The neglect to amend or reform themselves has led to the most serious and fatal consequences in this as in other countries, even the omission to turn its eyes back upon itself may be productive of inconvenience to the Grand Lodge of England; for public and private institutions require the corrective principle; but the corrective is not so much required in Freemasonry as the fulfilment of the original design, if such be possible; if it be not, then, indeed, some attention must be paid to such correction as shall preserve the original intention, with its adoption and practice at the present day; the arrangement as it now stands must be admitted to be curious, for it makes the subscribing Masters, Wardens, and Past Masters of a lodge to be the only eligible persons to attend the legislative body, yet the lodges to which they subscribe may be, and in fact are, in very many instances situated thousands of miles from the place of meeting, distributed over the habitable globe, making their attendance at the deliberations of the governing body, part of which they are, and which has the sole power of making, altering, or repealing laws, utterly impossible, leaving, of necessity, the making of new laws, or the altering those in existence, to such fortunate members of the fraternity whose place of residence may chance to be in the vicinity of the locality of the seat of government, but who may likewise be deprived of the privilege and right, as their absent co-legislators are, by any accidental removal of the place of meeting, at the caprice of a majority who happen to be present when such removal is proposed and voted. It is impossible to form a more complete disfranchisement of the Craft than is in operation at the present moment; the majority of the members of Grand Lodge are unable to attend, from causes over which they have no control. The members of Grand Lodge being the Masters of Lodges, Wardens, and Past Masters, are of necessity at the places in which the lodges are held, though the merely altering that one clause of the laws would not much facilitate the attendance of the eligible members, but that and other arrangements would enable the members of Grand Lodge, as at present constituted, to arrange a means of availing themselves of the privilege to which they are entitled, and which they are called upon to exercise. Neither reason nor justice can palliate the constrained absence, and by that means disfranchisement, of a large portion of the rulers and the governed, nor can the impolicy of such a course be excused. It would be ridiculous at this time of day, to point out the great dissatisfaction that has been expressed, by the people of every country, against their exclusion from participating in making the laws by which they were to be governed, and from their forced concurrence to the taxation they were compelled to pay, without an opportunity of their participating in a discussion upon the merits of such arrangements.

It is matter of notoriety that the dismemberment of societies, the decay of states, the revolutions of empires, the change of dynasties, the disorganization of entire populations arose from a partial, or unfair representation of the people in their legislative assemblies, or from the exclusion of either themselves or their representatives, when they had arrived, by their education, wealth, and civilization, at a state fit to be entrusted with the franchise, yet were nevertheless prevented, by direct or indirect coercive measures, from the performance of their prerogative. If the policy of some, either monarchial institutions or tyrannical governments, induced such a course, it may have been borne with patience by the sufferers, awaiting the dawn of more enlightened time; but what can be said for a society, which starts by saying, every member of it is on an

equality, and is to be designated fraternally, which concedes in the first clause of its laws the fullest, fairest, and most extended system of representative government, yet closes, by its silence or subsequent enactments, the possibility of more than a small section being the rulers. With the greatest care, the nicest sense of honour, and desire of impartiality, inequalities and abuses will spring up in an irresponsible body, constituted as the Grand Lodge of Freemasons is at present, which neglects the interest of the Craft when it neglects its own constitution and improvement; this improvement it must and can effect, wisely if not rashly, it must augment its power by increasing its efficiency, in accordance with the intentions of its formation; it must not disturb its constitution, but must concede something to the welfare of the Craft, which it pretends to be or to represent; it must reform itself within-from without in the spirit of its appointment. It is impossible to conceal from ourselves that at present it is in fact, but not in name, a despotism under the semblance of an unlimited and impartial constitution-unlimited in its power, if it have the inclination to coerce-it has no such intention or wish, and under the present Grand Master, no danger need be apprehended, nor fears entertained; the disposition of the Mason is tranquil within his lodge, as it is imperative without; but it is also in times like these, of satisfaction, ease, tranquillity, and the absence of abuse, that we can safely hold the mirror to ourselves, and seeing our defects, temperately and dispassionately urge them upon the consideration of the thoughtful. It is by such means the intellectual activity of the Mason will be increased, and the various demands for the alterations required by the present altered state of the society, be accomplished.

AN ACCOUNT OF

THE VICISSITUDES OF THE NEAPOLITAN MASONRY;

AND SEVERAL ANECDOTES RELATING TO IT.*

BY A***** C********.

