The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-04-28

P. A. The movement sought to ex-
clude Catholics from. participation
in federal, state and municipal af-
fairs. The propaganda of this So
ciety was carried on through i'm
flammatory literature and lectures.
Forged documents we're used in ac-
cusing Catholics of all sorts of I'M
patriotic motives.
The church is concerned greatly
in the spiritual welfare of its men,
bers and, in all matters pertain
ing thereto, she never fails to ex-
ercise her authority and jurisdiction
She safeguards the inalienable civil
rights of her subjects whenever the
latter are aSSailed.
The Catholics of Indiana suf-
fered along with their co-religion-
lists in other states. One important
episode is chronicled here because
it we'll illustrates this phase of po-
litical life of that period.
A delegation of A. P. AS from
Kansas City called on Governor
Stone of Missouri, who was asked
by them to appoint Protestants to
Office and not Catholics. He asked
why. They told him they wanted
Americans who were for America
first.
He replied: 81 am Protestant;
I am not Catholic. am unalter-
ably opposed to the introduction of
any religious test into our politics.
1 do not believe in their dogmas
of faith, but 1 know a great many
splendid American Catholics who
are ready to bear arms in defense of
their country, who contribute much
to our enterprise, literature and
craftsmanship and who pay taxes,
and any proposition that would ex-
clude these people from participa-
ton in our affairs is monstrous and
intolerable to me. I have no SYM
pathy with it,"
A P. A. ISM, similar to the Know
L n Nothing Movement of 1851 to
1858, opposed so strongly by Abra-
ham Lincoln, and the Klan move
ment of recent years, died a natural
death. The fair mindedness Of the
American people generally prevails
in all movements of this sort and
leaves only scar of shame for
those who exploit them.
As against the intolerance and or
ganized bigotry of few misguided
souls, Catholic societies in the early
nineties were f1ourishing more than
ever before. In 1898, the Columbian
Worlds Fair year, we find the Cath
Ole knights of America holding
their ninth supreme convention in
Chicago.
Their national secretary was w.
S. O'Rourke of Fl. Wayne. All
states of the Union, except Con-
necticut, we're represented at the
convention and included all ele-
ments of Catholic life. The So
ciety's constitution was ordered
printed in English, German, French
and Spanish. That same year. the
Roman Catholic Union of the
Knights of St. John, an insurance
society with membership of about
$4,000 held its fifteenth annual con-
vention in Pittsburgh, June "a to
81, 1893 with the commandery from
Lawrenceburg, Ind, taking the first
national prize in competitive drill
ing. An initiation took place at
Oldenburg. Ind, that summer at
which 500 we're present from central
and southern Indiana.
The Ancient Order of Hibernians.
was f1ourishing very strongly
throughout the country. In In
dianapolis, in 1893, the annual St.
Patricks Day parade was held at
2 p. m. followed by a celebration in
Tomlinson hall at which the speak
erS were Rev. Joseph Chartrand,
Monsignor Bessonies, Rev. Frank
Dowd, Rev. Herman Alerding and
Father Denis O'Donaghue.
At the high masses celebrated in
the morning. the sermons were
preached by Rev. P. H. Rowan at
st. Johns; by Father Curran at st.
Bridget's; and by Father Alerding
at st. Joseph's.