The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-04-19

], right to bind himself beforehand to obey tn
!, command of another person in such matter
r ihls rule applies also to a mans voting, ap
pointing to an office of trust, giving his judg
d ment on q jury, or discharging any other dut,
! to God or his neighbor, for which he is per
sonally responsible. He cannot honestly joir
a society that binds him to act in such matters
according to the directions of other persons.
5thly. If an association favors what is called
Natural Religion, instead of Revealed Reli cion
then 1t has one of the most pernicious charac.
tiers OF an unlawful society. Men may associ
!, ate themselves together for some temporal
good; to promote agriculture, manufactures
etc, without making any especial reference to
religion. But if they do undertake to promote
religion, and attach all the importance to the
truths and the virtues taughtby natural rea-
son. leaving out the teachings that God has
given through His Prophets and Apostles if
they lncHlcate reverence for "ths Great Archi-
| tect, and the practice of honesty, industry
Denevolence, ETC., and look on belief in the
mystery OF God made Man, and the virtues
which He taught, as very good indeed, but not
essential to mans duty, such a society is
really unchristian. and absolutely forbidden
ms, then, is Our practical answer to the
inquiries made on this subject Before Ca
tholic joins any society, let him INQUIRE
whether any or all of these marks apply to it,
and act accordingly. Or if, after he has Joined
It, he finds it is unlawful, he is bound, under
mortal sin, to abandon it without delay.
VOICE OF THE CHURCH. AGAINST ToRB1DDES
SOCIETIES.
We have reason, dearly beloved, to be at this
time more than usually explicit in guarding
Ian
nations of them, pronounced by the Church at
different periods, have in these late years been
most frequently and solemnly renewed. And
the warnings of the Church are never uttered
without the presence of real danger. She ia
not to be msled by idle fears nor copiectures
What she says must be true, and woe to us if
we disregard her admonitions "He that
heareth you, heareth me; and he that despiseth
you, despseth me-" duke, x,16)
She has told us lately that although these
associations take various names and forms, +
md occupy themselves with works of public :
'oVantage, yet, whoever is acquainted with !;
he character, aims and purposes of these =,
ocietles, whether called Masonic, OF known
y any other name ; if he compares these with
Nc character, method and extent of the wa: 7
o" waglng against the Church throughout
early all tie world, he cannot hesitate to t
sslgn the cause of our present calamities 8
hlehy to their frauds and plottings. From e
hem Is made up the Synagogue of Satan, o
'hich is marshaling its forces and preparing t
} engage hand to hand against the Church of Il
hrist"
she likewise warns US against 90 the error of =
lose who are deceived themselves, or trv to
ecelVe Others, by the assertion that these as
'clatlons OF darkness have no other object but Z
10 advantage and progress of society and al
re exercise OF mutual benevolence." And Il
G expressly declares that her " DEGREES in Sc
IS matter condemn not only the Masonic ii
cletles OF Europe, but all those that exist in in
nerica, and in all other countries of the to
orld" Evangelical Letter of Pope Plus X, of he
ov. 21st, 1673) &c
ROUND DANCES. :,
In Our Synod We have repeated the con- &C
mnation of what are called "Round Dances
eady severely reprobated by all the Bishops ha
'ne country IN the Pastoral Letter of the all
ltimore Council of A. d. 1866 an
n the Judgment of many, whose opinions a.,
'noy ure indecent IN tn,
ntiame evil passions and offend against ma OIL
% part in them, and it cannot be regarded ACT
entirely innocent even to encourage them by
looking on with complacency fen
ADMINISTRATION OF THE DIOCESE
ne Synod has likewise established some
uiatlous and renewed others, to render the
ltual and temporal care of the diocese moro Il
Iematlc as the congregations grow more cou
herous and better arranged. rel
u Episcopal Council has been nominated to Go'
st the Bishop with their advice. AS the me-
n6ers 1--we widely apart, their regular meet it :?
) are for the present only two in the wear. usn
1T names are published in the Acts of the fro,
cd.
likewise three Rural Deans, or Wears ~,
8 been appointed in distant parts of the P'-'
;ese with powers which enable them to II
Ter useful service to the Priests of tbe;r mel
riots. Chu
n the support of the Bishop and for soma an a