Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-10-13
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS GATHER
Initiate 200 Candidates Into the
Fourth Degree.
BANQUET AT AK.sAR.BEN DEN
Bishop Then of Lincoln Speaks Of
Great Discoverer.
OTHER SOCIETIES CELEBRATE
italian Clubs Hold Meeting and
Banquet, Banks Close and Public
Schools Hold Exercises OF
Appropriate Mature.


For the first time in the history OF the
city. Columbus day was observed by
omaha Thursday, in commemoratiou Of
the discovery OF America by Christopher
Columbus 4le years ago. Banks, many
business houses and city and county
offices closed for the observance. The
Board Of Education aid not order the
schools dismissed, but the greater part
of the school day was given 10 a dis
oussion OF the explorers life and deeds,
The Knights OF Columbus from the
fourth degree district. composed Of Ne
braska and South Dakota, initiated 900
members in the fourth or patriotic order,
and served a banquet to 800 candidates
and members OF the degree. About
twenty-five priests were present.
Initiation at the Den.
The initiation ceremonies were held at
the Ak-Sar-B Ben Den all Thursday after
noon. E. w. Simeral OF Omaha, master
OF the fourth degree In this district, was
In charge. The Den had bean appro-
priately decorated for the occasion and
the most beautiful and solemn rites OF the
order were carried out In full
Assisting Mr.. Simeral in the initiation
OF the candidates we're the following de-
gree officers; John Rush. T. ]. Mahoney,
william ]. Coad, J. c. Kennedy, c. J.
Smyth, Dr. d. w. Moriarty Or. c. f.
Crowley. all OF Omaha. The executive
board consisting Of j. e. o'Hern, T. p.
Redmond. j. II. Schmidt and I. j. Me
shane, also participated
Banquet in Evening.
At the close Of the initiation a banquet
was served in the Den. Bishop John H.
Then of the district OF lincoln was the
speaker of the evening Judge George F.
| Corcoran OF York was toastmaster.
Bishop Then. on the subject OF "our
Heritage; Our Beauest-" spoke at length
upon patriotism and the love OF country,
drawing his inspiration from the life Of
Columbus.
Such celebrations are not often held by
the Knights Of Columbus. as the bylaws
require that limitations into the patriotic
degree shall be held only on an impor-
tant holiday. such as Columbus day. the
Fourth Of July or some other day set
aside by state or national law as a legal
holiday.
italians Also Celebrate.
The Omaha Italian club also observed
Columbus day." a banquet being held
In Columbus hall. Twenty-second and
Pierce streets. Members Of the Italian
Benevolent association also attended.
The hall was decorated profusely with
Italian, Spanish and American flags, the
Spanish flags paying honor to Spain
| which lent assistance TO Columbus in his
search for financial support. The walls
were decorated with four pictures sent
from New York to the Italian club here.
One was a portrait of Columbus, 2
second depicted his landing at San Sal
} vador in 1892. and the third was a por-
trayal OF his reception by King Ferdi-
nand and Queen Isabella of Spain. The
fourth was a collection OF many scenes
showing incidents In the life Of the great
explorer
The banquet was in charge Of Samuel
Mancuso who acted as postmaster
Speeches were made and songs OF q
patriotic nature were sung.
Discovery Day Elsewhere. (
In fifteen states Thursday was cele
brated as the anniversary of the discov
cry of America by Christopher Columbus
p the state legislatures having made II 9
legal holiday. Nebraska is the only ono
OF the fifteen in which it is known a!
Columbus day, In the others It is calleC
Discovery day.
When the Discovery day measure wa
introduced in the legislature last winte'
: It was beaten. II then was taken L
Senator John r. Reagan, who changed
: the name to Columbus day on the theor!
that Mr.. Columbus should be honore,
personally, and introduced It In the sen
ate II was passed and later concurreC
In by the house.