Norwich bulletin., 1913-11-22

The Knights of Columbus hall in the Steiner building was filled to ca pacity Friday evening with members of White Cross council, Nos B. and their friends to hear a lecture entitled Catholic Ideals, by Rev W. A. Keefe of Plainfeld, state lecturer of the or der. This was one of the first meet ings which he has addressed since his appointment to the office.
 Prior to the lecture short business session of the council was held and at 7.45 the doors were opened to the public. The hall filled rapidly and when the meeting was called to order by Grand Knight Henry D. Buckley every seat was occupied
 In opening the meeting Grand members of the council on the inter est manifested and welcomed the wis itors to the meeting. He stated that one of the activities to which the Knights of Columbus was committed was the encouragement of lectures upon Catholic history. With the idea of removing a great deal of the mis- understanding which existed regarding the position of the Catholic church in the march of progress and civilization and it was in further ance of that work that Father Keefe had been invited to lecture in Norwich
 Musical Programme.
 A very interesting musical pro- gramme had been arranged in connec- tion with the lecture. Mrs Elizabeth G. Danihy gave some pleasing selec- tions on the piano and Miss Nellie J. Buckley was heard with great pleas ure in soprano solos. Her first song was Killarney and in response to con- tinual applause she sang The Creole Cradle Song. At thes close of the lee ture Miss Buckley was heard again, T.A79 a ful song The Rosary, and for an encore she sang the NoVargrain Love Song. Among those who occupied seats on the platform were Reyerends Myles P. Calvin, Thomas A. GrumbIy and Will liam H. Kennedy
 When Father Keefe came to speak he was given an ovation and at ire quent intervals during the progress of the lecture his eloquent periods were rewarded with outbursts of ap- pIause. He was eloquent, fOrceful, in Structive and convincing throughout, and held the close attention of his audience from start to finish. Among other things. Father Keefe said:
 As we all know the purpose of those good men who only few short years ago founded the order of the Knights of Columbus in New Haven was to or ganize a mighty army of crusaders Who like the knights of old, should, under the guidance of the church, car ry on the fight for the highest ideals of Christian manhood here in our own beloved United States of America. The marvellous growth and wonderful sue cess of our order in few short years has been almost miraculous. From it's birth in New Haven the order of the Knights of Columbus has rapidly pass ed through the stages of infancy and youth until today with more than 100000 of the very flower of Catholic A 0if in and territory of the United States and Canada, our great order stands out strong in all the healfh and Vigor of early manhood, among the most pow erful champions and defenders of Cath olic ideals
 In the Drama of Human Progress.
 We are so often told that the ideals of our church and our order are menace to progress that it is well for us to investigate in a spirit of fairness and goodwill the part which Catholic ideals have played in the great drama of human progress during the twenty centuries of the Christian era. When Christ commissioned His apostles to teach all nations and to convert them to His standards of life, imperial Rome with her pagan ideals of law and education ruled the world, Absolute human slavery was all admitted funda
  was despised, and education of the young was entrusted entirely to pagan slaves who naturally catered to the whims and fancies of their masters and developed generations of WorshtPpers of pagan gods and pagan vices, The dignity of woman was not recognized and the rights of the weak and infirm were absolutely ignored.
 Taught Human Rights.
 Inspiring the proud Roman ruler and the most humble slave to love one another" as children of the same heavenly father and brothers of the same Christ the Christian ideals preached by Peter and Paul and the great armies of Christian missionaries taught both ruler and subject the glori- 0us doctrine of human rights for all classes. Binding all men together in their mutual adoration of The Son of the Carpenter, directing their thoughts and words 9nd actions under one spir- tual head by the same precepts and filling their souls~With the spiritual life If the same sacraments. the Christian deal destroyed the pagan system of slavery, taught the dignity of labor and blazed the way to civil liberty and progress.
 Respect for Womanknd.
 Honoring in a special manner the 0uTlty ana Q1Snlly ana nlalSFndI 4ON C 1f Christ's mother, men and nations nave been led to honor and respect the tights and dignity of all womankind. Realizing that even the little children are to be heirs of the kingdom of heaven, and that an everlasting reward awaits the love and care of Christs poor and afflicted converts to the Christian ideal have during the cen .uries been inspired to spend them selves for the education of the young md the care of the needy. Sending put her missionaries everywhere, the church. checked the fierce barbarian 1 lordes, corrected their morals, formed hem into guilds and nations, inspired hem with a love of the Prince of Peace and laid the very foundation of Christian civilization and progress. For he accomplishment of this tremendous work the great Catholic cloisters were erected everywhere. From these great raining schools skilled champions of he Christian ideal went forth to con- vert the nations. Into these cloisters sons and daughters of the church. 1 lrawn from every class. went to con- secrate their lives and zeal to the ad- of the glory of God and peace among men.