Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-11-06
Of Columbus Hold Sunday
Meeting in WateryiIIe.
Delegates From Councils Of
State Gather in Opera House
To Listen to Addresses--.40 Candidates Re-
ceiye Third Degree. COLLATION. Follows.

Sunday marked an epoch in the his
tory of the Knights of Columbus OF
Maine. AT the invitation of Waterville
Council. No. las, representatives from
all the councils of the State gathered
IN the city to meet Past District
Deputy S. j. Nevins and his suite, and
to engage in fraternal greetings and
discussions and to see the Third de-
gree worked on 40 candidates.
The guests began to arrive, Satur-
daily, and the stream of Sir knights
many of them accompanied by their
ladies. continued to arrive during Sat
urday and Sunday. until there were
about 500 in attendance.
At 9.35 a. NJ, Sunday Past District
Deputy Nevins arrived from Boston,
accompanied by his suit. consisting of
the following Knights: Capt. j. A. Nc
kenna, Thomas H. Welsh. Richard D.
Barry. Edward O'Hara. John J. Hen
messy, George S. Todd, Daniel Brick
ley. John NJ. Welsh. Jr., and John H.
Hanlon. They were met by the recep-
ton committee of Waterville Council
and shown every courtesy known to
Waterville hospitality.
At 2.30 p. NJ. an audience of fully 500
gathered in the city Opera house to hear
the address of Deputy Nevins. The
large gathering was highly compli-
mentary to the official and one which
nc highly appreciated.
Shortly before O'Clock the Leahy
Sisters orchestra played a selection
and the exercises OF the afternoon
were opened. Those who occupied the
platform were Rev. FIR. J. F. Kealy Of
the Sacred Heart parish Of Waterville.
Past District Deputy Neyins. Comman-
der ]. J. Kelley of Waterville Council
and Fred w. Clair. Esq.
The knights of Columbus quartet.
consisting OF Messrs. Clukey Lacombe.
DeLisle and Pooler. rendered very eff
fcctively GLORY in the Highest"
Sir Knight Clair then gave a brief
address of welcome at the close of
which he introduced the speaker of the
afternoon.
I'VE are the happiest men in the
State of Maine" said Mr.. Clair: ''and
we are the happiest men in the State
because our invitation sent out to the
councils of the Knights of Columbus
has been Sc generally accepted. When
ly meant it, and now we behold the
results. All of the councils in all parts
of the State are represented. and so.
my friends. we feel that we are happy
that we have with us. today. men who
represent truly and faithfully the
principles for which our order stand.
We welcome you. We extend to you
all the hospitality that it possible for
one brother to extend to another. Our
walls are torn down, and we welcome
you as citizens. We are proud not on
" that we have raised on high in this
city the banner of the Knights of Col
umbus, but also that we nave raised
on high it's equivalent, the banner of
Catholicism"
Mr.. Clair then introduced the speak
err of the evening. Past District Deputy
s. ]. Nevins of the 18th Massachusetts
district.
Mr.. Nevins said that he little dream
ed that he would be faced by an audi
ence like the one that confronted him.
He had expected to meet a little group
of 20 or 80 Knights, and to talk over
with them matters pertaining to the
order but he was none the less pleased
and gratified at the reception he was
receiving. But now that we are here
he said, 1--WE will consider jointly the
knights of Columbus as they exist to-
day"
The speaker then traced the history
of the order In the year 1884 i'm the
city of New Haven there was organized
a body of Catholic gentlemen in an in
surance association known as the
knights of Columbus.
1t was founded at a time when many
such societies were formed all over
New England. The Knights of Column
bus as an organization stands. today.
as the only one organized in New Eng
land in 1884 now existing. The eondl-
tons under which the knights OF Cd
lumbus was founded were the same as
those of the other societies except that
tie Knights OF Columbus had respect
for the Mother church and charity
for the widows and orphans. 1t was the
first of similar organizations to have
the courage to declare that the finan-
cial foundations upon which 1t was first
built were rotten and crumbling.
And when this discovery was made.
TO who did the organization go for adj
vice? To the business men or to phil
antbropists? mo" said Mr.. Nevins. at
was to our Catholic clergy: it was to