Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-07-15
PAPAL EDICT READ.
St. Joseph's Church Hears the
Secret Order Encyclical.
IT WILL TAKE EFFECT AT ONCE.

Chief Tribunal Has to Say About 1t.
Yesterday morning the order was
formally announced at ST. Joseph'S
church by Rev. Father Thomas
Mackin, in the form Of a communion
ton from Bishop Spaulding. of Peo-
ria. in whose diocese Rock Island is
included, with reference to mem
bership on the part of Roman Cath
olics in certain secret organizations.
The letter simply stated Catholics
are required to abandon membership
in the Knights of Pythias. Odd Eel
lows or Sons of Temperance.
Pope Leo's Etlics.
This is in accordance with the
ediet of Leo KILL, promulgated
abou: a year ago, putting under
the ban the knights OF Pythias.
Sons of temperance and Odd Fellows.
The bull will take effect at once, and
hereafter the sacraments and rites of
the church will be released to any of
its members entering into or contiu-
uing in the orders prescribed. The
reading of the edict was in compli-
auce with the following letter from
Archbishop Satolli, the representa-
tive in America.
His Eminence Cardinal Monaco, in
q letter of May p. announces TO me
that he has learned that several
American papers have asserted on
the authority Of prclates that the
PRONUNCIATION of the decree of the
molly Office concerning the three soci-
eties, Odd Fellows, Knights of Py-
thias and Sons of Temperance. is not
obligatory. but Left to the Judgment
of the bishops as disciplinary and
variable matter Moreover, the same
journals affirm that his PRONUNCIATION
has, by superior authority. been dis
Outraged and Suspended, at least in
some dioceses. His emincnce greatly
deplores this state OF affairs and
again recommends that the decree
be published and enforced in every
diocese in such way as the respective
bishops shall deem most eXpedicnt.
had assured the holy see as long
ago as last February that the decree
had been published in all the prov
inces Of this country; but if by
chance your exccllency should know
that in any diocese of your province
this obligatory publication has not
been made, in the name OF the holy
Office and by the authority of the
holy see. beg your eXcellency 10 see
that it be Immediately and faithfully
done.
BY this letter Of his eminence the
obi cation OF the decree and of its
publication is put beyond all ques-
ton, and it is no longer lawful for
any Catholic journal to express any
doubt concerning it. With senti-
ments of highest esteem and frater-'
nal charity l remain most faithfully
yours in Xt.
FIR ARCHP. SATOLLI.
Del. Apost.
knights of rythias Most Affected.
The Knights Of Pythias is the or
der most affected, as Roman Catho-
lies have little or no representation
in either of, the others. What the
Pythians themselves think of the
new decree against them can best be
Judged from the words of &. w.
Herdman. chief tribune of the Grand
Tribunal. He said: II can say pos
itive!y that the Knights of Pythias
will take no action in regard to their
condemnation by the pope. and will
pass no Legislation permitting Roman
Catholics to retain their mem bership
in any but the orthodox way. / do
not believe mary will withdraw. be-
cause both individually and as body
we regard the order as unjust. The
order has never received either polit-
ical or religious opposition before.
We cannot conceive of any reason for
it. l do not know what steps the
pope has taken 10 find out the nature
of our organization. but at the Balti-
more council in 1856 Roman Catholic
dignitaries examined our constitu-
lion and bylaws, and / think our
ritual. Those who wish to withdraw
can do so with perfect proprietv and
no sacrifice of principles. OF course
they are bound in the strictest honor
never to divulgc any OF the secret
work of the body, as they have taken
an oath to that effect; but by taking
withdrawal card they can sever
their connection very easily. Should
they belong to the endowment rank
and withdraw, they lose whatever
they have paid in and do not receive
any future benefit from the insur-
ance."
Eject of the I:alI.
The Chicago Times-Herald says in
commenting in a general way on the
effect of the edict: the strict OBJ
servance of the bull will no doubt be
unpleasant, for many will have to
sa, riiice not little in rcsignirg
from these bodies. There NAV be
cases where it will work an absolute
hardship. as where a member has
paid into the endowment fund of the
Knights of Pythias for many years,
and is now too old to join any other
insurance organization. Such case
may be excepted, but it must be re-
ferred to and be judged by the arch
bishop. When the decree was made
public about year ago. two months
we're given in which pastors could