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Pastoral charge

OF THE

OF MONTREAL,

SECRET SOCIETIES.

PRINTED BY LOUIS PERRAULT,

ST. VINCENT STREET.

1846.

Bfblioth^que,

le S6minaire de Qu6beeJ
3, rue de TUniversite,
Quebec 4, QUE.

Pastoral charge

OF THE

UU ilSMf M Iti^iSM

SEElREf ^©(GIIIEmiES

;

,^ by the grace of
God, and the favor of the Holy See, Bishop of
Montreal, &c. &c. &;c.

To the Clergy secular and regular, and to all the
Faithful of Our Diocese, Greeting and Benediction
in Our Lord.

Beloved Bjiethren,

The greater the evils which
threaten the fold of J. C, the greater should be the
solicitude of the Pastor. Placed, as it were, a Sen-
tinel at the most elevated as well as the raost dan-
gerous post of this Diocese, we are bound to watch
as from afar the movements made by the enemies of
Religion, in order that we may sound the alarm so
soon as we discover any thing dangerous to your
spiritual welfare.

The love of J. C, which urges us to the fulfilment
of this imperious duty, induces us this day, to lift up
our Avarning voice, to put you on your guard against
certain Societies by whose wiles you might be in-
snared, and that so much the more easily, as they are

( 4 )

hidden under the sacred semblance of charity. Ndl*
need we wonder at this, since St. Paul assures us that
Satan the more effectually to betray man transformeth
himself into an angel of light. 2 Cor. 1 1 Chap.

It behooves you, therefore, B. B., to understand
the nature of these Societies, of which you cannot
become members without sin ; also for what reasons
they are forbidden and finally what ecclesiastical
penalties are incurred by joining them. Three im-
portant questions which demand your most serious
, attention.

For your assistance in the investigation of this
subject, I shall cite divers constitutions of the Sov-
ereign Pontiflfs who have condemned these Societies,
the voice of the Vicars of J. C, on earth, which you
will listen to with a lively faith, cannot fail to make
a deep impression on your hearts. For we know
that you are penetrated with a holy reverence
for the sublime authority which they exercise,
and that you are aware that they who should des-
pise them by refusing to hearken to their voice^
would despise J. C. himself, and his heavenly
Father who sent him.

First Question. — How are \Ve to recognize
these prohibited societies 1

We will point out B. B., their principal characters.

Under whatever name they may be disguised you

wiir know them by the imperious oaths they exact

arid the plausible appearances of virtue they assume,

the better to disguise themselves. . ..^i ,^^|r, '

Let us hear the B. Peter who speaks to you oy

the mouth of his successors :

Constrt. 4 Cai. « We have learned, says Clement XII., of a cer-

May,(28 Apri.) „ ^^^^^^^ j,^ ^j^^ ^^^^^^ ^^.^^^ ^j^^^ Societies com-

" monly called Freemasons (or otherwise named, in

(5)

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1821.

different languages) are on all sides daily gaining
strength and making progress ; that with these So-
cieties, men of all religions and all sects associate
and bind themselves together in the most severe
and mysterious manner, by laws and statutes of
lh»ir own making, and who in order to act more
securely, obligate themselves to inviolable secrecy,
by taking an oath on the Holy Bible and subject-
ing themselves voluntarily to the severest penalties.
But since these Societies, for the better conceal-
ing their culpable designs, have assumed the out-
ward appearance of virtue, Pius VII., exposes in
the following energetic language their hollow os-
tentation of benificence.

" These men, says the illustrious Pontiff, affect Constit. idea
indeed a singular veneration and an admirable zeal^^P^^^^^^P')
for the Catholic Religion, and also for the Person
and Doctrine of our Lord J. C, whom they some-
times dare profanely to call the Head and Grand
Master of their Society. These words, smoother
than oil in appearance, are in reality but poisoned
shafts intended to wound the more effectually,
those who are oft' their guard, and are used by de-
signing men who hide under sheeps' clothing, but
who inwardly are ravening wolves seeking to de-
vour the flock.

" The precepts of morality taught by the Carbo-
nari (one of those societies censured by the Pon-
tiff) are not the less impious, notwithstanding their
vain boast of inculcating the duties of charily wiih
the practice of all the other virtues, and the avoid-
ing all vice ; while at the same time they encour-
age the baser passions, and inculcate the lawful-
ness of putting to death the unfortunate discloser
of their secrets."

