The herald., 1894-08-06
ABSTEMIOUS CATHOLICS.
BISHOP WATTERSON'S FAMOUS
PASTORAL LETTER.
The Inside History of tho Events Leading
Up to Monsignor 6atoIlps De-
cision Upholding the
Bishop.

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Aug. 5.-To an Asso-
ciated Press agent Bishop Watterson
gave some interesting inside history
leading up to his now famous pastoral
letter on total abstinence, Catholic socie-
ties, and in relation to manufacturers
and venders of intoxicants.
A week before Thanksgiving last year
a member of one of the Columbus socie.
ties, belonging to the knights OF St.
Johns union, told the bishop OF prepara-
tions making in their society for an en-
tertainment, at which beer was to be
sold and promiscuous dancing INDUCED
in. After reproving the members, the
bishop received promise that the OBJ
jectionable features would be omitted.
Notwithstanding this, the entertainment
WAS held as originally intended. When
the bishop heard of this violation, h 0
refused to longer recognize the members
of the society as Catholic citizens.
In December, at the regular election of
the society, Haloonkeepers, regardless of
the bishops wishes, were elected presi-
| dent and captain, respectively. The
bishop thereupon warned the members
that If those officers were installed he
would deprive the whole division of its
rank and privileges as a Catholic society.
The society thereupon rerolved to con-
suit the supreme president of their
I union. This the bishop knew only after
the appeal was made. During visit to
Moneignor Satolli in February, Bishop
Watterson in the mean time having
heard q rumor that an appeal had been
made. asked the delegate if such was the
case. Monsignor Sstolli answered in the
negative and the bishop decided to wait
another month.
The very day, he says, on which the
pastoral letter was issued, he was served
by the apostolic delegate with the ap-
peal of the society referred to, and the
correspondence with the local president
relating thereto. The bishops action
in regard to the society was upheld by
Satolli. TIE society was not satisfied,
however, and hearing that the delegate
was to visit Columbus in June, drew up
a second appeal which they asked the
bishop to sign that it might 60 immsdi-
ately to the delegate.
While this was going on in Colum bus
the national convention OF Knights of
St. John was taking place in Buffalo.
and e few delegates from Columbus at
tempted the unprecedented thing of ar
raigning bishop before a convention of
laymen. Many OF the delegates were
against such action, however.
The second decision OF the delegate ia
dated July 3, and addressed to the sec
rstsry OF the protesting society. After
Sstolli first lays down the general prin-
ciple that, as ii belongs to the Office of
bishop to find out in his own diocese
what is hurtful or helpful to the spirit
ual good of the faithful, it belongs to
his power to commend, forbid, counsel
or permit to be done. whatever he
may Judge conducive to his own duty
and the good of the faithful.
"The letter or decree OF the Right
Rev. Bishop of Columbus concerning
Catholic societies of total abstinence, );
saye Satolli, "to abstain from Intoxicating
drinks ought by no means to bs sub
ect to the judgment OF every private
individual or every assemblage OF simple
Catholics or citizens, but every Catholic
of good concience muat hold for certain
that the bishop has commanded those
things which seem to be for the greater
good Of the faithful and ths honor of
every Catholic society,""
Then as the judge to whom the appeal
was made, he saya: Therefore those
things which the right reverend bishop
has commanded in his decree, approve
and | decide that they are to be OBJ.
served but if perhape they for the time
being seem to hurt the material inter
eets OF come, the injury will havo to be
patiently borne for the good of the
many and for the honor of our Catholic
church."
The bishop says he inserted the wedge
e ha fatr
are affected by the decision got the
apostolic delegate (glory to him) to drive
it in.