOMINANT VICE

IRELAND

has yet appeared in the English language. This master of

his subject speaks as follows :
*' A n d here, as the eye of a Catholic priest roams over
these pages, let him realise more fully why it is so difficult,
even on a death-bed, to reclaim a Catholic who has been
a Mason. The difficulty is not a mere moral one; it is an
intellectual one. It is not merely a disobedience to the
Church, and the neglect of her Sacraments ; it is a complete
and formal apostasy from the Faith, in which the very nature
and essence of the Christian God is denied, as well as the nature
and essence of the Christian soul. What is there to work
on ? Without a miracle of grace--nothing. Were it mere
passion or interest or worldly motives that had led the heart
astray, but had left at least the roots of F a i t h ; had there
been only ' a change ' and ' not a total extinction of the
past,' the nearness of eternity and the fear of an offended
God might revive what had "long lain dormant and dead.
But when the very roots of Faith are plucked up, and every
religious and moral tie has been broken ; when the great
intellectual transformation of Masonry has been wrought,
and not one single dogma repudiated, but the whole Catholic
system rejected as error, helplessness and ignorance, the
case is, as Masonry knows, and as it has cunningly planned,
well-nigh hopeless. If there be any human hope i t will be
in understanding the fatal source whence the lack of responsiveness springs, and in seeking to bring back to that heart
what has been so artfully and sedulously banishedthe
truth of Divine Faith learned at a mother's"knee."

CHAPTER

85

XII.

Hypocrisy the Predominant Vice of our Imperial

Rulers, North, and South.
As having a bearing on Freemasonry, and showing the
extent to which Imperialism and hypocrisy got a grip on
our rulers, and their hangers-on, North and South, I am
here adding the following article, which first appeared i n
the columns of Honesty in June, 1928, and which was
reprinted by special request i n the same journal i n November,
1928.
Our Divine Lord, during His public life, condemned every
kind, of sin and iniquity ; but He has condemned no sin or
vice in such scathing terms as the vice of Hypocrisy.
Addressing, i n the 23rd Chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel,
the Scribes and Pharisees, who were among the ruling classes
of the Jews, under the supremacy of the Roman Empire,
Pie uses language, which for vigour and force of denunciation
is not equalled i n any portion of the New Testament. Every
single verse of the thirty-nine is a scourge. There is no
aspect of the various sins of hypocrisy common among the
Scribes and Pharisees, that is not laid bare. In as many
as eight verses of the thirty-nine He commences with the
dreadful words:
" W o e unto-you Scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites." The Jewish people were at this time hastening
towards national extinction in their own land, and hypocrisy
was the predominant public vice. Not many years elapsed
from then until Jerusalem was besieged and taken, and not
a. stone left upon a stone of the famous-temple ; and the
, majority of the inhabitants of the land either killed or carried
into captivity.
In modern days, in very recent years, and at the present
time,-this same detestable vice, detested both by God and

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mam, is tke predominant vice among our rulers, North and

South, under the supremacy of another Empirethe British.
Like the Jewish nation i n the time of Christ, Ireland to-day
is hastening towards national extinction, while our modern
Scribes and Pharisees are seated i n the high places of the
land, clothed in fine linen, and living sumptuously on the
poorest people of Europe, and waxing, as years roll by, fat,
proud, autocratic, and aristocratic. Hence, while poverty,
bankruptcy, unemployment, and an annual -emigration of
not less than 40,000 of our youth are the salient features of
the situation, as seen by honest men, our rulers and their
hangers-on proclaim that there is no danger ; that if there
was a slight depression, the economic corner is now turned;
there is now prosperity, freedom and independence;
and
England, once our greatest enemy, is now our greatest friend.
A n d anyone who denies any of these things is an enemy
of the public weal, and of our glorious Commonwealth,
known, also as the British Empire". So North and South
in this partitioned isle hypocrisy, barefaced and unashamed, is stalking i n broad daylight throughout the land,
while the poor ordinary people are amazed, dazed and
dumbfounded.
Let us commence with the Six Counties and examine the
situation and get a general idea at least of the enormity of
the evil.
This is the most historic territory of our race and nation,
holding the graves of our greatest saints, scholars and
patriots, from the days of St. Patrick to those of John
Mitchel, as well as the most glorious scenes of our island's
story. This territory is to-day called Northern Ireland and
is incorporated with Britain, and therefore a portion of her
territory ; and this remember has been done with the signature
and seal of your Government, with the cbnsent of your D a i l
and Senate, and the acquiescenceand note thisof the
majority of the people of Southern Ireland.
430,000
Nationalists and Catholics live here, who are the descendants
of the men who fought and won two of the most glorious
battles that were ever waged pro Fide et Patria~the
Yellow
?rl and Benburb. These men to-day are helots in the land
f their fathers, handed over by your Dail and Senate, our
former Trustees, to the tender mercies of the Grand Orange