(C)

Such are, B. B., the distinct and well marked
features by which it will be easy for you to recog-
nise those societies which, as you will further see,
you cannot encourage withojt deeply wounding
your consciences.

Second Question. — What ar'e the reasons S^hich
prove that secret societies are criminal ?

Let us listen to the immortal Benedict XIV.,
after having cited Clement XII., of whom we have
just spoken, he thus sums up the motives which in-
duce him to condemn these societies,
Constitiscai. "Among the very serious reasons of prohibition
^prUi^^Apri) u gjjj condemnation cited in the constitution of our
" Predecessor, which we have incorporated in the
" present, the first is, that those associations and
" conventicles are composed of men of all religions
" and all sects, whence we may evidently conclude
" how far the purity of the Catholic Faith is in dan-
** ger of being sullied. The second is the invi-
" olable secrecy with which they are bound to con-
" ceal whatever occurs in their assemblies, to the
" which therefore we may justly apply, though un-
" der other circumstances, the words of Cecilius
" Natalis, quoted by Minucius Felix, " Virtue
" loveth the light, vice darkness.''''

" The third is the oath by which they are bound
" to keep inviolable the above named secret as if
" it could be permitted under the pretext of any pro-
" mise or oath whatsoever to exempt one's self from
" the obligation of revealing all that is required,
" when interrogated by lawful authority, in order
" to discover if there is any thing in these assemblies,
" subversive of the constitulions and laws of Religion,
" or of the state. The fourth is, that these societies
'* are no less contrary to the*civil than the ecclesi-
'* astical law. Pandects 47th book. The fifth is,

(

( 7 )

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" that in many covintries these societies and assem-
"blifeS have been proscribed by laws emanatihg
" from the supreme temporal power. The last rea-
" son is, that these societies and assemblies are in
" evil repute with all prudent and upright men, whb

regard all those who are connected with them, as

having justly merited the stigma of perversion and

corruption-"

These solid reasons, B. B., set forth so forcibly
by the learned Pontiff, must doubtless convince you
of the enormous crime which those would be guilty
of, who, knowing their duty and the evils to which
they expose themselves, nevertheless dare join these
dangerous associations.

But we would strengthen yet further this convic-
tion by laying before you the severe penalties to be
inflicted by the church, on those who in contempt
of her sacred law% should presume to favour them
in any manner whatsoever. This is the third ques-
tion you have to investigate, and for this purpose we
will cite the words of Leo XII.

This Pontiff, of holy and happy mfemory, begins
by protesting that it is with a full understanding of ^
the cause and having in possession positive evidence
of what passes in these Societies, he hiid resolved to
renew the sentences pronounced against them by
his predecessors, and to put their constitutions in
force.

" Wherefore, he says, we strictly forbid in virtue Constit. 3 ides
'* ofhohj obedience all and each of the faithful what- March, (la
'* ever be his rank, condition and dignity the pre-
" sumption and temerity to enter into these Societies
" under any pretext whatsoever and by whatever
" names they may be called, neither to propagate,
" favotir nor to suffer them to hold their secret as-
" semblies, in their halls, houses, or elsewhere ; to

March) 1825.

J'^r^^'

( «)

" give them counsel, help or encouragement in pub-
** lie or in private, directly or indirectly, by himself
" or others, or in any manner whatsoever to engage
" or to solicit others to frequent these Societies or
** to become members or to take a grade therein but
** to withdraw entirely from those Sucieties, their
meetings or conventicles, under penalty of excom-
" munication, incurred ipsojacto by all those who
** shall contravene what has been forbidden above,
" from which censure none shall obtain absolution, but
" from us, or the Sovereign Pontiff then reigning, un-
" less it be at the hour of death."

*' We, in a special manner, condemn and declare
** void the impious and guilty oath by which they
" who join these Societies pledge themselves not to
♦* reveal to any one that which regards the sect, and
*♦ to put to d(^ath the members of the Association
" who should reveal their secrets to their Superiors,
** Ecclesiastical or Civil.

