The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-05-28
Opinion of the Press.


A NOTABLE CATHOLIC CONvOCATIoN.
A convention of the German Catholic
Benevolent Societies finished its session,
in Cincinnati, few days ago. Two hun
dred delegates were in attendance. The
most important business done was the
adoption of constitution to be used by
all the local societies. The main features
in the constitution are as follows
Each society to be governed by a
priest, except when the members are
from different parishes, then the mem.
bers will be under the guidance of such
person as the Bishop of the diocese may
select. The priests shall be given the
right to the floor whenever they appear in
a meeting and wish to address it. The
names of all persons proposed as men,
bers shall be submitted to the President
for his approval, and if he objects, the
name must be withdrawn until his OBJ
lection is removed. If member fails
to observe Lent, or to send his children
to Roman Catholic School, where it is
possible, or becomes a drunkard, or is
guilty of other public offences, and the
society should fail to expel him, the
priest shall have the right to give such
expulsion. The names of all elected
officers must be communicated to the
priest. Minutes Of all meetings shall
be open to the inspection of the priest
whenever he requests it. The minutes
must not contain any resolutions which
are opposed to the Catholic Church,
this approved constitution, or the pre-
scription of the diocese. No picnics or
balls shall be given without the consent
of the priests.
1t was expected that the constitution
outlined above, would meet with vigor-
Gus opposition from those delegates who
favored an organization more independ.
ent of the interference and influence of
the clergy. An address by Bishop Sa-
ebbe had great weight in determining
the action of the convention. He argu-
ed that the church alone was assured
permanent existence; that if the associ
alton allied itself closely to the church
it would endure, but if it separated itself
from the church 1T would 60 the way
of all political institutions" The dele
gates who favored a less churchly plan
of organization were plainly overawed
in the convocation, and their opposition
was both feeble and uainfuential. On
a final vote the draft proposed was &C.
cepted without modification.
THE SCHOOLS.
At the Presbyterian General Assem-
bly, in session at Cleveland, on May 20,
the following resolutions were referred
to committee
Resolved, That the continuous,
persistent and repeated efforts made
by the Papists throughout the country,
under the tutelage, direction and advice
of the Papal hierarchy, to obtain con.
troll of the school fund in the several
states of the Union, or to have portion
of said school fund diverted from the
legal and Legitimate use to which said
funds are pledged, in order to devote
the money to the support af the Papis,
teal schools, demand from all Protestant
Christians of every denomination and
OF every citizen of the United States,
opposed to the union of Church and |
State, resolute, determined and combin-
ed effort and unceasing watchfuiness TO
prevent the success of the nsidous at
tempts now being made in all sections of
the country, by the adherents of the
Papacy, to secure the control of the
school money; and it is hereby recon.
mended by the General Assembly of the
Presbyterian Church, that all attempts
to subvert our school funds in any Of the |
States of the Union, to or for the use of |
any church or sect, should be resisted
and prevented by all legal and honorable
means
Resolved, That the cutlery of the pa
pal hierarchy against what they call our
goddess schools" can with far more JUS
tice and greater propriety be applied to
the schools they have instituted. In the
common schools of this country, the
pure word of God is read without COM
ment, while in Papist schools the Bible
is excluded and the dogmas and tradi'
tions of men are substituted for the
commandments of God.
CARDINAL Mo'CLosKY's OATH.
When Mc'Closky was consecrated as
Archbishop, we are assured that he was
required to take, and did take, long
oath, of which the following unqualified
sentences form part:
E" |, n. elect of the Church, hence.
forward will be obedient and faithful to
St. Peter, the apostle, and to the Holy |
Roman Church, and to our Lord n,
Pope ~, aud his successors, cannonical.
ly coming in 1 will help them to
defend and keep the Roman Papacy and
the royalties OF st. Peter, saving my
order against all men, Heretics.
schismatics, and rebels to said Lord, or
his aforesaid successors, l will, to the
utmost of my power, prosecute and wage
war with. So help me God, and those