Waterbury Democrat., 1901-05-15
FATHER o'DoNNELL'S TALK
Interesting Address to Local K. of C. Men
 Last Evening.

Interesting Address to Local K. of C. Men
 Last Evening.
 The Rev J. H. O'Donnel of Water town, chaplain of Hendricken council, No 36, K. of C., spoke last night on Catholic Federation before large audience of members of the order in K. of o. hall, Platt block, East Main street. Grand Knight T. k. Conway presided. Father O'Donnelrs address
 was as follows:
 Fellow Knights:
 It is needless to state that address you tonight as friend and well-Wish- CT, as one in full accord with all the legitimate aspirations of our people.
 My heartfelt sympathies go out to the aims and purposes of the Knights or
 Columbus. The principles upon which
 the order Is builded appeal strongly to
 me, as they should appeal to every
 priest who sees In organizations of
 young men, properly conducted,
 strong force for their moral, intellec-
 tual and social we'll being. Banded to-
 gether and guided by principles that
 have their source in the divine utter
 ances of the Gospel, our young men may become a power for incalculable
 good and exercise an influence com mensurate, not only with their numer- ical strength, but also with the gram. deur of their purposes. Founded on principles whose spirit is thoroughly
 Catholic, encouraged by the hierarchy
 and clergy, composed of men repre-
 senting every walk of life, of men who
 do honor to the various trades and
 professions; the sturdy day laborer,
 the successful merchant, the skilled ar-
 tisan, the pleader at the bar. the heal
 CT of 1ife's ills, the judge on the bench,
 the ce1ebrant at the altar, the Knights of Columbus will become still greater
 power for good, stronger factor in
 our religious life if it remain faithful
 to the principles that have been so
 acceptable to our Catholic population,
 and which, also, have been the chief
 cause of it's widespread diffusion
 throughout the country. 1t is true, no
 doubt, that the insurance and social
 features of the order have contributed
 not little to it's marvellous expansion in recent years. 1t is true, also, that the temporal advantages which accrue to the members from afdliation with our representative men have tended to increase our membership; nevertheless, I am constrained to say, that the very pronounced Catholicity of the order
 
 large majority of those who have sought the privilege of membership.
 Tn the "Prospectusn it is officially proclaimed that .'the order is Catholic throughout" Our charter declares ip the most emphatic manner that '.prac- tica1 Roman Catholics only shall be eligible to and entitled to continue membership in the order;;v and, fur thermore,, that practical Roman Cath olics only, of good moral character and exemplary habits, shall be admitted to associate membership" Now, what is a practical Catholic? He is one who puts into practice the teachings of re- ngion, who assists at mass on Sun days, unless legitimately prevented; who complies with the precept of East CT communion; in word, he is a prac- tical Catholic who keeps the command ments of God and of the Church. On the contrary, he who wilfulIy neglects to practice the duties of his religion, who neglects mass and fails to receive the saeraments of the church at cer- tain periods, forfeits his claim to the title of practical Catholic, and, accord ing to our charter, may not be admit ted to nor continue membership. If the order live up to the requirements of the charter; if 1t steadfastly adhere to this high standard; if it resolutely sets it's face against minimizing the force of these qualifications; if it seeks character rather than mere in- crease of membership, it would be diff ficult, indeed, to set bounds to the good the order would accomplish. The limit of it's successes in its chosen field 1 would surpass our highest expecta- tions. As societies are composed of in- dividuals, as the organization partakes of the character of it's individual mem bers, it is imperative, that in the ad- mission of members we scrupulously l adhere to the membership qualifica- | tions as set forth in the charter: other 1 wise, the charter becomes practically 1 q dead letter, an ineffective instrument 1 whose binding force becomes nil.
 The Knights of Columbus is ayow- I edly Catholic organization It fears l not to openly proclaim it's loyalty to l the church. It's founder was a priest | of the church. On its rolls are the | names of individuals whose lives re- | fleet the teachings of the church. | whose daily conduct bears irrefragable | testimony to the fact<rIat the counsels | of the church find permanent lodg- | ment in their minds and hearts. But l l would plead this evening for a broad | en1ng out or 1n01VfQuaI effort. would | urge that, while the interests of self | be ever safe : guarded, we | reach out to promote the | welfare of others. Se1fishness is | not an admirable quality, and he who | concentrates his thoughts solely upon | his own advancement, either in the spiritual or temporal order, does not | fulfill the commandment that Christ | said was like unto the first and the | greatest commandment: Thou shalt | love thy neighbor as myself. There | are others in the world besides our selves, and there are other and higher | interests than temporal concerns. Or | ganiZations composed exclusively of | Catholic young men and which boldly | proclaim their allegiance to the church, | should never rest content with their | merely social or insurance features, [ laudable as they are and worthy of | They should enter into | and become opponents of Catholic life | at its best. They should aim at the | highest ideals. They should stand | forth in the open as sturdy and united | champions of Catholics rights-and | there are such things as Catholics