EVERY one knows, especially the English as a free nation-and who could be ignorant in the century in which we live of the fact that the so called successors to St. Peter, viz: the Bishops of Rome, or Popes, and afterwards the Three Crowned Kings, have kept the nations of the entire globe in ignorance. To this end they have had recourse to every means, even to those of cruelty, oppression and crime, in order to obtain the mastery over the rights and property of the rest of the people, without excepting the kings, with whom they waged war when they were weaker, and whom they excommunicated when they were stronger.

The Holy Inquisition-this false, terrible and detestable tribunal of carnage-is it not known throughout the world?—is not its aim apparent ? -have I not myself entered several dungeons of the different inquisitions in Spain?-have I not seen the quartered limbs of human beings hanging in the dungeons?-have I not touched with my own hands the

* We have inserted this account of Neapolitan Masonry literatim, in the author's own words, and without comment.

cruel instruments which this hellish tribunal made use of to torment the wretched beings who had committed perhaps no other crime than that of not consenting to be dishonoured, by voluntarily delivering over their own sister, daughter, or even their wife, to the sordid lusts and fancies of a monk or of a prelate, or of having simply uttered a word which this diabolical tribunal did not sanction.

The so-called bull, by means of which even a king found himself excommunicated-separated from his wife and family-deprived of his rights, even of that of his birth, a right, which was even admitted and required by the same holy mother the Roman Catholic Apostolic Church, of which the holy father is the chief; this representative of Christ, who even forbids reading the Holy Scriptures, which is the word of God, who assumes the exclusive right of interpreting them to his fancy, of erasing some passages and entire chapters, and replacing them by others, forged by his head; taking upon himself the right and the power to modify, to change, and even to do away with that which Christ has told us in His word.

Although it be not my aim to speak of the popes and of their famous doings, yet I had to premise a few words in regard to them as they were the chief source and cause of all the evils, which weigh down humanity.

The Pontiff Leo X. added to the bull, edited on the 15th of June 1520: "That the pope has the power of interpreting the Scriptures and of teaching them as he pleases;" and in the 30th article of the same bull he says: "The pope does not receive his authority, his dignity and his power, from the Scriptures, but the Scriptures receive it from the pope' (horrible). Moreover, Gregory VIII. says, in one of his writings, that no book of the Holy Scriptures can be accepted as Canonical without his authority; that the pope can change the nature of things, and can call forth from nothingness any quantity he likes; that he can dispose in regard to the Gospel, to the Apostles, and to the old and new Testament, being beyond all of them, and that it is sacrilege to judge of the actions of the pope. This will be sufficient to prove, that the evils of humanity proceed from the injustice of men who have ruled over us, and who unfortunately rule over us this day.

After these few preliminary words, let me now introduce the reader to the object of my present discourse.

Before 1793, the Freemasons of the Kingdom of Naples consisted only of a small number, composed of men of the highest honour and respectability, and part of the nobility. Their meetings were inaccessible, and even the court did not know that such a society existed. The choice of learned men formed its greatest part, and their labours had not the least political tendency. The people were not burthened with heavy taxes; tobacco did not pay any duty, and the literary men, who, on account of their close application to study, had most need of making use of it, could procure it at a small expense. Towards the end of 1783, the king being in want of a sum of money, alleging that it were required for an unforeseen emergency of the state, summoned his private councillor, and having communicated to him his wishes, was told, that there was nothing more easy, and that a small duty on tobacco, which was extremely cheap, would realize beyond that sum, and that neither the young people who were smoking, nor the small number of aged men who took snuff, would venture to complain about it. On the ground of this proposition, a duty was laid on tobacco; and the treasury advanced the sum wanted by the sovereign. The snuff-takers, however, who had been

able until now to procure this luxury at a trifling expense, which had become by habit a want to them, began to grumble and complain. They united, according to the advice of several dissatisfied snuff-taking Masons, and resolved to put, during the night, their snuff-boxes before the gate of the royal palace-and it was done so.

Next morning it was reported to the king, that about 3800 snuff-boxes had been found at the gate of the palace, and the prince, surprised at the unanimity in this expedient, and having received the required sum, commanded that the order which was given in regard to tobacco should be retracted.

In 1793, after the French Revolution, some relation was established between the French and Neapolitan masons. At this period, the ignorance in Naples being almost complete and general, there were but few educated persons; and in consequence, a few Masons, who, seeing their poor country suffering on account of ignorance under the oppression of an imbecile king, of an impious and cruel queen, and of thieving and ignorant ministers, joined to their philosophical objects, those of politics, which tended to the liberty of their country, by means of instruction of the more clever and the more talented young people. As this class of enlightened persons were all applying-one to the civil law, another to medicine, others to public lectures in philosophy, law, mathematics, poetry, and literature, they were able, after a persevering labour, to form clubs and instruct a part of the young people of the middle classes, some unprejudiced nobles, and some ecclesiastics, who made themselves conspicuous in the cause of liberty.

