Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-12-11
Notable AssembIage of Knights Of
Columbus on Sunday.
ABOUT 1000 VISITORS
TOOK PART IN PROGRAM
Three Degrees Conferred Upon Class
OF More Than rs candidates--Bish-
op Donohue Delivered Sermon
Banquet In the Evening the Happy
Finale.

Banquet In the Evening the Happy
Finale.
From The World of Monday:
One of the largest and most notable
gatherings in the history of the order
of knights OF Columbus, the we'll
known Catholic society, in West Vir-
ginia was held in Martinsburg sun
day, when nearly 1000 knights and
their ladies assembled to take part in
the impressive ceremonies OF confer
ring the first. second and third de.
grees upon a class of more than rs
candidates The program, which was
an elaborate one, was under the
auspices of the Chambersburg, Hagers
town and Martinsburg councils, assist
ed by a number of distinguished
knights from different sections of the
east, and the ceremonies were not
brought TO close until late in the
evening, when a splendid banquet was
served in the hall in St. Joseph's
Catholic church.
Special trains were run over the
Baltimore and Ohio and Cumberland
Valley railroads, and hundreds Of Wis
itors arrived during the morning from
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland
Virginia, West Virginia and the Dis
trict OF Columbia, nearly all the near
by towns and cities being largely rep
resented. The membres of the Mar
tinsburg council acted as a reception
committee, and all the incoming trains
were met and the visitors Hospitality
received and assigned to quarters
Several hundred persons we're accom-
modated at the Berkeley hotel and
Valley house, while many others were
entertained during the day in the
homes Of the local knights.
During the morning three masses
were celebrated in st. Joseph's Cath
Ollie church, and the services were at
! tended by large congregations. espe-
cially at the high mass at IL o'clock.
when the spacious auditorium was
packed to the doors. Rt. Rev. p. j.
Donohue, of Wheeling, head of the
i West Virginia diocese, celebrated the
first mass, and also delivered an elo-
quent and forcesul sermon at the high
mass, speaking appropriately upon
the occasion and it's significance. Fol-
| lowing the services at the church, the
visitors dispersed for dinner, and at ?
! O'Clock in the afternoon the formal
! ceremonies of initiation were COM
menced in the Katz hall, corner Queen
and Martin streets.
| The first degree was conferred upon
! the candidates for that honor by mem
bers CT Spaulding council. of Washing
ton; the second was conferred by the
council OF Harrisburg, Pa, while the
third degree, which was of the most
1 impressive character, was conferred
| by State Deputy Clarence E. Martin,
OF Martinsburg, and staff. assisted by
/ r. ]. Mclaughlin and stan, OF Newark,
/ n. j. The ceremonies were not con-
cluded until about o'clock, after
which many of the visitors went On
/ sightseeing trips to points Of interest
in and about the city.
While the ceremonies of initiation
were in progress. the ladies' of the
/ church rendered an informal reception
and sacred concert to the visiting
ladies' in the hall o the knights and
his was attended by large number
of visitors.
The banquet in the hall Ct the
/ church al o'clock was the conclud-
ing feature Of the days program, and
proved to be a very delightful event.
! Mr.. Clarence z. Martin, deputy for
West Virginia. presided as toastmas.
ter and introduced the speakers of the
evening. The banquet was served BY
the ladies of st. Joseph's church, and
The menu was a splendid one.
1 Among those who responded t.
toasts we're Supreme knight James A.
F'laherty, of Philadelphia; District
Deputy It j. Donavan, of Washington.
and Congressman James G. Graham,
0. Springfield, H., the latter being
especially happy and eloquent in his
remarks. Bishop Donohue was also
to have delivered an address, but was
indisposed and unable to do so. Fol-
lowing the banquet the visitors left
on their special trains for their
homes, declaring that the meeting had
proved to be one of the largest and
most successful ever held in this sec.
ton. In addition to the distinguished
visitors mentioned above, National
Treasurer d. j. Callahan. CT Washing
ton was also present.
The special train of eight coaches
from Harrisburg and intermediate
points was packed to its capacity, and
1T is estimated that there were about
$50 knights and their ladies on this
train. The delegation from Winches-
ter numbered lis, while the special
from Washington carried nearly 100
persons. In addition to these, there
were present. knights from Pittsburg