Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1914-03-28
knights Have Respect For Re-
HgiOus Convictions of Their
Fellow Citizens.
Teach Patriotism and Love For
This Republic and It's
Institutions.
BEGINNING OF A GREAT WORK

SO much has been written and
read of laie concerning the bogus
Knights of Columbus oath, that the
following on "Columbianism Today
and Tomorrow" by Hon. John H.
Reddin. of Denver, will be of interest
to the masses of the people:
The history of the order to this
time is replete with constructive
work. The pioneers who blazed the
trail from New England across the
tortuous ways of the great South and
West-those who survive today
may find ample compensation for
the travail they endured in the
superb fruitfulness of their labors.
The present sees us we'll toward the
zenith. Tomorrow-what of it?
First taking up the order as a great
factor in our present day American
civilization, he continues:
Some good people, honest people
but dupes, nevertheless, of designing,
wicked and bigoted men-believe
that the Knights of Columbus have
grown up in a night to tear down the
great structure of American liberty
which we and our forbears helped to
erect. They are builders, these
Knights of Columbus-not wreck
ers-builders of haracter-builders
of ducation-builders of all those
things that make for honesty and
morality in public and private places.
They are not the outgrowth OF any
sudden spasm They have been a
third of a century in the forming.
They have been teaching their as
sociates charity and fraternity. They
teach patriotism-love for this re-
public and its institutions. They
have profound respect for the sincere
religious convictions of their fellow
citizens of whatever creed. They
practice those principles of morality
taught by Christ--the same prin-
ciples professed by their non-Catholic
| Christian neighbors-as promul-
| gated and defined by the Roman
| Catholic church. Not much danger
to society in that. Neither do we
believe there is danger to this repub-
lie from any denomination OF Chris
tians whatever. The peril lies in
godlessness and atheism, and the
immortality that follows in their
wake. These good people-Chris-
tians no doubt-might well work
with us for the good of our country
on the plans proposed by the knights
| of Columbus. The knights OF
| Columbus Is numerically the greatest
| Catholic fraternal society in the his
tory of Christendom-except perhaps
the ancient Guilds OF England,
France and Germany. They were
primarily Catholic, essentially fra
ternal and sought also social and
economic betterment. The Knights
of Columbus Is their legitimate sue
cessor. It's very numbers, combined
with the quality and intelligence OF
its membership, enable ID to make a
profound impression on the public
mind in any great movement for the
public good. It's power is great. III
used wisely society will benefit. II
left dormant the organization VIII
decay. If unwisely used our great
order will crumple and perish. Are
we at the pinnacle of achievement?
What of tomorrow? Just as surely
as the falling grains of sand in the
hour glass mark the extinction oil
time. Just so surely will the Knights
of Columbus dislntegrate as factor
of social value and Influence unless
It keeps doing things-big things
things worth while-things which
bring truth and knowledge and help
fulness an1 happiness to the whole
people of this republic.
Today we are in the beginnings OF
what believe to be the greatest
work of the century, line OF work
| haUnnd
membership. II has been likewise
easy TO bring this about-just a little
perseverance. Today we are sending
out valiant and well equipped men "a
fight the monster now stalking
across the country, which would de.
stroy religion, the home, the family
society and civil property rights
Socialism is the present day peril Of
America. II must be met with the
weapons of Catholic truth In the one
hand and education In the other
The Socialist Is aggressive. We Have
been quiescent too long. There are
other evils that menace our civil and
social life, but have not space te
discuss them here. They are rapid,
becoming problems. The burden oi
their right solution will rest upon the
Catholic church--all others seem ts
be at sea--and SO we will continue Il
send out our intelligent and capable
Catholic laymen until every citizen
Catholic and non-Catholic alike. II
every city and town and village ant
} hamlet in the country has hears
their voices.
All my experience confirms thil
truth-distrust and hatred of thu