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VOL. IV. NO. 12.
AUGUSTA, GA., JUNE 30, 1923.
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ISSUED SEMI-MONTHLY
FAVORABLE REACTION
FOLLOW PRESIDENT’S
ADDRESS TO SHRINERS
Anti-Catholic Masonic Paper
Condemned at National Ma
sonic Meeting at Boston—
Others Results of Speech.
SECOND DAY’S TESTIMONY IN TRIAL
OF CATHOLIC PRIESTS BEFORE SOVIET
Accused Archbishop When Asked How Othe/ Governments Treat Catholics Says That In
All Free Countries, America For Instance, Treatment Is Benevolent.
Washington, 1). C.—The effect of
the address made by President
Harding before the Imperial Coun
cil of Mystic Shriners in this city,
wherein he sternly denounced the
use of fraternal organization to
spread bigotry and stir up frater
nal strife, appears to have had a fa
vorable reaction in many parts of
the country.
Delegates to the convention of the
National League of Masonic Clubs of
the United States, meeting in Boston
expressed their resentment over the
appearance at convention headquar
ters of “The Fellowship Forum,’ a
violently anti-Catholic publication,
which it was said had been brought
to Boston for distribution by Augus
A. Aeree the editor. President H.
Melvin Allen, of the Masonic Clubs,
issued a statement that the officers
“condemn and repudiate” the “Fel
lowship Forum.”
Other members, speaking at the
business meeting, declared their re
sentment of propaganda that had
been circulated in an effort to link
the name of the clubs and of Masons
in general with other organizations,
particularly the Ku Klux Klan.
President William H. Terhune, of the
Boston Masonic Club, said that a
declaration of one of the cardinal
principles of Masonary bars politics
and creeds and pointed out the fact
that the Ku Klux Klan has been sev
erely criticized and denounced by
Masonic leaders throughout the
country.
Frank W. Glaze, Grand Master of
the Masonic Grand Lodge of Iowa,
served notice on the Ku Klux Klan
at the opening of the annual lodge
meeting in Sioux City, that Masonic
halls could not be used to further
the work of the Klan.
Itev. Thomas Koberts, of Sheffield,
Iowa, was directed to surrender the
junior warden's jewels of the Shef
field Lodge because, it was charged
he had been active in behalf of the
Klan.
Barring the use of the schools of
the State of New York to the Ku
Klux Klan was expected to result
from the meeting of the State Board
of Regents in Albany. The call for
the meeting was made necessary by
the resignation of Daniel J. Kelly,
Superintendent of Schools of Bing-
liampton, who gave as reasons the
criticism directed at him by the
State Iiudcation authorities after he
had permitted the Ku Klux to meet
in a high school.
Study Aitti-Klan Law.
Meanwhile the Attorney General’s
office is studying the Walker Bill,
recently passed by the New York
Legislature which would force the
Ku Klux Klan to file with the Sec
retary of State its membership list,
constitution, by-laws and oaths.
Attorneys have called attention to
a provision in the Benevolent Or
ders Law which may provide a loop
hole through which the Klan may
escape the requirements of the law.
The Walked law applies to all sec
ret societies except labor unions and
a long list of benevolent orders men
tioned in the “Benevolent -Orders’
law.” A provision of that law adds:
“any subordinate, lodge, tribe or oth
er body of any benevolent or frater
nal order or society incorporated
under or pursuant to the laws of
the State.”
If the Klan succeeds in incorporat
ing, it is pointed out, the order will
set itself up as the parent body of
all the Itlans of the State. When it
! is called upon to give the names of
its members, it is said, it could mere
ly send in a list of the subordinate
Klans affiliated wth it.
OREGON SCHOOL LAW.
Eugene, Oregon—-Mark T. McKee,
member of the board of directors of
the Brotherhood of American Yoe-
men, in a statement made here, de
clared that the Oregon compulsoiw
public school attendance law would
probably prevent his organization
from locating its National Children’s
Home in this state.
