The Irish standard., 1914-01-31
Y. M. c. A. AND SECRET SOCIETIES

dealing with the subject of societies
that has come to our notice is from
the pen of Rt. Rev. Timothy Corbett,
Bishop of Crookston. His Grace has
made this topic the subject of his
PASTORAL letter. In the minds of many
members of the church there exists
no clear well defined notion of the
attitude of the church toward societies
especially forbidden societies, and the
reason why various fraternal organ
izations are stygmatized as forbidden
societies" a perusal of the PASTORAL
letter, issued by His Grace makes the
position of the church clear and it's
attitude appear most reasonable to
those who at times are unable to
understand the reason for the denun-
citation of membership in certain So
cieties.
Space does not permit the reprint
of the entire letter. This is to be re-
GREETED as it contains such valuable
information on much misunderstood
subject.
The section of the letter dealing
with the Y. M. c. A. sets forth the at.
titude of the church SO clearly and
forcibly that this section Is worthy of
special notice in view of the present
attitude of the University of Mime
sofa, since they have dropped the re-
ligious test, and the further attempt
of the secretary Of the navy to dis
pense with army chaplains and ap.
point welfare secretaries. This would
mean practically turning the army
over to the Y. M. G. A.
The warning issued to Catholic
young men and women on this point
is most timely.
1.-THE Y. M. C. A. is a Protestant
organization, in which Catholics are
only admitted as associate members.
They have no voice in the manage
ment of it's affairs and are not eligible
to Office. Catholics are only tolerated,
but their money is welcome. The Y.
M. C. A. is essentially a Protestant
institution, with the secret purpose of
proselytizing. It's antiCatholic spirit
appears now and then in the lectures,
bubbling over with calumnies and lies,
delivered in it's halls and under its
auspices. Catholic young men should
not suffer themselves, therefore, to be
duped by an organization, for the sake
of bodily advantages, position or so.
cial standing. Catholics possess the
precious heritage of the faith of nearly
twenty centuries. They belong to the
grandest organization the world ever
witnessed. How far then is it beneath
the dignity of Catholic to forget the
tradition of his church, to disregard
the precious jewel of Faith, unflinch'
ingly held by the blood of his fore
fathers, amidst the worst of persecu
tions and to trample under foot all
sense of honor by becoming a second
airy member of that Protestant organ
ization called the Y. M. c. A.
| 4NO yOuA6 A0As Will uOAO0S SotAO
lie blood flowing in his veins, will sui
fer the indignity Of becoming an in
ferior member of any organization
The church cannot compromise with
error. Catholicity is essentially in
tolerant as truth is intolerant. The
bearer of Gods message to mankind
she cannot accommodate herself tt
the changing modes of human thought
to please a tickle and corrupt world
Her mission is to correct error, wher
at variance with the doctrine o
Christ. Let Catholic young men
therefore, cease to join an organization
which will eventually rob them o.
their faith, the ,noblest Christian heri
tage. No Catholic, to my knowledge
ever became a permanent member o
the Y. M. C. A., without growing luke
: warm in his faith and finally descend
l ing so low as to abandon the only ant
true Church of his forefathers. Cath
olics, who join that sect organization
soon imagine that one religion is Al
good as another and that the Y. M. c
A. is the best of all"
=, The words of the Reverend Bishop
are none the less strong on the mat
: ter of forbidden secret societies. TIL
= folly and danger Of Catholics in join
y ing such societies is plain to everyon
% and there are such numerous e1
, amples of lack of faith under sue
70 circumstances that the matter Of fol
J. hidden societies cannot be too oftel
o or too strongly urged upon the mind
y of Catholics. This is especially true Il
, regard to secret societies the member
9 of which a.e engaged in most pei
9 nicious activity against the work an
teachings OF the Church.
= Much good will come from stron