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Lodge of Belfast, and the deed of shame called a " damned

fine bargain " and " a glorious victory." Craig, the Orange
Lodge, the Freemason Lodge, say there is Peace and Freedom
i n this territory. Cosgrave has said many times at home,
and several times on his famousor infamoustour i n
America, that there is " Peace, Freedom, Independence and
Prosperity i n ' Ireland.' " Here I shall leave the reader
to make out which of the twain is the greater hypocrite.

WHAT

FREEDOM "

MEANS.

Now for a few words about the condition of our people i n

this doubly " free " land, Northern Ireland. I n the twentysix counties non-Catholics number 250,000 or 9 per cent,
of the population.
In the Six Counties we number 430,000
of the population, 35 per cent., and are somewhere between
one-sixth and one-seventh of the total Catholic population
of the entire country. There are 28 Poor Law Unions i n
the territory, and of these 14 have a Nationalist or Catholic
majority, and 14 non-Catholic. Two whole counties are
Nationalist by a large majority : Fermanagh and Tyrone ;
so also is Derry City, South Armagh and South Down. I n
Belfast the Nationalists are one-fourth of the population,
but have only one-sixteenth of the representation. Derry
City, Tyrone, Fermanagh, South Armagh and South Down
have been so jerrymandered that we are a hopeless minority
on all the Public Boards, except one small Board that they
could not jerrymander. For example, i n the Nationalist
County of Fermanagh, oh the County Council we have only
7 seats out of 20. Plainly speaking, it would take two-and-ahalf Nationalist votes to equal one Unionist i n the county,
and i n all the areas. There are 3,920 Protestant children
on the school roll of Fermanagh, and 5,290 Catholic children,
while on the Educational Regional Committee of the County
we have, out of 25 members, the large number of 3. A n d
what is true of Fermanagh is true of the other areas. A n d
now the edict has gone forth from the Grand Lodge of Belfast,
which is being carried out with a vengeance, that No Public
Board, from the Corporations of the Cities to the smallest
Regional Committee of Education, shall elect a Catholic to

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any public position, paid or honorary. Recently an Ulsterman, who fought with great distinction i n the wara
Catholicwas turned down for a position i n Tyrone, and a
Dublin mana Protestantwho probably never knew the
smell of powder, elected. If it were necessary I could give
many instances of Barbarism of this sort.
Now, touching Parliamentary representation; we have
12 Representatives out of 53, but the Unionist bigots think
we should have none at a l l , and hence a jerrymandering
process is going on, or may be completed, to reduce this
number as near extinction as possible. F r o m history and
tradition I have a fair knowledge of the condition of our
Catholic ancestors between 1800 and 1829, and I have a
good knowledge of present conditions i n this Penal Settlement,
and I would say that the conditions are about the same
now as they were between 1800 and 1829. W e are therefore
living i n modernized pre-emancipation days;
the Penal
Laws are brought up to date. Our Belfast Government
is actually uncivilized and barbaric. I n no country that I
know of, i n no white man's land, are 35 per cent, of the
people living under such conditions ; as strangers, intruder:
and helots i n their own land. A n d this 35 per cent., remember
are the descendants of the people who owned and ruled t h i i
land and were civilized when the ancestors of the present
tyrants were roaming the wcods and tattooing their bodies.
Your D a i l , your Senate, have sold and betrayed u s ; and
the majority of your peopleand remember this and meditate
upon ithave acquiesced, and to their everlasting shame
are still acquiescing i n their sale, and preferred Cosgrave's
Damned Fine Bargain, which was not even a mess of pottage,
to their own and Ireland's honour. Such is our condition,
or rather a general idea of our condition i n this the 20th
century i n a land that Cosgrave has declared to be Free,
Independent and Prosperous. Is i t any wonder, with this
example to follow, that Craig proclaims on every occasion
that there is Peace, Freedom, and Equality i n his territory
for all creeds and classes. We must always remember,
however, that there are two kinds of Peace and Freedom :
The Peace of Freedom and the Freedom of Peace;
arid
the Peace of the Slave and the Freedom of Slavery. The
latter is ours.

