Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-11-18
AREUNDER THEBAN
Catholic Afohbishops Declare
Against Secret Societies.
WHAT MEMBERSHIP BRINGS
Archbishop kstzer Bnngs Forward the
Penuon Of the Baltimore German
Catholic Central Socisy.

NEw YokK, Nov. 1.-The seooad
day's sesson Of the annual conference
OF the Arehbishops of tho Roman
Catholic church ia the United etxtss
began at 10 O'Clock this morning At the
arehepiscopal residence, Cardinal Glib
bcns presiding, as At yesterdays ses-
sion. All the archblshops, or their re-
presentsnves. were present "a wss
Archbishop satolli, the pspzl delegate.
Again the deliberations were carried on
behind closed doors. The major Dor-
ton of the time, II was learned. rss oc-
cupied In the discussion on the con-
deinnstlon OF certain secret societies.
The debate referred chiefly 10 the
Ordered Fellows, numbering about five
hundred thousand III the United States.
and she Sons Of Temperance whose roll
includes about seventy thousand men,
oers. Archbishop katzer OF Milwaukee
brought The matter 10 the attention of
the council, by presenting the petition
OF the German Catholic Central society
OF the United States, which was
adopted at Dubsque, la, in Septe naber
lasi, asking the conference 20 Clearly
oenne the designation secret society,"
III plain and unmlstakabIs terms. a.
some doubt has been raised IN the
nilnds OF some OF the church author
itles IS 10 whether the societies named
come under the ban of tue papal bull.
Free NasoBs krcolnm a nicatsd
In explaining his position. Arch
bishop katzer said that Il Is absolutely
frs1 hat fla
only society forbidden hv the church
and that consequently. Catholic nav
may JOIN any other lodge or society.
except the Free Masons
He quoted from the Injunction of
The third plenary council at Baltimore.
as follows:
First-That all former DEGREES of the
Roman pontifis against all societies
condemned 10y the holy zee are To re-
main IN full force, according 20 the
tenor OF the constitution Apostolic
sedjs, and the meaning OF the Roman
pontff.
Second That the Free Mssons and
the Carbonari are excommunicsted by
name.
Third-That all other societies.
though not mentioned by name, are
communicated, If they are of the
same nature as the Free Masons and
the Carbonari; that is, all those soci-
eties which openly or secretly plot
again ct the church. or against the law
ful government OF the state
Fourth-Thxt all societies are ex-
which have their own
or chaplain. their Own (relig-
ioue) ritual and their own (religiousl
ceremonies, IN such a manner as there
nv to become heritic or rchlsmstic
sect.
Secret Societies Under the Ban
Fifth-Tnat any society which re-
quires its IN embers, be Il under cath or
otherwise, not TO reveal its tecrets TO
any one, not even 10 the eccleslxstical
authority. that is, the bishop, or which
demands. be II bv oath or mere prom
'se, from Its members a bind and ALB
solute obedience, is forbidden under
grievous SIN, and that the members of
such society cannot be sbsolved until
they actually leave the society or Al
least promise TO do so at once.
sixth-The faithful, and especially
the youth, are TO be taught aud earn
estly sdmonisbed 20 carefully avoid All
such societies, as IN the Judgment of
The bishop of their own diocese, are IN
my way dangerous 20 faith and
for. as the instructions Of the
Boly Roman and Universal TnQuis-
ilon, dated May 10. 1881, remarks, Il
= well TO be understood that there are
)iheT societies which, though they do
lot Clearly belong 10 those enumerated
above THAT u. &C societies excommuni-
;ated or forbidden under mortal nnl.
ire at least doubtful and dangerous.
The bishop, whose chief care u must
se TO preserve the doctrine pure and
he morals uncorrupted. must know
hat II IL their duty TO deter aud keen
way their fccks from these societies.
Odd yellow. Exempt
According TO Archbishop Katzer the
ociety Of Odd Fellows has within late
ears gained q large increase OF mem.
'crship from the Catholic ranks on the
lea that they are not Free Masons,
nd therefore not n society forbidden
y the Catholic church. The council
4 Baltimore has appointed the college
f the srchbshops II the United state.
= the only competent tribunal IN the
natter of secret societies. He argued
hat IL Is the duty OF the present con-
erence to determine oxsctlv the ques-
ION at issue. The majority of the
ouncil coincided with the op,n ions er-
ressed hv Archbishop kstzer, and ar-
ropr ate action will DE taken before
he close of the conference. 40 that TIE
natter VII be indispnisbiy seftied.
The only phase Of TIE school aups.
on touched upon at the to6ay's ses-
on. vas that of the treatment of the
atholc Indian children in the western
vho have hsen compelled
b attend non-Cstboiic .chools. despite
be protests Of their parents IN.
.igh; Rev. Bishop +. L. Cbapeli,. The
Dad dlutstor ard representative e
rohbisbop sslpoinio. of santa Fe, vss
ae principal speaker on the subject
I'D he called for some decisive action
u the part OF hI. colleague. The con.
srence adjourned 81 8 o'clock in the
venuf.