The second day session of the
court was opened by Krilenko read
ing the circular Of Archbishop Ccp-
liak on flic subject of the removal
of valuables. The Prosecutor ob
served, from the affirmation of flic
accused, that according to the can
ons of the Church, “he who shall
have taken or given away Church
property (except for restitution or
indemnity for what has been taken
or given without the permission of
the Church) is excommunicated,
even without trial.”
Krilenko—“Then you affirm that
in the sense of the document you
could not order not to offer the valu
ables for the starving?”
Sepliak—-“Yes and I beg you to
take into consideration that likewise
I could not order them to be given.
Krilenko—“1 note that, but we
shall see (fingering his papers). Was
this decision spread by you?”
Cepliak—“No, it was not, but the
faithful knew all Uie circumstances
quite well. ’
Krilenko—(Reads the paper with
the instructios to priests to read it
in the churches. He shows the doc
ument to the accused). “This is
yours?”
Cepliak—“Yes, mine. I am not
only file administrator of my dio
cese, but the preceptor also, my duty
Krilenko—“That is all right. I un
derstand your intimate motives,
but another thing interests me just
now. The law decrees that the
school is separate from the Church,
consequently—”
Cepliak—“But the church is not
only the building, the house of
prayer, but also the house of study,
of religious study.”
Krilenko—-“It is the fight against
the exigency of the law. The fight
to evade such and such a law is a
political act.”
Cepliak—“No, religious in this
ease. We arc fighting for our re
ligious right: We see what is now
becoming of our children. We are
asking to be allowed to influence
children legally.
Krilenko—“We shall not enter
into discussion. And go you look
upon churches as a place monopol
ized for the teaching of the Cath
olic Church. Therefore, if I go to
the church on Sunday and start to
answer the preacher, it would, ac
cording to you, be a sacrilegous int
erference ?”
Cepliak—“Yes, yes.”
The question of the editing of the
“Chronicle of the Mohileff Diocese’,
litograph, by the priest Tchaevsky is
next discussed. An article from this
paper is read.
Krilenko—“I observe a contradic
tion between the circulars of April
2d and January 12th.”
Krilenko Provokes Laugh.
Krilenko then reads aloud the let
ter of the Metropolitan Ropp to
Budkiewicz on the subject of a loan
from the Polish government, with
the remark that the latter's suppo
sition concerning the short dura
tion of the Soviet government had
not been realized (laughter).
Next are read: the letter concern
ing John Vassilevsky: (“there is
an opportunity for. Moscow”), the
letter of Budkiewicz concerning
loan from the Polish government,
a report on the trunks and effects
found in the attic of the house in
which Budkiewicz lived.
The latter explains that some of
his parishoners had begged him to
keep their trunks in his attic whe~n
they left Petrograd, and that he
had allowed them to do so.
In connection with the testimony
of the accused, the painful situa
tion of the Catholic Church in Rus
sia under the monarchy was brought
up. Krilenko was interested in
knowing who appointed and confirm
ed the Catholic and Orthodox bish
ops. Cepliak gave the information
for the Catholic Church. As regards
the Orthodox, Krilenko questioned
Fedoroff—“Perhaps citizen Fcdoroff
will tell us who appointed the Or
thodox bishops, for the Synod, for
instance?”
Fedoroff—“The Procurator Gen
eral appointed whoever he liked and
the superior authorities confirmed
the choice.”
Krilenko—“Accused Cepliak, what
is your opinion concerning the Oc
tober revolution and the Soviet gov
ernment? ’
Cepliak—“We were glad of the
revolution—it liberated us: under
the old regime we were confined
and limited in ou,r ecclesiastical
rights.”
Krilenko—“And in other countries,
how docs the government treat you?”
Cepliak—“The treatment of the
government in all free countries
(for instance in America), is be
nevolent.”
Krilenko—“What is it that af
firms the ideological influence of
the Catholic clergy on the con
science of the faithful? Is it not
the school which is your principal
instrument?”
Cepliak—“No, not only the school,
but above all our teaching of the
Catholics First In Public
Estimation English Notable
Tells Catholic Collegians
Lord Justice Russell Says
Cambridge Undergraduates
Have Great Opportunities
and Equal Responsibilities.
