The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1896-03-07
THE POPE'S ORDERS
Important Matters In Relation to Sec.
ret Society Membership.
| A Chicago dispatch Of last Saturday

says:
The Review, a Catholic paper of this
city, publishes an important decree of the
Roman propaganda given in Rome under
date of Jan. 49, 1896, which modifies con-
siaerably the DEGREES previously issuing
from that tribunal in condemnation Of the
societies of Odd Fellows. knights Of Pyth
las and Sons of Temperance. Catholics
who had belonged to those societies before
the publication OF the condemnatory de-
crees are now allowed to leave their
names upon the rolls Of those societies and
to pay into the treasury dues and assess
nlents wherever pecuniary loss and detri-
ment would follow from complete sever
aDce Of ties. The general prohibition still
remains as TO any other participation in
the proceedings Of the societies. particular
cases, however, offering difficulties to
priests in their spiritual directions are to
be referred fer adjudication to the apos-
tolic delegate in Washington instead Of
being sent, as heretofore, to the congrega-
ton in Rome.
Archbishop lreland's attention having
been called to the information taken from
the Review. admitted that the decree is
authentic. He had himself received an
Official copy and had communicated its
IA y
''While the Catholic church clearly de-
sires" the archbishop further declared,
80 hold her members aloof from those
societies, she gives all possible considersl~
ton to the difficulties OF circumstances,
and is as indulgent in the application Of
her principles as those principles VIII al
low: The; principles condennatory Of Odd
Fellows. knights of Pythias and Sons Of
Temperance are modified i'm two impor
taHt points. First, Catholics who had
Joined those societies before the condem-
nation. and who by total severance of ties
with them would suffer serious detriment
are now allowed to leave their names On
the roll of the societies and pay to them
d,res and assessments, all other part.c.pa-
ton, however. being still prohibited. Sec
ondIy, particular cases, where extraor-
binary difficulties arise from the letter of
the condemnation, are now adjud:cated
finally by the tribunal of the delegate in
Washington, instead of having to be re-
ferred to the congregations OF Rome,
which, being remote, are far less able to
understand local circumstances and COM
plicat!ons arising from them
What, in the archbishop's opinion forms
the only gravamen Of the church against
the societies of the Odd Fellows and the
knights of Pythias is the religious feat
ures in them, which apparently transform
them into religious sects or churches.
Those sects should leave out from their
constitutions and rituals the mention Of
affairs, chapla;ns, bibles, ETC., and adhere
exclusively of all religious forms, to their
prime purposes Of benevolence and broth
erly counsel. In so doing, the societies
strengthen their genuine work. remove
needless and offensive barriers and invite
to their membership men OF all classes
and all creeds.
MAYBE the archbishop said, s'all peo
pie concerned in those matters will work
in concliatory spirit, and all conten-
lions and recriminations will cease"