The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-11-18
THE SECRET SOCIETIES
An Interesting Question Before
the Catholic Conference.
PROHIBITED SOCIETIES DEFINED

The Odd Fellows Relation to the
Church Especially Considered
The Question to be IndisputabIy
Settled.
NEW York, Nov. 1S.-At the second
days session of the annual conference of
the arehbishops of the Roman Catholic
church in the United States, at the arch
episcopal residence, Cardinal Gibbons
again presided. All the archbishops
were present, rs was Archbishop Sstolli,
the papal delegate. Again the delibera-
tons were carried on behind closed
doors. The major portion OF the time,
1t was learned. was occupied in the dis
cussion of the question on the condemna-
ton of certain secret societies. The de-
bate referred chiefly to the Odd Fellows,
numbering about 500, 900 in the United
States, and the Sons of Temperance,
whose roll includes about 10000 menu
bership.
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 September last, asking
the conference to clearly define the desig-
nation of ''secret society" in plain and
unnlistakable terms, as some doubt has
been raised in the minds of some of the
church authorities as to whether the So
cieties come under the ban of the papal
bull. In explaining his position Arch
bishop Katzer said that it is absolutely
not true that the Free Masons are the
only society forbidden by the church,
and that, consequently. Catholic 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:
The Church Laws.
/. That all former DEGREES of the
Roman pontiifs against all societies con-
deIuned by the Holy See are to remain
in full force, according to the tenor OF
the constitution ''apostolicae sedis" and
the meaning of the Roman pontitf.
| 2. That the Free Masons and the Car
bonari are accommodated by name
| B. That all other societies, though not
mentioned by name, are eXcommuni-
Gated if they are of the same nature as
the Free Masons and the Carbonari; that
is, all those societies which openly OF
secretly plot against the church OF
against the lawful government Of the
state, ....
| 4. That all those societies are excom-
muuicated which have their own minis.
ter or chaplain, their own religious
ritual and their own religious cereino,
MES, in such manner as thereby to be
come hereto or schismatic sect.
5. That any society which requires it,
members, be it under oath or otherwise
not 10 reveal its secrets to any one, not
even to the ecclesiastical authority-that
is, the bishop-or which demands, be il
by oath or mere promise, from its mem
bers blind and absolute obedience. il
forbidden under grevioGs sin, and tina
the members of such society cannot b,
absolyed until they actually leave tn
society or at least promise to do SO II
once.
g. That the faithful, and especially tn,
youth, are to be taught and earnestl,
admonished carefully to avoid all sucl
societies as in the Judgment of the bishol
of their own diocese are in any wa,
dangerous to faith and morals. for it /
well to be understood that there are still
other societies which, though they d,
not clearly belong to those enumerate,
above-that is, to societies excommuni
Gated or forbidden under moral sin-ar
at least doubtful and dangerous.
The Question TO be Settled.
According to Archbishop Katzer tn
society Of Odd Fellows has within lat
years gained large increase of member
ship in the Catholic ranks on the pie
that they are not Free Masons, an
therefore not a society forbidden by tn
Catholic church.
The council of Baltimore has az
pointed the college of the archbiships @
the United States as the only competel
tribunal in the matter of secret societie
!. he argned, and it is the duty of the pre-
!, ent conference TO determine exactly IL
d question Mt issue.
r The majority Of the council coincide
with the opinions expressed by Arc
!, bishop Katzer, and appropriate actiC
II will he taken before the close of the co
I ference, so that the matter will he iudi
putably settled.
l. The only phase of the school questit
J, touched upon was that of the treatme
of the Catholic Indian children in II
;, western reservations, who have be-
:. compelled to attend non-C Catholic schoo
=, despite the protests Of their parents.