The morning call., 1894-08-06
WERE MADE IN VAIN.

COLUMBUS, Aug. $40 an Associated
Press Agent to-day Bishop Watterson
gave some interesting inside history lead
ing up to his famous pastoral letter on to-
tai abstinence and Catholic Societies in re-
latiOn to manufacturers and vendors Of
intoxicants.
a week before Thanksgiving last year a
member Of the Columbus societies belong
ing to the Knights Of st. John Union told
the Bishop of preparations making in their
society for an entertainment at which
beer was to be sold and promiseuous dane
ing INDUCED in. After repToving the men,
beers the Bishop received a promise that
the Objectionable features would be omit
ted. Notwithstanding this the entertain
ment was held as originally intended.
When the Bishop heard of this violation
he refused TO longer recognize the members
of the society as Catholic citizens.
In December, at the regular election Of
the society, saloon-keepers, regardless of
the Bishops wishes, were elected presi-
dent aud captain, respectively. The
Bishop thereupon warned the members
If these officers were installed he would
deprive the whole division of its rank and
privileges as a Catholic society. The
society thereupOn resolved to consult the
supreme president of their union. This
the Bishop knew only after the appeal
was made. During a visit to MonsIgnor
Satolli in February Bishop Watterson,
in the meantime having heard a rumor
that an appeal had been made, asked the
delegate if such was the case. Monsignor
SatOlli answered in the negative, and the
Bishop decided to wait another mouth.
The very day. he says, on which the
pastoral letter was Issued he was served
by the Apostolic delegate with the appeal
of the society referred to and the cor
respondence with the local president re-
lating thereto. TIE Bishops action in re-
gard TO the society was upheld by
SatolH. The society was not satisfied.
however. and hearing that the delegate
was TO visit Colum bus. in June drew up a
second appeal, which they asked the
Bishop TO sign, that it might go imme-
diately to the delegate.
While this was going on in Columbus
the national contention Of st. John was
taking place in Buffalo, and a few dele
gates from Columbus attempted the IN
precedented thing of arraigning a Bishop
before a convention OF laymen.
Many of the delegates were against such
action, however.
The second decision of the delegate is
dated July g. and addressed TO the secre-
tary of the protesting society. SstollI first
lays down the general principle that as Il
belongs to the Office Of a Bishop 10 find
out in his own diocese what is hurtful or
helpful to the spiritual good of the faith
full, it belongs TO his power TO command,
forbid. counsel or permit to be done
whatever he may judge conducive - his
own duty and the good Of the faithful
The letter or decree Of the Right Rev.
Bishop of Columbus concerning Catholic
societies, total abstinence, TO abstain from
intoxicating drinks. ought by no means to
be subject to the judgment OF every pri-
yate individual or every assemblage of
simple Catholics or citizens, but every
Catholic of good conscience must hold for
certain that The Bishop has commanded
those things which seem to be for the
greater good of the faithful and the honor
of every Catholic society.
Then as the Judge to whom the appeal
was made he saws: Therefore those
things which the Right Rev. Bishop has
commanded in his decree, I approve, and l
decide that they are to be deserved but if,
perhaps, they for the time being seem to
hurt the material interests of some they
will have to be patiently borne for the
good of many and for the honor of our
Catholic church,
The Bishop says be inserted the wedge
Of reform In the affair, and those who are
affected by the decision got the Apostolic
delegate to drive it in.