The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1886-08-21
KNIGHTS OF LABOR.

THE ORGANIZATION CONDEMNED AT
ROME AS A SECRET SOCIETY.
Rome has finally spoken upon the
question of the Knights of Labor. The
society is unequivocally condemned by
the Holy Sec, and the Bishops of the
Church are enjointed to proceed against
it as against all the secret societies under
the Papal ban. Cardinal Taschereau,
of Quebec, has just communicated this
decision to the public in the shape of a
letter addressed to his Bishops. The
following is a translation of the letter
Your Lordship: On the 18th of May last
represented to his Eminencc, the Cardinal
Prefect of the Sacred Congration ofthe Propa-
ganda. the Emergencies OF opinion expressed
by the newspapers of Canada and the United
States on the subject of the society OF the
Knights of Labor, condemned in September,
1884, As 1t was pretended the effect of this
sentence stood suspended by an appeal
affirmed to have been carried before the Holy
Sec after notifications had been made in the
constitution of this society l begged his
position of the Church in regard TO it, A
letter from his Eminence, Cardinal Smcnni.
dated the 18th of July, informs me that on
the 27th of June last the Sacred Office, after
a re-examination of the question, maintained
its Judgment of 1884 absolutely in the same
terms, which are reproduced in his letter, as
follows
Considering the principles, organization
and rules Of the society Of the knights of
Labor rs they are set forth, this society must
be classed among those which have been
condemned according to the instructions of
this Supreme Congregation on the 10th OF
May, 1884; that the bishops be enloined to
proceed as well against this society rs
against others of the same kind, and to en-
ploy the remedies ordered or advised in said
Instructions"
Your lordshlp will recall that in my con-
suitatlon of the 9Th of October, 1889, made
no representation of my own upon the prirci-
pes of the organization and the rules of the
society, but purely and simply transmitted
to the Holy Sea an authenticated printed
copy of its constitution, with a prayer to eN-
anime II all the more carefully because this
society seemed to embrace all branches of
work and workers, which, moreover, its
name clearly indicates. The pretended ap-
pear W lnt IlOlN Ntc has Dcen long invoked
to create the belief that, pending the final de
cisiOns. persons could continue TO enroll
themselves or to remain in the society. pro-
vided always that they were sincerely dis
posed toobey the final sentence upon the aD-
peal. If that appeal had been really made,
II is impossible that the sacred office should
not have been seized of 1t, because this matter
belongs to its exclusive resort. Consequently,
the decision Of the 27th of JluIe, cOInnmnicat-
ed to me by his Emnence, Cardinal Smeoni
Is in reply to 1t. The original sentence has
been conflred in its form and tenor.
Whereas In this last decision, as in this
first, the Holy Oftice recommends the Bishops
to proceed against this society in the manner
prescribed in its Instructions of the 10th Of
May, 1891, | cannot see that there can any
longer he any doubt as to the rule to be fol
lowed by the Catholics of the whole world
over whom the jurisdiction of the Sacred Con-
gregation eNteIds. Having DISCHARGED my
duty in conveying to your lOrdshp this dcc,a-
ion Of the Holy See, / beg you to accept the
assurances ofmv devotion.
T.. A. Car. + NsCHERFAU.
Archbishop of ue zee.