The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-10-06
K. OF C. MAKES
LIFE OF MEN AT
CAMPS HAPPIER
With Fund of $1,000,0OO
: Catholic Society Does
Much Good Work

| The KNIGHTS Of Columbus, repre-
senting the Catholic people Of this
country, have been officially recog-
nized by the United States govern
nent and authorized by the War De-
apartment to build, equip and maintain
buildings at the army ercampments
and environments which are to be used
as social, recreational and religious
centers by the soldiers.
"A campaign was inaugurated dur
ing the month of July and in ten
days time a fund Of 81, 900, 600 was
raised as the nucleus of this work
This fund Is being continually IN
creased and Knights Of Columbus
buildings have already been installed
at 1S encampments and environments,
and others are rapidly nearing com
pletion. The good resulting from this
movement surpasses the expectations
Eof those who conceived the idea and
the most cordial cooperative spirit
exists between the Knights Of Column
bus and the Young Mems Christian
association, which also has govern
ment recognition as the representa-
tive of the non Catholic bodies.
| This work is entirely new to the
Knights of Columbus, their regular
work being in an entirely different
channel. The Catholic Church never
felt the need of an Organization sim
FLAIR to the Y. M. c. A. for the reason
that the social life Of our young men
is supplied through other organiza-'
lions and the average Catholic young
man needs no special organization
other than the church itself, to keep
him in close touch with religion. This
war work Is something entirely diff
Iferent, and the. burden of seeing it
through was shouldered by the
knights of Columbus when its need
twas felt on the Mexican border last
year.
i The knights of Columbus had the
Organization and were willing to give
j the time and attention necessary to
the furthering of a project Of this
kind. They were called into service
at the beginning of the present war,
partially because the Catholic heir
archy and the Catholic people recog-
nized their special fitness for the
work, and partially because the War
Department asked them to take it up,
as the War Deparemtnt had been par
! ticularly pleased with the way the
Knights of Columbus conducted their
recreation centers on the Mexican Dor
der.
4 The men who comprise the knights
! of Columbus Committee on War Ac-
tivities are big business men in their
own communities, and they represent
many different parts of the country.
The chairman is Col. P. H. Callahan,
of Louisville, KY, president of the
: Louisville Varnish company. These
: men are making great personal sac
rifces; they are serving without sal
any and each of them is doing about
three mems work. The committee
maintains headquarters at 100 Wood
ward building, Washington. D. c.
The chaplains and secretaries who
are in charge of the buildings at the
various camps are being paid salaries
: which merely cover the expenses OF
a. bare living, but like those serving
ON the general committee, they are
making every sacrifice that they may
serve God and Country. The running
expenses Of this work are being met
by the general treasury Of the knights
Of Columbus, the, fund itself, SO gen.
erously donated by the people, plus
that secured by levying general as
2 sessment on all members of the
Knights of Columbus, is being used
!. exclusively for the welfare of the sol
dters and for the erection and equip
ment of buildings.