The examiner. (Hartford, Conn.) 1881-188?, 1886-06-26
THE KNIGHTS CONDEMNED

AS if the noble order of the Knights
of Labor did not have enough to con-
tend with already. one more hostile
power must blow its trumpet of war,
and shake its mighty mailed fist in
the face of those whose only desire is
to see more practically established on
earth the principles of a true Christi
anity. Accounts from Canada say
that the order is already under ban in
that monarchal ruled region, by man
dament of the Cardinal Archbishop
of the Dominion. If this is to be
followed up in the United States, the
sensation will be intense. But the
end is not difficult to conjecture.
While many Catholics will withdraw
from the order, and more will be de-
tered from joining it, the Catholic
Church will have succeeded in driving
from out its fold some of its most vir-
tuous and intelligent members, and
array many others in perpetual hos
tility to its authority on this point.
Following is the paragraph specially
referring to and denouncing the
Knights of Labor -
There are beyond these forbidden soci-
cites others which must not be frequented
under the pain of committing grevious
sin. Among these we may mention M fh he's.
dienee to hidden heads, such as, in partic-
ular, the society of the Knights of Labor,
which the holy congregation of the Inquis-
| ition, by its answer in 1884, declared
among those societies forbidden by the
Holy See, and others of similar kind.
This is certainly explicit enough, as
far as the Cardinal Archbishop of
Canada is concerned, Gf it be true,
and there is little doubt of it) but
there still hangs a mystery over the
work of the "Holy Congregation of
the Inquisition' endorsed by the
Holy Father, for the thousands of
Catholics belonging to the order seem
to know nothing of the existence of
such an ordinance.
But the head of the Catholic Church
must either back up this proclamation
of his subordinate, or else annul it.
He cannot allow anything of the kind
to remain the property of divided
option. If it is committing a griev-
Gus sin" to Frequent a sanctuary of
the Knights of Labor within the Do
min1on of Canada, it certainly cannot
be committing less g11evous crime to
do the same within the confines of
the United States. And if the order
is to go ON uncondemned here, it will
be the height of absurdity to impose
the sentence of condemnation upon
1t there. However, in any sease, the
order will live and proceed on It's
with little jar to it's progress
AS Catholic members go out, others
will step in to take their places: and
there are not wanting men who would
the more readily do it in consequence.
The Bishops mandament is not
by an effort to show
cause for its issuance. Here IS a
sample -
''The third danger which hovers over
hose who join secret societies is that they |
liscontent, their hatred or their vengeance.
Affi;iation to those societies can serve the
worst objects and become an instrument of
tyranny in contravention of the best recog-
lized rights. One can justly suspect that
nan who enters one of these lodges wishes
o e1crOach upon the rights and liberty of
,thers With the aid of hidden means and
" the most characteristic cowardice.
This is unfortunately what is very fire.
uently practised now, either through ven
eance or interest, and particularly by the
means of disastrous strikes, both for en-
loyers and employees
It is a sad commentary on the
lain of Divine Inspiration to find 4
UGH drivel as this comming from the
mouth of an ordained minister of
christ. He ought to know, if he is
lot totally incapable of knowing, that {
What he points out as the''third danger
to the existence of the {
rganization, is the very danger which
as always existed in the midst of i
hose eligible to membership, and t
hitch to more effectually guard S
gainst forced them to organize.
his is one of the reasons why re- V
gion has grown into contempt with Ii
lany people of analysing minds.
hey feel that he who proclaims Di- e.
ne Intervention for his guidance, O
lould not fall into the shallow abb ST
lrdity OF mistaking effect for cause, te
Id vice versa. il
"They are meaace to those who F