The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1876-01-02
O@cULAR ATYH8.
JAMEs FREDERIC, BT THE GRACE OF GOD
AND THE favor OF THE APOSTOLIC SEE,
ARCHBnHoP OF PHILADELPHIA.

To tn. Venerable Clergy and Beloved People of the
Laity, Greeting. Peace and Benedct'on'
"For every oAe who doeth evil, hateth the
light, and cometh not TO the light, that ms
works may not be reproved"-St. John Ill.
chap. 30.
It ia a fact too we'll kn"wn to need any
proof at this day, that the Catholic Church,
through her revered Head, the Sovereign
Pontiff, has again aid again condemned
and censured all secret societies, properly
80 called, as dangerous to civil society,
and injurious to the interests OF rehglon-
! thet she has warned her children TO be-
ware of permitting themselves TO be In
duced, by the prospect of any real OF
Imaginary advantage, to enter such socle-
tiesNthat she has, by the threat OF e1
| communication to be incurred, tpso y/sioto
striyen to prevent their associating them
selves with them; and that, by the io
Fiction of the sevSrest ecclesiastical cen
| snres on those who have allowed Them
selves to be associated, che has endsa-
yored to withdraw them from these lnilu, . !,
euces, which, enlightened by the SPIRIT oi
God. and the cad admonitons of past ex'
perience, che knows to be tatai TO
SQUAD faith, Christian piety and good mo-
rails. .,o.
, ledge, that most insidious efforts nave
l been. and are being made in many parts
of our Diocese, and probably throughout
the lwhole country, to bllnd ana deceive
Q the faithful, and to entangle them In the
meshes and shackles OF these unlawful
and forbidden societies, it becomes our
). duty to call to the minds of our people,
4 the action of the Church in this matter ;
. to warn them to refrain from any alilance
q | with them; and earnestly to exhort all
/. | who may have violated this prohioftion
# of the Church, to leave these evil assocla
e tions. and by speedy and sincere
d penance, to seek reconciliation with the
:. Church.
., To say nothing of the Masons,,,
u {. Odd Fellows" Sons of Temperance,
40 40 etc. about whose condemnation no doub
,e can exist, these societies are known D!
le various other appellations; such, for ex
le ample, as the ''National Brotherhood.
condemned by the Bishops of Ireland til
" "Fenian Brotherhood" whose efforts
n aggregate members to their assoclatio
ly in this country are unscrupulous ana uh
is ceasiug, and, in addition to these, tn
Is, H. :. Molly Maguires;' otherwise the - AL
na cient Order of Hlbernians," or the -" BucB
pit Shots" and others whose spirit
I'M equally objectionable, and whose name
X seem to Oe selected rather to concef
OF than to indicate the object of their asso
no citation. ,-
H. We admoush, also, our Reveren
60. Clergy atfectonately to instrnct anu "al a.,
rs their f1ocks, calling to their mlnos th
ut spirit of docility aud obedience "hlc
,Ie should animate them, and the holy ala'
uty, with which they should labor to cor
"a form themselves in all things to the cou
,as mands and desires OF the Church, and
ev. avoid, with the most scrupulous care'
led that she disapproves and condemns. -
eff place before them, on the one hand, IL
mt rewards and blessings which VIII 10
aaccii low such course, and on the oth
ea ad hand, the true character of the t:
,ed treme ecclesiastical censures which a co
ity trary mode of action will precipitate up'
ian them.
The Thus, by the united and harmonic ,
the action of Pastors and people, we sht
est neutralize the bad influences which MI
Tue guided, mistaken and perverse men
on, tenn pt to force upon US, and shall preser
,;s our faith untainted, our piety active al
md vigorous, and our morals pure.
ast $50 let your light shine before meu, til
an they may see your good works and glory yo
ge. Father who is in heaven"-St. MdttheW
Hat chan ISy
hip "And the peace of God, which surpasse
will all understanding, keep your hearts a
ten minds in Christ Jesus Amen.-Hht'
The JAMES FREDERIC,
ose Archbishop of Philadelphia
the December 10, 1875.
pal Philadelphia Standard
op, -