Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-01-29
THE EDlCT
CATHEDRAL OF ST. JOSEPH,
WHEELING. January p. 'SS.

THE EDIcr.
CATHEDRAL OF ST. JOSEPH,
WHEELING, January q, SO.
Rev. Dear Sir-0n the night of Tuesday.
2Sd inst. q public ball was given in this
city under the auspices (so 1t was publicly
~announced) Of the Knights Of St. John, Q
society composed exclusively OF Catholic
men; and this ball $50 again the public
press mas asserted) was conducted in q man.
ner in direct variance with the provisions
of the late diocesan synod. 1t is true that
the plea has been alleged that this de-
fiant violation Of ecclesiastical law
was the work Of only the military
branch numbering about thirty
members) of the society. But as the other
members entered no protest against this
open act OF rebellion and thereby i'm
p~licitly sanctioned it, the whole socie:y
has become responsible for the scandal.
You will therefore announce 10 your peo.'
pie at the late mass tomorrow that in vir-
tue Of u Episcopal authority, We have
condemned, and dOnow formally condemn
the society, known as the Knights Of st.
John, and that after the first day OF mex
March membership with said society
will he constitute q reserved case,
in the diocese. We exhOrt the disposed
minister TO insist on the permanent ex.
pulsion OF those constituting the Military
Branch, for on this condition alone shall
We withdraw our condemnation. Blu IL
the society refuses to comply with this con.
ditiop, We require all those who profess TO
be Catholics, and subjects, therefore, OF
our episcopal authority, to sever their con-
nection with the organization. You will
quote as applicable to the present subject,
the words OF our Holy Father, Leo XIII,
in his late encyclical TO the Bishops Of
Spain. date, December 8, 1882
Now, even as the Roman Pontitf Is the
teacher and prince OF the Universal
Church, SO likewise are Bishops the rulers
and chiefs OF the churches that hsve been
duly intrusted to them. Each has within
his " jurisdicti on the power Of leading:
supporting or correcting and generally OF
deciding in such matters as may seem to
effect religion. For they share In the
power which Christ, our Lord, received
from the Father, ind transmitted to His
church, and therefore Gregory IN, our
predecessor, said Of bishops:
1--WE do not hesitate 10 declare that the
bishops called on 10 share our cares are the
representatives OF God" This power has
been given TO bishops for the supreme
benefit of those over whom IL is exercised;
il tends by its very nature TO the building
up of the body Of Christ, and makes Of
phcD DlkIOD u DOUu NIIl'll uIllNtS III nv
and charity the Christians under his guild.
ance at once with one another and with
the Supreme Pontlii. as members with the
head. Here is a weighty expression OF 81.
Cyprians: THE Church is the people
united with its pastor and the flock that
follows its shepherd" And another
still more weighty: Know We that the
Bishop is in the church and the church
il the Bishop; and il any one be not with
the Bishop, the same is not in the church"
Such, Interchangeable and everlasting Is the
constitution OF the Christian common.
wealth; IL il be not religiously maintained
a disturbance of rights and duties ensues
as a necessary consequence Of the broken
association OF the members whose perfect
union constitutes the body Of the church,
that body which by joints and bands
being supplied with nourishment and
compacted growth into the increase Of
Cod We see therefore that the Bishops
should have paid b. them that respect
which the eminence Of their charge exacts
and receive in all matters within their
office perfect obedience"
X. ferring in the same encyclical letter to
Catholic associations the Holy Father says:
I'VE deem those associations peculiarly
fitted to aid them (the clergy in this work
which are, so TO speak, the auxiliary forces
destined 10 support the interests OF the
Catholic religion; and we approve, there.
fore. the object and the energy they dis.
play. We ardently desire that they may
increase in number and 10 zeal, and that
from day to day their fruits may be more
abundant. But since the objects OF such
societies is the defence and encouragement
of Catholic interests, and as 1t is the Bish.
ops, who, each in their proper dioceses,
have to watch over those interests, IL natur-
ally follows that they should be controlled
by their Bishops and should set great value
on their authority and commands" Can he
be a Catholic at heart who dispises these
solemn official utterances OF the head OF
the church? May not the successor Of 81.
Peter say with as much truth ~ the apostle
ST. John: He that is not Of God heareth
us not; by this we know the spirit OF truth
and the spirit Of error" Il John: $780,
You will be careful TO explain 10 your
your people that one who continues Q
member OF this condemned society after
the first day OF next March, cannot validity
receive %absolutiOn, because no priest has
power TO stsolve such Q one, unless he
promises in good faith TO sever his connec.
ton with said society.
Given from our residence, in the city Of
Wheeling. this 18th day Of January, in the
year Of our Lord, 1888.
tJoHS J. KAIs,
Rishon of Wheeiin1