The Irish standard., 1901-11-02

The first council of the knights OF
Columbus was recently organized in
Chattanooga, Tenn, Mr.. P. ]. Brady,
of Cleveland, o., conducting the degree
work. At the banquet which followed
the initiation notable address on
sKnighthood' was delivered by Rt.
Rev. Thomas s. Ryrne, Bishop Of Nash
Vile, who said i'm part:
GAIN organizations like this are the
result of the thought of one man, who
has meditated deeply upon some spe-
cial need Of his age, and who is so
possessed and carried away with the
importance of that need and the neces-
sity of meeting it that he. resolves to
give his time and his energies to its
realization.
81 can conceive that your founder
was led on to found your society by
some such motive as this: He looked
about him, he studied the tendencies
and the spirit of the age, and he saw
that men, in undertaking any work of
Importance, combined together, en-
tered into associations and sought the
sid and counsel of their fellow men.
To combine, to associate together,
whether for interest or pleasure, is
the spirit of the age, and Catholics, no
less than others, are affected by it and
come under it's influence"
In this tendency to organize there
Byrne continued. There was the dam
ger of the introduction of political
methods into Catholic associations by
which ignorant men might (be made
the instruments of unscrupulous ca
balls. There was also the danger of
Catholics falling under the influence
of secret societies which the Church
cannot look upon with favor and which
lead to THE destruction of faith. Hence
the founder of the knights of 'Colum-
bus wished to organize society which
ards and which should direct into safe
channels the modern fascination for
the mysterious and the secret.
'"These are the two ideals which
your founder had in his mind: to form
an association Of gentlemen and OF
Catholics. And what supreme ideal
is that of a Catholic gentleman-one
who respects himself, who is Faithful
to his fellowman, who is loyal to his
Church and God. If the state had
only such citizens there would be NO
anarchy taught in our land and no as,
sassin to lift hand against the repre-
sentative of the might and majesty of
free people.
"This ideal of Catholic gentleman
possessed the mind of your founder, it
haunted his memory, it filled his imagi
nation. He became the knight of this
dominant, this imperious ideal. It filled
him with enthusiasm, it made him
eloquent of speech and strong of will
he became it's panegyrist and evan.
gelist. He preached to others what hi
felt so deeply himself; he filled then
with his own thoughts; he won then
to his cause; he formed them into {
body as earnest, as jealous as himself
and with them he launched this soci
ETY. into being; and 1t was borne on
ward and upward till it stands to-day
the greatest body of Catholic laymer
in the world. Its very advance, its
growth. its popularity, it's hold upon
the best Catholics Of the land are evi
dence of it's need and of the craving
it supplies. In few years it has
gathered into dts fold membership
OF close upon hundred thousand
and these the flower of the Catholit
gentleman of this republic.
~But its very success is its danger
There is an arrogance in strength ant
numbers, and temptation to be i'm
perious and self sufficient. Just a.
humility is from above, so is prid'
from below; and as the former is ou1
safeguard, 50 is the Latter our rock o.
shtpwreck. The only true expression
Of humility is obedience, and this vii
be your anchor of hope. The under