Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1892-11-24
BAN ON SECRET ORDERS.
Opposed by the Prelates in the Catholic
Council.

Opposed by the Prelates in the Catholic
Council.
New YORK, Nov. 1S.-The council of
Catholic archbishops has take up and
thoroughly discussed the question oftne
condemnation of certain secret societies.
The debate referred chiefly to the Odd
Fellows, numbering about SOC, 900 in the
United States, and the Sons of Temper
ance, whose roll includes about 10000
membership.
Archbishop Katzer, of Milwaukee,
brought the matter to the attention of
the council by presenting the petition
Of the German Catholic Central Society
of the United States. which was
adopted at Dubuque, Ia, in Sep
TENDER last, asking the conference
to clearly define the desig-
nation secret society" in plain and I'M
mlstakeable terms, as some doubt has
been raised i'll the minds OF some of the
church authorities as to whether the So
cieties named come under the ban of
the papal bull.
In explaining his position Archbishop
katZer said that it is absolutely not
true that the Free Masons are the only
society forbidden by the church, and
that, consequently, a Catholic may join
any other lodge or society except the
Free Masons. He quoted from the in
junction of the third plenary council at
Baltimore as follows:
l. That all former DEGREES of the Roman
pontitfs against all societies condemned by
the Holy See are to remain in full force,
according to the tenor of the constitution
''apOStollcH SediS" and the meaning of the
Roman pOntiff.
bOnarl are accommodated by name.
3. Ihat all other societies, though not
mentioned by name, are communicated.
If they are OF the same nature us the Free
MaSonS and the Carbonari-that is. all
those societies which openly or secretly
plot against the church or against the law
full government of the state.
4. That such societies are eXcOmmun-
lcated which have their own minister
or chaplain, their own (religiouS) ritual
and their own (rengious) ceremonies in
such manner as thereby to become Il
hereto or Schlsmatic sect.
B. That any society which requires its
members, be it under oath or otherwise,
not to reveal its secrets to anyone, not
even to the ecclesiastical authority-that
is, the BlshOp-Or which demands, be 1t by
oath or mere promise, from its members a
blind and absolute obedience. is forbidden
under GrlevOuS sin, and that the members
OF such a society cannot be abSOlvcd until
they actually leave the society, or, at
least promise to do so at once.
t. The faithful, and especially youth,
are to he taught and earnestly admonished
carefully to avoid all such societies as, in
the Judgment Of the bishop OF their own
diocese, are IN any way dangerous to faith
and morals, for, as the instruction of the
holy Roman and universal inqulsiton
dated May 10, 1884, remarks, it is well to
be understood that there are still
other societies which though they
do not clearly belong to those
enumerated above (that is, to societies eX-
communicated or forbidden under mortal
SIM, are at least doubtful and dangerous.
The bishops, whose chief care it must be
to preserve the doctrine pure and the NOR
ais uncOrrupted, must know that it is their
duty to deter and keep away their tlocks
from these societies.
society of Odd Fellows has within late
years gained large increase of member
ship from the Catholic ranks. on the
plea that they are not Free Masons,
and, therefore, not q society
forbidden by the Catholic Church.
The Council of Baltimore mas appointed
the college of the archbishops of the
United States as the only competent
tribunal in the matter ofsecret societies,
he argued, and it is the duty Of the pre-
sent conference to determine exactly
the question at issue.
The majority Of the council conceded
with the opinions expressed by Arch
bishop KatzeT, and appropriate action
will be taken before the close of the
conference, so that the matter will be
indisputable settled