The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1907-08-08
Archbishop Lays Down ReguIa-
tons for Catholics in Mil
Waukee Diocese in New Book
Hrs AT SOME CUSTOMS
Catholic Weddings to Take Place Only
in The Day Time and All Catholic
Churches and Picnics to be More
Closely Guarded

No Catholic in the archdiocese of
Milwaukee may hereafter be married
after O'Clock IN the evening in the
winter or 6 O'Clock in the summer; no,
Catholic may be married in private
house, nor with anything but re-
ligious music, solos and duets being
forbidden; and bridal parties are ad
monished that a "Catholic wedding
and a Catholic church are not the
and freaks of fashion" Wholly
Catholic weddings must take place in
the church and mixed marriages in
pastoral residences.
These are some Of the rules laid
down in the Handbook for Catholic
Parishioners of the Archdiocese of
Milwaukee. a 100 page booklet just
issued by Archbishop S. G. Messmer
It is comprehensive in it's scope. In
toxicating liquors are barred from
picnics, fairs and other gatherings
held for church purposes; sociables
and card parties are for Ridden on Sat
urdays and Sundays; and lectures on
profane subjects, organ recitals, sa-
cred concerts, stereopticon exhibit
tons and entertainme nts of a similar
nature are strictly prohibited in
churches.
The rule governing picnics, fairs,
bazaars and dances, set forth in the
series governing church revenues, is
as follows:
''Picnics, excursions and similar
gatherings for the sake of making
money for church or school or other
pious purposes may never be held
after dark, nor on Sundays, holy days
and fast days, nor where beer or
other intoxicating drinks are sold
Moreover, the bishops consent must
be obtaired in every single case.
Fairs or bazaars may not be arranged
without the bishops permission, nor
on Sundays, nor with the sale of in
toxicants. Moreover, priests are com
manded to do away entirely with the
abuse of arranging balls or dances
for pious purposes"
One of the noteworthy portions of
the book, which is divided into two
general sections, the temporal admin
istration of the parish and the parish
policy, is one regarding the regula
ton of public affairs in accordance
with Christian principles and in which
it is declared that no Christian, un-
less compelled, should stay away from
election. The archbishop frankly
goes on record as preferring the cleo
ton of an honest, outspoken Protest
ant rather than Catholic in name
only, who uses his religion as means
to political advancement and persona al
enrichment.
ITO abstain from voting is always
poor politics, and often poor Christ
ianity,' says the archbishop in his
handbook, and he Immediately pro
ceeds to warn Catholics to ''be on
their guard against political candi-
dates who are Catholic in name only,
without practicing their religion, or
who look only to political advance
ment and personal enrichment. Soon
er elect straight, out-spoken Pro-
testant of good Christian principle
and fair intention, than a Catholic
with less religion and probably less
principle.
'The Catholic citizen can not
throw off the christian; he must be a
Christian citizen and his politics
must be Christian politics, VIII ether it
be in the union, and the state or in
his township, village or city. The
loyal citizen must be guided by prin-
ciple, not by the mere hope of profit;
party principles and politics must be
subordinate to Christian principles;
he will look more to the man of relig-
ious conviction and honest purpose
than to the platform of his party. For
man to sell his vote for filthy 1ucre
or political advancement is sin
against God, just as we'll as crime
against the country"
The Grand Army of the Republic
and the United States and state
troops are the only exception to the
rule by which noncatholic societies
are forbidden to assist at church
funerals or other functions wearing
their regalia.
Catholics are urged to combat the
dissertation of the Sabbath and the
evils of the saloon, reduction IN the
number of saloons, stricter supervi-
sion, early closing on Saturday nights
and Sunday closing, at least in the
forenoon and after dark being adj
vocated.
Teaching the catechism in the
English, as we'll as in the foreign
language, by pastors of parishes in
which foreign language is used is
also demanded, the priests being
instructed to use the double cate
chism, having the foreign text on one
page and the English on the other.
Where parents, priests, or laymen
oppose the use of such catechism
IN their parish schools, it shows on
their part a 1amentab1e ignorance OF
the needs of the Catholic church in
this country or a sinful and blind
national fanaticism.o says the book.