The morning times., 1895-10-04

The noLnentouS question now before the
public concerning the political organiza-
ton of the preates and members or the
Roman Catholic Church received an au-
thoritative denial yesterday from the
| great head of the American church. Car
dinal Gibbons.
A Times reporter had an interview In the
| morning with the Cardinal in his private
| room Oh the second floor and just above
the main entrance OF NJ cMahon Hall The
apartment is stately one, furnished in
rich, dark leather and Turkish hausings.
Here the Cardinal, clothed in h Is crimson
silk cassock, was seated in a large arm
chair just before a western winoow that
commands a magnificent view of The Sol
diers' Home
The Cardinal said: 1.-The subject of a
political organization to be formed by
the officials and members of our church
was not discussed at our meeting ycster
day. II is contrary 10 all established rules
ard prcCcGents to entertain such an idea,
still less TO form plans for course of action.
.'The Catholic Church has always held
itself aloof from all political entangle
ments. Its great mission is TO teach and
direct in things spiritual. With temporal
affairs it never interfercs.'
LEFT To LAYMEN
''The laymcn of the church are free to
form such societies as may tend TO promote
their temporal Welfare, but to expect the
archbishops and bishops formally TO ap-
prove or TO ratify such plans is TO expect
what can never come to pass"
In regard to the Indian Bureau the cardi-
nal said that the new commissioners, con
sisting Of himself, Archbishop Corrigan, of
New York, and Archbishop Ryan, OF Phila-
delphia- had held their first meeting last
night, and that the director general of the
bureau. Mgr. Stephan, had been present.
The transfer had been made from the old
commissioners, Archbishop Reardon, OF san
Francisco, and Bishop Marty, of South Da-
kota, to the present board.
In reply to the direct question, viii
Mgr. Stephan still remain in charge of tile
bureau?" the cardinal answered immedt
ately.
Most assuredly, Mgr. Stephan will re-
main the director. He has spent a long life
in this good work. his management has been
tudicious and his integrity and executive
ability unquestioned."
Replying to a further question about the
attitude of the bureau toward the present
administration, Cardinal Gibbons said
HAVE NO GRIEVANCE.
1--WE have no grievance whatever against
to us that the appropriations would at the
end of a specified time be entirely with
drawn from our Catholic missions. We
have been given opportunity to provide for
this contingency and we will now take
active steps in making all our schools
>Self-supporting.
The cardinal said further that the arch
bishops and bishops would never make a
united petition to Congress- nu matter how
grave the circumstances or how srieyous
the complaint. II the Catholic Church had
reason to believe that its rights were
infriuged upon, or its menters unfairly
treated, it would simply ask for justice as
citizens of the United States; they would
never demand satisfaction as a body of
powerful prelates supported by millions
of voters. Such action would be contrary
to their high prerogative of the opponents
of the great teacher of charity and humility
In concluding his interview, the cardinal
expressed great satisfaction at the mag
nificent inaugural of Mcmahon Hall, and
said that the Catholics of Washington
had cause for true rejoicing that such a
monument of learning and munificence
should have arisen in their midst. An
swering the oft-repeated question, 'Are
women to be admitted for its dcgrees?'
the great digDitary laughingly replied:
Our board had not held a meeting for
eighteen months, and we had such a guam
titr of grave and important business to
transact that we did not get around to this
question. which seems to be agitating the
Washington ladies SO greatly. When We
meet in the spring we hope to remedy
this oversight. In the meantime, tell the
ladies to study diligently in order to be
ready for the golden opportunity"
THE CARDINALS PERS ONALITY.
Cardinal Gibbons is rema rkabiy gentle
and kind in his manner. Toallwhoapproach
him he extends the same dignified. cordial
welcome, and at all times, and under the
most trying circumstances, he is accessible,
patient and satisfactory
Another member of the Indian bureau,
Archbishop Ryan, of Philadelphia. said
that Mgr. Stephan would undoubtedly re-
main in charge OF It's affairs as long as lie
desired to hold the position. He spoke very
warmly of the monsignor's work in this
field, and said that his mistakes, ii such his
late utterauces could be termed, were only
the mistakes of overZeal. He had devoted
his life to these missions, his only thought,
his onl y hope, were bound up in theirsuccess,
consequently he attached undue importance
to all that concerned them. The political
part of Mgr. Stephan's report had not been
discussed at their meeting, and there was
no reason that titshouldhave aforementioned
The attitude of the Catholic Church has
always been strongly defined. Politics
never enters into their religious meetings
OF discussions. The Indian bureau Will
conduct no political war.
THEIR WORK AT AN END.
A rchbishop Kahn, of st. LOUIS, ex-
pressed some lively opinions on the sub
ject. He said that Catholics would scarcely