The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-10-28
EMINENT BISHOPS
Discussing Knights of Labor at the
Home of Cardinal Gibbons.
Taschereau's Recent Edict and Its
Influence.
The Question May be Submitted to
Rome for AdJudi cation.

BALTIMORE, Nd, Oct. 27.-The Arch
bishops OF the American Catholic church are
assembled today at the Cardinals residence
ior the purpose OF discussing the question Of
labor associations, with special reference to
the Knights of Labor. Archbishop Will
Jams OF Boston, Kendrick of st. Louis, and
Corrigan OF New York are present. Since
the edlct OF the Pope to Cardinal Tasche-
reau OF Canada condemning the Knights of
LABOR IN tnat province, considerable doubt
Las existed IN tne minds or many elergymen
Whetner or not the edict also applied to
America.
Cardinal Gibbons somewhat surprised the
Canadian, and some eminent American pre-
lows:
Cardinal Taschereau's condemnation Of
the Knight OF Labor should not be taken as
the sentiment OF the church towards the or
ganlZatlon. am not familiar with the labor
organization in question, but it is certain
that Cardinal Tashchereau's hostility grew
out OF some local laws or conduct Of knights
which are contrary to the doctrine of the
church. As to the Knights of Labor organ
ization in the United States, / infer that the
objects OF the order are praiseworthy and in
10 way opposed to the views Of the church.
The Catholic prelates will, to a man, declare
In favor OF the organization of labor. There
can be no wrong in such a course as that
"Vlcar-General Conway of Chicago, who
examined the constitution of the body care
iuliy, assures me tuat III pears no reSem-
Dlance to that OF the Free MasOns, Odd Eel
lows, and other organizations which the
church has always antagonized. A distnc-
uon must be made as to the nature of the
secret pledges. The church has been greatly
misrepresented on this point. We hold that
II man joins a society, swearing never to
reveal any Of its workings, no matter how
criminal, and obeys the dictates of is Off
GERS blindly, he surrenders his personal lib
erty, becomes slave to his fellow man, and
cannot partake of the sacraments of the
ION the other hand, il man joins an or
ganlzatlon, swearing to keep secret its work
ings, with the proviso that nothing therein
shall be contrary TO the laws of the land. to
MS conscientious and religious tenets, we
hold that his action.
''The whole question as to the church atti-
tude towards the Knights of Labor depends
on which OF these Oaths the members take
II the latter, and ia accordance with Mr.
Powderly's statement, then the church says
to the Knights, God speed you If, how
ever, the absolute blind pledge Is taken, no
matter how laudable the objects Of the soci-
ETY. may be, the church can never cOunte-
nance it, and will call on her children to
Withdraw under the pain of excommunica-
tion."
1t is an open secret however. that Arch
bishop Corrigan of New York, and Arch
bishop Kendrick of st. Louis are both ep-
posed to secret organizations of any kind. 1t
Is this fact that makes the feeble Archbishop
kendrick attempt the long trip from st.
Louis to Baltimore.
The present council is for the adoption of
a certain rule to govern all dioceses and upon
the question at issue. During the confer
ence the archbishops will inquire very care
fully into every detail, and will probably dis
sect the constitution of the order. Unless
their decision is unanimous, the entire ques-
ton will be submitted to Rome for adjudica-
tion.
1t is more than probable, however that
some decision will be reached. The third
pleRary council, it will be remembered. ex-
pressed itself very forcbly against all kinds
Of secret societies. Cardinal Gibbons saws
that the result of the conference will not be
given out for several days.