Italian Unification and Freemasonry

The Prague Cemetery By Umberto Eco

I'm re-reading this strange novel. The first reading left me confused. Perhaps I will understand it this time.  The author, Umberto Eco, begins with a discussion of Italian society, circa 1730. He wanders between politics, religion, and epicurean delights, while strangely weaving in prejudices and other ailments of society. In the warp and woof of the book the author was also relentless with descriptive passages about dirt, grime, filth, and poverty. Initially, in an effort to get the reader to 'think' carefully about several nasty subjects, he moves to a confusion of: 

Anti-semitism, 
Class superiority, 
Perceived evil ambitions of Catholicism, and 
The Freemasons ultimate intention to take over the world.  

This  last caught my attention just before I threw the book in the trash.  

I've been a Freemason for almost fifty years and never encountered religious, political, or racial bias in the workings of the Masonic Craft. Yes,  there have been past and present anti-Masonic fabrications intended to defame  this wise and gentle Masonic Craft.  

All have proven false and unworthy of repetition. 

THE HOLY ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH This subject is MORE IMPORTANT. Since 1738 the Roman Catholic Church has forbidden (by Papal ban)  Catholic men to become Freemasons, and the penalty is excommunication. This precedent is not based on a misunderstanding. There was (and still is) fundamental differences of opinion between the Catholic Church and Freemasonry. The first anti-Masonic measures were taken by Protestant Governments: Holland 1735; Sweden 1736; Zurich 1740; and Berne 1745. Next the Catholics in Spain, Portugal, and Italy 1748; Bavaria 1784; Austria 1795; Baden 1813; and Russia 1822. Lastly, between 1827 and 1834 measures were taken against Freemasonry in some of the United States of America. It was Pope Leo XIII who stated; 

"The ultimate purpose of Freemasonry is the overthrow of the whole religious, political, and social order based on Christian institutions and the establishment of a new state of things according to their own ideas and based in its principles and laws on pure naturalism." 

He was wrong. The statement is completely and absolutely incorrect. 

THE CATHOLIC OPPOSITION

1. Freemasonry is not a religion or religious theology. It can not be directly compared directly to Catholicism.. 
2. It is not connected exclusively to any known religion. 
3. But various parts of it's ritual and philosophy are reverently borrowed from many religions.
4. Freemasonry is not an advocate for overthrowing any peaceful government, religious, political or social order. 
5. As we understand it "pure naturalism" has no connection whatever with Freemasonry. Freemasonry systematically promotes religious indifferentism and undermines true orthodox Christian and Catholic Faith and life.
6. Freemasonry is essentially Naturalism and hence opposed to all supernaturalism.
7. Freemasonry is accused by the Catholic Church of secretly plotting against the Church or lawful authorities. This is simply vicious and not at all true within the Masonic Lodges authorized by the Grand Lodge of England. 
8. Pope (Piuis IX) characterized Freemasonry as an insidious, fraudulent and perverse organization injurious both to religion and society. Totally wrong on all counts when discussing the Grand Lodge of England.

After all of these Papal rulings, some hundreds of years old, the issue is further confused by: 

• The word "excommunication" is simply an ecclesiastical penalty affecting Church members only.  
• The Third Council of Baltimore states the method of ascertaining whether a society is to be regarded as comprised in the papal condemnation of Freemasonry - reserves the FINAL (?) decision thereon to a commission of all the archbishops of the ecclesiastical provinces represented in the council, and, if they can not reach a unanimous conclusion, refers to the Holy See.

Years ago there was a Priest serving a parish near my home was known to be friendly to Freemasonry. When I was an officer in a local Masonic Lodge, at my request, he took the part of a Chaplain at a cornerstone ceremony, and I was able to talk to him at length. It was he that pointed out that, contrary to what I had been told, Freemasonry as it is practiced in other parts of the world is not the same as that practiced in Lodges approved by the Grand Lodge of England.  It has never been the same. 

All American Masonic Lodges operate with the approval of the English Grand Lodge, which is a real but informal authority. No single person or executive governs or manages Freemasonry, and that includes American Lodges. Their is no hierarchy of men dictating to individual Lodges.  The organizational structure of Freemasonry is very simple: 

1. The English Grand Lodge accepted the ritual, working tools, and basic tenets of Masonry. 
2. The English Grand Lodge then made it known that any group of men that expressed a belief in a Supreme Being and wishing to become recognized as Freemasons had only to apply, meet the agreed standards and be given a name and number and then recorded as an authorized Masonic Lodge by the English Grand Lodge.

