Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-03-07
The Pope and the Secret Societies.

cree defining iu precise terms the toler-
alton which may be extended to Catho-
lie members of the orders of Odd Eel
lows, Knights of Pythias and Sons of
Temperance, already condemned by the
holy office.
The decree is the most important cir
cular which has emanated from the
holy see for several years, affecting, as
it does, the interests OF all the Catholic
members of the orders mentioned, who
are said to number $4,000.
1t is conveyed in the following letter,
addressed to the various bishops by
Cardinal Satolli, for the express pur-
pose of correcting any misapprehensions
that may exist in the minds of members
of the orders, relative to the attitude
toward them of the holy father:
"APosToLIC DELEGATION,
"UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. Is, 1896.
Your Grace:-Under date of Augrs
l3, 1895, l received from the Cardinal
Prefect Of Propaganda instructions re-
garding the application Of the well
known decree of the holy Office con-
demping the three societies, "Odd Eel
lows, (" knights of Pythias" and "Sors
OF Temperance" According to these
instructions, which | communicated to
your grace at the time, the condemna-
tion was to be considered absolute, and
wherever peculiar circumstances SEEM
ed to merit special consideration in par
ticular cases the matter was TO be re-
ferred by the ordinary to Rome. in
consequence, many Bishops have since
that time sent cases to the Propaganda,
which have been referred to the holy
office for consideration. The supreme
congregation, after deliberation of such
cases, has, by q decree dated January
IS, 1896, determined on a course which
quote from the decree itself.
The following is fairly literal trans
lation of the Latin decree:
at was asked, whether or not all as
sociation whatever with the sects being
removed, would this at least be lawful,
ITO allow ones name to be retain
ed on the list of membership and to
pay his respective dues, at the appoint
ed time? This most important ques-
ton was submitted by His Holiness to
this Supreme Congregation for an an
ever. The congregation, after mature
elaboration, judged it proper to an
swer as follows AS general rule it
cannot be permitted. 1t may be toll
Grated, however, provided the follow
ing four conditions are verified in each
case =
'First-If the member joined any
of these societies in good faith and be-
fore their condemnation was made
known to him.
'Second-Provided no scandal will
occur and all danger of such shall be
removed by a timely declaration to the
effect, that the member pays his dues
so that he may not be deprived of the
benefits accruing therefrom. The
member must, however, in the mean.
time abstain from all association or
commingling of any character with
these sects.
'Third-The renunciation must en-
tail upon himself or his family nota-
BILE and serious loss.
Z" 'Fourth-There must not be any
danger of loss of faith, either for the
man himself or for his family, arising
from the sects, especially with regard
to the circumstances of sickness or
death, and every possibility of funeral
rites foreign to the Catholic ritual must
be removed
"These conditions, when they were
made known to His Holiness, were
fully approved and confirmed. Since,
however, the question is most grave
one and replete with difficulties and
dangers, and one which affects not
only many dioceses but also ecclesiasti-
cal provinces, the Holy Father, to the
end that a uniform rule should be OBJ
served. orders that in particular cases
Your Eminence and your successors in
the Apostolic Delegation shall have
jurisdiction"