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Show TYRANNY OF MASONRY. Frenchmen Swear No Longer by the Cross But by the Triangle. An episode in a trial at the Palais de Justice recently affords a glaring exr ample of secret working, which will probably have long'erhoe6, reports the London Tablet. It was the case of M Berenger, editor of the Action, against the ex-Abbe Charbonnel, editor o the Raieon, and one of the witnesses, M. Tery, who is a university professor and a supporter of the government, in the course "of his evidence made the following declaration, to the effect that he could not state the whole truth against M. Delpech, one of the persons concerned. The Gaulojs thus reports hi words: "I am ready to speak the truth, but I cannot take an oath to apeak the whole truth. The caso wJiieh you are now trying here has already been before another tribunal, that or the Grand-Orient. One of the principal princi-pal persons concerned has by it been declared innocent; and orders have accordingly ac-cordingly been issued to every Freemason Free-mason to proclaim him such. Whatever What-ever therefore I might think or know, unless this person whi is 'here relieve me from my Masonic oath I am bound to obey this order and cannot therefore forawear to tell the whole truth." One can imagine what a sensation was produced by this declaration. Maitre Labori, who was counsel in the case, exclaimed indignantly: "So, above your jurisdiction there is an occult oc-cult jurisdiction, above your justice a secret Justice occult justice more powerful pow-erful than legal justice. And we have come to this, that when witnesses appear ap-pear to be sworn, this Jurisdiction I weighs on their conscience and pre-j pre-j vents their telling the truth. I confess ' that I am deeply moved, as the future of France will end by being affected, as all the honor of justice will be ruined." There was a burst of applause in court. "I share your' feeling," said M. Lescouve, . the presiding judge: "there is here only cue justice, the true one, and only one oath, that of the Code." "I very much wish," continued contin-ued the witness, "lo take the oath; the trouble of having a.bolished the cath before the crucifix should not have been taken in order to make us slaves of that taken on the triangle; but you must know that those wFfo have sworn to the Masonic oath are not free to tell the truth." But the matter dd mit endjiere. M. Laffere, president of the Grand-Orient, apparently "almost beside, himself with indignation at such a.. damning declaration being trade, in the public court, so far forgot himself an to effect to treat M. Tery, who is a I notorious anti-clerical, as a clerical, j and worse, jn order to discredit his evl-.l deuce. ' But M." .Tery .Replied after :'. J method which AI. Villentiive i.ws I ployed with' such effect. Instead of ! any futile protestation of his truthfulness truth-fulness he simply published the fol--; lowing document issued by the council of order on March T: "A. certain number of lodges, much disturbed by a recent scandal in which th.e name of our dear Brother Delpech is .mixed up, have addressed themselves them-selves 'to the council of order asking I ita advice. We do not- think it would i be possible to give a clearer answer than by reproducing the teat of a letter let-ter which the council of order, at its' meeting in February, 1!0L decided to address to its former president, which lis in the following terms: 'Orient of I Paris, Feb. 3, 1904. To the dear Brother Broth-er Deloech, former president of the council ef order. Most dear Brother The council of order at its meeting on Feb. 1, was informed of the incidents which for gome days pa't have pre-: pre-: occupied the minds of republicans. Moved by the unjustified attacks directed di-rected against you, the members of tha council have unanimously resolved to send you a freah witnpss of their affection af-fection and of the profound esteem which they entertain in your regard; and they identify themselves completely com-pletely with you in these painful circumstances. cir-cumstances. All who belong to Free masonry and to the republican party know your bravery, your loyalty, the ! strength, of your convictions and the ! beautiful unity of your IJfe wholly consecrated to the defense of things that are just. You have the right Iq despise the insults the aim of which is to strike our party as well as yourself; your-self; but it has nevertheless seemed good to u to express to you once again our sympathy and our absolute confidence. The vice president of the council, Sineholle.' We should add that Masonic justice has been regularly in-forme in-forme of these incidents, kafferre, president of the council of order. Sineholle, Sin-eholle, Morin, Vice Presidents Pas quier, Garde des Sceaux." , |