The record-union., 1894-09-01

catholics in the saloon business. If there
are any who do not consider it a serious
matter, they woefully deceive themselves
or else their Catholicism is but skim
deep, for assuredly other Bishops will
follow the Watterson decree-the church
may in time advise such action.
There are two or three confraternatiss
that have from the beginning refused
membership to saloonkeepers; there are
degrees in other orders that may not be
conferred upon such; in several jurisdic-
tlons masonry rejects them, aud the dis
position to do so is spreading in that world
wide brotherhood. So the dealer must
make up his mind to this undeniable
fact that he is being more and more set
apart in society and Disseminated against.
1t is not pleasant reflection for the reput-
able men in the business, but there is no
escape from it.
And it is these facts that make the atti-
tude of one Bishop and which others are
at liberty to assume, especially rasping
upon such of church members as are
saloonkeepers. For all such there is only
one escape from the ostracism of the de-
cree.
For, rs has been shown in the quota
ton made from the announcement of
Bishop Watterson. the possible exclusion
from the mercies and comforts of the
church amount to direction to inquire
into the conduct of the business of
Catholic saloonkeepers, and to an order
to apply the disciplinary birch as circum-
stances demand in the judgment of any
Bishop.
The conclusion must be reached. then
that the Catholic Church is advancing
in this line; that it has resolved to
keep up with the procession of mod
ern thought and social progress in this
matter. 1t has all these many years
given quasi sanction to the saloon,
and now for the first time permits one
OF Its Bishops to put it under official
ban, at least SO far as this country is con-
cerned; for, be it noted, the careful Satolli,
who is as shrewd politician as he is a
titled dignitary OF the church, in his deci-
sion and explanation has not one word to
he gons into consideration OF the drink
Ing habit. have caused trouble for the
head Of the church regarding the wine
and beer-drinking usages and resorts of
the people of Europe, and of which the
masses of eur natiye-born people have
little accurate knowledge.
While the iquor-dealers are alarmed
at this new situation, yet they are pre-
senting strong front. The Vine and
SPIRIT Gazette says the church will not
dare, for self interest, to carry out the
Watterson doctrine or let it go beyond
the Celum bus diocese:
Its enforcement means war with an i'm
portant element in the ranks OF the adher-
entE of the church Unless q radical change
takes place III public sentiment, AquOr-dealeTs
tions against the liquor traffic. 1t viii most
likely fall nat.
The RetGit Liquor Dealer of New York
takes broader view and an adroit one.
After declaring that Catholic truth is the
same everywhere, because the Catholic
Church is universal, it adds:
The test OF membership is the right to
Christian burial, and to claim this right one
must show that ne has fulfilled the obliga-
tions of the church, consisting OF penance
dissolution, etc. There is no exception to this
! rule. Now then, this understood, does Bishop
Watterson mean TO say that If Catholic
Christian, eligible in all other ways for Chris
tian death and burial, as prescribed by the
| Catholic Church, manufactures or sells vine
spirits or beer, he would deprive him OF the
last rites OF his church and prevent his burial
in consecrated ground? II SO, where does
Bishop Watterson get his authority? =
A respectable Catholic retail iIquor-dealer
need have no fear that the Catholic Church
lays its ban on his calling. 1t has never yet
would be something too radical to proclaim
| as an article OF faith now.
The Catholic Review claims that there is
nothing new In the matter SO far as
church attitude is concerned, because the
Baltimore Plenary Council of 1885 issued
decree enjoining Catholics not to en-
gage in liquor selling and demanding
that those then in it withdraw from it.
But the same journal admits that the
Wattersou order is irritating.
The Cathode Citizen tMilwaukee), how
ever, gives to the order the importance
we have attached to it, and says its moral
influence will extend beyond the Wat
terson diocese and concludes: "The best
the church can do for the average saloon
keeper is to let him occupy back seat
under toLerGTi poteSt dispensation."
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