American Lodges use the English ritual in their rendition of the building of King Solomon's Temple. They use operative stone masons tools as symbols of various lessons taught. For the non-Mason, the ritual may be thought of as a revealed play or story that teaches a philosophy intended to improve life.  

The English Grand Lodge recognizes hundreds of other Grand Lodges located all over the world, and American Lodges recognize only Masonic jurisdictions that are recognized by the English Grand Lodge. 

World wide Freemasonry, Grand Lodges, and individual Masons NOT AUTHORIZED by the English Grand Lodge are not considered part of or members of Freemasonry. They are declared CLANDESTINE (not authorized, not recognized, and illegal, etc.) and CERTAINLY NOT FREEMASONS. 

ONE REASON WHY
Prominent differences with the Catholic Church include the Masonic requirement that a Mason must believe in one God (Supreme Being / Architect of the Universe, etc.) but makes no attempt to describe or define that belief.  The Catholic Church requires it's members to believe in the Trinity, God the father, Jesus the son, and the Holy Ghost - and believes that all who do not so believe are committing a sin. Freemasonry asks that a man believe in only one God - and insists they commit no sin by doing so.

Masons tend to study and discuss their history including ideas and theories that discuss what authors call "alternative histories", - yet prior to about 1720 factual Masonic history is lost in the fog of time. As discoveries are made, this may change someday. Until then Masons are aware of significant hints and reasonable speculations about what might have happened before 1720 -  but there is no factual evidence.

THE ENGLISH RELATIONSHIP
British and American Freemasonry are as compatible as father and son. They use the same or very similar ritual, same workman's tools as symbols, and share the same ambitions and charitable works. Liquors and other alcoholic beverages, hand guns, rifles, or weapons a are not permitted in Lodge rooms. They may be permitted in adjacent refreshment rooms. Also, in American Masonic Lodges (and possibly in England) members are requested to not discuss politics, religion, personal wealth or any other divisive or controversial subject. In all American and English Lodge rooms men are considered equal no matter their status or wealth or reputation. There is no rank or status of any kind. Masons are said to meet on the level in harmony.

KING SOLOMON'S TEMPLE
The ritual used by Masons to teach lessons in ethics, morals, and common sense is intertwined with the story of the building of King Solomon's Temple. This story is related to the version found in the book of Kings in the Holy Bible.

THE ORIGIN
The commonly accepted Masonic origin story asserts that when great cathedrals were being constructed in Europe, operative stone masons assembled in nearby  Lodges (meeting rooms often within a tavern or pub) and established a system of recognition, and a way to identify each stone masons skill level. These operative stone-masons met as noted and in functioned much like a modern labor union. The skill levels (Degrees) were named: 

1. Entered Apprentice   (new to the Craft)      
2. Fellowcraft               (Fellow or worker of the Craft)   
3. Master Mason.          (Experienced Senior Craftsman) 

NOW WE RETURN TO THE BOOK
The author, Umberto Eco, is a well European known intellectual who writes books that are sometimes a trial to read, but there is no question that the author is brilliant. With some hesitation, I say this is a book worth reading despite its sometimes loathsome content.  

In the beginning The Praque Cemetery is focused on prejudices of the late 19th century. Gradually the reader comes to understand that it is a historical novel about the Italian Unification 1848-1870. It touches on Garibaldi, Mazzani, the French Revolution, Napoleon, Pope Pius IX, The Roman Catholic Church, Sigmund Freud, the Dreyfus Affair, Alexander Dumas, and many Jews of the time. The convoluted storyline involves split personalities, dementia, murder, Anti-Semitism, and:

THE PROTOCOLS OF THE ELDERS OF ZION. 

KNOWN BEFORE READING THE BOOKThe Protocols are an infamous collection essays on prejudices common during the 19th Century. The collection was printed and distributed by the original Henry Ford and is known to be a disgusting anti-Semitic rant.

It is with anxious trepidation that I plan to read on.