The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-04
KNIGHTS MEET IN
HISTORIC CITY
National Council Knights of
Columbus Begins Session
ADDRESSED BY ARCHBISHOP
After the Exercises at the Lyric The
atre Business Meeting Is Held
and at Night Banquet Is
Given the Visitors.

Mobile, August with cooling breezes
waited in from the Gulf of Mexico. tho
weather was most suspicious today for
the inaugural of the twenty-seyenth an
nual session of the national council of
knights of Columbus, In this historic old
city founded by French Catholics more
than 200 years ago.
AT s o'clock the delegates and officers
of the national council assembled at the
local knights of Columbus hall and pa
raded to the Cathedral of the Immaculate
Conception, headed by the St. Louis
knights of Columbus Zouayes and band,
the officers and prelates in carriages,
thousands. early was the hour, lin
ing the sidewalks to witness the great
assemblage of men from all sections Of
this and adjoining countries. At $3.50
o'clock the pontihcal high mass began
in the cathedral
His grace, Archbishop John ]. Glennon
of st. Louis, preached the sermon. He
referred to the honor and privilege of
being given an opportunity to speak a
word of welcome to his brethren from
the historic pulpit which he occupied,
and said it would be presrmptuous for
him to attempt to speak for Mobile, her
citizens, priests and bishop. Their invi-
tation to you and their presence here to
greet you are much more eloquent than
any words at my disposal"
He declared that all that Is noble in
southern aspirations finds in this an
cient city their symbol and their habita-
ton. To the knights he said:
You will take back to your homes
memories of Mobile as rich and rare as
her magnolas."
History Recalled.
oon ba
tall young prelate, the Catholic Indians
sought shelter beneath the armed fort
resses of Mobile from the tyrant gov
ernors of the Carolinas, who, with the
spirit they brought from England. fol-
lowed the Catholic Indians here with the
same vindictive hatred they showed to the
Irish Catholics at home. The first par
ish economically established in Mobile was
in 1903, he said, and from that day on
ward there was ever here to be found
shrine wherein the Savior was wor-
SHIPPED and priests served as His ministers
SO that the catholcy of Mobile Is to
the manner born. In the story of her
faith, he said. the people can point to
the names of Bazin, Loras, Porthier,
Hackett and Quinlan.
The constitution of the United States.
he said, is a guarantee of religious lib
erty, and the time has come when no
set of men can array themselves against
the religion of their fellow citizens. With
the dissipation of religious prejudice and
the abatement of religious bigotry there
opens up a way broader and brighter for
the Catholic faith. The loyal American
Catholic lifts above his country's stand
ard and his hearts devotion no symbol
higher save that one alone that has given
to America its constitution and to the
world its civilization-the symbol of di-
yinty.
He urged the knights to sustain every
cause that Is noble, placing citizenship
above party, extending to all, irrespective
of race or creed. the even-handed justice
that they themselves demand; to sustain
the educational Institutions of their faith
to sustain the cause of charity and build
up mighty temple of hearts and souls
consecrated to the Savior. ION its walls
shall be written the record of your yir-
tues and sacrifices, and they who help
to build 1t shall be crowned forever
more" TltikFk ii
Opening at Lyric.
Promptly at the hour of 1 today the
formal opening ceremonies began In
the Lyric theatre. On behalf of the city
of Mobile Hon. Pat j. Lyons. mayor of
the city, welcomed the delegates. On
behalf of the local knights, Past State
Deputy M. Mahorner, Jr, addressed the
convention. He dwelt upon the pleas
ure of extending an invitation one
year ago to the convention to come to
Mobile, where first the Catholic stand
ard was raised in tn south by Bien-
Vile when seeking a location for es-
tablishing the first Catholic colony. He
planted the standard of France at the
mouth of Mobile river. Today the
Catholic traditions are seen in every
direction blended with the Protestant
and the Jew. All creeds join in greet
ing the knights of Columbus and trust
their coming will tend to strengthen
til bonds of friendship, which are ever
binding in close unity the north, east,
west and the south.
Business Session.
The first business session of the
knights OF Columbus was held this aft
ernoon in the Battle House auditorium
and was fully attended Supreme
Knight Hearn presided and appointed
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