Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-08-08
ORDER PLEDGES
TOSUJPPORT WAR
RELIEF PLANS
enights of Columbus Go on
Record in Plan to Aid
Government

New York, Aug. s.-The knights
of Columbus convention held at the
Waldorf-Astoria, Tuesday and We'd
nesday of this week with delegates
from all parts of the United States
its colonies and Canada present,
adopted the following measures:
Endorsed the plan of raising a
S5O.O00,000 war work fund for the
current year. The drive" for this
fund will begin the first week in
January.
Approved the sending of at least
1000 secretaries overseas by Janu-
airy /.
Approved the adoption of the
knights of Columbus slogan
Everybody Welcome - Everything
Free, For the Men Here and Over
seas"
Approved the policy of knights of
Columbus following the flag and con-
Quoting war relief work wherever
United States soldiers or sailors may
be sent.
Pledge Aid to Government
The dominating feature of the con-
vention, designated victory conven-
ton, was war relief work. Every
resource of the order was unreserv-
cdly pledged to aid the government.
1t was disclosed by reports submit
ted to the convention that already
Knights of Columbus war relief work
was of gigantic scope, but plans were
approved and directions issued pro-
viding for extension and expansion
of the work until it shall reach every
camp here and abroad where the
M n, &c ttnfttrIaH
already accomplished assumes stu
pendous proportions but greater ef-
forts are yet to come.
In camps and cantonments in this
country, in France. England, Italy
and in neutral countries, K. of c.
activities have been the medium
through which the religious and ply
sical welfare of millions of soldiers
has been affected.
K. of c.. chaplains are everywhere.
K. of c. secretaries by the score are
going overseas every week to rein
force a big staff already there en-
gagged in their patriotic. philanthro-
pic tasks. Thousands of letters from
soldiers here and abroad testify to
the splendid work being done by
these Representatives of the K. of Z.
Cheer Reports of Work
AS reports of officers directing this
war relief work were read at the
convention, unfolding the history OF
a great work accomplished in behalf
of the American soldier, delegates,
notables of the Catholic church and
laymen spectators were thrilled un-
til they could not refrain from cheer
ing again and again. 1t was an in
spring spectacle when the conven-
ton, representing the largest of all
Catholic fraternal organizations de-
dicated ln5w the full strength of the
order to assisting the government
and caring for the welfare of our
soldiers and sailors. Supported by
the full power of the Catholic church
the Knights of Columbus are writing
a bright page in this wars history
"a tale of deeds on colossal scale,
and actuated by patriotism and reli-
gion
Supreme knight James A.
Flaherty, of Philadelphia, after de-
claring the convention In session ad-
dressed the delegates. He review
cd the work of the order during the
past year, dwelt especially on its
activities in war relief work and re-
,erred to even greater accomplish
ments contemplated.
Big Membership Increase
Supreme Secretary William ]. Nc
Plhisy submitted report DrlStllng
with facts rejecting the orders
magnitude and prosperity. An in
teresting fact disclosed in his re-
port Is the splendid growth of the
order during the past year, notwith-
standing the war, the gross increase
of membership being 47,508. Death
benefits paid during the year end
ing June 80 amounted to $1,026,-
1861. Since the order was found
ed insurance was disbursed in the
sum of S10,9S4,051.7S. The orders
assets. exclusive of war and special
funds, are over eight and a half mill
lions. This is an increase of more
than million dollars over the pre-
ceding year. The total insurance in
force is $136.721,s21.33.