The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-03-09
Are the Masons of today considered
20 be enemies of the Church? If so,


Yes, just as much as those of other
days as far as the essential teaching
of the Masonic sect is concerned. We
see their hand in the persecution
waged against the Church in European
countries; and there is no evidence
that American masons have severed
all connections with their atheistic
brethren in the old world. The teach
ings of masonry are destructive of true
religion because they put all religions
on level and thus foster Indifference
and unbelief. Masonry substitutes the
lodge for the Church. Its ritualistic
observances take the place of religion.
code of belief, ritual and ceremony,
all of which inculcate naturalism in
religion and a morality founded on
merely human motives.
I. May a Catholic woman join the
w. c. T. u? 2. May Catholic be-
long to the Odd Fellows, Woodmen,
Rebekahs or Yeomen?
l. The w. C. T. U. is an organiza-
ton for the promotion of temperance.
It's membership is confined to women
and so long as they keep strictly with
in the lines laid down for them in
this regard there can be no harm in
a Catholic woman joining their ranks
in order thereby to do more good in
the cause of temperance. 2. No,
these organizations formed largely for
fraternal and insurance purposes are
non-C Catholic, in spirit at least, and
the Church does not wish her children
to affiliate with them lest their faith
be endangered. The Odd Fellows is
one of the societies formally condemn
ed by name and, therefore, no one can
join it and remain practical Catho-
lie.
I. viii you please tell me If the
Church objects to the Rebekah Lodge7
Can a Catholic be member Of this
lodge and receive the Sacramento
have several Catholic acquaintances
who belong and also receive and
have been asked to join. They tell me
there is nothing wrong in the lodge
whatever. Could I join and by not
attending regular meetings make it
all right?
The Rebekahs may be regarded
as female Odd Fellows. The society
is an outgrowth of the Odd Fellows
Society which the Church condemned
about eighteen years ago. For that
reason it cannot be considered a safe
organization for Catholic women to
join. Apart from that it falls under
the ban which the Church has placed
upon all non-Catholic societies. Such
organizations, of their very nature,
are detrimental to the spiritual well
fare of Catholics who may join them.
The Church does not wish any of her
children to become members of such
societies. Catholics who see no wrong
in such organizations are not to be re-
garded as good advisers for their fell
low-Catholics. BY virtue of the fact
that they join organizations for
hidden by the Church they show their
disobedience to her authority and, con-
seQuently, their action should not be
initiated by those who wish to be oOn-
sidered loyal and faithful members of
the Church.
Explain the right way to make a
noVena to the Sacred Heart. Explain
the way to assist at High Mass. When
should the people kneel and when
should they stand and when should
they sit down. Should the people
stand every time the priest sings?
A novena is a nine-day devotion,
that is to say, it consists of certain
prayers and devotional exercises per.
formed on nine consecutive days for
some specific purpose. A novena to the
Sacred Heart does not differ from
other novenas, except in so far as the
prayers said have special reference to
the Sacred Heart in whose honor they
are recited. These prayers are given
in prayer books where the method OF
making such novena is outlined
2. When the priest enters the sane
tuary the people rise and remain stand
ing until he reaches the foot of the altar
to begin the Asperges. All kneel with
him while he intones the Asperges
after which they rise and stand while
being sprinkled with holy water and
remain standing until the celebrant
finishes the prayer following the AS
perges. When the priest begins Mass
the people kneel and remain kneelins
until the Gloria in Excelsis"; Their
they rise and remain standing unit
the priest goes to his seat When the
priest rises from his seat after the
Gloria" the people rise also and re
main standing until the singing of the
"Dominus Vobiscum" and the prayer
or prayers, that follow.
During the reading of the Epistlt
the people are seated. They stant
during the singing of the Gospel. Dur
ing the announcements and the ser
mon they are seated. After the ser
mon when the priest goes to the alta