The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-05-04
DEDICATES BUILDING
KNIGHTS or COLUMBUS HAVE IN
 TEHEsTfNG EXERCISES.
The BuildinK fsa Very Handsome Ons and Compares Favorsbly With
 the Home of Any
 Mobile order.

Mobile, May 3.-(Special )-The Knights of Columbus. Mobile Council No. sss. one of the youngest andsyet one of the strongest orders having lodges in this city, dedicated their new building tonight.
 The building Is a magnificent struc- ture. comparing favorably with the home of any order here. It represents an outlay of $50,000s in cash. and labor of love and devotion that is be- yond computation.
 The doors were thrown open to the public at o'clock this afternoon and from that hour until evening steady flow of visitors kept the reoeption'com- uittee busy showing thef efconveniences and beauties of their new dorhictle.
 At 2 o'clock the building was form ally blessed. Rev. Father c. T. O'Cal- laghan ofiiciating assisted by the chap- lain of Mobile Council. Rev. Father John ". Dunn.
 The dedication ceremonies proper be- gan at 7:3o D. m. fF
 Mr. M. Mahomer. Jr. presided and delivered an address upon Our Order 7"
 Mfr. George J sullivan. chairman of the building committee, formally pre- serlted the structure in "a well-worded talk, Interesting though dealing with statistical matter.
 Rev William A. Kerrigan delivered an eloquent tribute to "our Faith. .
 Grand Knight William Cowley &C., cepted the building in behalf of the Council and thanked the Building Com mitfee for the manner In which 1t had discharged it's duty. '.
 Mayor P. ] Lyons and Mir. John C. o'Connell spoke for the city and the press.
 One of the most interesting talks of Che evening was made by Mir. W. M Ryan the Senior Knight of the Coun- eli, upon the History of Our Council" Mir. Ryan spoke as follows:
 State Deputy, Ladies, Friends and
 Fellow Knights
 It is with great pleasure I have &C., cepted the invitation of our Worthy State Deputy to make brief address on the history of our Council. Indeed. and say with due modesty and all honesty, no one Is better fitted for the task assigned. for had the honor of standing at the helm of our goodly ehgp whensit was first launched upon its suspicious course. and have since watched it's progress with interest and enthusiasm. Seven years ago l was the only K of C.. in Mobile,s and at that time there were onlv two others in the State of Alabama. I received my degrees first. second and third, in Nashville. Tenn, June Is, 1901. On my return T immediately took up the work of organizing our now thriving Council Alone. without the aid of anyone, II canvassed for days, weeks and months among the Catholic men of standing in our city and generally met with 2 cordial reception. At length my efforts were crowned with success and on April 27. 1902. a class of ninety one candidates were initiated by team from Nashville. :-
 The occasion was one Of special af forth praise and admiration from the entire community
 All. both clergy and layety alike were out spoken in their comments upon the splendid quality, the worth and influence of the men that composed this initial class.
 They were indeed the flower of Catholic citizenship.
 Since that blessed day. how our church was expanded; 1t has from small beginnings taken firm root and waxed strong and great until today with It's membership of 392. It is one of the best organized and most representa- tlGe in the order and is in a heal thy financial condition. Mabile order enjoys the distinction of having upon it's root the first, fourth dregere member south of Mason and Dixon line.
 travelled to Boston to receive this QeEfee Wnlcn was cOnIeTEeQ upon me in Historical Farneil Hall october 2s 1905.
 Not content. however. with estab- fishing and safe guarding its own in- terests, our council missionary like, set before 1t self the task of spreading Columbian infience.
 We are responsible for the institu- tion of the New Orleans council. per haps the largest and most flourishing in the country. The Pensacola council. another splendid organization Is like wise the offspring of Mobile coun- cfi
 Today as a fitting crown to such praiseworthy record, we are gathered together to dedicate our magnificent new home. Truly it Is a worthy move ment to the pioneer council of Ala bama. And to the .zealous workers Of the building committee, whose DOT traits hang in groups on the walls of our council chamber.
 Now. before closing my brief re- marks. friends and fellow Knights, and while thanking you for your kind att tention and consideration, I beg leave to express the wish and I feel assur- ed your hearts join me in this wish. that as our brief past has been a glor- ious one and one that we point to with noble pride. so our future may be even more glorious. more fraught with good works and deeds of brother ly love, more blessed with triumphs achieved for faith and fatherland.
 MT. Ryan's talk was followed by