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SOUTHERN

89

HYPOCRISY.

So much for Northern Bigotry, Tyranny and Hypocrisy.

Now for a few words on Southern Hypocrisy i n high places,
which is more pronounced, more remarkable, harder to
understand than that of Craig & Co., because i t is not
traditional and inherited, but acquired. Messrs. Cosgrave
& Co. i n 1925, after delivering our bodies to the Tyrant
and washing their hands like Pontius Pilate, came home
cheering, proclaiming " a glorious victory," " the seeds of
peace." The seeds are producing fruit i n abundance; not,
however, the fruits of Peace, but the fruits of Slavery. The
great Bargain that he made for you, and because of which
many of you sold your honour, Ireland's honour, and the
honour due to her martyred dead, turned out to be not a
large nought, but an annual tribute of millions. W i t h
Messrs. Cosgrave, MacNeill, Blythe, Mulcahy and hundreds,
nay, thousands of others, Imperialism and Partitionthe
hated and detested thing of a few years beforebecame now
the symbols of peace, progress, freedom, and even complete
independence. Yes, the traitor's fatethe hangman's rope
and firing squad that was to be the fate of those who agreed
to the partition of their Motherland, became the fate of
those, who fought for their country's independence. T i m
Healy used to call temporary partition the " unthinkable
thing" and "Finis Hiberniae," to-day he says Permanent
Partition is the beginning " of a great, glorious and prosperous
Hiberniae." A n d , according to him, men like De Valera,
and thousands of others who always stood and stand to-day
for Ireland's U n i t y and Independence, are fanatics and worse,
while Churchill, Birkenhead and Bloody Balfour are the
jewels of his heart and Ireland's greatest friends. To act
the hypocrite and slave with the Pilgrims' Society i n London,
or a Rotary Club in Dublin, is bad enough, but how
humiliating i t must have been for any true Irishman to
look on and read of Cosgrave telling people of a free country,
and our kith and k i n there, that Ireland was " Free,
Independent and Prosperous," .while all the time he knew
that 430,000 living i n Ulster, living i n Ireland, were living
under a modernized edition of the Penal Laws, and that

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semi-starvation on a very large scale was prevalent i n the

land. Apparently this great Catholic cared not.
Oh, how very disgusting and detestable is this vice, whether
found i n public or private life. It is with difficulty one can
write about i t , but it has to be done i n the public interest.
To proceed, our distinguished Partitionist laid a wreath on
the grave, of all the graves i n America, on that of Abraham
Lincoln, whose great fame to a very large extent rests on
the fact that he held out and fought against the partition
of his nation. Our distinguished Major B . Cooper, and
Mr. Cosgrave's bosom friend, laid a wreath, and we are told
wept, on the grave of " M y Brave Michael D w y e r " in
Australia. A n d the Minister of DefenceGod help us
took the salute i n Bodenstown near the grave of Wolfe Tone
from a detachment of British troops stationed i n the twent}'six counties;
and the poor soldiersGod help them
many of them born i n Ireland, yet soldiers of the Empire
and K i n g , marched past as joyfully as they could. For the
sake of these poor soldiers, and out of respect for the memory
of Tone, and for the sake of all who died for Ireland a Nation,
I sincerely hope this hypocritical farce will be discontinued.
M y G o d : one of the greatest martyrs of our race insulted
at his own grave by those who agreed to partition the country
he loved and died to free. Although the Deputies and
Senators of the twenty-six counties are intelligent enough
to know that the jurisdiction of D a i l and Senate extends
only over a portion of Ireland, many of them talk as if they
were legislators of the Nation. This, needless to say, they
are not. A n d the Press of Southern Ireland, with some
honourable exceptions, is worse still. They actually write as
if the twenty-six counties were the nation, and thereby render
themselves not alone untruthful, but ridiculous. Hence i n
Dail, Senate, at Rotary meetings, Chamber of Commerce
meetings,, Viceregal Lodge , meetings, Pilgrims' meetings,
Cumann na nGaedheal Reception meetings, and numerous
other meetings, hypocrisy and make-believe reign supreme.
NOT EMANCIPATED.
N e w I some to a very remarkable exhibition of the saoit
vice, and on this occasion the sinners are some members

