The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-06-12
IRISH KNIGHTS OF CO.
LUMBUS.


fact that d movement is on foot
in Ireland to signalize the thir-
teenth centenary of st. Column
banus, the great Irish Saint who
evangelical Northern Italy and
Switzerland, by the organization
Of a new society Of Catholic lay
men to be known as the Knights
of Columbanus. According to
the plans of those who are behind
the movement, the new society will
be patterned, i'll general way at
least, after the Knights Of Column
bus Of this country and will offer
to it's members special opportuni-
ties to participate III the apostle
late Of the laity which is destined
to accomplish SO much for the well
fare of religion and the extension
of Christ S kingdom on earth.
In referring to this new move
ment in Ireland "The Fortnightly
Review, /" in it's current issue,
states that "the Knights Of Co
lumbus have long been trying to
obtain a foothold in Ireland, but
unsuccessfully, because the Irish
hierarchy and clergy would not
corntenance a secret society" AS
a matter Of fact, the Knights OF
Columbus have never expressed
the slightest wish to establish
themselves i'll that country and
have never made the least effort
to obtain Il foothold in Ireland. .
And hence, that the knights OF
Columbus are not now established
in Ireland is not due to any oppo-
sition on the part of "the Irish
hierarchy aud clergy" because
they have never been asked to per-
nit even single Council Of the
order to be organized i'll that
country.
It is absurd to say that the Irish
hierarchy and clergy were OPP
posed to the establishment Of the
knights of Columbus in Ireland
because they would not counter
ance a secret society" They have
never been asked to say whether
the Knights of Columbus was d
secret society or not.
Some years ago an invitation
signed by a number of prominent
Catholic laymen of Dublin was
laid before the Supreme Council
of the Knights of Columbus in this
country asking the extension of
the Order to Ireland and the es-
Enlistment of the charter coun-
Gil in Dublin. The Supreme Off
GERS unanimously decided not to
accept the invitation. About the
same time a similar invitation
came from Catholic laymen in
Christiania, Norway, and the
Board, likewise, declined to grant
their request for the establishment
of the Knights of Columbus in
that city. These two incidents show
the position which the Supreme
Officers have always taken in re-
gard to the extension of the Order
to foreign countries. They have
consistently discouraged efforts of
this kind and for what they con-
slider all-suflicient reasons. 1t
may be well to add that when His
Eminence Cardinal Logue of Ar
magh visited New York some
years ago he was SO pleased with
the reception given him by the
Knights of Columbus that he ex-
pressed the hope that some day an
organization of Catholic laymen,
similar in character. would be es-
tablished i'll his beloved country.
And it is quite probable that If
the Knights of Columbus were
anxious to organize councils In
Ireland they would receive very
warm welcome from His Emf
nence.
We are in position to know
whereof we write, and the state
ments herein made cannot be
lcalled in question nv any ono IA
miliar with the facts. No attempt