The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-01-08
BISHOP KAHN AND THE GERMANS.
Some Talk About tho Decree Concerning
Beer and Round Dances.

A week ago the IsTELIGEScER printed an
sccount Of the promulgsmation by Bishop
Kahn, OF the DEGREES OF the Diocesan Synod
OF 1882 OF the Catholic diocese OF Wheeling,
with some remarks upon their tenor, espec.
tally those which forbade round dancing and
the sale OF beer at CATHOLIC picalcs,
The deuree and the Bishops order hal
caused no little comment, especially among
the Germans, whose papers haye laken up
the cudgel against the order. Armed with
translation OF some of their utlefRnces, a
reporter called on Bishop Kahn yesterday,
and asked.
"Rishop, haye you seen tho articles in the
German p3pers Oh the degrees Of your Synod
In regard 10 round dances and the sale Of
lager beer at Catholic pionics?"
''Yes, sir, was his reply; and they intention.
ally or Internationally miSconstrue those
DEGREES. The IOlEsbIan Of Friday leaves upon
It's readers the impression that | have issued
an absolute prohibition sg4iuSt Ihe sal9 Of
the drinEins 'oi lageF bser. Eow, have done
nothing Of the kind; have only forbidden
ii 70 DO sold at picniCs and entertainments Civ,
on under the auspices OF Catholic sociaties. i,
oisocietles Of Catloli" TIC Bishops Of The Uni.
ted States, who assembled III council In Bal,
timore In October, 1850, after deplor.
ing the many evils arising from excursions,
picnics, ETC.. forbade all Catholics from hay
lug anything to do with them, unless when
managed according to the regulations Of the
Bishop, and under the immediate sIpervls.
ion Of the Reverend Pastors. Such prohib.
ition would evidently BIZ nugatory II, as 10
intimated, the Bishop had not the right TO
regulate them. When abuses or disorders
arise at any such picnic or excursion
held under the auspices OF an organization
calling itself n Catholic society, these are
made 10 reflect on the church and OH religion,
and 1t is my duty to anticipate and prevent,
as far as can, any such scandals"
1.-THE DeutScI.e Zeitungo oil yesterday publishes
resolutions passed at Milwaukee by the Ger.
man Catholic Central Society. and wants to
know your opinion OF them:
"You may assure the readers OF that paper
and the public generally that those resolu-
ment; but they contain nothing wheteysr IN
conflict With tha deerpes IL the Fourth
Synod OF Wheeling. l have never In
any manner approved Of the fanatical spirit
which would legislate men into habits OF
temperance, though abstinence or temper
ance societies properly conducted are doing
q most commendable Work.n
'EBpt tile Germans complain that 1t Is q
great hardship 10 deprive them OF their
lager"
II am not depriying them OF their beer.
As long as they use it like other drinks, In
moderation, they will meet no condemns.
fi9n at NY hSaa2, hpwager much / deplore
the evils Resulting from not Its use, but lis
abuse. | am only guarding the honor OF
our Holy Church by effectually preventing
sRgIh aeR 4s,ia ToR a9pHFns nRaef hs very
'"The Germans regard this prohibition as
specially severe on thep, beeauas lager l.eer
u thsIs national drink"
As we'll, sir, might the Irish cry out against
the prohibition Of the sale OF whisky at
tier picnics. For they might argue that
that Is their national drins.N
"I3ishop, what's the statuSof the two So
cietie$ which haye declined TO ask for Epis.
copal recognitioH2 Are they condemned,
End are Catholles t0rhladGa 70 balOng to
mot at all. They are now regarded as
merely secular beneficial societies. They
will fall under no censure unless they act In
defiance OF the diocesan laws and give enter
tainments at which liquor Is allowed to be
s SSa g JSR RP sfhS t obsn rs 5sff
against ecclesiastical authority and treat
them accordingly"
DO you anticipate any such open 70,
NO, sir; for afier all, the members Of
societies are Catholics, yes thoroughly Gath.
ole; and in fact II the rules Of the societies
are enforced, they must be practical Catho.
lies; mean they must, as q condition OF
membership, approach the sacraments. !
would he very loathe 10 say that q single
member Of either society loyeg hig beer 'or
poupd:dsncins better than bis religion aud
It's priceless treasures, Moreover, thess gen.
tlemen know quite well that II they have, or
believe they have, any grievance, their rem.
edy Is not rebellion or apostasy, but appeal
TO higher court; to any Metropolitan, or II
need be, 10 the Holy Sea-
SBut until rscoguyedS they have not the
special privileges Of Catholic societies ?"
Certainly moi and will here remark
that the conditions laid down In the Lac.
Synod for recognition as Catholic societies
are taken almost verbatim from the Second
Provincial Council Of Cinplnnau, bald In
the year 1883. You see, therefore, that this
legislation Is not novel.r