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91

9i the Catholic Truth Society, and other Catholic gentlemen.

If I am correctly informed, they are not only organizing a
celebration to commemorate the passing of the Emancipation
Act of 1829, but want to make it an All-Ireland affair
a National celebration. Have these people been living i n
the moon ? Apparently they fail to see the absurdity of the
proposal; they fail to see that there cannot be an All-Ireland
celebration while 430,000 Catholic people i n Ireland, almost
one-sixth of the total Catholic, population, are actually
living under a modernized code of the Penal Laws, and are
as really unemancipated to-day as were their ancestors i n
1820. Surely these gentlemen do not expect that these
430,000 unemancipated people should be represented at
what to them would not only be a mockery but a slavish
hypocritical act. A n d I think no cleric or layman, however
distinguished, will presume, for very shame, to represent
them or any section of them. I know the Six County Catholic
fairly well, and this I shall say about him, that hypocrisy is
not one of his characteristics. He and his ancestors have
suffered long and more severely from Penal Laws than any
Catholic people i n the History of the Church, and never yet
did they hug, kiss or lick their chains. They always preserved
the souls of freemen. Hence I know they never Will descend
so low as to pretend they are emancipated, when they are
not. Do these gentlemen wish them to pretend they are
emancipated so that they may be able to call it a National
celebration ? If so, they are not going to be obliged.

HYPOCRISY AND D E G R A D A T I O N .
In the circumstances, i n my opinion, the promoters and
organizers i n Dublin, if they go ahead, will only succeed i n
emphasising the prevalence of the vice of hypocrisy, and
the NationaL degradation of our country, and will be just
acting as hypocritically as Cosgrave, Craig or T i m Healy.
These^ gentlemen are pretending that Ireland is free ; that
the Irish question is satisfactorily settled, whereas every honest
man is. aware that we are not a free people, and that never
was tha Irish question more unsettled. A n d i it not a fact,
too, backed up by 430,000 witnesses, that the Irish Nation

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FREEMASONRY

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IRELAND

is not emancipated ? Then why humiliate, ourselves ? W h y

act the Hypocrite ? W h y be Scribes and Pharisees ?
Is there any valid reason, however, why the celebration
should not be postponed until such time as the whole nation
would be emancipated, when we, as an united race and
people, could not only rejoice, but offer our united thanksgiving to the great and good God with equally 103'ful hearts,
and honour the name and sacrifices of 0'Conn ell and our
ancestors i n the name of the whole nation ? I believe there
is not, and I am sure there is not. Hence, i n the meantime,
might I not very respectfully suggest to these gentlemen
that any spare energies they have would have adequate scope
in working, with the best means at their disposal, for the
emancipation of the 430,000 Catholics i n the North. Another
noble work would be to check and stem Freemasonry, that
has had such phenomenal success in the City of Dublin
during the past six years, and has eaten and burrowed its
way into all the Departments of the State. In many of
them i t now reigns supreme, and i n all its evil influence
is felt.
Should the movement, however, be persisted i n , I see only
one possible way of making it one of National significance,
and utility, and it is by drawing such attention, by some
dramatic act or acts, to the very sad and deplorable state of
our country as would arouse our people to action, force them
out of the slough of despond and almost despair i n which so
many of them are, revive the National spirit, and k i l l the
twin and kindred spirits of Imperialism and Hypocrisy.
H o w is such attention to be drawn ? On this subject I
shall offer a few suggestions.