London—111 addressing the
Fisher Society, the University
of Cambridge, Lord Justice
Russell urged the Catholic un
dergraduates at Cambridge to
live up to their opportunities.
He said:
“You have great opportuni
ties. You have equally great
responsibilities. Let me explain
what I mean.
“I am one who in my working
life has always been in a mis
erable minority. There are far
too few English Catholics and
Irish Catholics at the English
Bar. Of the occupants of the
High Court Bench, I am the only
one professing that Faith, and
yet, in common intercourse With
our fellow-men, conversation
not infrequently comes round to
religious topics, and I have
heard this expression over and
over again: ‘If I were anything,
or if I were so-and-so, I would
he a Catholic.’ Pregnant words,
gentlemen! It reminds me of
the Greek generals who were
called upon to vote as to which
of them was most worthy of the
crown of success, and each vot
ed for himself, but all were
unanimous in favor of the sec
ond.
' “It shows that we are first in
the public estimation. It shows
this, that you are here with a
great tradition to maintain, un
broken and unsullied, and ydu
have the opportunity of doing
it.
“And how can you best do it?
By good example. Do not mis
take what I mean. I do not
mean by good -example, sancti
moniousness or priggishness- I
mean by careful observation of
the practices that arc distinct
ive of the Catholic Faith;' I
mean by clean living and clean
conversation; and I mean by no
compromising with essentials to
satisfy the exigencies of the
moment.
“Do these things, and you will
earn the respect of your fellow
undergraduates. With their re
spect, will come their sympathy.
With their sympathy will come
their inquiries; and if you are
equipped and educated to im
part it, in answer to the inquir
ies will come the truth. Then
the future - of inquiries is in
other hands."
PRESIDENT CONDEMNS
RELIGIOUS PREJUDICE
IN TALK TO SHRINERS
truth, the ethics of Christ, the in
fluence of faith and of grace.’
Krilenko—“Let us speak of things
which are intelligible to everyone.
We see clearly that by your teacn-
ing on the torments of the other
life you terrify and mystify the ig
norant and children. The terrori
zation of the ignorant is a political
fight. ’
Cepliak—“We terrorize no one,
our concern is the concern of faith
and free will, and if anyone hesi
tates in his faith, I must strengthen
him. It is not a political struggle
but a religious one. Even if a part
of the White Guard were against
the faith I should excommunicate
them also.”
Krilenko—“How do you treat a
power that forbids you to teach
children?”
Cepliak—“If this right is taken
from us by force, we submit only
to iron necessity.”
Krilenko—“This is your personal
opinion? ’
Cepliak—“I speak in the name of
all of us, Catholic believers.’
Krilenko—“But the faithful are
the people, therefore why fight when
ecclesiastical property was declared
the property of the people?”
Cepliak—“The ‘twenty’ were not
selected among the faithful only, and
ecclesiastical property, according to
the canons of the Church, can be
placed at the disposal of the Dean
only.”
Frilcnko—“What real obstacle was
there in this ‘twenty’?’
Cepliak—“The 'twenty' violated
the rights of the Catholic faithful
and the deen of the parish by pre
venting^ them from being the re
ligious executors of the cannons of
their church.”
Krilenko—“In a word, the “twen
ties' shook the unity of the organi
zation of the church?”
Cepliak-—“Yes, and in the Ortho
dox Church unity has been broken,
as we now see.”
Krilenko—“Then these ‘twenties’
destroy the absolute power of the
churches over the faithful which
has existed until now?”
Cepliak—“No. not absolute”—
Krilenko—“Thanks to thig posrtfbn
occupied by the Church a hostile
state of mind was maintained among
the faithffil against the government
orders.”
Cepliak—“No, not hostile, rather
saddened.”
Krilenko — “Hm—saddened —this
saddened opinion is a political fact
or not?”
Cepliak-—“No, not political.”
Krilenko—“In the letter from your
chief Bopp there is a question of the
early fall of the Soviet Power. What
is your position, whether it lasts a
long tipie or not?”
Cepliak—“I was always of the
opinion that it would last a long
time. It is my constant personal
opinion.”
