The Irish standard., 1918-01-05
CAMP DODGE
Celebrates

Camp Dodge, Iowa, Dec. 80, 1917
The dominant note throughout last
week was Christmas. Nor has the Gel
ebration yet ended. Whatever disap-
pointment was experienced in not be-
Ing with the loved ones at home dur
Ing the festive season was counter
acted by the many celebrations, reli-
gious as we'll as social, which brought
good cheer to the boys in khaki
Through the initiative of the agency
working in the name of the Knights
OF Columbus, aided and allotted by Mr.
John i. Griffith, local representative of
the Red Cross, a general celebration
was held on Christmas eve in thirteen
different buildings in the camp.
The three Knights of Columbus
buildings were especially decorated
for the occasion. Outside of each
large Christmas tree was Illuminated
wi,h variesated lights. Decorations
peculiar to the Christmas season in
terspersed with Old Glory made the
interiors very attractive. At the main
building about $500 attended the spe-
cial program at the close of which
gifts were distributed to each and all.
The program under the craftsmanship
OF the Post-Chaplain consisted of songs
by Miss Anna Houston and Miss Marie
Gibson, both of Des Moines, talks by
Rep. j. B. Weaver, Director of the
Red Cross, and Mr.. Trowbridge of the
| Y. nj. G. A. At the other buildings
similar programs were held and gifts
likewise distributed. The feature of
the weeks celebration was the cele-
bration of the midnight Masses.
Thanks to the courtesy of the COM
handing officer, General Getty, the pr-
Vllege was made a general order and
directed to every man in the camp.
At the main building Solemn High
Mass was celebrated by the Rev. G. ].
| Higgins, Chaplain of the 349th Infan-
try, assisted by the Rev. w. j. Keane,
Chaplain Of the 42nd Infantry as dea-
con, and Mr.. Richard Connolly, Jesuit
Scholastic, as sUb-dcacOn. Private .lo-
| seph sScanlon Of Des AIoincs acted us
| master OF ceremonies, and had under
his command Private James King,
Thomas Cooney, John Lynch, and John
| Dusgan, all in the uniform of Uncle
Sam. The choir, also composed of SOL
der boys, rendered Leonard's Mass in
b flat, and gave a beautiful selection
of the Adeste. The sermon was de-
livered by the Post Chaplain, who had
as his text, GLORY to God i'm the high
est and on earth peace to men of good
WILL
| The services were most inspiring
| and will be remembered for many
day by those present. General Getty
expressed himself as highly impressed,
especially by the large concourse that
.received Holy Communion. At build
ing No. 2, which was taxed to it's full
capacity, Father Chuse of the 357th In
fantry celebrated midnight Mass, and
also delivered an appropriate sermon.
In all fifteen Masses were celebrated
| on the feast of Christmas and about
one thousand received Holy Commun-
ion. One of the Masses was said at
the Base Hospital, affording an excel
lent opportunity for the sick and con-
! "a!ceccrt to attend the Holy Sacrifice
This courtesy was due to Major Coop
Ter, who is in command at the Hospi-
tai, and who has further granted us
the privilege of celebrating Mass each
| Sunday hereafter at the Hospital. This
is a boon that we much appreciate as
the results that will accrue are ines
Unable
Christmas day open house was OBJ
served at all three buildings. A lib
eral supply OF candy nuts, fruit, etc.,
was Oh hand, the boys helping them
selves gratuitously Our Christmas Gel
ebration was gratifying success. To
each and all who contributed in any
way we return our heartfelt thanks
1t is impossible to give individual
mention to those who helped to make
our Christmas tree the success it was.
However, we deem it worthy to ac-
knowledge the following Donations:
A. O. H., Des Moines, $500; l.. A.,
A. 0. H., Emmetsburg, $500; Ladies'
Aid, St. Mary's Church, Des Moines,
$1,000; Mary e. Miley, Des Moines,
$1,000; children Of St. Patrick's school,
Melrose, Iowa, $3.50; Mrs. w. F.
Schultes, Lansing, Iowa, $500; Susie
A. Carrigan, Fairfield, Iowa, $500.
The local councils of the Knights of
Columbus, Des Moines, Iowa, voted at
the last meeting to make up the deficit
in providing for the Christmas enter.
tainpment at the Camp. We are GER
tainly grateful for this unlimited gen.
crosby.
At last our fondest hopes for moving
| Dicture eUuipment in our buildings have
been realized. The Fourth Degree X.
of c. of Iowa. under the generalship of
Mr.. Lee Dougherty, of Davenport, the
popular and energetic Master of the
Fourth, have come to the rescue. They
have planned not only to install the
machines, but to allow sufficient for
reel service for six months. At the
end of that period We hope the War
Committee will have perfected arrange