ARB

WE

EMANCIPATED ?

I understand that it is intended this year, as part of

the celebration, to have a grand triumphal procession through
the streets of Dublin with a number of magnificently
decorated lorries on which would be exhibited a number of
Tableaux Vivants bringing the imagination back to the Penal
Days. M y first suggestion is that the Tableau vivant leading
the procession should show forth a beautiful and sorrowfu

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93

maiden, with a burly Orangeman and Freemason i n sash

and other insigniae, standing slightly behind her, with his
right hand extending half around her throat, as if preparing
to strangle her. Underneath, in large decorated letters,.
I would write Northern Ireland, 1929. The Tableau I would
suggest for the second lorry in the procession would have
as principal figure a young Catholic Six County Ulsterman
(after having knocked at the Government Building, Belfast)*
standing on the threshold, in the presence of an important
official, seeking a position for which he is duly qualified,
and the official beckoning him off with a smile of disdain.
Underneath I would write No Catholic need apply, Belfast
Government, 1929. The third and last Tableau vivant I
would suggest for third place in the procession would represent
Mother E r i n standing on the right and indifferent to what is
going on around her, with Mr. Cosgrave standing on her
right beckoning Mother Erin's most famous and best beloved
daughter, who is standing a few yards opposite, sorrowfullooking and anxious to remain, to depart and addressing her
as follows : " Y o u must go ; I have agreed with our Sovereign
Lord and Master, whose words are as good as his bond,
that you must leave your mother and work as a slave i n
his household. Perhaps some day our gracious L o r d and
Master may allow you to return. A v a u n t . " Underneath
I would write in very large characters the one word, Partition.
Other Tableaux vivants would follow, bringing the mind back
to the Penal Days of old, while the first three would describe
with rare truth and fidelity the Penal Days of the Present
in the Six Counties. A l l taken together, the three first
tableaux and those following, would move in one solemn
grand and majestic procession through the streets of Dublin,
portraying among many other scenes from the Penal past the
great, learned and saintly Archbishop of Armagh, on the
run and i n disguise in Louth, Armagh, and Tyrone, and i n
the stillness of the night i n some mountain cabin, with no
other light but a tallow candle, far from books and libraries,
penning a chapter of that learned and famous work Jus
Primatiale Armacanum ; as well as the scenes from the present
already described. Thus the Faith, the Hope, the Constancy
and Fidelity of our ancestors, pro Fide et Patria in the dark
and penal days, would have their counterparts i n a Faith

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FREEMASONRY

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IRELAND

equally as strong ; in a Hope equally as firm ; in a Constancy

and Fidelity equally as great, living to-day i n the hearts,
souls and minds of the sons and daughters of Northers
Ireland, notwithstanding and i n spite of the Penal code.
Such a grand National exhibition, portraying the Truth,
the whole Truth, and nothing but the Truth as it was i n
the days of old and as i t is to-day; and thereby showing
to the world at large that we are not afraid or ashamed of
the Truth, but love i t , would do much to k i l l the evils of
Imperialism and Hypocrisy, to revive the spirit of Patriotism,
and to teach ourselves and others as well that the Nation
lives on ; that the Irish question, which is the National
question, was far from being settled, and could never be
settled, and would never be settled except on the basis of
the U n i t y and Independence of the Nation, and hence never
on the basis of Partition.
One word more, men and women of E r i n . Awake, arise,
unmask hypocrisy i n high places ; unmask the hypocrites,
our modern Scribes and Pharisees, who are telling us that
this ancient land of ours is free; that she has National
Freedom, Political Freedom, Economic Freedom, Freedom
from the Penal Laws. A l l is a gigantic lie. The truth is she
is to-day i n Imperialistic chains, dying before our very eyes,
and her heart's blood pouring out on every side. Know,
therefore, the Truth ; realize i t fully and vividly, act according to i t , stand for i t , fight for i t , and the Truth shall
make you Free, and gradually, but surely, shall heal the
wounds of Mother E r i n and restore her once more to strengtk
and health and comeliness.