Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-03-02
MODIFIES THE BAN
Another Roman Decree Relating
to Secret Societies.
OUTLINE OF TEE NEW PRovIsIoEs.

Makes It q Little Easier for Roman Cath.
olics Who Belong to the knights Of
Iythia., Odd Fellows or Sons Of Temper
ance, bus Membership Remains Under
the Ban-Gravnmen Of Rome's Objection
Explained by Archbishop Ireland.
CHICAGO. March s.-The Review, Ro.
man Catholic paper of this city, publishes
IN important decree OF the Roman propa.
ganda given in r R)meander date of Jan 1S,
1S!k;, which modifics considerably thc do
cree previously issuing from that tribunal
in condemnation OF the Odd Fellows,
knights of Pyth!as and Sons Of Temper.
ancc. Roman Catholics who had b.
longcd to those societies before the pub
lication of the condemnatory degrees are
the rolls Of those societies and 20 pay into
the treasury dues and assessments where
ever pecuniary loss and detriment would
follow from complete severance Of ties.
Tho genera. prohibition still remains as
to any other participation in the proceed
ings of the societies.
Views Of Archbishop Ireland.
Particular cases, however. Offering diff.
| ficulties to priests in their spiritual dircc.
tions are to be referred for adjudication
to the apostolic delegate in Washington
instead Of being sent as heretofore to tho
congregation in Rome. A telegram from
| St. Paul says that Archbishop Ireland's
attic ntion having been called to the fore
going he admitted that the decree alluded
| to is authcn.ic. He had himself received
| an official copy, and had Communicated
| its contents to the priests of his jurlsdic-
| ton. Wiilo the Roman Catholic church
| desires, the archbishop further said, to
hold her members aloof from those So
| cieties, she gives all possible considera-
| tion to the difficulties of circumstances,
| and Is as indulgent in the application Of
her principles as those principles will a.
low. The previous DEGREES condemnatory
Of the societies of Cdd Fellows, knights
| of Pythias and Sons OF Temperance are
modified in two Important points.
Final Appeal is to Satolli.
| FIRST, however, Catholics who had Joined
| those societies before the condemnation,
and who by total severance of ties with
them would suffer serious detriment, arc
| now allowed to leave their names on tho
rolls Of the societies and pay into them
I! dues and assessments, all other partici-
! patton, however, being still prohibited.
/ Secondly, particular cases, where extra
ordinary difficulties arise from compliance
with the letter of condemnation, are now
adjudicated finally by the tribunal of the
delegate in Washington. fnstepd of having
to be referred to tho congregations Of
Rome, which, being remote, are far less
able to understand our circumstances and
complications arising from them.
Ron,o's Chief Objection tn the Societies.
| What in the archbishop's opinion forms
the only gravamcn of the church against
the societies of the Odd Fellows and
Knights of Pythias is tho religious fea.
lures in them which apparently form
them into religious sects or churches.
Those societies should leave out from theil
constitutions and rituals the mention oi
affairs, chaplains, Bibles, etc, and adhere
| exclusively of all religious forms, to th-il
prime purposes OF bensvolencc and broth.
erly counsel. In SO doing the societies
strengthen their genuine work, remove
needless and offensive barriers, and in.
vito to their membership N ,n Of all classes
| and all crceds