Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-10-31
KNIGHTS AND THE CHURCH.
MIR. Powderly Makes a Satisfactory
Showing to the Cardinal.

derby, of the knights OF La Dor, was in this
city Thursday, and called on Cardinal
Gibbons at his residence, where a confer
ence OF prelates was held TO discuss
questions affecting the welfare of the
catholic Church in the United States,
principally the relations and duties of
Catholics who are Knights of Labor. Mr..
Powderly had two interviews with the
Cardinal, and laid before him the consti-
tuition and bylaws of the order.
NOT SECRET.
He also spoke OF the purposes OF the
knights, and how, III his opinion, they
| were an organization not included in the
prescription of the church against secret
! societies which promise bound obedience.
The utterances of Mr.. Powderly We're
carefully noted and presented
to the ArchbishOps. The visit
of the General Master Workman
was wholly unexpected and unknown
among the Knights in this city, who did
not look for him before next week. 1t
was known that he would visit Cardinal
Gibbons in obedience to instructions from
the convention of the Knights of Labor
held recently at Richmond.
POwDERLY's SUCCESS.
Mr.. Powderly went from Richmond to
| Lawrence, Mass, from which place it is
supposed he came quietly to Baltimore.
1t is said he went away from Baltimore
assured that his organization would not be
lntertered with, Several Catholic priests
said yesterday "The Knights of Labor Is
a lawful organization. MIR. Powderly is
a strict Catholic and a weekly communi-
cant, and would not countenance any So
ciety which in its workings antagonized
the DEGREES OF the Catholic Church."
THE DISTRICT MASTER WORKMAN.
Even j. j. Mccartney, District Master
Workman of Assembly No. Al, who is a
bosom friend of Mr.. Powderly, did not
know ne was coming to Baltimore. MIR.
Mccartney, who is also a Catholic and
member OF St. Peters church, had a
lengthy Interview this week with
Mgr. MICHIGAN, pastor of the church
The MOnslRnor sent for the
District Master Workman and had him
explain in detail the constitution of the
knights OF Labor, their attitude in bow
colts and other important features OF the
organization.
Then Mgr. McColgan wrote the Cardi-
nal IN favor OF the Knights. Nearly all
the ArchbishOps who attended Thurs
days conference at the residence of Car
dinal Gibbons returned TO their homes
yesterday.
DECREE OF THE CHURCH AGAINST Sc
CRET SOCIETIES.
THAT secret societies both have been
and are the most dangerous enemies of
the church OF God, not only the admon-
itiOns of those who have been appointed
by Christ to the guardianship OF Gods
community declare, but also the most
melancholy events OF the two previous
centuries confirm, and much more, the
most wretched condition to which the
church, IN many places, has been re-
duced. This most destructive pest has
invaded not only religious, but also civil
society, and so has corrupted the hearts
and minds of the citizens with It's own
baneful stencil, so as to inject the inmost
parts OF the republic ITSELF Mean
while, however. Roman pontitfs have
not failed In their duty. Again and again
they nave not only proclaimed them an
enemy, out, moreover, having the sword
OF the church thrust at them have ex-
posed their snares and stratagems. and
have offered seasonabie remedies for
warding off the evil. The declarations of
all these, Leo Kill, in his encycIic let
ter, "humanum race" (human race has
collected and set forth anew in language
dignifled a. 1t is eloquent. These instruc-
lions and DEGREES, therefore, so wisely pro.
mulgated by the Roman ponuffs, tor ward
ing of most grieVOus evil from the
faithful followers OF Christ, we wish
in no way to remain in useless sus-
pense, but, on the contrary. to be zeal.
ously applied, in order that that pestien-
tial disease might at length be expelled
from the body religious, as well as civil,
This was tie mind, also, OF the fathers in
the previous council held in Baltimore
We, their successors, by our DEGREES have
determined that all the POntifical DEGREES
above mentioned against all societies con-
demned by ). oedes, in accordance with
the tenor OF the constitution OF the ApOs-
tOlic see, and in accord with the mind of
the highest pOnClIiS, ought to be strenu-
ously inculcated and put into operation.
Not against those societies only which.
as the Masonic and Carbonarian secls.
are found expressly condemned, are the
declarations OF ). Sedes to be urged: but
they are TO be necessarily understood az
applying TO those also which are of the
same character as the Masonic aud Car
bonarlan. If society is OF kind that
it either enjoins anything to be observed
50 secret that IL might not be made mani
fest to the authority Of the church, or if
1t eXacts an oath OF promise with blind
and absolute obedience, the sects ara to
be regarded as those Of the for
hidden sects. 1t is evident
from this that those societies nave
been rightly condemned by the Apostolic
See. What IS more fitted for the genera
ton or n0urlshment Of every pest? For
in their secret conventions men deprayed
are even TO take part In the EVIL and
| uoA III vi tAluSs against Tue republic
sacred and civil, and il the right of the
church is not sufficient to look into it, no
means OF applying remedy is left; ii, how
ever, its members do not see evil in taem.
let them come forth from their darkness.
Pope Leo All., speaking of the above,
says that the oath which has been mem
TONED and must be taken Is sufficient tor
you TO understand that il is wrong TO be
admitted as a member of these societies.
or TO be engaged in them, nor does any
one say that the progress of the
human race is promoted by these means.
What could have been devised more
destructive TO the high human dignity.
the foundation of morals, and the carry.
ing on OF the republic? We declare that
these censures ought not to be kept silent.
but on the contrary be promulgated and
urged against the accused. When at
length IL has been seen that any one of
the societies have fallen under this class
let the Bishop inquire into 1t by himself
or through other prudent persons, and in
Guire into all things relating TO that So
ciety, examine each thing carefully, and
deliberately consider, that sure Judgment
may he advanced with regard TO it, IN
accordance with the principles laid down,
and If anything has been found worth
OF condemnation, let them investigate
whether 1t arises from the nature of the
! gOciptN ifaplf or from INV NJ no at