The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-07-20
and the halls of cheer.

pitality and the halls of cheer.
The Order proposes, moreover, that
the edifice now in process of con-
struction shall be useful to the COM
munity as an Academy of the arts
and sciences. A library will be col
lected and properly managed. Music
will be taught Popular lectures will
be given. Instruction will be furnished
in schools conducted in both day time
and night time; affording at low
price, the benefit of learning to those
who cannot otherwise gain such pre-
cious benefit.
This building will contain an au-
ditorium, capacious and well-appointed,
which will be at the service of the
public for all forms of legitimate and
decent entertainment.
Athletic Department.
In this age, public sentiment has
reached, most happily, the conclusion
upon which the ancient Greeks rested
their system of instruction.; that the
body as we'll as the mind requires
proper training because the mind
will not travel far nor work we'll if
not supported in it's efforts by sound
physical mechanism. Therefore, the
men and women of advanced thought
favor athletic exercises and public
opinion demands training places and
training facilities; that is, gym
nasiums. This building has been
planned to contain a model gym
nasium equipped with the most ap-
proved and widely varied apparatus.
It will contain running-tracks, basket
ball courts and racquet courts, bowl
ing alleys, shower baths and large
swimming pool. A corps of compe-
tent instructors in boxing, fencing,
swimming and other athletic accomp-
lishments will be in attendance and
every provision will be made for
progressive yet careful and judicious
development of bodily strength, skill
and gracefulness. All of these facili-
ties will be offered to the public,
young and old, without distinction as
to rank or wealth, nationality or
creed, and at a moderate cost. No
wish to secure material gain enters
into the purposes and intent of the
Knights of Columbus. They desire
this building to serve the public in
the largest sense and in that sense
to be a public benefaction. At the
same time, the sense of loyalty to all
enterprises undertaken by our CO.
religionists as we'll as desire to
safeguard, prudently, the spiritual
welfare of the young ought to have a
tendency to recommend, in an espe-
cial manner, to our Catholic people
the ACCESSIBILITY of giving their
preference in choosing for their chill
dren place of physical training to
the gymnasium and recreation facili-
ties of Columbus Hall.
These are the reasons which jus.
tify our undertaking and the charac.
teristics which define it's scope and
the value of the projected and now
rapidly rising structure. Are they
not worthy? Are they not commend
able?
In addition to the encouragement
lent by the presence and aid of our
Most Reverend Archbishop, of Right
Reverend John J. Lawler and other
representatives of the clergy and by
your presence, fellow-citizens, we
hope to have the cooperation and
good will of all Catholics! Nay, more
of all the people of this city.
Dedicated to the Service of Humanity
AS l have stated, this building is
to be another monument to Chris
TOPPER Columbus. All Americans
honor his memory. All Americans
approve the widening and deepening
of the channels wherein course the
currents Of altruism. The common
good is the ideal toward the consum
nation whereof all efforts ought tt
be directed. This edifice is to be
dedicated to the benefit of humanit,
and will stand in all it's beauty anG
dignity as an offering placed by {
Catholic Order in the midst of this
our earthly dwelling-place, with the
belief that it thus rests upon an altar
upon which Heaven looks with benign
favor. For unless we make this eartl
an altar Whereon to place our bes
gifts and devote them to the service
of the Almighty and His children, lif.
is not worth living and no eterna
hope spreads its radiance over ou
pathway. 1t is better to make tn,
name of Columbus an inspiration TO-
good works than to adorn his status
with garlands and to sound hi
praises in song and studied eulogy
When this edifice shall have beel
completed and the Stars and Stripe
float above it's roof, our hope is tina
it will not only be an ornament t,
this city, a memorial of a hero, an,
an evidence of Catholic zeal, but tina
it will be accepted as a testimonial
to the living force of the principle
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