Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-08-01

| gree. I'VE have half a million men in
this country. And they are high-mind-
! ed men-men who are united in pur-
| pose and action. Such body of men
| with relative power feel their respon-
sibility and duty
| Mr. Reddin spoke on Our Work"
He stated that the lodge was founded
upon correct moral standard and
therefore will always stand for the
| good of the republic.
! IF, in our ritual, there had been
! instructions to vote for only knight
| of Columbus, our order would have
! died long ago." said Mr.. Reddin. But
! such is not the case. We vote for z
| good man"
Mr. Reddin asserted that the fourth
| degree was primarily a patriotic in
! stitution. He paid high tribute to the
American flag, exclaiming I'VE would
| fight for it,
| E. NJ. Sharon of Davenport talked
i on Welcome" Mr.. Sharon compli-
mented Bishop Davis for his preced-
| ing talk. He reviewed part of the
| history Of the order and stated that
he felt proud to state that the Knights
| of Columbus had made such wonder
/ full progress during the last few
| years.
| II feel honored to extend words Of
! Welcome to the Knights of Column
bus said Mr.. Sharon.
No Mexican Intervention.
f. G. Dunn of Mason City, in addi-
ton to Supreme Director William p
Larkin, touched upon Preparedness"
but asserted that while he came of a
fighting race that had shed its blood
on almost every battlefield in Europe
and America, he would refuse to pro-
tect the dollars of unpatriotic Ameri
cans who invest their money in Mex
leo rather than at home.
The degree work in the afternoon
was conferred upon a class of 260
candidates at the Grand opera house.
/ The team consisted of Judge M ].
Wade of Iowa City, Monsignor F1avin
of Des Moines; Frank O'Connor of
New Hampton, Iowa, and e. NJ. Shar
on, NJ. F. Donegan, W. ]. Mccullough
and A E Carroll of Davenport.
Convention Opens.
The supreme convention proper
opened at o'clock this morning with
solemn pontifical mass at Sacred
Heart cathedral, with Most Rev. John
Bonzano, apostolic delegate, as cele-
brant. The sermon was delivered by
His Grace Most Rev. ]. j. Keane, arch
bishop of Dubuque. The mass was
sung by the noted knights of Column
bus Choral club of St. Louis.
The initial business session was
held at II o'clock at the Columbia
theatre Addresses of welcome were
made by George w. Clarke, governor
of Iowa; M F. Donegan, Davenport,
grand knight; ]. ]. Meyers. Carroll,
Iowa, state deputy; Rev. John T.
Noonan, Des Moines. state chaplain:
Mayor John Berwald; j. Reed Lane,
president Davenport Commercial club,
and l. c. Norwood, secretary Greater
Davenport committee. Response was
given by Supreme knight James A.
Flaherty.
Past Year Busy One.
Following luncheon for the del
egates at the Grand opera house, the
business sessions were resumed at 2
o'clock The report of the secretary
shows a membership on June 80, of
368, 1875, New York leading, with I'LL
nois, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania,
Ohio and Iowa following in the order
named This total is an increase of
21,517 over the preceding year.
The report shows assets for the
order totalling nearly 81 900, 900, which
is an increase of more than $500 900.
Total collections during the year just
ending were S2,119,433, and death ben
efits paid out were 1858, 4O6. Total in
surance in force was given as $123,-
600 900 Forty-two new councils were
instituted during the year and 2,340
members died