The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-04-24
CATHOLICS, AND THE GAR
Is It not Secret Society In the Meaning of that
iEIurchf

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Some time
since u member of the Catholic Church belong
ing to Terrence Post, No. 9, GAR, died, after
having expressed n wish that no might be-
buried by the Post. We, Rs a Post, looked
after him during his last illness and watched
with his body the two nights lie lay corpse
We accompanied the body TO the Catholic
church. when after tho services at the church.
the priest notified ms that ms body, we would
be allowed TO go TO tho entrance of the cemetery
only; when we Immediately returned TO our
hall Many of the old boys felt that we had
been insulted, and requested mo to write the
Bishop of this Diocese in regard to the matter,
asking him If there were any rules Of tho Church
forbidding us to bury our comrado in accord
ance with our ritual which l did, aud received
his reply. Tho following is my letter to him
and his reply:
KEoKUK, Iowa, March 8, 1890.
My DEAR SIR: should member OF the Catholic
Church join tho Grand Army Of the Republic, and
express desire that when he dies lac may be
buried with military honors by the GAR. in ac-
cordmce with the liituul OF the GAR, is there any
rule OF the Church
J. FnrbdGiug carrying the American nag ihto
Catholic cemetery;
. Forbiddng the GAR. marching irto - Catho-
lie cemetery in a body with the American flag;
3. Furbiddng the GAR. from burying com
rnde in Catholic cemetery IN accordnnee with tile
Ritual of the GAR;
L. Forbidding The q r. from firing voey Of
musketry over the grave of the dead oomradcf
ask these questions OF sou, not for the purpose
of Directing TO the rules of your Church, but that
may be governed by your decision IN regard to
bnrials of GAR men In Catholic cemeteries In
the future.
Yours. very truly. GroRGE RoBERTsoS.
The reply Of Bishop Cosgroye
BISHOPS House.. No 60 East Seventh ST.,
DAyEHroHT Iowa, March Z, 1890
Mr. GEoRGE RoBEUIsoN.
DEAR SIR: la answer To yours of 9Th inst inquir-
ing about the CA Il. would beg leave To shy that
a.. MI
ON whether the GAR - secret society or not.
II IL is Of course Catholics can have nothing to q"
with It. II it Is not theb the American tiHg can he
carried into Catholic cemetery by the G.A.k
marching in IA body aud they can fire "a volcy OF
mu-kclry over the grave Of the dead conrade
There H. nothing to forbid these thiugs. with this
proyiso Concerning the Ritual " part oft, have
only say that The forms Of that ritual have any
thing IN them Of a religious character, nnd thereby
milking them scciariHu, such csTemouy cannot he
allowed Ia Catholic cemetery, ~ the thureh -
amply provided with the ceremonies OF her own
rituals Tor such occasions The word ritual does
not sound we'll ia non religious societies
Hoping tlIis will be satisfactory, remain, very
sincerely, yours,
HEvnY CosGnovE Bishop of Diocese.
Now the question arises " Is the GAR. q
secret society as viewed by the Catholic
church," In order TO ascertain this the opin-
ions Of tho highest officers Of the Catholic
Church in the United States should be con-
elusive / end on pages 81 and % of the jour
nal Of the 18th annual session OF the National
Eucampmcut, Grand Army of the Republic,
held at Portland, Me, June 81 aud %, 1850. tho
following in the report OF John ;. k0untz, Com
mander-in Chief OF tho GAR. To said body
Knowing that there is nothing in the Grand
Army of the Republic inconsistent with tho
most cxactng personal duty or the strictcst
religion, / deemed IL for the interest Of the
Order To appoint n special committee to lay It's
nature aud workings before the proper Catholic
| cccesias zeal authorities of the United States,
| that they might know our organization has
nothing 10 couccalt aud that our purposes are
commended by al who understand them. |
| appointed ms such committee Comrades w. s.
Rasecrans, of California; NJ. r. Mcmahon. OF
| New York, aud j. G. IApehan, of New Hamp-
| shire aud have the pleasure 10 here present
| their report. rs lollosss:
WAaHfs0fos D. C. March IS 1855.
| joins $. KoUSrz, CommHndcr-in. Chief, Oak
| Toledo a.
| ConMANnrn. II. CuInF: As Chairman of the com
mittce appointed by you to consilt with the propci
authorities of tHe Catholic Church In ouf country
haze tie honor 10 rrIart that ia the iuihiimeut %
] that duty | corFrrpondcd with the otter members
OF the committee, and tereup1u addressed letter.
| 10 ths Fruate. tho Moss Rev Atchbi~hup .tbbuns
/ 81 Baltimore. nud ATctbHhop Ryan, 81 PhlIhde4
phia stating tbam that. whilr wc did NOT expect
1 10 ask amy Endorsement or ecclesiastical approval
Of our society, we were anxious 60 have It's nature
80 understood that it might he known 10 al ooh.
fesaers that Catholics might Hwfuy and with good
conscience bu members thereof
/ Ia response tu AtFlf HlilAsN hhEkEshtbhs aht'
| ni~hnd ample explanations. written aud printed
| showing That Association WAS for tlte noble Oh
ircia of cultvattug among its members te spirit q
fraternity. Charity and Loyalty, and To- it's nature
| temporary. / also conNcrsed with other Arch
| bishUp. Bishops aud throogians. aud have the
/ pleasure 10 inform YOU that II was usr opinion %
| every ono with whom conferred that tho Society
| 81 the Grand Army 81 the Republic, as now organ
! ized and conducted, is not in the ccele~iaAiic1i
i meaning Of the phrase, n secret society aud
! ihnt Catholics may. with all good conscience, be
/ long To u.
| / congratulate our order that, IN the opinion o.
such dispa-siouAIc Judges. We have builded ~ We
! Intended asa Association so broad liberal aud Just
that u may be worthy tue great hcpubilciot wnicl
| W. have poriisd oar lives aud Tor which so many
| have shrd their blood, ! couEratnints you asf
| inr happily having undertaken tho good work o
eltctiug these expressions 81 opinion 50 Important
| 10 tle honor aud future welfare ui Our Order.
| ". \. KOsECBAss.
| Chairman uf Special Committee.
! The GAR, then, not being, in the ecciesias
| tical meaning Of the phrase, secret society,
! aud there being nothing in our ritual OF q
scctarian nature, the matter is fully settled fol
the guidance of GAR. Posts in the future
-GEoEGE KoHERTsoS, 9th Iowa Band, Tor
| renee Post, No. =, kc0kuk, Iowa.