The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-10-06
K. OF c. WAR ACTIVITIES

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EIGHTEEN cENTERs ARE IN FULL
OPERATIoN-W WORK ON THE
OTHER BUILDINGS BEING RAP
IDLY PUSHED TO COMPLETION
NEED OF SUCH CENTERs FOR
THE FORCES IN EURoPE-HoPE
FOR MORE CATHOLIC CHAP
LAINs-ExAMPLE OF A PRAcTI.
CAL WORKING CAMP.
With eighteen buildings completed
at as many encampments and canton
ments, with secretaries at work even
in those places where buildinrS are
not finished, and with the knowledge
that other buildings are welt under
way, the Knights of Columbus Com
mittee on War Activities begins to
feel that it can see daylight. 1t has
been herculean task to engineer the
construction of these army recreation
centers and to overcome the obstacles
which have arisen from every side.
but Col. P. H. Callahan, chairman of
the committee, together with those
who are associated with him in the
work, realizes that it has all been we'll
worth while, and as proof of this cite
the splendid good that is being ac-
complished in those places where the
plan of providing for the social, re-
creational and religious welfare of the
soldiers has fully materialized.
One of the first buildings opened
and where the work is now in full
swing is Camp Devens, at Aver, Mass.
Here John E. Dunphy is the field
secretary, and Mr.. Dunphy is proving
himself to be just such man as the
committee had in mind when it formu-
lated it's ideal of what a secretary
should be. Another splendid aid at
this camp is the Rev. Thomas P. Nc
CHM, the post chaplain, who has left
the affairs of the large parish of
which he is pastor at Aver, Mass, in
the hands of a curate, that he might
devote his own time to Uncle, Sans
soldiers
Father McGinn has had an altar
erected Out-Of-doors at Camp Devens,
and here, when the weather permits,
Mass is celebrated. He reports that
10000 people, mostly soldiers, assist
ed at Mass here Sunday, September
%. The men, he says, are taking a
oroat intoroct in Tolioiop apd ,oapv 70
ceive Holy Communion every day.
Under the direction of Secretary
Dunphy an orchestra has been formed,
many applications have been received
from those who wish to organize a
glee club, and Father McGinn and Mr.
which will sing hymns during the
celebration of low Mass and will also
furnish the music at occasional High
Mass. Congregational singing will
also be encouraged.
Forms of Entertainment.
The writing room and the indoor
games. at the Knights of Columbus
building are also popular diversions
for the men, and at this Camp, as at
all the others, professional entertain
ments provided for by the Knights of
Columbus Committee will be staged
during the winter months. Athletics
are not being neglected and baseball,
football and basketball games are
promoted by Mr.. Dunphy. 1t is the
idea not to permit the organization
of teams which will create a rivalry
not appreciated by all the men, but to
confine the teams to representatives
Of the various military units.
While the American work is pro-
crossing in splendid shape, the Com
mittee is not forgetting the foreign
field in which it expects to be able to
accomplish great good not for the
American soldiers alone, but for all
those with whom Knights of Colum-
bus chaplains and secretaries may
come in contact. The Committee has
received cordial assurances from
prominent Catholics in England that
the work will be welcomed, and A. G..