Laws against Freemasonry 
( Last modified on 13 Sep 2010 23:05 )

In addition to the hatred of Freemasonry by the Catholic Church there have been several attempts by governments to outlaw the Freemasons. Of course any 'laws' issued by the Catholic Church only apply to good Catholics.  The other 5/6 of the population cares not about the 'laws' issued by the Pope so they mean nothing to non-Catholics, who care not one bit what the Pope has to say about anything.

An act of Parliament in 1429 made felons of all Masons who confederated into chapters.  The punishment was imprisonment and a fine.  This law seems to have never actually been enforced. 

Queen Elizabeth, in 1561, ordered the Grand Lodge of England broken up and forbade Freemasons to meet in their Lodges.  However some of her best official joined the Masonic Lodges and she wound up withdrawing her objection to the Freemasons.

France passed a law abolishing Freemasonry in 1637 because France considered it a threat to the government.  Public opinion got this law nullified.

Maria Theresa of Germany, because of pressure from the Ladies of her court, issued that Masons should be arrested while engaged in their Lodge work.  However the Emperor Joseph I was a member of the Fraternity and persuaded the women to give up their foolish idea of arresting the Masons.  It had something to do with the fact that the Masons would not ell the Masonic Secrets to their wives. Nothing is so oppressive as a secret and women find it difficult to keep one.

The Great Council of Berne in Switzerland denounced Freemasonry in 1745.  Freemasons were no longer allowed to work in the Republic.

Freemason were questioned in 1757 in Edinburg, Scotland about their ceremonies and if the Holy Bible was used and if 1 Kings 7-21 was read to them.

King Frederick Augustus II of Poland forbade Freemasonry under penalty of death.

Frederick I of Sweden forbade Freemasonry in his dominions in 1740 under penalty of death.

In 1751 Charles III of Spain prohibited Masonic Rites in Naples.

John VI issued a prohibition of Freemasonry in Brazil.

See "The Story of Freemasonry" by Sibley page 14-17.

Adolf Hitler outlawed Freemasonry.  Most dictators do not like Freemasonry while most countries where the people have some freedom do not object to Freemasonry.  In most countries where Freemasonry has been outlawed it simply goes underground until moronic leader who outlawed Freemasonry had died or has been removed from office.  Those who oppose Freemasonry are most likely ignorant people who have no idea what Freemasonry is about.  It is no loss to society when an Anti-Masonic person ceases to exist.

The Catholic Church had enough influence in Holland to get Freemasonry outlawed in 1735.