CULMINATION AGAINST LIBERTY.

Freethought Review, Volume I, Issue 11, 1 August 1884, Page 15

CULMINATION AGAINST LIBERTY.

In his encyclical against the Freemasons, the Pope says :—“ The sect of Masons aim unanimously, and steadily also, at the possession of the education of children. They understand that a tender age is easily bent, and that there is no more useful way of preparing for the State such citizens as they wish. Hence, in the instruction and education of children, they do not leave to the ministers of the Church any part, either in directing or watching them. In many places, they have gone so far that children’s education is all in the hands of laymen; and from moral teaching every idea is banished of those holy and great duties which bind together man and God. The principles of social science follow. Here, naturalists teach that men have all the same rights, and are perfectly equal in condition ; that every man is naturally independent; that no one has a right to command others ; that it is tyranny to keep men subjecfl to any other authority than that which emanates from themselves. Hence, the people are sovereign ; those who rule have no authority but by the commission and concession of the people. So that they can be deposed willing or unwilling, according to the wishes of the people. The origin of all rights and civil duties is in the people or in the State, which is ruled according to the new principles of liberty. The State must be godless ; no reason why one religion ought to be preferred to another ; all to be held in the same esteem.”