The examiner., 1886-07-17


morants.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND THE
X. OF L.
The Catholic Church in Canada has de-
clared war against the Knights of Labor,
openly on the ground that they are secret
society and therefore beyond the control of
the Church, and may be led into wrong
doing. The war has commenced in Can
ada because the people are more servile
and ignorant than in the states, and more
under Church control But what is the
Church itself but a secret society, with its
graduation of officials, with which the peo-
pie have nothing to do but obey?
After all, why should the K. of L. be a
secret society, if this is to ALLEVIATE the
whole Catholic population of Canada and
the United States Its mission is to en-
brace every man and woman that earns a
living by labor, and if secrecy stand in the
way it ought to be abolished? The K. OF
L. have given to the world their principles
and objects, and there is nothing within
the order that is in conflict with the out
side.
But it will eventually appear that the
objection to secrecy is merely a subterfuge.
The principles and practices of the order
are too radical and far reaching. They
tend to break up class distinctions, and es-
tablish Republic of Labor. But the
Catholic Church has no element of repub-
| licanism within it. It claims despotiC
authority over all it's members, and viii
not tolerate Independent thought or actor
on any subject.
This action of the Church may be the
causesof rupture between the more adj
vanced members of the Church and the
Church Professionalism came from {
like cause. There IS an inherent love O
self-government in all men of full menta
stature who have progressed beyond the
limits of a theology or a political party
The X. of L. is the representative of sucl
men. The man who has progressed out O.
an idea cannot go back to it. 1t seem:
like a plaything of his childhood. The
Church is not awake to the tendencies o.
American thought and action. 1t belong:
to the era of monarchy, and higher ant
lower classes, the very things that progress:
is repudiating
Ecclesiastical domination is out of place
in republic like ours, which is in trans
ition state from lower to higher conditions
Conflict is inevitable. If there was spill
on Professionalism there will assuredly be {
greater rupture ON the abolition of elias:
distinctions and the experimentation o.
labor, the leading idea of the oppressed.
No matter what its creeds or supersti
lions the world will not stand still. Too
many thinkers and agitators, and toe
much free speech. The spirit of protest
antism is everywhere, protesting agains
this or that wrong, this or that outrage
this or that absurdity. Black slavery went
down under it's assaults and white slavery
is on it's last legs. The Church resorts to
the old but mistaken policy of coercion
It tempts to rebellion, and REBEL .on is the
road to freedom, and union and organiza-
ton furnish the means.
Surely Catholic has the same right to
better his social position as any other man.
If the X. of L. leads to this, why should
the church denounce it, and virtually deny
the right of men to elevate themselves from
poverty and misery to ease and comfort ?
What are we living for? Every man
should insist upon his industrial rights,
Church or no Church. J. f. BRAY,
Pontiac, Mich.