THE LATE GRAND MASTER OF ENGLISH MASONS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 75, 3 October 1874, Page 8

THE LATE GRAND MASTER OF ENGLISH MASONS.

jVe certainly live in an age of extraordinary events, if not of miracles, lhe convemon of the lute Grand Master of English Masons, the Marquis ojn,pon, to the Catholic faith is so much beyond the orS nary course of events, that it may well be regarded I SraeuloSfa^nd ?g? g T » thß Conve " io » of Co-tanti.Te. Ll^nnlZd,?n7« nf u'h M° CCUrre T eim \ Bfccreate a s^ong sensation in the winds < of all the Musons throughout the world. It must set every been saU tUt the fairest flowers in the Anglican Church are being o?EtnT m r toth - Po P e '"8 arrie1 '- We now seethe most em 3 of JLnglbli meu— eminent for personal worth, rank, wealth, and talent quitting not only the Anglican Church, but\,n institution Ttill mor.) extenMvey dUlused and important- the Maionic body-to enter the 2.™ 7 Wed ?«{ J« *„oT,«.d shall probably never know! Oraiiu Ma-ter of the English Masons was led to perceive the claims the Catholic faith had to hi. a*e.,t. This, however we do know : ,hat the Catholic faith i, a Divine gift, and «Ul«>Ty be granted to tho.e who ask it aright. No amount ot human study or leSg apait from Dmne grate and humility and docility of mind will evfr procure the Catholic faith to anyone. We „.«/£ su"e, slerefore5 lerefore Sriir^rid 1 lnUch , lord J . {i P° n>B ««•* '.atural talent his learnng a F nmt V* n ' flecti ° n °" theev«,tsofthe age now pawing before him, may haye contributed to open hie eyes to S aslfr^ rift I ? UP °f{ 7 °^ m ; nd * llich filted him t° receive that CW*h JZ B ? J 1 ! 0 h , and ° f God ' The CtttJlolie C' I "^' is the Church of the poor and lowly , n a more especial manner. She can exist ,„ npito oi lhe opposition of the great and wealthy. Yet it Kno doubt, «o her great benefit whei. men ot wealth and rank, and extend social und po htical mfluence, like lord Ripon, hove the grace to loin 1 ' TT V - d i l V der th «very peculiar drcumstaiS in which he w»s plated prior to his r. ception. «m«i l !i Ma *°ll io J bw lT i ° f which )ie WBB the llead J n England, is the impl.cat.le and deadly enemy of the Catholic Church. When the CWh conquertd li,m, tlurefore, she secured a most glorious tr" 2 '^h " P H WblCll! M U ° nmy Bl 'PP° B0 ' Would be Crated in the tourtoiheavtn üboye with great joy, flB it certainly will be by all

EngJiih-epeaking Catholics throughout the world. The English Bfaioa next, in point of Masonic eminence, to Lord Ri pon i> probablr the Prince of Wale*. Humanly speaking, it is very unlikely that 1./ will have the jrrace to take a limilar step to that which Lord Hipon has taken ; yet even lie, in common with all other English brethren of the « mystic tie," must be a little staggered at the course Lord Kipon lias taken, and feel ut their wits* end what to think about it Will Disraeli write a novel on the occasion, as he wrote " Loth&ir '» when the wealthy Marquis of Bute joined the Churcli ? Lord Rinon is no vreak-nnnded devotee, but a mm of the world, and a politician of of exponence, besides being an influential member of the British House of Peers. His religious convictions and his political creed mutt be in unison. He sees tlie dangers which threaten Christendom from present influences, hostile to the Catholic Church, and he adoDts Hk course accordingly. He no doubt has a following— a party amonir the English Protestant aristocracy, who share his convictions, and who.sooner or later, will foJow him into the Church. The next to come over to Rome may he Disraeli himself. We have seen quite as unlikely things in our time. It would not surprise us in the least to hear of the conversion both of Mr Disraeli and Mr Gladstone to the Church The former lias just toltl us that Catholicism and Atheism are the two" great master powers in Europe at this hour. We must all choose one side or the other; Protestantism is politically dead. The enamies of the Catholic Church generally, but throughout the British empire in in particular, may well be puzzled and perplexed when they examine her position at tins moment. There is no public demonstration of physical force being made on her behalf, or likely to be made No powerful military Government is lifting a hand or saying so much as ii word in her favor. On the contrary, the ino#t powerful military Government in modern times is laboring for her ruin. Catholic bishops prießt6.nndrphgio.uire being gagged, reduced to beggary.and driven into exile. Her Visible Head lnis been stripped of nis temporal possessions and is a virtual prisoner in the hands of his eneuiie<,not sure of his hfc for a Uuy. Yet, m spite of all this, never was the Church more powerf( 1 or influential. Her Visible Head commands more reverence and respect than the most powerful and richest of his enemies. She is extending her triumphs in all lands, and mo»t of all in England, the natural home of the free and the brave. The chief cause of all this is to be sought for in the power of prayer and the Sucraments. The Catholics of the world aro now united, with one heart and one mind in besieging the Throne of God to entreat Him to show mercy to llis Church. They have formed a solemn league of prayer for that end lhis is the true secret of the present triumph of the Church, Happy for her when she does not trust to an arm of flesh — to carnal weapons to concordats, or Government patronage, but puts her chief trust m prayer and the providence of God, to whom she commits her cause. J here i« a power at work in her interest superior to' the power of Bismarck or any of her enemies. In short, Providence has its own policy and in that policy Catholics now place their confidence. We see it developing itself in such events as the conversion of the Marquis of Kipon. Far better that the Catholic faith progress in Kngland slowly and steadil.?, as now, rather than by violent and euddea commotion su-h as heralded " Protestantism" in the 16th century. Where noise and tumult are, there tho spirit of God will not come.