The Irish standard., 1908-12-26
KIND WORDS FOX
The Knights of Columbus From the
Ave Maria.

Ave Maria.
The following from the pages of the
Ave Maria, always just as we'll as
generous. will be appreciated by mem
bers of the knights of Columbus ev.
clywhere: !.
lp view of the fact that renewed ef-
forts are now being made to draw
Catholic young, men into the Young
Men s Christian Association. active op-
position to, OF. an unfriendly attitude
toward, the Knights Of Columbus
strikes me as being especially regret
table. There are SO many societies
which it is forbidden, to join and SO
few Catholic associations to take their
place, while the advantages of being a
member of some large social organiza-
tion arc numerous, and i'll Il worldly
sense SO. important, it would seem
wiser to encourage q body Of Catho-
lies like the Knights of Columbus
than to, discoultenancc them. The
fear is expressed that III proportion as
they increase in numbers they will
decline in virtue, and finally rebel
against. ecclesiastical authority; that
the Order will some day become a
tool of politicians, and SO on.
/. 1t may be quite true that, in certain
places, the l<nights Of Columbus are
not just what they should be; but
surely this is no fault of the Order,
.thc spirit of which is all that tic most
fervent and loyal Catholic could de.
Sire. Is it just to blame the whole
society for the SHORTCOMINGS. of par
-ticular councile AS a body. we think
the Knights. are most praissworthy.
Not to- speak of what the order has
done for it's own members, il has ben
Gifted the Church by promoting char
'itable and educational works, provid-
ing able lectures on religious subjects
for the general public, affording
means for the self-improvement and
entertainment Of the poor. the young,
and the orphaned, by placing Catholic
books in public libraries, and IN "a
hundred other ways. Not all that is to
the credit of the knights of Columbus
is published from the housetops, nor
is it desirable; that it should be.
There is, Of course, q danger in the
rapid spread of this organization; it
does not arise, however, from the
mere increase Of Membership There
! can not be too many Catholic men will
ling to identify themselves with the
Catholic body; and the oftener these
land together the better. Our one
fear for the knights of Columbus is
lest their standard Of membership be
lowered. If, for the preservation of
autonomy, they decline ito. amalga-
'matc with other Catholic societies.
this is unquestionably their right. We
feel certain that any attempt to make
the order a. political factor would be
vigorously opposed by the Knights
themselves, not all of whom, by any
means, belong to one party of voters.
If when a very worthy member of the
order is candidate for some civic
office which he is especially we'll quail
itied' to till, and his associates. regard
less,of political platform, Work for his
election, they are to be praised rather
than blamed for such action.
/ But the most unreasonable objection
to the Knights, to our: mind. is that
their fruits are not commensurate
with their numbers and their oppor.
tunities.'' AS We have said, many of
the most praiseworthy actions of the
order are hidden, and all the better
SO. A generous offering to an orphan
asylum, or some local charity need not
be cackled all over the country. That
one. Of many have. profited by an op-
portunity for doing good. ought to be
. taken as matter Of course once in a
while To say that the. Knights of
Columbus have not fulfilled .expecta.
tions is to provoke retort. OF. what
body of. men anywhere can it be as.
scverated that they. are doing all chat
they might, or as we'll as could be ex.
pected? :.
Until. the order comes to be radical
ly different from what 1t is, there is no
reason TO fear that It will ever seri.
ous]y conflict with ecclesiastical au.
thority exercised. OF one thing, how.
ever, we may rest assured. Undeserv.
ed censure of, or. unwarranted oppo.
sition to-. organizations. like the
Knights of Columbus will have the I'm.
evitsble effect, Of driving many Of our
young men into societies that are for.
lbeadeh.
j <ssls