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capable of independent action. But they certainly furthered the movement by which
Prussia gradually became the leading state of Germany, considered by them as the
"representative and the protector of modern evolution" against "Ultramontanism",
"bigotry", and "Papal usurpations". They also instigated the "Kulturkampf". The
celebrated jurisconsult and Mason, Grandmaster Bluntschli, was one of the foremost
agitators in this conflict; he also stirred up the Swiss "Kulturkampf". At his instigation the
assembly of the "Federation of the German Grand Lodges", in order to increase lodge
activity in the sense of the "Kulturkampf", declared, 24 May, 1874: "It is a professional
duty for the lodges to see to it, that the brethren become fully conscious of the relations of
Freemasonry to the sphere of ethical life and cultural purposes. Freemasons are obliged to
put into effect the principles of Freemasonry in practical life and to defend the ethical
foundations of human society, whensoever these are assailed. The Federation of the
German Grand Lodges will provide, that every year questions of actuality be proposed to
all lodges for discussion and uniform action". [155] German Freemasons put forth
untiring efforts to exert a decisive influence on the whole life of the nation in keeping
with Masonic principles, thus maintaining a perpetual silent "Kulturkampf". The principal
means which they employ are popular libraries, conferences, the affiliation of kindred
associations and institutions, the creation, where necessary, of new institutions, through
which the Masonic spirit permeates the nation. [156] A similar activity is displayed by the
Austrian Freemasons.
The chief organization which in France secured the success of Freemasonry was the
famous "League of instruction" founded in 1867 by Bro. F. Macé, later a member of the
Senate. This league affiliated and implied with its spirit many other associations. French
Masonry and above all the Grand Orient of France has displayed the most systematic
activity as the dominating political element in the French "Kulturkampf" since 1877.
[157] From the official documents of French Masonry contained principally in the official
"Bulletin" and "Compte-rendu" of the Grand Orient it has been proved that all the anti-
clerical measures passed in the French Parliament were decreed beforehand in the
Masonic lodges and executed under the direction of the Grand Orient, whose avowed aim
is to control everything and everybody in France. [158] "I said in the assembly of 1898",
states the deputy Massé, the official orator of the Assembly of 1903, "that it is the
supreme duty of Freemasonry to interfere each day more and more in political and
profane struggles". "Success (in the anti-clerical combat) is in a large measure due to
Freemasonry; for it is its spirit, its programme, its methods, that have triumphed." "If the
Bloc has been established, this is owing to Freemasonry and to the discipline learned in
the lodges. The measures we have now to urge are the separation of Church and State and
a law concerning instruction. Let us put our trust in the word of our Bro. Combes". "For a
long time Freemasonry has been simply the republic in disguise", i.e., the secret
parliament and government of Freemasonry in reality rule France; the profane State,
Parliament, and Government merely execute its decrees. "We are the conscience of the
country"; "we are each year the funeral bell announcing the death of a cabinet that has not
done its duty but has betrayed the Republic; or we are its support, encouraging it by
saying in a solemn hour: I present you the word of the country . . . its satisfecit which is
wanted by you, or its reproach that to-morrow will be sealed by your fall". "We need
vigilance and above all mutual confidence, if we are to accomplish our work, as yet
unfinished. This work, you know . . . the anti-clerical combat, is going on. The Republic
must rid itself of the religious congregations, sweeping them off by a vigorous stroke. The
system of half measures is everywhere dangerous; the adversary must be crushed with a
single blow". [159] "It is beyond doubt", declared the President of the Assembly of 1902,
Bro. Blatin, with respect to the French elections of 1902, "that we would have been
defeated by our well-organized opponents, if Freemasonry had not spread over the whole
country". [160]
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CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Masonry (Freemasonry)
Along with this political activity Freemasonry employed against its adversaries, whether
real or supposed, a system of spying and false accusation, the exposure of which brought
about the downfall of the masonic cabinet of Combes. In truth all the "anti-clerical"
Masonic reforms carried out in France since 1877, such as the secularization of education,
measures against private Christian schools and charitable establishments, the suppression
of the religious orders and the spoliation of the Church, professedly culminate in an anti-
Christian and irreligious reorganization of human society, not only in France but
throughout the world. Thus French Freemasonry, as the standard-bearer of all
Freemasonry, pretends to inaugurate the golden era of the Masonic universal republic,
comprising in Masonic brotherhood all men and all nations. "The triumph of the
Galilean", said the president of the Grand Orient, Senator Delpech, on 20 September,
1902, "has lasted twenty centuries. But now he dies in his turn. The mysterious voice,
announcing (to Julian the Apostate) the death of Pan, to-day announces the death of the
impostor God who promised an era of justice and peace to those who believe in him. The
illusion has lasted a long time. The mendacious God is now disappearing in his turn; he
passes away to join in the dust of ages the divinities of India, Egypt, Greece, and Rome,
who saw so many creatures prostrate before their altars. Bro. Masons, we rejoice to state
that we are not without our share in this overthrow of the false prophets. The Romish
Church, founded on the Galilean myth, began to decay rapidly from the very day on
which the Masonic Association was established". [161]
The assertion of the French Masons: "We are the conscience of the country", was not true.
By the official statistics it was ascertained, that in all elections till 1906 the majority of
the votes were against the Masonic Bloc, and even the result in 1906 does not prove that
the Bloc, or Masonry, in its anti- clerical measures and purposes represents the will of the
nation, since the contrary is evident from many other facts. Much less does it represent
the "conscience" of the nation. The fact is, that the Bloc in 1906 secured a majority only
because the greater part of this majority voted against their "conscience". No doubt the
claims of Freemasonry in France are highly exaggerated, and such success as they have
had is due chiefly to the lowering of the moral tone in private and public life, facilitated
by the disunion existing among Catholics and by the serious political blunders which they
committed. Quite similar is the outer work of the Grand Orient of Italy which likewise
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