Norwich bulletin., 1914-01-31

remedies they propose are morally | wrong and economically futile.
 The lecture field has been one sadly neglected by our Catholic people. The number of known Catholic lecturers in this country hardly averages one to every 10,oo0,000 of the population, while there are thousands of towns in the country which provide for a series of one or more lectures during the sea son usually under the auspices of some religious body or association other caused by the lack of capable Catholic men.
 So it was that with these ideas be- fore them, the fourth degree of the Knights of Columbus about year ago evolved plan to occupy this neglect ed field. It was rather crude in its beginnings, but 1t met with hearty ap probation not only from church au- thorities, but from the thinking and serious minded men of the order.
 Letters were sent out to all the masters of the fourth degree in the United States and Canada, and an eff fort made to find available men, com petent and willing to take the public platform The result was gratifying. More than fifty men offered their services. Some of them were clergy
 
 all brilliant and able speakers. This plan left the Nirection of the movement to each master in his respective dis trict. There were fffty-six of these, and consequently there were fifty-six heads to the movement. The thing lacked a central and directing author ity The expense was a considerable item, and was a deterrent to many fourth degree assemblies of small membership. Besides this, the ex- pense was unevenly borne. There was no way of equalizing 1t. Some sec :, tions of the country did splendid work and accomplished fruitful results I Other sections did nothing. An appeal was made to the multi millionaire | Catholic men of the country to estab- | fish a foundation, with a controlling body similar to MT Rockefeller's Gen | eral Education Board. the income to be used to pay the expense of these ' lectures. It was seen that these lec- | lures must be free to all the people l in order to be successful. In these l days of cheap literature, Sunday news papers moving pictures and theatrical | entertainments. the public does not patronize lectures where an admission fee is charged. This appeal brought | no exhuberant responses, no practical | results Perhaps these wealthy gen. | tlenen, engrossed with the care of l business had no time to give to the matter. Perhaps they looked on the | whole scheme as impractical. the dream of the enthusiast. Perhaps as unsentimental men of finance, they 1 were right. The next step in the pro l cess met with decided encourage ment. It was suggested that one | thousand members of the order be asked to subscribe one hundred dol l lars each as an endowment fund for lecture purposes, to be under the di- rect control of the governing auther- ty in the order. Many offers came as a result of this suggestion. ReaIiz- ing. however, that it might take some years to complete this endowment, and that the income would be wholly in- sI ffieient to accomplish u work of this
 ma agnitude oR the scale proposed, the whole matter was put up to the Stu
 PFefRe Convention of the order, which
 was held in Besten last August. Fhis
 body uHReserVedly approved the
 movement and ordered it te be put
 iate effect, II is new assuming con
 crete shape, It is in the hands of the
 board of directors, and preliminary and perhaps definite plans will se adopted in January, 1914. The ex- Pense will be berne by the whole order Doubtless the first steps will be con
 serSatiTe, as is the policy of tht
 ereeg, but 1 hePe te see the time whef
 we will have at least half a d6zeT , hFilhaat nan sHeakiBg year in sas