Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-12-07

The Surgeon Generals Department.
The Ordnance Department
Congress is soon to assemble, and there will
then be such an exposure of Mr.. Stanton's cor
ruption and administration as the country
has never yet Witnessed New York World.
The Fenian Brothe-hoOd-Is Ii n
secret Socsety!
from the New YORK Freeman's Journal
We were very glad to see in the late proceed
ings OF the Grand Council OF the Feniam Brother
hood at Chicago, Published in our last issue, a
disclaimer that this brotherhood is a .-secret So
ciety," in any sense condemned by the Catholic
Church.
Practical movements in politics, at home or
abroad, mus be conducted on other methods
than evaporation through newspapers. We must
be able to say, in council, "Gentlemen, what
transpires here is not 10 be spoken of elsewhere'
The newspapers. failing of desired item. will
call it secret meeting. The opposite system,
carried TO its results, would require some news
paper reporter to visit every man at his house,
and TO know what he says TO his wife-aad to
report it.
There is great ambiguity in the popular mind
as to what is the essence of a secret society for
hidden by the church. Is it "A secret sign? Then
must not girl confess the TACT that. calling with
an other girl on a neighbor, they agreed secretly
that, when they wInted to go. she would put her
fingers in special position? IL was secret sign
known only 70 the initiated otherl But there are
passwords. What is poor bedeviled soldier OF
Old Abe to do, after being sworn, too, when he
is set on sentry duty with knowledge of "A coun-
tersign, with orders to shoot every one approach
ing without giving It?
There remains the oath a man, for grave
reason, If he believes more in his neghbor'
conscience than in his honor, may require of him
an oath that he will perform certain trust.
1t seems, then, that neither secret sign, nor a
password, an oath, is, in ITSELF against Cath
Ollie morals Put all three together, do they put
a man TO the ban of the church?
1t seems to US that these are the accidents, not
the substance of the secret societies the church
condemns. We know that it is important to
have light cast upon the subject in candid man
ner. There some Catholic brethren that may
have a troubled conscience, without necessity, on
this point. That is why We think it well to open
the subject in our columns.
A Free Mason cannot be Catholic. Why's
The reasons given to US were two, and they
suficed. In the first place, to become Free
Mason one must promise obeiience to-he does
not know what. But the Catholic Church for
bids man abdicating bis conscience, or putting
his judgment. reason, in the keeping of any
other man. Therefore Catholic is forbidden to
give promise tying him to--he does not know
what.
The second reason given us was, that the doc
trine "once Mason, always Mason" equally
embarrassed the free will with which God en-
dows every man. These reasons prevent a Cath
Ollie from being Mason These the rea-
sons, as we are instructed, on which the Catholic
Church proceeds in forbidding her children be
coming Free Masons.
But suppose the whole object, purpose and OBJ
| liuation of sociQrv 10 he and wad
Suppose it to be honest, pure and good. Suppose
further that a man is challenged TO proceed, in
joining such society, in accordance with his con-
science and no further than his conscience APP
proves, and that at any moment he is free, with
out penalty aud without disgrace. to withdraw
A society having in view the liberation of Ire
land from British oppression, the liberation OF
| Poland from Russia. the liberation of Italy from
the Piedmontese-the Yankees of the Peninsula
OF the liberation OF any other people is not such
society free from the marks of the church's
condemnation even if. as sentries on post which
they are), they have countersgns or other words
or induces by which friends may know their
| friends. lE--1
We put these inquiries forth in spirit of the
utmost openness &c correction. There is not, on
the face of the globe, Fenian Brother whomwe.
at the same time, know to be such, and know by
sight to be a man. We do not know that they
| nave Signs, paSeWOfus, SftpSs OF ohtifS 70 Keep
some things secret. Their opponents have
charged these upon them. Suppose all to be
true that is charged Suppose that il is secret
who belong 20 the organization. Suppose that
the immediate plans and proceedings and meet
ings are secret Suppose that. in the view of the
possibility OF a coming opportunity for noble old
ireland TO disenthraIl herself from oppressive
England. her sons, in different cimes. league "a
aid the glorious effort. as William Tell and his
confederates leagred for the rescue OF Switzer
| land under the solemnity of an oath. Suppose
that these conIederates give each other counter
/ signs as is practiced in armed forces, which are
not to be revealed except 20 those having the
proper caim-our question is, If the right OF each
individual be secured TO withdraw, at any mo
ment he thinks right from such confederacy oil
lrishmen. is there anthing that the Catholic
Church condemns in the general plan? a
We have seen a condemnation of somewhat
similar societies existing in Ireland, by one OF
two Irish bishops. That condemnation proceed
ed upon political Judgment of the bishops. thai
the movement was not for the good of Ireland
Now. God has made no revelation to the church
in regard TO what is for the temporal good of Ire
land. The judgment ola bishop on such mat
ter is no better than the judgment Of physician
1t is political Judgment and belongs to states
men, not 20 theologlans; nor TO churchmen, who
are not always theoiogians.i Archbishop Cutler
writes condemnatory pastoral in Dublin; bu'
he has no Jurisdiction in those dioceses Of ouI
western American States where Catholic priests
iptrusted by their bishops wish the care ol
souls not only favor this brotherhood. but parti-
cipate 10 lie direction and diving arc honored with
all the rites of the church and with the reveren'
tial attendance of the brotherhood. These pas
torals, therefore. founded 90 the political views
OF their authors and not agreed 20 BY other Fps
copal, authorities, have no other effect than TO
make that bad thing, doubling ccnsciences, IN
some scrupulous but patriotic Irishmen.
So long as Catholic priests, unrebuked, belong
| 10 the FeniaI Brotherhood. aud no general Jaw
of the Catholic Church is brought 70 bear IN its
condemnation, the condemnation of individual
Bishops seem, in our best judgment, only 20 com
plicate the matter: The casuist yasses them by,
Ias opinions of Bishops, but the simple faithful
too often are disturbed without being controlled
By them. Hencea multitude of false consciencet
=.