Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1914-04-18
Order Has Completed Forty
Years of Service to Church
and Country.
Louisville Communicates Will
Be Entered I'm Prize Drill
Contest
INCULCATES PUREST PATRIOTISM

Cincinnati commanderleS OF the
Knights of st. John, says the Cath
olic Telegraph, are making elaborate
preparations for the thirty-first an
nual and fifth biennial convention
of the Supreme Lodge of the order,
which is to be held in that city June
21 to 25 inclusive. More than
$4,000 visitors are expected in the
city for the meeting, including men,
bers of the order, their wives and
friends. 1t is expected that this will
be one of the greatest demonstrations
this patriotic order of the church has
ever made of its strength and in
huence. The convention will be held
at the Hotel Sinton, and the head
quarters of the Supreme officers
will be located there. With this
convention the order of the knights
of ST. John will have completed forty
years of service to the country and
the church in the United States. 1t
now has a membership through
every State and Territory, including
Canada and British West Indies.
The first convention was held in
Baltimore in 1879, when the Roman
Catholic Union of the Knights of st.
John was permanently organized in
America. Cardinal Gibbons was the
first Spiritual Advisor. The organi-
cation was founded in the year 104S,
when some Catholic merchants of the
city of Amalfi, in the kingdom of
Naples, built in Jerusalem house of
refuge for the pilgrims to the Holy
Land. These merchants were trading
in the East, and were impressed with
the necessity for such an institution.
Later they added a church and hos
pital in honor of st. John the Baptist.
This was the inspiration for the or
ganization of the order, which has
since grown to such influence. The
object of the order, as defined by
these Catholic merchants, was to take
care of the sick and defend Christians
in the Holy Land against the opprvss-
sion of the infidel Turks. The mag
nlficence of their faith and their
work has placed them among the
great men of the church.
The Knights of St. John stands for
all that is good in general uplift
work. In this respect it hews close
to the lines laid down by the late
lllustrious Pontiff, Leo XIII. 1t fos-
ters fraternity among its members,
lnculcates sympathy and charity in
their hearts, alleviates misfortune,
promotes a more general respect for
the church, teaches a purer and
broader patriotism, and exerts
wholesome influence in general upon
existing social conditions. Above all,
1t engenders thoroughly practical
Catholic spirit among its member
ship, which is a beneficial spiritual
Ieaven in the community at large.
The steady, healthy growth of the
organization bespeaks its sterling
worth and influence. The order is
held in the highest esteem by those
who appreciate the true worth OF
practical Catholicity in American
citizenship, as well as by the prelates
of the church.
The military quality Of the order
is a prominent feature Of the associa-
ton. The advantages to be gained
from military training are many. II
exerts a particularly beneficial In
huence upon our young men. 1t in
eulcates obedience to authority,
which, as everyone knows, is the
very foundation of discipline in So
ciety. It begets self-respect, conf
dence and courage, so necessary in
the development of true manhood.
II inspires patriotism Of the highest
order, because, while 1t keeps before
it's members the primal, twin idea
of God and country, 1t trains the In
dividual in the uniform of a soldier,
drills him in the tactics of actual
service, and fits him, should occasion
arise, to defend the flag of his coun-
try against the assaults of an enemy.
The subordinate Communicates OF
the order we're the first to appreciate
the benefits of a ladies' auxiliary,
and having thus foreseen the bene-
Ats that would eventually come from
such an afiliation, they were quick
to avail themselves OF the opportu-
nifty offered. The establishment OF
these auxiliaries has been great
benefit to the ladies connected there
with. 1t has enabled them to care
for their sick and needy sisters. who
perchance might be bereft OF the
care of loving parent. These aux
lliaries have been great help to
the subordinate Communicates In a
social as we'll as financial way.
Louisville has seven strong COM
manderies, OF which at least four