The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-07-06

public press, and no denial Of
responsibility has been forthcom-
ing. The movement is not con-
fined to any one section of the
country, but has cropped up in
several widely separated localities.
This would indicate that there is
a concerted plan to fan the latent
flames Of bigotry and prejudice
and place the Catholic Church
and her followers in an unfavor-
able light before the bar Of pub
lie opinion.
What are the tactics employed
in this un-Christian warfare
against the Mother Church not
only Of Christendom but Of
America? They are the same as
those formerly made use of by the
A. P. A., the same as those which
have ever been utilized by the
enemies Of the Church in their
efforts to lessen her influence and
lower her prestige. Distorted
facts, unfounded assertions, base
less insinuations, and downright
lies-these are the weapons Of
bigotry at the present time. They
are forged and circulated by
newspaper and pamphlet, by
tract and leafet, from platform
and pulpit, by individuals and So
cieties, by every means that
bigotry can devise to spread un-
truth and set ON foot calumny
and misrepresentation.
But money is needed to carry
on this campaign, and money is
plentifully poured out for this
purpose If we are to judge by the
amount Of literature that is flood
ing the country with it's vile con-
tents Where is the money COM
ing from? This is the question
which, up to the present, has de-
fed solution. Who are the fnan-
cial sponsors Of this nationwide
anti-C Catholic propaganda? It
would be interesting for Catholics
to know the real leaders Of this
movement, the men who furnish
the sinews of war. Evidently
they are ashamed to come out
into the open and show them
selves in their true colors, for,
apart from a few newspapers and
magazines, the most Of this
literature is sent out anonymous
ly, and the charges against the
Catholic Church and Catholics
are so vague and unsubstantial
that satisfactory refutation is
impossible and they cannot be
traced to their authors.
During the past few weeks an
anonymous pamphlet entitled
stThe Church of Rome in Ameri-
can Politics." has been distrib-
uted broadcast. 1t has all the
earmarks of campaign document
and is a good sample Of the false
statements, unfounded charges,
and alleged facts that have been
used to discredit the Church in
America.
We quote from it: ALREADY
more than three hundred thou
sand of these knights (of
Columbus) are fully armed and
equipped for warfare, and ready
to respond to the call Of the
Church at an hours notice. One
Of the most prominent detectives
Of the entire country reports that
in virtually all the large cities of
the United States their rifles are
stored in the Easements of the
Catholic churches; and they are
receiving the most thorough
military drilling constantly
| To bolster up this charge
against the Knights Of Columbus
the pamphlet gives what purports
to be the oath taken by the
Fourth Degree members of the
Order. 1t is as blood curdllng as
the so-called Jesuit oath, the text
of which it follows very closely.
Here is an excerpt from it which,
no doubt is considered by many
as sufficient proof Of the charge
made against the Knights. ~ will
provide myself with arms and am
munition that I may be in readi-
ness when the word is passed, or
I am commanded to defend the
Church as an individual or with
the militia of the Pope"
| In addition, the following para
graphs from the oath are fair
sample of. its inane stupidity: |
promise that I will in voting al
ways vote for a Knight Of Co
llumbns in preference to a Protes-