The herald., 1895-01-11
AGAINST SECRET SOCIETIES,
What Bishop Montgomery Says
of Such Organizations.
Their Method Is Not Approved by
the Catholic Church.
Tho Secret Societies Will Allow the
Members to Solve the Problem
For Themselves.
A few days ago Archbishop Williams
ssnt letter to be read in all the
churches Of the arch diocese OF Boston,
containing the folio ing:


containing the folio wing:
We learn by letter from Rome, forwarded
by his excellency, the apostolic delegate at
Washington, that the most holy father has for
hidden Catholics to join the societies OF odd
Fellows, Knights of Pythias or Sons OF Tenn
perance. AS to those who have already joined
any of these societies. they are to be admon-
ished to withdraw from them, and if they re-
fuse to do so, they are to be denied the sacra-
ment.
Yesterday a HERALD reporter called
on Bishop Montgomery in this city to
learn il any order is expected from the
church regarding the affiliations OF
Catholics with the secret organizations
men toned.
''There has been rule in this diocese
for some time" replied Bishop Mont
gomery, "prohibiting members of our
church from belonging to eecret socie-
ties. The opposition OF the Catholic
church to these organizations has been
misunderstood. OF course, if an edict Is
sent out by the holy father it muet be
obeyed by all the children of the church,
and the order for this section is Issued
through the Archbishop of San Fran
cisco. As yet, no ouch document has
been received here, but, as | said, the
rule has been in practice in this diocese
for some time.
"From what we have been able to
learn about these secret societies they
advocate and preach much that is good
for the mem ers individually, but MOTH
ing more than is taught the members
OF our church every day. The prinoi-
pies of humanity, benevolence and
providence that are said to govern these
organizations are constantly kept before
the eyes and inculcated into the hearts
of every Catholic. Then why should
they belong to organizations that are
surrounded by 80 much mystery and
secrecy? II there 10 ell good and no
wrong in them, why these oaths? We
do not bind the members OF our church
by oath, but we teach them the same
principles that are said to underlie the
secret societies.
WRONG IN METHOD.
"Ths objection that the church has
to the secret organizations, is their
method. The taking OF solemn oath
to secrecy as to their aims. principles
and scope is against the tesohings OF our
church. 1t is not necessary nor expo
dent for Catholic to belong TO any
secret organiza alton. We have within
our church everything they can
find in these societies. 1t has
been charged that our objection
lies in the fact that the members of
these institutions must swear to support
the constitution of our country. Why,
we preach and teach to our members
every day to be true to the country in
which we live and in which many have
been born. We teach them to uphold
the law and dignity of the land
WHERE 1T MAY CONFLICT.
''But aside from these questions. there
is one that might conflict directly with
the ceremonies OF the church. The or.
CARNATIONS all have q certain ritual,
that in itself is semi-religious. The
time may come that when a member of
the Catholic church is buried, the secret
organization to which the deceased be-
longed should desire to perform the
ritual according to that specific society
and, of course, the services OF our church
would conflict with the other, and we
could not perform the last ritea Aman
can not be a Catholic and at the same
time accept the ritual of any other
church, and on the same principle no
organization. We can see that child
OF our church can gain nothing, spirit
ual or worldly. in belonging to any
secret order, that binds him by oaths to
secrecy and mystery"
THE OTHER VIEW OF THE QUESTION.
number OF members OF the Knights
OF Pythias and Odd Fellows were asked
their views upon the question and they
aeemed to agree that il can only be
solved by the individual members.
III it becomes question for q mem
Der of our secret societies 80 choose be-
tween his church and our organization,
he will be the best judge as to which ia
the best for him to adhere to. II he be-
lisves that his religious principles and
affiliations are jsopardlzed by his con-
nection with q secret society he will
have to abandon the one or the other"
mo action has been taken in this
matter by the supreme lodge" said
prominent Knight of Pythias. but the
grand lodge of California will meet next
May at Monterey and then the question
will undoubtedly come up for considera
ton. Ii we take no action our deie-
gates 20 the eupreme lodge will be in
structed to bring the question before
that body. But we can take care OF the
controversy in some way. For instance,
we may decide to retaliate and refuse
admission to our order to any Catholic
who applies fer membership. l do not
say that we are doing 1t, but We may
find it necessary to adopt that method"