Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 December 1894 — Liberal Catholicism. [ARTICLE]

Liberal Catholicism.

In the archdiocese of St Paul a Catholic is now at liberty to become a member of the Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, or any other secret society, the Masonic excepted. We suppose that Archbishop Ireland’s continuance of ihu inhibition against the Masonic

order rests upon the tradition that in certain countries of continenjtal Europe it has been used as a revolutionary or anti-Papal' force. We know nothing as to the truth of the tradition, but we do Jmowlhaf in England, America, and in all the English-speaking countries, the Masonic order is a non-partis-an, non-political association of respectable gentlemen. However, it is a long step forward that the Catholics of the archdiocese of St. Paul have made. Whatever isolates one body of religionists from the social life of the country which they inhabit weakens their influence upon society, and tends to excite prejudice against them. Were Catholics and Protestants mbre thoroughly mixed together, more intimately associated with each other in club life, in the business of charitable organizations, in the affairs that reveal the nature of the individual to his neighbors, the time would soon come in which the disreputable tirades of tho professional Catholic and the professional Protestant would cease to be profitable. Archbishop Ireland stands easily at the head of the Catholic liberals of the United States, and his last step is, as we have said, a long step forward. It is likely that other pielates will follow the example of the Metropolitan of St. Paul, and that before long the Catholic will’ be as numerous as the Protestant in the membership of the great secret societies.—lnter Ocean. ♦