The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-01-13
Impressive Ceremonies, Bril-
liant Music and an Eloquent
Sermon at ST. PauI'S
ANEW COUNCIL ORGANIZED
The Knights of Columbus Here In
Strong Numbers and Degrees i'm
pressiveIy OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
IIehtful Banquet at HilIman.

Visiting members of the order came from
Chicago, Cincinnati, Louisville, Nash
VILE Chattanooga and Memphis and
visiting candidates were here from
Huntsville. Montgomery, Mobile New
Orleans and Houston. The Nashville dele
CATION numbered 1875 and the total NUM-
Der of visitors was nearly ESQ.
The occasion was the institution Of Bir-
mingham Council No. 6S5. This is the
first body of the Knights of Columbus In
Alabama, but in a short while councils
will be instituted in Montgomery, Mo-
bile and Huntsville.
The organizing officer yesterday was
Mr.. Ferdinand e. Kuhn, territorial dep
uty grand knight for Tennessee. Mr.. Al
bert D. Marks and Mr.. William ]. Var
ley of Nashville assisted in the work of
initiation.
The local committee on organization
consisted Of Mr.. M. j. Mutually, Mr.. John
w. oNeill, Mr. william P. McCrossin.
Mr.. A j. Reilly, and DR.. e. c. Reilly.
There were 81 candidates for initiation
and these new, members, together with
several knights who had been initiated in
Tennessee bring the total strength Of
the council to nearly one hundred.
At St. Paul's Church.
The visitors and the candidates assem-
bled in the lobby Of the Hotel Hillman
at $3.50 a. m. and marched in q body to
ST. Pauls Catholic Church to hear mass.
Seats were reserved for them in the mid
die aisle. The fine appearance Of these
men was generally remarked. No finer
body, it was said was ever seen in this
city.
The services at the church were deeply
impressive There was solemn high mass
coram episcopo-in the presence Of the
bishop. The Rev. Father Savage Of
Montgomery was celebrant of the mass.
the Rev. Father Doyle of Admission was
deacon, the Rev. Father Mennis of Bir-
mingham was subdeacon and the Rev.
Father Sweeney Of Birmingham was
master of ceremonies. Shortly after the
procession to the altar the Right Rev.
Edward P. Allen, bishop Of Mobile, at
tended by the Rev. Father Burns of
Huntsville, entered and took seat on
the ROSpel Sue Ol Lllt sanctuary.
There was brilliant music-Gounod's st.
Cecilia mass sung by a choir of thirty
five voices under the direction Of Mr..
BENJAMIN Guckenberger. The artistic ef-
feet of the singing was heightened by a
carefully selected orchestra. There was
also a short address by the bishop and
an eloquent, stirring sermon by the Rev.
Father Larkin. pastor OF st. Brigid
church of Memphis. The bishop, in fell
cd he xrtd iT1o q
knights to Birmingham; welcomed them
in his own name and in the name of the
priests and laity of Alabama. This he
said was both a privilege and duty on
his part for he esteemed highly the good
work that the Knights were doing.
The Sermon.
Following the bishops address came the
sermon. Father Larkin, the preacher, up
on entering the pulpit read for his text
a portion of the Epistle to the Ephesians
Chapter vi, verses 10 to II inclusive.
"Finally, brethren, be strengthened in
the Lord, and In the might Of His power.
Put you on the armor Of God, that you
may be able to stand against the deceits
of the devil.
For our wrestling Is not against flesh
and blood but against principalities and
powers, against the rulers of the world of
this darkness, against the splrlts OF WICK
edness in the high places.
Therefore take unto you the armor
of God, that you may be able to resist
in the evil day, and to stand IN all
things perfect.
stand therefore, having your loins
grit about with truth, and having on the
breast plate Of justice.
"And your feet shod with the prepara-
ton of the gospel of peace.
I'm all things taking the shield of faith,
wherewith you may be able to extinguish
all the fiery darts Of the most wicked
one And take unto you the helmet of
salvation, and the sword Of the spirit.
which is the word Of God"
Introducing his subject the speaker
analysed st. Paul's letter to the people
OF Ephesus in which the Apostle regards
the life of the Christian as vast bat
tlefeld He said in part:
but how is the Christian to win in
this deadly conflict how is he to defeat
his powerful adversaries? st. Paul sup
plies the answer in the beautiful passage
I have read for you. To fight success
fully the soldier must be properly equip
ped and armed. Knowing the glorious
victories won by Greek and Roman sol
diers properly equipped. Paul spiritual
ICES that equipment and endows the
his loins girt that his flowing garment
might not impede his action. He had on
a breastplate to protect the body. He
was properly shod to Withstand the
march He had a helmet to protect the
head He had a shield to ward Off the
blows and darts of the enemy. He had
a sword to STAY the foe. Thus equipped,
in solid phalanx, the Greek soldiers
routed the enemy in countless numbers
at Marathon and Issus and Arbela; thus
equipped the Roman legions bore the Ro-
man eagles in triumph beyond the Rhine
and the Danube. Naturally, therefore.
this figure, which Is a common one with
st. Paul, comes into his mind as he hears
the clanking of the sword of the Roman
soldiers guarding his prison door.
20! Christion soldier, he says, put on
the armor of God. Grid thy loins with the
girdle of truth. Make ready for the battle
resolved to fight only for the right The
Christian soldier must take a true view
of what he is fighting for. Not for gold,
or honors, or earthly pleasures does he
fight Sweat and blood and life are too
precious to be wasted for such objects.
He fights not for earth but for heaven.
He fights for an incorruptible. not for
a corruptible crown. Earthly things are
nothing in his eyes and their false glitter
does not dazzle or allure him. Looking
on high with eyes fixed on heaven his true
home and his reward he girds his loins
for the battle. Men shed their blood to
avenge insulted honor or to gain few
leagues of territory but the Christian SOL
der will fight for nothing less than God
himself and Gods Kingdom.
"NAxt ha nuts ON the hrsastniatA Of