The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-24
THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
Does the Organization Come Under the Ban
of the Catholic Church.

of the Catholic Church
New Haven Conn. Special.
The question as to whether or not the growing
organization known as the Knights of Labor
comes under the ban which the Roman Catholic
Church pronounces on all societies. thesmem oers
of which are bound by oath to keep secret their
deliberations. has been asked in this section
very frequently Of late. 1t is an interesting
query. in view of the fact that the Knights of
Labor consist in good part of Roman Catholics
Interviews on the subject have been held in
many parts of the country with priests of the
Roman Catholic Church. AS rule the opinions
expressed have been favorable, but of course
they have not been authoritative. The bishop of
the Catholic diocese is the only person who can
speak with authority on this and kindred mat
tiers. To learn how the Knights of Labor
which are growing rapidly in Connecticut, were
regarded in the Connecticut diocese, Bishop
McMahon was interviewed to-day at Hartford.
Some of the opinions favorable to the organiza-
tion given to the press by priests of the church
were handed to the Bishop, and the question
asked whether or not he objected to have Cath
olics in this diocese join the Knights Of Labor
He said: "Well. l understand the gst of the
article. but you can understand that we do not
consider it what they call the thing to discuss
matters of this kind in the newspapers" Then,
with significant SMILE he added: IF / had
any fault to find with the organization / would
condemn it from the pulpit of every church IN
Connecticut l do not wish to say ANYTHING
docs the order of the knights of Labor, from
the fact that its members oath bound to
secrecy, come under the class of secret societies
that the church has condemned"
Il Go not know that the mem bers take an OATH
I must, therefore. decline to answer thequeston,
and must also decline to entertain the SUPPOSE
ton that they DO take such an oath" This state.
ment by the B shop the most distinct utterance
which Bishop Mcmahon has yet given, the
Knights regard as evidence that he is
anxious not to lose the support which their
large body gives the Catholic Church. One
of the recognized Catholic theologians of
the State said to-day, that the fact of the matter
is that the condemnation Of certain secret socie-
ties by the church is just now in very unsettled
state The question cannot be pronounced on
by the priests or the bishop until synod to con-
slider the recent encyclical letter be held. Such
a synod will be held, in all probability, before
the winter is over. The general understanding
both among the clergy and the people, s that q
society whose members are oath bound to Sc
crecy," If it does not come under the general
condemnation of secret societies. is at least to be
regarded with suspicion; but the late council at
Baltimore passed some decreos which make it
necessary that the of each society sus-
pected of being secret society. as that name is
generally applied by Roman Catholics should be
considered in council separately. and on its own
merits, before it is condemned or treated as o
condemned society by any pastor