The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-09-02

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follows:
The best reward for any effort is
the feeling that the work we have
done is in some measure understood,
and in some measure appreciated by
at least few persons. The Knights
of Columbus are powerful and help
full factors in working out the great
problems of life. They are efficient
forces in pointing out the true way
to the greatest good and the easiest
way from the greatest harm.
Man is made or removed by his
surroundings. He is mentally, NOR
ally, and physically impressed, if
not altogether shaped, by them.
The life of every man has it's pur-
pose and consequent duties. Not a
plant that springs from the earth,
but performs some part in the de-
sign of creation; and since the rule
applies to the most insignificant
items in the Divine plan, what rea-
son or excuse can man have to evade
the universal responsibility?
The life of the humblest blade of
grass growing on the hillside is
nobler in comparison than the man
who passes his time to no purpose.
To live here on Earth as God in
tends each one of us to live, is to be
an active force in the worlds des-
tiny, and whether one be a great or
an humble factor in what his time
accomplishes, a factor he must be to
fulfill the purpose of his creation.
He only truly lives whose life
means something accomplished, and
something in course of accomplish
ment. The Knights of Columbus
have accomplished much in the past,
and with Gods help will accomplish
more in the future.
On Sunday night at Milwaukee,
Aug. 10, at mass meeting in con-
nection with the National convention
of the Catholic Federation, Cardinal
Gibbons delivered a powerful address
that "Laymen must be more active"
In speaking of the many forceful
agencies zealously engaged in better
ing the condition of mankind, the
Cardinal paid this fitting compliment
to the Knights of Columbus: And
if l may single out one society with
out prejudice to the merits of others,
l will name in particular manner
that splendid organization, the
knights of Columbus. They are our
| Joy and our crown. They are the
glory /of Jerusalem. They are the
| joy of Israel. They are the honor of
our people. Wherever calumny raises
it's foul head, they are ever ready,
| like true knights, to smite the enc
my. Wherever an appeal is made
in the cause of religion or charity,
they are always foremost in lending
helping hand"
The brightest page of American
history contains three illustrious and
immortal figures, a Catholic Queen,
a Catholic Sailor and Catholic
Monk, typifying Faith, Hope and
Charity.
The greatest event in modern
times was the discovery of America,
and since then the greatest historic
event was the American Revolution,
which made possible individual liber-
ty and popular government on this
continent.
Liberty is Gods greatest gift to
man, Christian liberty is freedom to
do good for the love of God and the
love of man. Civil liberty, religious
freedom and the education of our
people make the life-blood of this
great and grand and prosperous re-
public.
The Stars and Stripes are the elo-
quent emblaZonment of human lib
erty. The brave Colonists flung
down the rule of King George the
Third, and set up the rule of the peo-
pie; )the signers of the immortal
Declaration of Independence pledged
their lives, their fortunes and their
sacred honor to Americas Magma
Charta, the charter of our liberties
which proclaimed to all the world
that all men are created equal; thai
all have a right to life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness; that hu
man governments are not for kings
and princes, but for the welfare o.
, the people. The history of America
J clearly and emphatically proves tina
we Catholics have no apology tt
make for being here. We ask fol
no special privilege-we simply wan
and with Gods help, shall accep
nothing less than equal rights will
our non-Catholic neighbors. We dt
not ask for political office of trus
! or honor because we are Catholics
but because we are American citi
zens, and we should not have vote
cast against us because we are Cath
= olics.
, we love GOD; we love our fellow
4 man, we love our church, we Low,
/ our holy religion, and if you wan
to know why we love these, listen t,
Que of the greatest minds and states
, men of the nineteenth century, tn
( Right Honorable William E. Glad
{ stone, who has said: THE Catholi
: church has marched for fifteen hun
v dred years at the head of civilization
: and has harnessed to her chariot a
r the horses of triumphal car, tn
i chief intellectual and material force
/ of the world; her art, the art of tn
s world; her genius, the genius of tn
world; her greatness, her glory, he
r grandeur and majesty, have been al
h most, though not absolutely, all tha
z in these respects the world has t
c boast of. Her children are NOR
r numerous than all the children o
v the sects combined; she is every da