St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-12-23
CATHOLICS AND KNIGHTS.
A Noted Bishop Talks ON the Sc.
crecy of knights of Labor.

A Noted Bishop Talks ON the Sc
crecy of knights of Labor.
Special to the Globe.
New HAVEN, Conn. Dec. 22.-The
question as to whether or not the growing
organization known as the Knights of La
Dor comes under the ban the Roman Cath
Ollie church pronounces on all societies the
members 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
Knights of Labor consist in good part of
Roman Catholics. Interviews on the sub
iect have been had in many parts of the
country with priests of the Roman Catho-
lie church. AS rule the opinions 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 matters.
To learn how the Knights of Labor which
are gaining rapidly in Connecticut, were
regarded in the Connecticut diocese, Bishop
Mcmahon was interviewed to-day at
Hartford. Some of the opinions
favorable to the organization given to the
press by the priests of the churches were
handed to the bishop and the question asked
whether or not he objected to having Catho-
lies in his diocese join the Knights of Labor.
He said:
Well, l understand the gist of the article,
but you can understand that we do not con-
slider it what they call 1.-The thing" to discuss
matters of this kind in the newspapers.
Then. with significant SMILE he added:
II | had any fault to find with the organi-
zation l should condemn it from the pulpit of
every church in Connecticut. / do not wish
to say anything more on the subject.
docs the order of the Knights of Labor,
from the fact that its members are oath
bound to secrecy, come under the class of
secret societies that the church has con-
demned?
II do not know that the members take an
oath. | must therefore decline to answer the
question. and must also decline to entertain
the supposition that they do take such an
OATH
This statement by the bishop 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
such large body gives the Catholic church.
Que of the recognized Catholic theologians
of the state said to-day that the fact of
the matter is that the condemnation of
certain secret societies by the church
is just now in a very unsettled
state The question can not be pronounced
on by the priests or the bishop until a
synod to consider the recent encylical letter
be held. Such synod will be held
in all probability before the winter is
over. The general understanding, both
amang clergy and people, is that society
whose members are ''oath-bound to
secrecy" if it does not come under
the general condemnation of secret
societies, is at least to be
regarded with suspicious, but the late coun-
ell at Baltimore passed some DEGREES
which make it necessary in the
case Of each society suspected of being
a 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 con-
sidered Or treated as a condemned society
by any pastor.