Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1886-09-03
CommunIcat d.
WALDORF. August goth, 1866

the z3rd of July, there was comm nication
headed Knights of Labor, signed W. q. $
Tia 10 this time VIC thought that we would
49,, no attention TO the article, or It's author,
knowing the source from whence II came
RAT having received letters from several gen
hemen in the county requesting us TO answer
N q, s.. and set ourselves right before the
naople. We feel that it is our duty to do so,
ssne,6llly AZ many in the county might be-
F., e.vhnt he said to he Of some importance.
The gentleman w G. ). was present on the
dAy we organized, aud said that he came
there for the purpose Of getting information
~ regard to the order of the Knights Of la
l;dr. AS he was not acquaiL ted with their
workings and that he might join them and
expecied to do so, but he must hrst consult
his ssiritual advisor The first inquiry WIS,
isslt secret order, that is, to such an extent
.aSt0 prevent Catholic from joining We
,old him that it was entirely non-sectarian,
and no secret that would prevent any person
from Joining The man, rs he called him, from
" ashin. ton gave him all the information he
could in regard to the order and ITS purposes,
that it proposed TO better the condition OF the
iu0r laborins people by uniting them tAgeth-
er irrespective of creed or color. But we sup
nose that the entlem.In ~ entIon WAS more
10 make display o; his talent, oil which heels
Greatly possesSeh, than 1t was 10 get mur.nA-
lion After speaking OF the action taken hy
i't,arlin.d Taschere.,u OF Ctnadt, or rather
Louebec, aud the opinion OF many OF the
Trading menbers Of the Ca;h9iic Church, that
\ The DECREE did not extent to all OF Canada
hE. sad, il is claimed however, that these con
we've ieysissSt i; 81, len. o. yi
4 fs2, wasa creature Of an unquestionable Sc
greet order. Now he said, If tins be true. where
.kt me iuterrogate, are the people and the
I prom.+es aud the platform OF the old Knights
pot Labor. 1t they exist they have undergone
sfhanSe, Il Il change Inevitably begets disinte-
dgfatiun. Now we say that it Il cian.e for the
better does what he claiias it does, hen the
ilelrued gentleman must condemn himself -
file S raised 10 our knowledge an Episcopa-
Ian, bat Tor some reason he Joined the Metho-
fdist Church, in short time lie oin.d the
tsneslodephia society and b came 4 lecturer
! d that society, denighing the immortality OF
the soul aud many other truthful doctrines
1t tn. bible. He soon got tired of hat and
Filmed the Catholic CLurch. Now il change
1h,grt, dsiuIegrhlion, hS must he one of the
SUI tileSl PAR AcleS. IL WAS fortunate tor US
IA.,t the ntlrman had to consult his spiritual
fadvs0r f1r rs new be- inners we had lost
1di -ne to our order on account Of their oc-
cdpaion IL ID { r other reasons and the most
Objectionable class are lnea who know every
timing in their own Imagination and can in
tefrrel the evils that " i'll grow out of an imag-
/ faAuoa JeiJre lhey know ANY thing aooul It,
And if the gentleman thinks proper to take
Ais advice aud put his dollar in tie sugar
\ barrel the knights OF Labor will put theirs
where they please This is our first and last,
las il is entirely against the rules of our order
u have controversies with any one. As the
Intention of the order is to do good instead of
! evil
/ We quote from the Boston Pilot an inter
view with Cardinal Gibbons in which he
saws Cardinal raschereau' 5 condemnation of
the Knights Of Labor should rot be taken AS
The sentiment OF the church towards that Or
ganization. 81 am not familiar with the labor
organization in Quebec but it is certain thatthe
Cardinals hostility grows out of some local
laws or conduct of the Knights which are
contrary to the doctrines Of the church. As
TO the Knights II Labor organization in the
limited States | have not thoroughly examn-
ed their constitution or studied their purposes,
Yet from reading the newspapers and Mr..
Powderly's public statements infer that the
objects Of the Knights OF LaoOr are praise
worthy aud in no 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. Organization is the bas OF all pro-
gress POLITICAL social and religious. Only
Sban il is abused does the church Raise her
voice and call out her children. have no
knowledge OF the workings of the local socie
,es in Canada Whether or not ecret pledges
ma taken by the Knights of Labor heie is a
anestion on which more light should be
,hro,yn by their leaders. Vice General Con-
NAV Of Chicago, ILL.,, who examined the con-
s,;iption of the body carefully assures me that
!, hears no resemblance TO the FreemasOns,
odd Fellows and other organizations which
,he church has always antagoalzed. A dis
.;,sct;on must be made TOO, as TO the nature
IS tho secret pledges. We hold that il n mau
;n;ns society swearing never to reveal any OF
~ ,Torkings no matter how criminal, and to
~ the dictates OF its officers blindy he sur
oand.rs his personal liberty, becomes a slave |
~ hi. fellow man, and caunot psrtake OF the |
Moments of the church. On tue other hand |
II man Joins an organization swearing 10 |
i'oo, secret its workings with the provlso I
aS,t nntbing therein shall be contrary 10 the
Tvs If the land to his conscience and rell-
as truths. We hold that bis action Is per-
t.c,ly iusti6Able. The whole question as to
-. .hntcb,s attitude towards the Knights Of
: .hor depends on which of these oaths do the
-. ,.hors take. If the latter is in accordance
With Mr.. Powderly's statements then the
w." - says 10 the Knights of Labor; God
aa yon If however the absolute, blind
sp r.. i taken no matter how laudable the
Pc re. ~ the society are, the church can new
onn,enauce it, and will call on her chill
:, -, - - withdraw under the pain of excommu-
nc ',;o0 So everything depends on the pro-
vision.