diced b Jos e S. Arc a, - non

masonry and his attitude towards the religious phenomenon stands outclearly from his published statements and aphorisms:Masonry is the greatest, the holiest human institution. It seeks to realize theGOOD, freely conceived and freely exercised.Faith, nothing but faith—but in the rational, in what is evident in itself.''The Filipino colony in Madrid, and in a special way, Jose Rizal, alwayscounted on Morayta, as well as on Rafael Maria de Labra and Pi y'Margall,their most distinguished friends, sympathizers, and defenders. The first wasRizal's professor in history, who listened with admiration to the toast thelatter pronounced during the homage offered to Juan Luna e Hidalgo in 1885,and counted on his participation at a commemorative function in GiordanoBruno's honor. Morayta certainly influenced the growth and final formationof Rizal's mind, as well as the plan of the Noli.I shall concentrate on only one of Morayta's writings, part of which I findin Rizal's novel, namely, the inaugural address for the academic year 1884-1885. It caused quite an impact on Spanish public opinion but scandalized themore conservative Catholic circles."2 It also brought on a serious crisis inRizal's academic career, as can be seen in his diary.Morayta's lecture traced the evolution of Egyptian religious ideas. Todaysome of his statements are acceptable, but not in nineteenth-century CatholicSpain. Others were and will always be open to question. His most importantstatements were: Egyptian culture contains thoroughly religious elements;man's origin as described in the book of Genesis cannot be literally accepted;religion, like culture, evolves; the idea of Purgatory is already found inEgyptian religion; Pharaonic hieroglyphics and Champollion are mentioned.But here are samples of statements that apparently hurt the sensibilities ofmany Catholics:It is now illicit to place Israel at the head of universal history. (page 85)The authoritative arguments of science coincided with those of the pagan gods;books learned by memory are a contradiction in the University. (page 93)The Church hierarchy read in the second a frontal attack on all kinds ofteaching authority, including the Church, and the authority of Scripture, andthis explains the violent reaction to Morayta's words.Did Rizal attend this lecture? Chapter 14 of his novel discusses the ideaof Purgatory in pre-Christian religions, while chapter 40 mentions the "most105