The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-02-27
...,.n4 Haze 1osn Made by Chief
onfcers Of Organization OF
What They Want to
Accomplish
ENDORSED BY OFFICIALS
lads Of Army, Navy and Of the Ma
tlon Unite In Praising Orsaniza-
ton and Its Activity Among
Fighting Men.

statement of the knights OF Co.
umbus war work has been published
hr ,he supreme council in pamphlet
sor,n and is being distributed among
the councils in this country, to show
Inst what the work Of the organiza-
lion is in the camps. and environments
~ the nation. The X. Of G. war work
has the endorsement OF the secretary
n war, the secretary Of the navy,
president Wilson, and General John
! Pershing. Provost Marshal Gener-
Al Crowder has written the organiza-
tion to congratulate 1t on the state
ment that no exemptions will be
claimed for those connected with the
X, C. work.
"Everybody welcome is the slogan
Of the Knights What they aim to do
Il told in the following statement:
When our army was along the Mexi-
can border In 1916. we decided to
make an attempt to render some aid
although realizing that we were en-
tering an entirely new field OF work.
Immediately the demand became so
great, that almost before we knew it
we had established buildings and
recreation centers at some fifteen diff
ferent points, thereby furnishing the
enlisted men, regardless OF creed,
with recreationI though paying es-
rectal attention to the religious needs
of Catholics.
All this was done without any ap-
peal to the public for funds or any call
upon our members; the cost was en-
tirely betrayed out of the general ex-
pense fund of the Knights Of Colum-
bus and by dint of much economy in
many other directions.
Upon the return of the soldiers
from the southern border we closed
up our work to the satisfaction of the
war department and of the soldiers,
and supposed that we had finished
that line of endeavor. When, how
ever, on April 9Th, 1917, war was de-
clared upon the imperial government
of Germany by the congress Of the
United States of America, the call at
once came to us to again go into this
work We Immediately rendered our
services and the resources Of our or
der to the president. This offer was
gladly accepted and negotiations We're
at once entered into with Mr.. Ray
mond B. Fosdick, chairman Of the war
department commission on training
camp activities.
Three Million Dollars.
At that time and hardly realizing
the magnitude Of the project call
was made upon our members for a
million dollars. Two months had not
elapsed when at the annual meeting
Of our supreme council, it was un-
animously voted to raise this call to
three million dollars, and now a few
months later we find it necessary in
view OF the tremendous expansion of
the work and the pressing needs Of
the service, particularly overseas, that
more. Hereafter budget will be
furnished covering next year.
The response to our three million
dollar appeal has been magnificent.
Our members have contributed gen.
erously and without delay; our Cath
Ollie friends and non-Catholic neigh
bors while perhaps at first failing to
iully appreciate our purpose, are now
becoming aware Of its Importance and
extent. The secretary OF war IN
recent interview given to the press,
explaining to the people that our work
and status In the camps is similar to
mat OF the Y. M. C. A., and equally
important, has found its answer in
me general response OF all the people
of the country.
only beginning however, has
peen made and SO far as the Catholic
people and our nom Catholic friends
are concerned. we desire to explain
~ tnem our work and why we are APP.
peailng to their generosity. We will
at.empt in this pamphlet to set forth
o,leliy what we have been doing and
What We intended to do.
FIRST Of all, 1t must be distinctly I'm.
oerstood that In the buildings which
we nave erected and are maintaining
no fraternal, or secret. or business
"ork or our order or Of any other is
,pseimitted. Our buildings are open all
ne tlme for all the soldiers and are
sea only for recreational, social and
ren,slous purposes. The knights Of
n no.ulhous. as fraternal society. does
ho o, conduct a propaganda in its be-
ma w 10 sinply actlng as trustee
a 'h, agent in the administration OF
t this iund and under the direction of
'he government.
,h secondly, we want to make it plain,
i.at Whlle we are maintaining chap
III TINS Wherever needed in addition to
ha e regular military chaplains, our
nu Iiulngs are not used for religious
IT, IT, poses except for the regular serv-
ICES OF the church. All Of our build.
r nss pear the sign Everybody Wei.
don' and 1t is our purpose and en-
st;au 10 live up fully to that declar-
Inc rnlfo' the idea that we are compel.
s Ie WIN the Y. NJ. C. A. should be dis
wn.,, Id Neither in the spirit of the
tarta torn: nor IN the character of the en-
d, nr,i is there any opposition or
|Ctthl,cauon. We are trying to do for