The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-07-17
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
To Look After Welfare of Soldiers on
Same Basis as Y. M. C. A.

the Official agency for looking after
the moral and social welfare of the
Catholic men of the army and navy
has placed upon the order a great re-
sponsibility. Not only every member
of the Knights of Columbus, but every
Catholic man and woman in the coun-
try should recognize this responsible
ity and do their share in assisting the
knights to look after the welfare of
our soldiers and sailors. The action
of the War Department in designing
the knights of Columbus as the
channel through which the moral and
social welfare of the soldiers and sail
ors will be looked after, has the hearty
endorsement of the three American
Cardinals and the entire hierarchy of
the Church in the United States.
The selection of the Knights of Co
lumbus as the official agency of Cath
olic service in the army and navy is a
direct result of the efficient work done
for the soldiers on the Mexican border
In selecting the Knights of Columbus
for the work the war department
places the great Catholic fraternal
order on the same basis as the Y. NJ.
c. A., which takes care of all the non
Catholic religious and social welfare
work in the army and navy The
Knights Of Columbus will work in CO.
operation with the official Catholic
chaplains and will also have to pay
the expenses of many other unofficial
chaplains. The Knights will have to
erect Catholic centers and suitable
places for the celebration of Mass in
each Of the sixteen cantonments to be
established in this country In these
Knights of Columbus centers all men
in the service will be made most
heartily welcome
This is the largest task ever under.
taken by the Knights OF Columbus,
and, as already said. the responsibility
Is very great No doubt the knights
will vindicate the confidence reposed
in them by the e~e5ral and Ecclesias
teal authorities The Knights of Co
lumbus will do their share, and every
other Catholic organization and every
Catholic person will see the need as
patriots and as Catholics OF assisting
in this work.
Though the Catholics constitute
about 20 per cent of the population of
the country their percentage of en-
listments in both branches of the SER
vice it is stated is more than 80 at
present and will exceed 40 per cent
when the new army will he assembled
in September AS u consequence
Catholics throughout the country feel
the grave responsibilities placed upon
them to safeguard the social and NOR
al welfare of their coreligionists. The
War Department has cheerfully ac
cepted the offer of the Knights of Co.
lumbus TO give all possible assistance
to their fellow Catholics the same as
the Y. NJ. c. A. will do for the non
Catholics These two organizations
performed excellent work on the Mexi-
can border, and the success of their
experiment there prompted the War
Department to allow the present ar
rangement, which means that the
Knights of Columbus will act as the
agent of all Catholic societies and the
Y. NJ. c. A. will direct the work of all
Protestant organizations.
The chairman of the War Depart
ments Commission on Training Camp
Activities, Raymond b. Fosdick has
addressed the following letter to SUI
preme knight James A. flaherty.--
June 21, 1917.
"At the meeting of the Commission
on Training Camp Activities held on
June 10, it was unanimously voted to
recommend to the Secretary of War
the acceptance of the generous prop
| ositiOn Of the Knights of Columbus of
June IS, in regard to the erection Of
buildings for social purposes in the
army training camps in the United
States. Secretary Baker yesterday
indicated his agreement with our res
olution, and understand that word
has already been sent to the officials
| Of your organization.
May ] take this opportunity to eX-
| press for the Commission on Training
Camp Activities our appreciation Of
this offer by your organization? Many
| Cf the training camps will contain
from 10000 to 10000 men, indeed, they
will be sizeable cities in themselves,
and the need for social and relaxation.
al facilities is going to tax the efforts
of all those of us who are interested
in providing a sane, well-rounded life
for the men In the camps. May | say,
too, that We welcome the strong posi-
tion which your organization has al
ways taken In regard TO the moral
hazards surrounding a Young mans
life and ! am confident that your in
tiuence in the camps will add much tC
their general tone.
I'VE shall be very glad to co
operate with you in every way pos
siblo, and We sincerely trust that sue
cess will follow your efforts to rails,
the money necessary to prosecute
| your work.
Very sincerely yours.
RAYMOND b. FOSDICK,
chairman"
| The Supreme Council Of the knights
of Columbus has inaugurated thi
work on generous scale At re
cent meeting of the council IL was de
cided to raise at once the sum o
| Sl,OO0,000 to carry on the work Thi
sum will be raised mainly within tn,
order. In letter addressed to tn,
various councils announcing the dc