The New York herald., 1879-09-27
NOT A SECRET SOCIETY.

POSITION OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH TOWARD
THE GRAND ARMY-A BURIAL. QUESTION DE-
CIDED-vIEws OF ARCHBISHOP WOOD, oF
PHILADELPHIA.
by TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.
PHILADKLPHIA. Pa. Sept. 26, 1879.
question has been at issue for the past month
between the Grand Army Of the Republic and Father
Walsh the Vicar General Of the Archdiocese Of this
State. that has considerably agtated its members
and the general public. On August 2S. last. Michael
Ward member Of Schuyler Post. No. 81. died at ST.
Josephs Hospital processing belief in the Catholic
faith. 1t arranged by his late comrades
to carry out the funeral services with due
honors. They preparing to march to the
church when notice received from the
Vicar General, the Archbishop being out Of
the city, to the effect that they would not be per-
mitted to enter the church in any way take part
in the funeral ceremonies The leading members
of the Grand Army Of the Republic considered that
q serious question had been raised and thought the
difficulty in consequence OF impression
that tho order was o secret one and accordingly
thorized John Taylor. Commander Of Post No. 81,
to draw mp in writing statement of the objects OF
the organization and present the same to the Arch
bishop upon his return home. aud ask q decision
Army OF the Republic that their organization
not secret, and that there is oath obligation
exacted from any soldier upon joining that would
in any way interrere with his religious tenets in
any form disqualify him from performing his duty
to any church. The secret Of the Order only con-
sists OF password. a. was customary in the army.
and only that portion Of their business relating to
charity and the like Is kept secret
THE ARCHBIsHoP's VIEWS.
Archbishop Wood returned from Nauch Chunk on
Wednesday, last. aud the instrument containing the
above particulars was presented to him, but he has
not yet replied to it, Yesterday he was waited upon
by your correspondent III reference to the matter
and was asked tor his views in the premises.
secrecy does not enter into the question in relation
to the funeral services II matters not. whether
organization be open or secret. 1t cannot enter the
Church ~ An organization with its parsphernalia,
unless it be in way religious III Its contempla-
tions. The Catholic Church has certain prescribed
forms to be observed in the burial OF the dead and
we cannot permit OF any other ceremonies from
temporal organizations. The military may march
from the church after the services TO the place of
burial. and even fire voileys OF musketry the
grave. but further than that We cannot allow any
observance.
organization he said:-"The mere observance Of
secrecy in relation the business of any
order whose aims arc purely honorable and lawful
is not enough to denominate IL u secret organiza-
tion. Therefore, IL the obligation demanded of q
person becoming q member OF the Grand Army of
the Republic is specific. and for the simple purpose
OF coucealipg from the outside world private busi-
ness. and is not general sweeping oath covering.
all the purposes Is aud intentions of the organiza
tion, we do not consider it u secret society,
All we'll regulated corporations and societies have
their private business. aud the fact that they main
tain this privacy does not render them secret organ
izations. For instance. was At one time officer
of bank, aud took an oath or obligation not to
reveal the of that ins tituton that isnot
say make known whether John Smith or Thomas
Jones had dealings with the bank. such obligations
of do not consider injurious. II it is true
thcn that the obligation OF the Grand Army of the
Republic is of this nature. see no reason to prevent
q Catholic from becoming member.
1t will he sccorCng TO the explanation of tho
officers OF the Grand Army of the Republic given
above that they do not come under this definition
OF u secret organization. The position of the Arch
bishop will be received with qualification by many
Catholics who members of the Order. well
by thousands OF Catholic Union soldiers who, il
have rcfrained from doing account OF the un-
certainty of the position OF the Church in relation
to the organization.