Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-12-04
The Fcnian BrOtherhOOd-us IL q
secret <Ocsesyt
From the New YORK FreemAn's JOurnal.l

From the New YORK FreemAn's Journal
We were very glad to see in the late proceed.
ings OF the Grand Council of the Fenan Brother
hood at Chicago. published in our last issue, a
disclaimer that tins brotherhood is secret so
cety,' in any sense condemned by the Catholic
Church
Practical movements in politics. at home or
abroad, must be conducted on other methods
than evaporation through newspapers. We must
be able TO say. In council, Gentlemen, what
transpres here is not to be spoken Of elsew here'
The newspapers, failing of desired item, will
call Il a secret meeting. The opposite system,
carried TO its results. would require some news
paper reporter 10 visit every man at his house,
and TO know what he says to his wife-and to
report it.
There is great ambiguity in the popular mind
a to what is the essence of 4 secret society for
hidden by the church l. it 4 secret signf Then
must not girl confess the TACT that, lling with
other girl on neig hbor, they agreed secretly
that when they wanted TO GO she would put her
fingers in special positionf II was secret sign.
known Only TO the initiated otherl But there are
passwords. What is poor bedeviled soldier of
Old Abe TO do, after being sworn, too when be
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. man. for a grave
reason. If be believes more in his neighbor's
conscience than Il. MS honor. may require of him
81 oath that he will perform a certain trust
Ii seems. then, that neither secret sign. nor a
password, nor oath is, in itself. against Cath
ole morals. Put all three together, do they put
a man to the ban of the church,
Ii seems 10 US that these are the accidents not
the substance of the societies the church
condemns. We know that II is important to
have light cast upon the subject in a CO I'd man.
ner There are some Catholic brethren that may
have troubled conscience without necessty on
this point That is why We think il well to open
the subject in our columns
Free Mason cannot be Catholic. Whyl
The reasons given 10 Us we're two, and they
suthced. In the FIRST place TO become Free
Mason one must promise obedience to-he does
not know what But the Catholic Church for
bids man abdicating his conscience, or putting
his judgment, or reason. in the keeping Of an
other man. Therefore Catholic Il forbidden to
give promise tying him to--he doe not know
what
The second reason given Us was. tn, the doc
trne "once Mason, ALWAYS a Mason. equally
embarrassed the free Will with which God en-
dow. every man These reasons prevent "a Cath.
Ole from being a Mason. These are the rea
sons. instructed, CD which the Catholic
Church proceeds 10 forbd5ing her children be
coming Free Masons.
Blu, suppose the whole object, purpose and OBJ
legation OF society 10 be open anu avowed
Suppose II TO be honest. pure aud good Suppose
further that a man IS challenged 70 proceed ia
joining such society. IN accordance with bis con-
science. and no further than his conscience ap-
proves. and that a, any moment be 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 Pied rnontese-the Yankees OF the Peninsula
or the liberation OF any other people. Is no, such
q society free from the marks Of the ohrrch's
condemnation. even II, a. sentries on pos, which
they are, they have eountersgns or other words
or indies by which friends may know their
friends
We put these inquiries forth In a spirit OF the
utmost opennese 10 correction There i not. ON
the face OF the'sloee. fenian Brother whom We.
st the same time know 20 be such and know bv