The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-01-15
BICOTRY BANNED
AT K. OF C. WAR
WORK GATHERING
More Than $13, 600 Is Raised
at Dinner at Stratfeld
Last Night

As a token of great confidence in
themselves and the people of Bridge
port, The Knights of Columbus held
their celebration dinner last night at
The Stratfield hotel, instead of wait
ing for the termination of their great
drive to collect $4,000 for their War
Fund. They did not even wait until
today to start the ball rolling, but
headed by Field Marshal John T.
ling, who personally contributed ST.
700, the sum of $13,350 was contrib
uted before the close Of the dinner,
and $4,000 of that sum was from per-
sons who were not Roman Catho-
hes.
Among the big surprises which
were sprung upon the 800 guests
who sat down to the very excellent
banquet, was first of all, cheque
from the Y. M. c. A for $500, and
another cheque from the Blue Lodge
of the Free and Accepted Masons.
The, keynote OF the splendid1y
planned affair was the entire aboli-
ton of religious bigotry IN the one
grand cause Of furthering the cause
Of humanity and extending a helping
hand to our soldiers whether they be
Protestant, Roman Catholic, Jew or
Gentle. The Fund is being raised
SO that our soldiers may have the
smallest amount of the ordinary COM
surrounded by wholesome influences
while they are absent.
Many of the speakers warned the
big audience against 100 much free
ing of Ireland from this side of the
Atlantic and made their addresses
with the fixed purpose of reminding
all those present that there must be
nothing but united support of this
country's allies, OF else be looked
upon as traitors. Apropos of the fore
going Field Marshal John T. King
said: IF Ireland must fight Eng
land, for Gods sake let them do it
after the Hun has been beaten. The
immediate job IN hand is the winning
| of the war and no one with a spark
| of true Americanism would allow any
religious bigotry or political preju-
dice to interfere with his 100 per cent.
| per cent. support of this country and
her allies"
A rousing patriotic address was
made by Supreme Court Justice
George w Wheeler, who was given a
prolonged ovation and three rousing
cheers.
put your heart in your hand and
your hand in your pocket was the
keynote of Rev. P J. Mckinney,
National Chaplain of the order, and
a brother of the founder of the
Knights of Columbus. In the closing
part of his very able address the Reg.
Father said I'VE are fighting this war
so that Democracy may be bounded
by the Aurora Borealis in the North,
the Equinoxis in the South, by the
present day in the East and by
Eternity in the West
Owing to the fact that His Honor,
Mayor Clifford B. Wilson, had another
engagement he was compelled to leave
early after making a rousing speech
of encouragement and expressing his
thanks and appreciation for the fact
that he had been made honorary
chairman.
W. Seymour Lacy, secretary Of the
Y. M. G. A, was greeted with big en-
thusiaSm when he arose to tell the
assembled Knights of his experience
as a fund raiser and was listened to
with. deep interest as he spoke of the
successes and failures He wished the
Knights the best of luck and hoped
that the Y. M. c. A and the K of c.
would continue to cooperate as at
present
Attorney J. f. Crosby of Hartford
and Supreme Director William ]. Null
1io-an made stirring addresses while
the speeches made by William P. Kirk
Lynn W. Wilson and Joshua MeltzeI
were received with big acclaim.
The toastmaSter was ex-Supremt
GGand knight John J. Phelan and he
did not allow a dull minute to occur
for the three hundred men and women
4 assembled in the ballroom during the
three hours the program ran