National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-11-07
THE CHURCH VS.. THE SALOON.
Strong Temperance Talk From Mem
bers of tho PIenary Council.

Strong Temperance Talk From Mem
bers of tho Pienary Council.
Tho orchbishops and bishops of the
Catholic churches of the United States at.
the close of the third plenary council held
at Baltimore In December, 1884, issued a
pastoral letter TO the clergy and laity OF
their charges. The pastoral letter. as usual,
contained summary of the DEGREES or rules
passed by the council, and when published
one paragraph attracted considerable at
tention. II read as follows: "There is one
way Of profaning the Lords day which Is
go prolific of evil results that VIC consider it
our duty to utter against II special con
demnaticn. This Is the practice of sell
or of frcqutnting places where
they are sold. This practice tends
more than any other to turn the day of the
Lord into day of Jlisslpation to use 1t as
on occasion FOR breeding iutemperance.
While VIC hope that Sunday laws on this
point will not be relaxed, but even moro
rigIdly enforced, we implore all Catholics,
for the love OF God aud OF country, never
to take part IN such traffic nor to counte-
nance or patronizc It.. And we not only
direct the attention Of all pastors to the re-
preston of this abuse, but we also call upon
them to induce all Of their iocks that may
lie engaged In the sale Of liquors to abandon,
rs soon US they can, the dangerous traffic,
and to embrace a more becoming way of
making living.n
This admonition from the bishops placed
the liquor traffic in new light in its rela-
tons TO the Catholic Church. Up to this
time II had been the general impression
among those who were not members of the
church that, while she did not in any way
encourage the liquor traffic, she was not
directly opposed to it. When the pastoral
letter appeared, however, II became evident
that the Catholic Church in America had
resolved TO declare itself opposed to intern
perGnce aid the grog shops. There were
some who shrugged their shoulders when
theyread the above paragraph, and declared
that they did not believe IL would have any
perceptible elect ON TIE lquor-selling
members OF the church. The matter has
not been so thoroughly brought out before
the several congregations by the priests as
IL will be should the DEGREES which were
forwarded to Rome be returned with the
Endorsement of the pope.
As Is always customary, the DEGREES
adopted by the last plenary council were
forwarded to Rome, the Rev. DR.. O'Con-
nell, rector Of the American Collage and
procurator for the archbishop OF Baltimore
acting us messenger and ambassador. On
his arrival at the Eternal city the DEGREES
were delivered into the hands of Cardinal
Simoni, project Of the propaganda, by whom
the DEGREES were handed over to the con-
gregation iof the propaganda, body of
cardinals and thcologans, who examined
them carefully. The congregation of the
propaganda submitted a report upon the
decree to the holy see.
The Rev. DR.. O'Connell, who has been
absent nearly year, is now on his way back
to the United States with those DEGREES
which have been duly examined and passed
upon by the holy see, There is now much
speculation in ecclesiastical circles as to the
manner in which the DEGREES relating to the
liquor traffic were received by the pope. II
the pope has given 1t his approval and in.
dorsement It is expected that there will
soon be inaugurated in this country cru
SADIE against the liquor business of an ex
ceedingly effective character. The organi
cation of thelCathollc Church iss such, O
distinguished clergyman said last night, thai
II can, with the assistance Of the pope, dc
more to cripple the business Of liquor sell
ing than any other religions to-day. DIR
| OConncll is expected to arrive at Baltimore
within few days. The DEGREES will ther
be published, and the priests and bishop
aud laymen will then be able to know thu
attitude Of the church to the liquor traffic