Barnabo, Alexander Cardinal Prefect, Rome, Papal States, to Archbishop John Baptist Purcell, of Cincinnati, Ohio, 1869 July 12

There has come to the ears of the Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office that in the United States of America there is a certain society called Societe des Cardonniers, Shoemakers Union in which there is required secret oath of revealing nothing unless to a Confessor. The object of this society is not a conspiracy against the state or the church but only for mutual protection and aid in their work, especially that masters be forced to pay their workers the just price for their labor. But the Sacred Congregation notes it sometimes happens that under this pretense contrary to the laws of justice attempts are made to keep work from those who refuse to join them, and violence is used to prevent other workers from working for a less price than that set up by the society. Also members of other societies, especially of masonic groups, enter these societies the more easily to draw them into their own organizations. Thus, the Sacred Congregation desiring to weigh these matters well, and desiring more accurate information, asks Purcell to get it for them. Also they ask Purcell to get for them a copy of the statutes of the society. The same precepts are to be followed in the case of other societies that he may know of in the province. Signed by John Simeoni as secretary. :: II-5-d L.S. Latin 2pp. 8vo.