Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-02-10
: From the Chicaro -.
from tos CElcagO llmet
The FenIan Brethe Ia ood-The Diff.
Guilty with the Catholic Ciergy-A
Circular from Bi>hob Duggan, of
Chicago, Denouncing the Brother
hood-Letter from Col. uuIitgan In
dorsing the Association.

hOOd-IettcT Col. gan IN
doTsing the Association.
Mention has frequently been made. in the col
umns Of the Times, OF an association of Irishmen
having the title OF the "Fenan Brotherhood"
Its objects and purposes as expressed by itself is
TO foster and organize sentiment OF Irish
tiOnaty, ami TO ultimately redeem Ireland from
the yoke OF British oppression. Reference also
has been made TO tie difficulty between the
" brotherhood" and the Catholic clergy The
organization was denounced some time since as a
secret one. repugnant the discipline OF the
Catholic Church. At the National Convention
of the Fenians, held in this city in November
last il was sought to remove this objection By the
passage of the following resolution.
ResOlDed, That we most distinctly declare and
make known TO all whom it may concern, that
the Fenian Brotherhood is not A secret society,
inasmuch "a no pledge of secrecy, express or i'm
piled, Is demanded from members thereof, neither
Is it an oath bound society. for no oath whatever
is required to entitle a man to all the privileges
of the association. Hence, If the mere fact of its
members pleiging themselves 10 secrecy can rem
der an association sinful according to the laws of
the Catholic Church, there being no pledge of
sesrecy, there can be no sin in becoming Fenian
Brother Again if the mere tact of rs members
being required TO take an oath upon entering il
can render IL sinful, where there i no oath re.
qured there can oe no sin. on. the grounds above
stated, in Joining the Fenian Brotherhood
ResoiUed, That. in order TO prevent misconcep.
ton To obligations in the future the fol
lowing be adopted az the only form that hence
forth is obligatory in order To entite candidate
to all the rights and privileges of membership in
the Feniia Brotherhood:
al, -, solemnly pledge nv sacred word of
honor. as a truthful aud honest man, that will
labor with earnest zeal for the liberation of Ire
land from the YOKE of England, aud for the es-
Enlistment of free and independent govern
ment on Irish soil; that l. - will implicitly
obey the orders OF my superior officers in the
Fenian Brotherhood; that will faithfully dis
charge the duties Of my membership, as laid down
in the constitution and by LAWS thereof; that
will do my utmost to promote feelings of love
aud kindly iorbearance among all Irshmen; and
that | will foster, defend and propa gate the
Fenian Brotherhood TO the utmost of my power ="
This appeared to satisfy many Catholics, who
previously had conscientious scruples against
connecting themselves with the Brotherhood
and the fenlanS increased rapidly in numbers and
influence. IL did not satisfy the clergy however
They regarded the Fenan resolutions rs cunning
evaslOns, designed 20 mslead by an ingenious ar
rangememt of words, without going into the
sence OF the point Mt issue. The Fenans propose
holding a National Fair in Chicago, in March
next, and the grand preparations making for the
affair has brought the Brotherhood once more
very prominently before the public Bishop
Duggan embraced the opportunity thus presented
to express again the sentiments of the church
relative to the Brotherhood. On Sunday, Janu-
airy 3lst, he alluded to il in address from the
pulpit One paragraph was quite significant:
"There ls secret in the inner circle although its
external outward members do not know it and take
no oath; but there is "A secret IN the inner circle
which cannot ascertain and which have a
~ ht II IL Il.
society. what its object, what its meaning. That
secret have not been able precisely to learn
have been told the object is to sever the depend
ence of Ireland on England. and this i to be
accomplished, not by moral measures. but by
violence. by force of arms and boOdshed To
those could not have given my consent; it was
contrary to the laws Of the church. and that the
members of it fall under the ban Of many re-
scripts and bulls of the Pope, who had long ago
condemned such associations
He also denounced the fair an effort of Ger
tain lr'shmen to traffic in the svmpathies of
their coun'rvmen,' in innuendo, ,ha. the objects
of the association are unattainable and therefore
the proceeds of the fair will be appropriated to
the personal use OF the leading men of the Bro
iherhoOd.
Not Stopping here, the Bishop addressed the
following circular TO the clergy of the Diocese,
which will be read and commented upon from all
tHt
"CHIoAGo. Feb. 3. 1864
REV. DEAR SIR: ] feel myself again COM
PEELED 10 call Your attention To CERTAIN society,
the dangers of which have already pointed out
and against which YOU were directed 20 warn the
members of vour flock
This society. calling itself the 'Fenian Bro
therhood.' has been soemny condemned as a
secret. and IN every SENSE an Illegal association,
by the unanimous votes OF the Bishops of Ire
land. and by every Bishop in this country before
whom the matter ha, been brought
Its movements aud workings are secret. the
ruling or Tuner Circle. beng bound to secresy
j by the obligation OF Nh oath. whilst its avowed
i object i 20 overturn "A recognized government,
and the present condition of society in Ireland,
BY violence, force OF arms, and consequently
boodshed
Il need not remind you that all such assoca-
/ tons condemned by the laws aud spirit the
( church land in a special manner by the bulls
OF her Pontitfs.) As dangerous to faith and
morals, and contrary 10 the interests OF society.
"All the articles usual in such secret asso-
Citations have been of late freely used in this
+ city, and throughout the entire Diocese. to
prop gate their schemes and compass their ends:
and 10 increase the number of their associates
who are at once their victims and their dupes-
neither calumny, nor falsehood, nor misrepre-
i seutation has been spared la tie prosecution OF
/ their unh0ly designs, they have shown u disre-
gard. II not positive contempt of all authority,
and have resorted 10 every means, however OBJ
I jectionable. to attain temporary success
would also remind YOU that their ostensible object
seems % be mere pretence-if not an unmiIi-
gated fraud. They cannot surely hope To sue
! ceei in the dark plot of violence aud blood.
/ whilst their real design contemplates the enjoy
ment of the III directed generosity OF their de-
+ ludel associates.
"0n next Sunday then. you will bring clearly
aud foiciby before the members Of your eongre-
+ CATION the motives contained in this circular and
such Others may be suggested by your own
/ knowledge and zeal, to deter them from entering
this unhalowed association
After this general warning throughout the
Diocese. should any prove perverse as 20 be
come members OF a boiv - unequivocaly repro
ba,ed by the Avs of tie Church and OF civil so
cjety. or directly aid ami abet by their contribu
tiOns and presence its unhOly objects. they 10
be excluded from the sacrament until they per-
form suitable penuance FOR the scandal sis en- by
their conduct, and for the disobedience of which
they shall prove themselves convicted.
remain, reverend dear sir,
Faithfully yonrs in Christ,
fJANEs. Bishop of Chicago"
The Fenians have passed 4 resolution to The
effect that they sl hold no discussion with the
clergy relative 10 the matter at issue
In the meantime. preparations or the fair are
progressing finely, and il receives the encourage
mani If many iiustrisus and tnnuenti.l Irisn