" Is it not, indeed, a crime to regard as binding,
" an oath, (that is to say an act which should be fully
^'justifiable) by which one is bound to assassinate
" and to contemn the authority of those who being
" delegates of the ecclesiastical or civil power, ought
** to know all that is for the good of religion and
" society and interferes with the peace thereof? Is
<* it not impious and a thing unheard of to call on
God to witness such outrages ? The fathers of
the Council of Latran have wisely said that what
is promised in opposition to the Church and a-
gainst the laws of tradition, is not to be regarded
" as an oath, but rather as perjury. Can the hardi-
„ hood, or I may say madness of these men be tol-
„ erated who while they assert both publicly and
^' privately that there is no God, and even publish it
in their writings, presume to exact in the name of

( " )

" God an oalh JVoni those whom (hey adinil into their
" sect?'

Such, B. B., is the doctrine of these venerable
Pontifls with respect to secret societies. Wliile we
make known these constitutions for your instruction,
we submit with profound respect to the earnest ad-
monitions addressed by Leo XII., to all Bisliops,
which we will cite in his own words, that you may
judge for yourselves that wc arc herein fulfilling an
imperative duty :

" And now, Venerable Brethren, Patriarchs, Pri-
" mates, Archbishops and Bishops, we request or
'* rather we implore your assistance ; give all your
" care to the fold which the Holy Ghost confided to
*' you in making you Bishops of his clurch. Ra-
" vening wolves are breaking in upon you and will
** not spare your flocks. Be assured that their per-
" severance in religion and in well doing depends
" chiefly on you ; for though we live in evil days in
" which many hold not the sound doctrine, yet many
" of the faithful still respect their Pastors and justly
*' regard them as the Ministers of J. C. and the dis-
*' pensers of his mysteries. Use therefore that au-
♦' thority over their souls, which God by a special
" grace has given you to promote their spiritual wel-
" fare ; make known to them the wiles of Sectarians,
" and the means of shunning them. Inspire them
** with a holy dread of those who profess a false
"doctrine, who mock at the mysteries of our holy
^' religion and the pure precepts of J. C., and who
** attack all lawful authority. Finally to use the words
*' of our Predecessor Clement XII, to the Patri-
** archs. Primates, Archbishops and all the Bishops
" of the Catholic Church, dated 14lh Sept. 1 758.

" I beseech you, let our souls be imbued with the
"strength of the spirit of God, and with that wisdom

( 10)

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•* attd courage which are the fruits thereof that we
" be not like those watch-dogs who cannot bark, but
" leave their folds to the rapacity of the beasts of
" the lieid. Let nothing prevent us from cheerfully
suffering all kinds of trials for the glory of God and
the salvation of souls. Let us have constantly be-
fore our eyes HIM, who, while on earth bore the
contradiction of Sinners against himself, for if we
allov/ the audacity of Sinners to move us, all is
over with the strength of the Episcopacy and the
high and holy authority of the church. W^ no lon-
" ger deserve the name of Christians if we quail be-
" fore the threats and the snares of our enemies."

Therefore, the name of God being invoked, and
with (he advice of our Venerable Brothers the
Canons of our Cathedral we have decreed, enacted
and oidaincd, and we do decree, enact dnd ordain,
as follows :

1st. We publish by the present charge the above
Constitutions of the Sovereign Pontiffs Clement
XII, Benedict XIV, Pius VII and Leo XII with
respect to secret Societies, in order that they may
take their full and entire effect throughout our
Diocese.

2d. The Societies in which an oath of secrecy
is exacted from those who join them, shall ipso facto
fall under the censure and condemnation declared
in these constitutions, whatever be the name they
may bear, and however they may be concealed
under the semblance of charity.

3d. Wherefore, all those who shall henceforth
dare to enter into these associations, or who shall
frequent, propagate and favour them in the man
ner above mentioned; shall ipso facto incur the
penalty of excommunication reserved to the Pope.

(11)

4th. Those who shall have been hitherto so un-
fortunate as to have entered- into these Associa-
tions, and who shall leave them on the publication
of the said Apostolical Letters, may within the space
of one year, from the date of the present charge,
be absolved by any authorised Priest.

