Evening journal., 1919-02-26

ms IS an ADDRESS delivered by Mr.
Jarkln at the twenty-nrst annual ban
Iuet Of the Irish-American Historical
Society al the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel
New York, on January Z. In it IN,
overseas director OF the orders wa
activities concisely and effectively sum-
gp the part played by the Knights o.
columbus in the great world war. The
spirit that animated the order and IN,
results that crowned its effogts. Hi:
eloquent presentation won the heart,
plaudits OF the assemblage, as did also
his splendid tribute 10 the Irish he
roes, who, in this as in other greai
wars, offered and in many cases. gave
their lives in defence Of freedom.
] appreciate beyond expression the
opportunity that has been afforded me
to come before this emininently repre-
sentative assemblage II only for a brief
moment to say a word concerning the
war work Of the X. Of c.
At first blush 10 M ght appear "a Il
the subject were not particularly ger
mane to the purposes Of this banquet
and that there was not a very close
anlliation between the disciples Of the
Genoese Mariner and the Sons OF the
0Rel-whO have their own st. Brendan
--elthough even then the war work Of
ne knights considered solely as a pa
Fiotic American organization would be
a fitting theme for discussion at this
board; but when it Is remembered that
among the original incorporators of
the X. OF G. were a McGivney. Lawlor.
O'Connor, DriscOll, Mullen, Kerrigan.
Colwell, Geary, Carroll, Healy and Cur
ran, and that on its present day roster
Of supreme officers are a Flahertv. Car
mody, Reddin, Mckinley, Callahan
Dwyer, Monaghan, McG-aw, Hart. Nc
Givney, Martin, Fox, Mulligan. and Lar
kin not to mention the "nghtingest
lrishman OF them all-Pelletier, the dis
trict attorney OF Boston. who gets his
name from his father and his nature
from his mother-it VIII be readily an
parent that the K. Of c. have a much
closer affinity TO this society than
mere step-children.
Our First War Work.
When the army was at the Mexican
border owing 10 innumerable requests
that came to us from various sources
we erected buildings at fifteen points,
providing little creature comforts so
Tar as our resources would permit
for all expenses were betrayed from
cur own treasury-but above all sup
plying a central headquarters where
Catholic boys and Protestant boys and
Jewish boys-American boys, regard
less Of their religious affiliations
might come together for social and rec
reational purposes; and where, too. the
boys, suddenly Withdrawn from the re-
lning influences Of home environment
might feel that they were not entirely
unbefriended.
When, therefore. the military autoc-
racy that ran amuck in Europe, and be-
came the common enemy Of civiliza-
ton directed its piraacal energies
against our peace loving people, and
we were left with no other alternative
than to take up arms to prevent the
despoiler and vindicate our national
honor, or submit to degradation and
slavery; and when the President and
Congress Of these United States had
made the only choice that free men
could make. and we were drawn into
the maelstrom across the Atlantic, It
seemed obvious and logical that we
could undertake no bigger, worthier or
more patriotic project than to con-
tinue the work we inaugurated at the
Mexican border, but on q much more
extended scale.
Our plan was indeed a pretentious
one, and yet it might be summarized
in the single thought that we wished
TO make life a little brighter for the
boys here and across the sea; and to
send along with them, where the army
supply was inadequate. a chaplain, to
comfort and guide. and console. when
wars grim night was upon them.
And so we set about this labor Of
love. and il you win indulge me for
/ shall try TO visualize for
you some Of our most salient activities,
by a few figures and excerpts from
letters, rather than by any attempt at
realizing that no trick OF
speech can tell so eloquently Of the X
Of C. contribution in the great world
struggle:
\. OF c. Work in America TO Jan. I, 1919. |
Number Of buildings ....... 320
Cost Of buildings .............S2,I 1923 /
Number Of secretaries ...... 692
Number OF chaplains .......... 100 /
Cost Of equipment
Pianos ...s..s..sssssssssssss cD,UOO !
NlclrOlas ..................s. 5O,OOO |
Moving picture machines o.. 225,0O0 |