Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1895-01-03
ORDERS ARE BANNED n I i: ] }.
v.r,cAN,s DECREE OF M
In rERpICrION IS PUBLISHED. Il
A., Catholics Must Mt Once with : :
80. Erom the Odd Fellows, sons
- temperance md Knights Ok
px+,,,n. or be Excommufcnted

Wilmington, Del, Dec. 2S.-blsnop
curtis issued the following letter to
all the priests in the diocese OF Will !
mington: -, o4,,.,
b,e Won will read on Sunday, at least
oncc the following documents, ana
Won will. 1 am sure, to the very ut
most of your ability, endeayor TO pro
cnra from all whom the decree OF the
Holy See may concern, a prolhpt anu
loyal obedience to the same decree.
When Christ speaks through his vicar
and in such words, there can be NO
question as to the purport OF the Ut.
teronce. A Catholic, excuse himseiI
howohe may, yet ceases to be a Catho-
lie if he fail to conform. himself thor
ourhly to that utterance. Very latin
fully your servant in Christ, -
ga. NJ. Curtis.
"Bishop of Wilmington.
The enclosures were as follows:
"Iost Reverend and Illustrious Sir:
Your excellency cannot fail to know
that the archbishops set over tho
various ecclesiastical provinces OF the
republic of the United States OF
America have, in more than one OF
their assemblies, taken council with
respect to the societies which have
grown up in the aforesaid republic,
namely. the Odd Fellows, the Sons Of
Temperance and the knights OF
Pythias. And you must be also aware
that the aforesaid archbishOpS unani-
mously decided that the whole ques-
ton as to these societies should be
submitted to the judgment of the
apostolic see. His holiness, therefore,
committed this question to the Most
Rev. Satolli and to the inquisitors.
general. These, then, in general con-
gregation, held on Wednesday, June
20, 1894, confirmed a decision prevf-
ously made, as to the aforementioned
societies, decreed that all the ordi-
naries throughout the United States
must, in every way strive to keep the
faithful from becoming members Of
any of the said societies, and must
not fail to admonish their people to
that effect, and that any thus admon-
ished must be debarred from the sa-
crament should they fail to abandon
or keep aloof from the same societies.
This decree his holiness confirmed and
gave it complete effect. 1t is there
fore communicated to your excellency
that through you it may be transmit
ted to all the archbishops, bishops and
other ordinaries of the United States,
and for the due custody of the souls
of the faithful, may be by these ordi-
naries carried into effect Meantime
I beseech Almighty God to bestow all
benefits and blessings.
OR. Cardinal Monaco.
"Rome, Aug. 10, 1894.
ITO the Illustrious and Most Rev.
Francis Satolli, Delegate Apostolic,
Washington, D. c.
"Your Eminence, Illustrious and
Most Reverend: By letter transmitted
to me on the Goth of November, last.
through Cardinal Rampolli, his holi.
ness urges that the decree of the
holy office sent. to me by Cardinal
Monaco, and herewith delivered to
you, shall be made public. The soy
ereign pontiff, the1ef will see that
the decree in question shall be com.
municated by the archbishops to the
respective suffragars and by them it
may be promulgated. With all rev.
erence and affection, l remain, your
eminence, illustrio us and most rever-
end, your faithful servant in Christ.
-"Francis SatOlI."