Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1917-12-07
TALKS ON K. c. CAMPAIGN
GIVEN BY J. e. BARRY DE-
SORIBES CONDITIONS IN FRANCE
AND NEED FOR FUNDS

John E. Barry of st. Paul, past
state deputy Of the Knights OF Colum,
bus, addressed the local Knights of
Columbus at a special meeting at the
hall last night on the K. G. campaign
for funds to look after the social and
moral welfare of Catholic soldiers at
the front and in the army environments
in this country. The campaign is for
threo million dollars, which amount it
is quite certain will be oversubscribed: d:
Mr.. Barry explained why war fund
was created by this order, saying that
there was need for some national
Catholic lay body to take up this great
work and, the Knights of Columbus
being particularly fitted for it, hay
ing carried on the work at the Mexl,
can border, took it up. He pointed
out that the war department has des-
ignated this organization as the Of
6cial agency for aN Catholic activity
for the soldiers and sailors as the Y.
M. G. A. has been similarly designat-
ed for Protestant activity. He stated
that 40 per cent of the men in the
U. 8. army ere Catholics, and about
half of the men in the navy are Cath
olics. These facts, he said, we're given
to the government, and they asked to
be allowed to care for their own men.
The work Of the Knights Of Colum-
bus, he said, is the, same as that OF
the Y. NJ. G. A., and in some places
they work in cooperation. All SOL
liers, regardless of oreed, are welcome
at tho K. G. buildings.
Mr.. Barry described the terrible
conditions which exist in France and
pointed out the great need for work.
If We do not do something now, we
will have to pay for it later at an
enormous cost, he said. He told the
knights that the past three years OF
the war has resulted in conditions in
Trance getting entirely beyond con-
troll, all methods of regulation having
broken down. Thousands of men have
been sent back to their countries from
there before even having had a smell
Of powder, because Of venereal dis
ease. He appealed to his hearers for
their full cooperation and assistance
in behalf Of this cause Of saving men.
The Knights Of Columbus propose
to send about 200 Catholic priests
abroad to follow thu boys to the
trenches to minister to them at all
times. They propose to erect three
recreation buildings at each of the
sixteen army cantonments, at q cost
of about $4,000 for each cantonment,
To erect one large building at each
of tho cantonments at a cost of about
$4,000. To erect from twenty-five ia
thirty similar recreataion stations at
the regular army expansion camps, ma
val training stations, aviation stations
and camps Of other units Of the ser
vice. To provide places where all the
soldiers, regardless Of creed, may as
semble, and to furnish them with
wholesome. recreataion. To equip each
Auilding with an altar, etc., stage
for entertainments and ample faeili
ties for reading, writing, games, etc
To furnish each building with phon
ograph and records, piano and sheet
music and ample supply of stationery
q library, good books, literature, daily
papers, to furnish prayer books, etc.
for the Catholic soldiers and sailors
To furnish "Chaplains' Kits'' for tn,
voluteer Catholic priests who 60 abroa<
with tho troops. To provide cars t.
transport the priests at the front. II
maintain information bureaus il
france so that those at home may
hear from those in the service ant
through this organization transmit any
little gifts they may desire from TIM
to time.
Mr.. Barry is maxine a tour of tn,
state in the interest of the K. G. wa
fund. He states that the campaign il
progressing fine, responses beinl
splendid
Tho committee here expects to ge
busy and raise the balance of the quo
IA Of 81 900 for this county, and hope
that it will be oversubscribed.
Tim Dlnu nlnlnco nllnllrl