Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1863-05-12
A Disloyal Organization Exposed at the Cathe-
deral by Bishop smyth.

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On Sunday afternoon last, after the
usual yesper services at the Cathedral,
Bishop Symth addressed his congregation
on the subject of secret societies. lie al
luded in the first place 10 secret societies IN
general, and the dlsfayor with which the
Catholic church has always regarded them.
He then, in earnest, pointed, ana unmis-
taxable terms, mentioned Il secret organl-
cation which he said had been in process
of organization in this city during the past
few weeks. and into which several members
cf. Is Church had been initiated, and which
he very much feared, had no good snten-
ton towords the Government of he Unat-
ed States. Ii was led, he said, by "low
political hack" who, he had been inform
ed by those whose words he did not doubt
had been Know Nothing elsewhere: lie
warned the members of bis church not to
join that society. He called to their MEM
cries similar associations, which were once
organized in Ireland in opposition to the
English Government, the members OF
which bad been betrayed by the consplli-
tors, who had been bribed, into the hands
of the British Government, to be tried for
high treason. What evidence had they
that these men who were building up this
society in Dubuque were any better than
the leaders OF similar societies in Ireland!
The rules of the Church did not allow any
of its members to belong to societies OF the
kihdi aud if they joined them, the moment
they did so they were ipso fdcto out OF the
pale of the Church. He would give those
members of the Church who had joined the
organization Two weeks to leave, aud then,
if they still continued in it, they might con-
slider themselves accommodated. The
Bishop the n concluded with most eloquent
appeal to his hearers to sustain the Govern
ment under which they lived, to obey its
laws, cherish proper respect for its rulers,
and not be led into any schemes which
tended to lessen their love for their adopt
ed country and its constituted authorities,
which might BE- gotten up by politicians.
The Copperheads who were engaged in
organizing the Society supposed they had
things in very fine way. They were re-
eeiyng arms and making arrangements for
Bold exhibition of loyalty-to the South
ern Confederacy one of these days when
the draft should be ordered. Everything
was kept very quiet, and scarcely anybody
knew anything about it until Sabbath af-
ternoon, when Bishop Smyth's remarks fell
upon the eals Of the conspirators like a
thunderbolt Some of the men concerned
in it were present, and afterwards as much
as admitted that they belonged to it. The
effect will be very beneficial. 1t viii open
the eyes of large numbers Of deluded ones,
who had got the idea that because several
disloyal persons were members of the
Catholic Church, the Church itself was
in favor Of their movements, and thus they
were led into disloyal operations them
selves-Du6uqlte Times.
NorE.-We commend the above to
some Of our Potosi friends in proof hat
we were right in our statements sometime
since, that Catholics have no right to be
members of the K. G. C's., nor any other
disloyal association.