The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-05-17
STATE CHAPLAIN'S ADDRESS

praiSeWOIthy in themselves, have lit
tie influence on those who treat al
religion with Indifference. The
Knights of Columbus have done ant
are continuing to do for the Church
what no individual energy could eve
hope to accomplish. Their patriotism
has won for Catholics the Nation:
admirations, and for the teachings O.
the Church to which they belong, the
Country's confidence.
At a time when this great Republic
basking in freedoms sunshine, Ell
| joyed a material prosperity, unprece
denied in the history of nations, grea
numbers from widely distant lands
differing from each other in language
and customs, flocked to our shores
This vast and discordant multitude
offered a fertile field for discussions
industriously propagated by an enemy
who envied Americas success anC
| feared her future power. To counter
act this evil FIR. McGiveny, the sainted
| founder of the knights of Columbus
! whose mission was to cultivate peace
on earth among men of good will
availing himself of the common tie OF
| unity of religion, instituted this order
of Catholic gentlemen. Like all great
and unselfish men, he builded better
| than he knew. Hardly could he have
! hoped that in SO short a time the
Order would have attained the well
merited international reputation ii
today enjoys.
The constitution of this Order most
intimately unites the hopes and ambi
tons of the Knights of Columbus with
the Church to which Christ promised
undying life. By this union is estab
lished the Solidarity which makes
whatever is beneficial to one, advan
tageous to the other.
We have not yet reached to panegy
ric period, nor do | hope we soon will
Guided by the wise cOunsels of the
| Church and protected by her broad
Aegis, we look with confidence to the
| future Praise for things we'll done is
always pleasing, but it is as danger.
Gus as it is pleasant often leaving
only the dead ashes of self-satisfac
| ton where ought to be found the fuel
to feed the fame that lights to future
fame. They profit most who make
past achievements a stimulus for new
and greater effort.
He lives not we'll who thinks he
| lived too late to do great things
| Never before did the world offer {
wider field for greater individual
and social activity. The repara ioT
Of the injury war has done to civili2a
ton requires much wisely directac
/ work We are pleased to see the care
Of the returning soldiers, to whom the
country owes so much and for whom
| it seems to do so little, invites your
| we'll their part. In peace they are
not content with doing less. Selfde
| termination, the popular slogan o
small nations, applied to a society
confers the freedom that aWakens il
| the Society worthy ambition, ant
makes each member feel his responsi
| bility. for the good of the Order, be
| cause he has a share in all its honOrs
| No worthy member fOrgets the Churcl
| is the vine and the Knights thu
| branch which cannot bear Christian
fruit unless it abide in the vine. TIL
knights shine by borrowed light; 81
also does the moon whose beams dis
pei nights darkness. She is, never
theless, sovereign in her own realm
from which she modestly retires wheI
the rays of the rising sun usher il
the glory of the day, to return agai
when nights shadows fall. Evidentl
the Knights of Columbus, if they ar
to accomplish the noble work TO
which they are instituted, must hav
freedom in their own sphere of actor
Order is heavens first law; or g
least the one men best know. By
is maintained the harmony of the I'm
verse. On the face of creation
written by the finger of God, in indel
which gives to every created thin
both great and small, within the lin
itations of it's nature, power to pursu
it's purpose and attain its end. "Wha
is written was written for our instru
ton" Blind are they who see not i
this lesson the Creators will. Unwis
are they who fail to understand thu
a society, instituted to work for tn
honor and glory of God and the benz
fit of man, to do its best work mus
enjoy the fullest freedom in it's ow
, sphere of action. To ask the knight
of Columbus to pool with other s.
cieties, good in themselves, but les
active in defense of religion and SUI
, port of the State, the assets they ha,
| accumulated in the thirty-five years
their existence, would not be fair
: the Knights, or advantageous to I'll
; Church Or the State. To you, fello
r Knight, my report is the message tt
prophet Isaias commissioned the ang
: to deliver, Tell the just man all
t well"