The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-16
SUPREME KNIGHT
 DELIVERS ADDRESS
EDWARD L. LEARN IS GUEST OF BIRMINGHAM COUNCIL 635, KNIGHTS OF oLUMBUS-HE IS FAVORABLY IMPRESSED.

Supreme Knight Edward L. Hearn, head of the Order of Knights of Columbus ar rived in Birmingham yesterday at noon on the Southern train from Atlanta. The members of the reception committee ap pointed by the local council were present to meet him and immediately took him to the Hillman hotel, where he was enter tained at lunch. Afterwards he was shown over the city and taken around the resi- dence section in autoobile, later on being entertained at dinner at the Country club.
 A special meeting of the Birmingham council was held last night in the Knights of Columbus hall at which Mir. Heafn attended and delivered a very interesting address Deputy Grand Knight John w. O'Neill presided and on behalf of the council and the citizens extended the visitor a most cordial welcome. In the course of his remarks, MT. O'Neill said there was no necessity to use any exag- geration in speaking of the growth of the city of Birmingham, and the surround ing district. Tn six years" said the speaker, Eve have grown from a city of 3o,o00 population to a Greater Birmingham with a population of nearly 100000. Under your direction and management, supreme knight, the order of the Knights of Co., lunbus has grown from a membership of 55,0oo to 1S500o, and the assets have in- creased from S35o,00 to s2,o0000o. It Is to be hoped that you will long continue to give your services to the order and that the same success will reward your Ia- bor''
 MT. Hearn thanked the meeting for It's generous welcome, and assured them and also the citizens of Birmingham that no exaggeration was necessary to describe the prosperous and growing city which he had visited that day. T have seldom," said he, found a people possessing such unique opportunities or witnessed such a storehouse of natures wealth as this val ley calls her own. It gives me especial pleasure to find that not only is your city flouiishing and promising to become a great industrial center, but also to find that the Knights of Columbus is also f1ourishing and gaining in strength and numbers.
 'It is necessary in a commercial age and city like this to have a society of men bound by lofty and 1audable principles which teach men that they must not live for themselves alone; that we have debts we owe to our fellow-man, and that bases it's work on the great broad platform of Christian charity. No matter how much men may differ in politics or party they should all unite upon the great object of striving to raise up the morals and char tlally the purpose of our order. Our pa tron Is Columbus. and he brought light and civilization to a world lost in dark ness and ignorance, so we must try b lights to those in darkness. When Colum- bus set sail in 1492 to look for an un- known world he hoisted the flag of his l country to the masthead of his frail little his hand so we, thirty-five years ago, in New Haven, launched our little vessel, and to the masthead we hoisted the flag of our country and also took the cross hind that cross we have marched, gain ing in strength and numbers every day,
 "The first duty of the Catholic church is the salvation of souls. Religion and morality are the cornerstones of good gov ernment and the nation that omits them