The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-02-27

and you will not only be fulfilling your duty as Christian and Catholic. but you will also be obeying the cardinal prin- ciples to which every member of the Knights of Columbus pledges his al- legiance.
 The crying needs of modern society, in which God is relegated to the realms of the unknown, if not unlSrowable, can not fully be met by mere individual ae- tion however exalted that action may be. When an organized army invades a country mere guerilla warfare is not enough organized forces must be op- posed by other organized forces before the invader can be repelled Hence the necessity, among Catholics, of associa- tions like the Knights of Columbus to meet on equal terms the banded foes of God and his church. Such an associa- ton, moreover, heralds to the world those cardinal religious principles, treas ured it Is true in the individual Catholic conscience but less liable to be known and appreciated than when put forth by an organized society Further still, the benefits conferred upon the individual member by our grand organization are simply beyond calculation. Each mem Der is encouraged and strengthened by the very fact that he belongs to the or ganized body Each member acts upon other members and their action affects him in return.
 Good Citizens.
 The aim of our noble order IS not merely to make good practical Catholics but likewise to make good citizens. These two aims are closely united. be- cause one is the effect of the other. To be a good Catholic means to respect authority and to luphold It's hands in all lawful measures, since to obey au- thority means to obey God himself in whom authority originated and from whom it proceeds.
 To be a good Catholic means love of our neighbor, since we are all children Of the same loving Father, redeemed equally in the blood of His only begotten Son. To be a good Catholic means re- spect Tor the right of others, courtesy towards all, forgiveness of injuries; in
 
 deals with others, as we would wish others to deal with ourselves. This then, is the higher. supernatural work in which you as Kr.ehts of Columbus are called to assist. It is upon such an organization as this that our Holy Mother the church relies, at leats in part to counteract the evils which effect so- ciety. Bishops and priests must indeed direct, and by the sacraments and other means of grace, furnish the needed strength; but you of the laity form the mass of Gods people and you must do the bulk of the work True, the evils with which you contend are great and numerous, whilst compared with the masses to be regenerated, your members are small and humanly speaking, un- equal to the task But be not discour- aged. Let each one equip himself as a true knight should be equipped, and however long the way, you shall never falter; however strong the conflict, you shall never finch for God Himself will be with you, will strengthen and support you.
 Helmet of Salvation.
 Put on therefore. the ~breastplate of justice and the helmet of salvation. Take the shield of faith and the sword of the spirit which is the word of God, and go forth conauering and to conquer. Obey implicitly the commands that will come to you from the voice of Christ Him self-commands which will enlighten, en- courage and sustain you. Equipped thus you will become a true Knight of Colum- bus, a strong and valiant soldier of Jesus Christ as Columbus proved himself so faithfully to be, by deeds of valor and renown, which have merited 10 have his name inscribed upon the tablets of all time.
 Honor to whom honor is due, gratitude to whom gratitude belongs, and to Coz lumbus among men is due the greatest share of both because he merited them by doing that which no man had done before by opening the gateway to this our grand and glorious country where the exile finds a home. where the rights of the people are protected and respect ed. and where all are afforded the con stitutional right to worship God, accord ing to the dictates of our conscience, where the church of Christ, like a peace ful dove Is permitted to spread her wings ard carry in safety to all who walt 1t, the olive branch of Gods love and truth.
 Science and Religion.
 In being a true Knight of Columbus and emphasizing Columbus name and in keeping his deeds before the world you will not only be doing your duty, but you will also be doing a benefit to sci- ence and religion, showing the progress of the one and the willingness of the other to lend her aid to science-a fact sometimes denied-and demonstrating the truth that the church now as then, is willing to send her representatives on missions of science and progress, as she did with Columbus on that perilous jour ney across the trackless ocean.
 In being a faithful Knight of Colum bus you honor also our Holy Church whose child Columbus was. at whose knee he received the first lesson of wis dom. and through whose prayers and sacrifices he received the devine aid which must have inspired him 10 undertake. persevere and succeed. amid trials where the less brave would have fallen.
 Oh. then be faithful. brave and trne Christian soldiers such as Columbus was perseyere like him 10 the end-for only to him who nerseryes has the crown been promised. What avails It to have fought through the long day if night closes on disaster and defeat? When the soldier lies stiff and stark upon the battlefield with his cold dead face toward the moo4- | lit heavens what boots it that he went | forth. at morning high-heartod and hope ] ful2 But in worlds balance defeat does | not necessarily imply disgrace. nor need | defeat bring with It anything of dis | honor, We may and indeed we do honor ] the dead soldier. though his cause be lost | and we recognize his bravery even | through the shadows of defeat But in | the fight for our eternal salvation tho | case is far otherwise: their defeat means | everlasting misery. their ruin Is ruin ir- 1 rapara bIe Rum fherafnre in the raoe ao l