5th. The effect of this excommunication shall
be to deprive those who incur it of the prayers of
the Ohurch, the use of the Sacraments and of
christian burial, should they die in this unhappy
state. These penalties are the most severe that
the Church can inflict on her rebellious children,
and we recommend to the Pastors of souls to ex-
plaili them to their flocks in o/der that the /ear cf
incurring them may retain them in the line of
duty, if the love of God is not tnfiicient to keep
them from so great a sin.

Finally, we conjure you, B. B., with all that so-
licitude by which we are urged, to labour for your
salvation^ to meditate seriously on the touching words
addressed to all the faithful by the pious Pontift*
Leo XII», in the above cited constitution. Af-
ter having traced out the line of duty to all Bishops
and Princes of the earth, he lavishes on them ad-
vice and exhortations with the tenderness of a fa-
ther.

" And now to you, beloved sons who profess the
Catholic Religion, we address ourselves more parii-
cularly : shun with care all those who call light
darkness, and darkness light. Indeed what ad-
vantage could you derive from being leagued with
men who regard neither God nor the powers that
be : who wage war against them by their intrigues
and secret assemblies, and who while they pub-

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( 12 )

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lish aloud that they desire only the good of the
church and of society, prove by their actions, that
they seek to carry everywhere anarchy and con-
fusion. These men ressemble those to whom the
Apostle St. John forbids to give hospitality, and
whom he will not allow us to salute. (2 ep. John
10.) the same whom our Fathers called the
first born of satan. Be on your guard against their
seductions, and the flattering speeches which they
employ to induce you to enter their associations.
Be convinced that none can be connected with
these societies without becoming guilty of mortal
sin. Close your ears against the words of those
who to draw you into their assemblies will affirm
that there is nothing done there contrary to reason
and religion ; noth'ing seen or heard but what is
pure, right and becoming. In the first place this
guilty oath of which we have spoken, and which
is taken even by those in the inferior grades, is
sufficient to convince you that it is forbidden to
enter these inferior grades, or to remain there ;
and although that which is most condemnable
therein is not generally communicated to those
who have not attained the higher grades, it is ne-
vertheless evident that the strength and hardihood
of these pernicious societies increase in propor-
tion to the number and union of their members.
Therefore it is that those who remain in the lower
grades should be regarded as accomplices of the
same crime, and consequently fall under this sen-
tence of the Apostle (Rom. ch. 1.) They who
do these things are worthy of death, and not only
they, but the abettors of those who are guilty
thereof.

" Finally, we address ourselves affectionately to

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( 13 )

those who notwithstanding the light which had
been granted them, and though they may have
partaken of the heavenly gift, and received the
Holy Ghost, have yet had the misfortune to per-
mit themselves to be seduced and to enter these
institutions, whether in the inferior or the more
elevated grades. We who stand in the place of
Him who said that he was not come to call the
just but sinners, and who compared himself to a
shepherd, who, abandoning the remainder of his
flock, seeks anxious)^ foi:;..the sheep that was lost,
we pray and^ese^h jhelI^^o return to J. C. —
Undoubtedly they fea^iSXjOT^itted a grievous sin,
but they must netrfaespaiF^rihe mercy and cle-
mency of God and his Son J. ,A Let them re-
turn into the paths of the Lord, he will not reject
them ; but like the father of the prodigal son, he

will open his arms and receive them with tender-
*»

ness.

On the other hand, B. B , you must understand
that if we forbid you these secret societies, because
they are criminal, we are far from wishing to deter
you from those associations whose object it is to in-
spire and to foster that spirit of charity which joins
together all the members of society, for the good of
religion and of your country. You know what we
have done since we have undertaken the adminis-
tration of this Diocese, to promote among the faith-
ful committed to our care, that spirit of association
which is the true spirit of Christianity when directet^
according to the principles of the Gospel.

The present charge shall be read in all the Parish
Churches, and in all the communities of the regu-
lar clergy, the first Sunday or holy-day after its re-
ception.

(14)

Given at Montreal, at our Episcopal Palace, the
Seventeenth of June, one thousand eight hundred
and forty-six, under our hand and seal and the coun-
tersign of our Secretary.

'L- + S. 1^ IG. Bishop of Montreal.

By qrder of His Lordship,

JOS. OCT. PARE, Canon,

Secretary,

(True Copy,)

" ' ' r

^•*^ Canon J Secretary,