Evening journal., 1892-11-18
ARCHBlSHOpS ATT NORE.
The Secret Society Question
Discussed at Length.
TIE CASE OF THE ODD FELLOWS.

IHB CASE OF THB ODD fbLLOWS
Attitude Of the Vatican Toward Secret
orders Like the NIasons and the Car
bonari at Present Under the Pope's Ban.
Indian Catholics in tho West.
NEW YORK, Nov. ls.-The second days
session Of the annual conference Of she
archbishops Of the Roman Catholic church
in the United States was carried on behind
closed doors. The major portion Of the
time, il was learned, was occupied in the
discussion of the question on the oondemna-
ton OF certain secret societies. The debate
referred chiefly to the odd Fellows, num-
bering about 10000 in the United States
and the Sons Of Temperance, whose roll in
clndes about 10000 membership. Arch
bishop katzer. OF Milwaukee, brought the
matter to the attention OK the council by
presenting the petition OF the German
Catholic Central Society Of the United
States, which was adopted at Dubuque in
September last. asking the conference to
clearly define the designation esecret So
cietyn ia plain and unmistakable terms, as
some doubt has been raised in the minds Of
some OF the church authorities as to
whether she societies naInod come under
the papal ball.
Societies Under Che Dan,
In explaining his position Archbisbop
Katzer said that it rs absolutely not true
that the Freomasons are the only society
forbidden by tln church. and TINT conse-
Nfrt q t..lr .4fl ~
lodge or society except tho Freemesons.
lie quotes from the Injunction Of the
third plenery council at Baltimore as fol-
lowe
First--That all former docroos Of the Roman
pontiits against an societies condemned hy the
holy see arc to remain ia full force, according
20 the tenor OF the constitution "ApostulicW
Sedis" and the meaning Of tho Roman pontin.
Socond--rhat the Frecmasons and the Car
bonari are oxcommunicatod By ncmo.
Third-That all other sOcetios arc eKcom.
municatcd II they are OF the same nature az
the Freemasons and tho Carbonsri-that is, an
those societies which openly or socrotly plot
against the church or against the lawful gov
ernment OF TIE state
Fourth--Thet all societies arc excommuni.
Gated which have their own minister or chap
lain, their own (roigious) ritual and thoir own
(relgious) ceremonies In such a manner as
thereby TO become a herotic or schismatic scot
Fifth-That any society which requires It's
members not TO reveal It's secrets TO any one,
not even 80 the ecclesiastical authority ty-that
Is, the Oishop-or which demands from It's mem
bers blind and absolute obedience, is forbid
den under grievous sin.
Sixth-That tho faithful and especially the
youth arc TO be taught and earnestly admOn.
ished carefully to avoid all such societies as ia
the judgment Of the bishop OF their own do
cese are in any way dangerous to faith and
morals.
Tho Case OF the odd Follows.
According TO Archbishop Kntzer tho So
ciety OF Odd Fellows has within late years
gained a large increase of membershipirom
the Catholic ranks on the plea that they
are not Froemasons, and therefore not a
society forbidden by the Catholic church
Tho council OF Baltimore has appointed
the college of the archbishops of the United
States as the only competent tribunal in
the matter Of secret societies, he argued,
and it is the duty of the present conference
TO determine exactly tho question at issue.
The majority OF tho council coincided with
the opinions expressed by Archbishop
Katzer and appropriate action viii be
taken before the close Of the conference, so
that the matter win bo indisputably set
tied.
The only phase of the school Qucs-
tion touched upon was that OF the treat-
ment q the Catholic Indian children in The
western reservations. who have been COM
PEELED to attend non-Catholic schools dc.
spite the protests of their parents Right
Rev. Bishop =. L. Chapelle, of Santa Fe,
n. NJ, was the principal speaker, aud he
called for some decisive action on the part
OF his colleagues.