Norwich bulletin., 1916-04-11

Frequent and enthusiastic outbursts
Of applause marked the progress of
the stereopticon lecture on America
which was given by Rev. William A
Keefe of Plainfield in the council
chamber of the Knights of Columbus,
Sunlight building, Monday evening.
Long before the hour announced for
the opening of the lecture the commo-
dfous council chamber was filled to ca
pacity with the members of the coun-
ell and their friends and the uSherS
were obliged to find accommodations
for late arrivals in the adjoining rooms.
The large attendance was a splendid
tribute to the fame of the lecturer,
who enjoys the reputation of being an
eloquent and forceful speaker and who
| is exceedingly popular in Norwich,
where he has been heard before, on
] different subjects. on several occasions.
| The lecture was both interesting and
| instructive, holding the attention Of the
| large audience from the opening to the
! closing sentence, and the many views
| which he showed served to acCentuate
| the efforts of the speaker in his en-
| deavor to impress upon his hearers
| that America holds first place among
the nations of the world in scenic
| beauties and natural advantages.
Two pictures that evoked enthusi-
astic applause were President Wilson.
| WHO tilG speaker OGSCTlDGu as one .Ol
| the greatest figures in American his
| tory, and Supreme Knight James a.
| IElaherty. the magnetic leader of the
| great order of the Knights of Column
| bus.
! There are not many men better
| qualified to discuss this subject than
Father Keefe. He has seen America
from coast to coast, is keen observer
| and has been a diligent student of
| American history for a number of
| years. As a member of the Connecti-
| cut delegation to the supreme assem-
bly, of the Knights of Columbus held
| in Seattle in August, 1915. he had an
| opportunity to visit about every state
| in the union and to meet and talk with
| the people among their home sur
roUndings and in that way he gath
| cred a fund Of knowledge of sectional
| customs and conditions not to be OBJ
| tanned in any other way.
| No one could listen to the stirring
| remarks of Father keefe as he briefly
reviewed the history of the country
from tne time of the landing of Column
bus through the several important
| eroches in its history up to the present
| time without being inspired with q
| greater respect for American institu-
tiGns and national progress and a
| larger ard more unselnsh love for the
fag under whose sheltering folds we
are privileged TO live and expand.
| Grand Knight Frank P. McNamara
/
| of the evening in a very pleasing man
| HeT. The exercises opened with a sole
| by Horace Corning entitled Thy Sen.
, tinel Am I, accompanied by Miss Eliza.
, beth Sullivan, and following the lecture
: Miss Sadie Driscoll rendered Carita
, accompanied by Mrs. Elizabeth G
: DANNY. and Joseph P. Sheridan sans
J The Daughter of Widow NaChree. &C.
. companied by Nicholas ]. Spellman
: All the musical numbers were wei
, received
Father Keefe said:
1t is a pleasure to discuss. in a spiri
of true American patriotism. hun
l bred views from historic, industrial
|, and scenic features of American
: | progress and prosperity and unlimited
y ! opportunity.
j. The very first scene is exceptional,
!: inspiring to us as Catholics, Knight
| of Columbus. depicting a it does tn
j heroic son of our church and patrol
Of our order on Oct. u. 1892. layin
| the very cornerstone of American civ
| iiZatiOn. with Catholic prayers, dedi
eating this great western world TO on
:, Holy Saviour, and making tho eros
It of Christ Americas first standard c
= prosperity. How can any fair mindo
k American reflect upon this scene an
n still believe that our church and on
" order ever can be a menace TO AmeTi
= can welfare?
Let US study again the story of tn
patriotism of Paul Revere. Israel Put
= nam, Captain Parker and the heToi
minutemen Who at Lexington, COncor
and Bunker Hill baptized our youn
republic with their blood, and mad
/ the names and labOrs of Jefferson
Hancock and Carroll and the othe
SiSners of the Declaration of Inde
pcndence at Philadelphia memora b
in the story of American liberty.
Who can visit the graves and monU
ments of Barry and Lafayette an
Pulaski and KosiusCkO without reali5
ing Americas debt of everlasting graf
tude to the noble sons of Ireland an
France and Poland, whose loyalty
the immortal Washington made pOss
BILE the victories of the RevOlUtionaI
war? The great city of WashingtC
is full of monuments to sons of oil
church who played a powerful part
the great drama of American progress
The bronze doors on the capitol dept
scenes from the life of the Cathol
iisCoverer, the monument TO Faith,
y Marquette erected in the Hall of Fan
by the great state of Wisconsin tel
OF the marvellous labors of the Gait
ole missionaries who were the pionee
of civilization of the great midd
west. \ monument to General SHE
in the Hall of Fame reminds us of Il
patriotism of this Catholic hero
two wars. the only man ever elect,
m to the United States senate from thr
states The gateway to the Nation
cemetery at Arlington is a mOnume
to Phil Sheriden. the dashing Gait
NJ Ole hero of the Civil war, and remin
us of the bravery of all the noble bo
in blue who rallied to the support
the union when Abraham Lincoln cal
n ASK FOR and GET
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