Superstition and ignorance of the people were the cause of so many disasters, which befell the human race. In 1798, the republican French army under command of General Championet received orders to take possession of the kingdom of Naples. The government of Bourbon, instead of taking measures to defend itself and to oppose the invading army, which was of little consequence, and might have been beateneven routed-took to flight after having emptied the treasury and boxes of the state, and went to Sicily, with the king and all his family, leaving everywhere placards which enjoined the people to keep themselves quiet, as the French were coming as friends. Then the employees deserted their offices, and their chiefs were the first among them to leave the coast, imagining that the French were cannibals, who wanted to devour them; and the arsenals, magazines, manufactories of arms and ammunition, and all other public property, became a prey to the lower orders. In this state of affairs, the Neapolitans of the middle classes took arms to preserve public order, and to prevent the disorder into which the lower class might have thrown themselves, who thought only of rapine. Those of the middle classes, armed, went through the whole town, even on the high roads, with the greatest perseverance, and they succeeded to maintain order until the French arrived at Naples.

The French general, informed of the state of affairs, assembled the few influential persons who were pointed out to him, and they took measures to put the affairs of government in order again, already constituted as a republic. A number of instructed persons, nearly all of them Masons, were called to the patriotic chamber, and were given as chiefs to all branches of public administration. This new government, which was no more in opposition to the rights of man, and the chiefs of which were the most distinguished persons of the land, made room for the patriotic and philanthro-philosophical re-unions.

The Masons re-united, several lodges were formed, and in the space of eight months they increased considerably. The enlightenment made rapid progress; but to accomplish the instruction of the lower classes, which were plunged in ignorance, and filled with prejudices, was a difficult task. The clubs, which had been formed, consisted of public re-unions, into which the lower classes were admitted, and they effected some progress in knowledge; but the time was too short, as, unfortunately for the Neapolitans, it lasted but eight months. The queen, who, at this moment in Sicily, vexed at having left the kingdom in the power of the French and of the republicans, did not lose a moment, and sent an emissary to Calabria, in order to stir up this cruel, ignorant, and superstitious people against the republicans. This emissary was the Cardinal Ruffo, who, putting himself at the head of some men liberated from the galleys, of some bandits and slaves, devoted to the tyranny for their own interest, came from Sicily, disembarked in Calabria, in order to preach to this rapacious people the right of legitimacy of the king. He made them believe that the holy faith was opposed to all principles of liberty, that the republicans were excommunicated as enemies to that holy faith, and in consequence damned; that they must fight and destroy them; that their possessions and inheritance became the property of the defenders of the holy faith. He would put himself at their head, and would give them leave to pillage the whole population, who should dare to defend themselves, and to resist the army of the holy faith. He would grant them full indulgence and remission of sins for every murder which they might commit.

These promises, given to a rapacious people, were followed by the greatest results. An immense number of Calabrians joined themselves to the cardinal, and marched upon Naples.

It would be impossible for me to relate the atrocity committed by this mass of tigers, eager for blood and prey, who robbed whilst assassinating the peaceful inhabitants whom they met. It was reason enough to have the hair cut, that is to say to those who wore no tail, to be put to the most cruel death, under pretext that they were Jacobites (that was the name these robbers gave to the republicans which they robbed and killed.) But all this is nothing in comparison with that which they committed on arriving at Naples-there the pillage and carnage lasted four days. No regard was paid to old age, children, or invalids, if they only were pronounced Jacobites. This name was sufficient for the unfortunate citizen being robbed, killed, cut to pieces, thrown into the fire, and devoured by this kind of very brutes in the human shape. Excited and encouraged by the cardinal their leader, these brave and faithful followers gave themselves over to the most horrible of atrocities. Fires were blazing in all open spaces, in order to throw into them, alive, the most respectable inhabitants of the town; the heads of the fathers of peaceful families were paraded on pikes through the streets, and with them they played foot-ball. I shudder with horror whilst writing these recollections of my boyhood, and I am almost too weak to write them. Some readers will think that I exaggerate things by making use of such definite terms in my narration; but no, I relate truth and real facts, without exaggerating or changing them: and I appeal to history as my witness.

After this most barbarous carnage, the parallel of which is not to be found in the history of any nation in the world, they proceeded to the imprisonment of all the citizens who had filled public situations, or who had written or acted in favour of the republic. But, who were those men?