Krilenko then quotes the minutes
of the parotfhial meetings and the
lists of members present. Address
ing himself to Budkiewioz: “You
do not deny that these persons at
tend the meetings?’
Budkiewicz—“If it is written I
do not deny it.”
Krilenko then accuses the priest
Eismont for his words and his in
tention of delivering to the govern
ment only a copy of the parochial
registers.
Krilenko—“You confirm these
words?”
Eismont—“Yes, I confirm them,
Krilenko—“Then you consider as
non-compulsory the formal demand
of the law with regard to the hap
tismal registers?”
Eismont—“I believed it necessary
to protest against the complete re
moval of the registers.”
As regards the priest Shvcdko,
Krilenko is of the opinion that his
parochial committee is an illegal
organization. When Shvedko, sup
ported by the documents attached to
the acts of the trial proved that
the parochial committee was in con
formity with the law in every re-
Pointed Reference to Ku Klux
Klan Activities Seen in
Chief Executive’s Notable
Address at Washington.
Washington, D. C.—“Secret fra
ternity is one thing, secret con
spiracy is quite another,” declared
President Warren G. Harding in A
notable address delivered before the
first session of the Imperial Council
of Mystic Shriners here last week.
President Harding’s address was
marked throughout by striking
sentences in which he emphasied
that American fratcrnalisin must be
just if it is to survive. It was
regarded as a stern denunciation of
the use of fraternal organization
for the purpose of spreading the
spirit of bigotry or of stirring up
civic strife. Although thhe Presi
dent mentioned the name of no or
ganization, it was understood by
many that he desired to make a
pointed reference to the Ku Klux
Klan when he declared that “men
lose their right of fraternal hearing
wh- n they transgress the law of the
land.” '
‘In every worthy order,” said
President Harding, “the principles
of civil.and religious liberty, just
ice and equality arc taught in lec
ture and obligation. A respect for
the rights of others, the very es
sence of fraternity, is stressed every
where, until the rule of justice is
the guarantee of righteous fraternal
relationship.
“I like the highly purposed fra
ternity because it is but assurance
against menacing organization. In
the very naturalness of association,
men hand together for mischief, to
exert misguided zeal, to vent un
reasoning malice, to undermine our
institutions.
“This isn’t fraternity, this is con
spiracy. This is not brotherhood,
it is the discord of disloyalty and a
danger to the Republic.
“But, so long as 20,000,000 of
Americans are teaching loyalty to
the flag, the chcrishment of our in
herited institutions and due regard
for constitutional authority and the
love of liberty unde rthe law, we
may he assured that the future is
secure.
“Secret fraternity is one thing, sec
ret conspiracy is quite another.
There is an honest and righteous
and just fraternal life in America;
it embraces millions 0? our men
and women, and a hundred fraternal
organizations extend their influence
into more than a ttiird of American
homes and make ours a better Re
public for their influence. In the
lodge rooms there is moulded what
becomes public opinion.
“A President would not be ethical
if he related fraternal appeals to
which he must turn a deaf car. I
will have said enough if I suggest
that men lose their right of fra
ternal hearing when they transgress
the law of the land.”
(Continued on Page Eleven.)
CARDINALFAULHABER
Addresses Audience of 10,-
000 in Cleveland.
Cleveland—Michael, Cardinal Faul-
haber Archbishop of Munich, was
flic guest of Bishop Joseph
Schrembs Sunday and Monday. He
came from Detroit by boat, escort
ed by Msgr. Joseph F. Smith, of this
city.
The distinguished Prelate waS
celebrant of Pontifical Mass in tha
cathedral at 11:00 a. m. Sunday, and
also administered the sacrament of
confirmation to a class numbering
around 75. An address of welcoma
was made from the pulpit by Bish
op Schrembs.
At 8:00 o’clock Sunday night, thd
cardinal addressed an audience of
10,000 in Public Hall, Cleveland's
largest auditorium, expressing tha
gratitude of the people of Germany,
to the people of the United States
for assistance given since the end
of the war. On Monday, His Em
inence was the guest at a luncheon
in Hotel Cleveland given by Bish
op Schrembs and the Priests of tha
Diocese of Cleveland.