The Indianapolis Journal

THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR

Does the Organization Come Under the Ban of the Catholic Church.

New Haven (Conn.) Special.

The question as to whether or not the growing organization known as the Knights of Labor comes under the ban which the Roman Catholic Church pronounces on all societies, the members of which are bound by oath to keep secret their deliberations, has been asked in this section very frequently of late. It is an interesting query, in view of the fact that the Knights of Labor consist in good part of Roman Catholics. Interviews on the subject have been held in many parts of the country with priests of the Roman Catholic Church. As a rule the opinions expressed have been favorable, but of course they have not been authoritative. The bishop of the Catholic diocese is the only person who can speak with authority on this and kindred matters. To learn how the Knights of Labor, which are growing rapidly in Connecticut, were regarded in the Connecticut diocese, Bishop McMahon was interviewed to-day at Hartford. Some of the opinions favorable to the organization given to the press by priests of the church were handed to the Bishop, and the question asked whether or not he objected to have Catholics in this diocese join the Knights of Labor. He said: "Well, I understand the gist of the article, but you can understand that we do not consider it what they call 'the thing' to discuss matters of this kind in the newspapers." Then, with a significant smile, he added: If I had any fault to find with the organization I would condemn it from the pulpit of every church in Connecticut. I do not wish to say anything more on the subject."

"Does the order of the Knights of Labor, from the fact that its members are oath-bound to secrecy, come under the class of secret societies that the church has condemned?"

"I do not know that the members take an oath. I must, therefore, decline to answer the question, and I must also decline to entertain the supposition that they do take such an oath." This statement by the Bishop, the most distinct utterance which Bishop McMahon has yet given, the Knights regard as evidence that he is anxious not to lose the support which their large body gives the Catholic Church. One of the recognized Catholic theologians of the State said, to-day, that the fact of the matter is that the condemnation of certain secret societies by the church is just now in a very unsettled state. The question cannot be pronounced on by the priests or the bishop until a synod to consider the recent encyclical letter be held. Such a synod will be held, in all probability, before the winter is over. The general understanding, both among the clergy and the people, is that a society whose members are "oath-bound to secrecy," if it does not come under the general condemnation of secret societies, is at least to be regarded with suspicion; but the late council at Baltimore passed some decrees which make it necessary that the case of each society suspected of being a secret society, as that name is generally applied by Roman Catholics, should be considered in council separately, and on its own merits, before it is condemned or treated as a condemned society by any pastor.