The Irish standard., 1919-04-12
knights Of Columbus News
HISTORY OF THE WORK

HISTORY OF THE WORK
OF THE K. OF CTS
(By w. v. Scully, Knights of Column
bus Secretary
The writer having devoted some
eighteen months to social welfare
work, as knights of Columbus Secre.
tary, at home and abroad, offers this
narrative hoping that the same may
afford the Catholic world and all who
generously subscribed toward making
this work success, some information
and pleasure.
Long before President Wilson is.
sued his call to arms the Vermont
State Council, Knights of Columbus,
convened at Burlington, Vermont, or
ganized and formed committee to
consider and devise ways and means
to make possible the erection and
maintenance of suitable knights of
Columbus headquarters at Fort Ethan
Allen, Vermont.
After several meetings and an ap-
peal to the Grand knights of the
State, the necessary financial assis-
lance was realized and today amid
the snow-clad hills of the old Green
Mountain State, stands what may be
considered the first Knights of Column
bus Building. It was dedicated July
4, 1917, amid the most impressive, re-
ligious, military and social environ
ments. Secretaries were placed in
charge, and many pleasing entertain
ments were continually provided for
the pleasure of the men who were
stationed in the camp.
When It became necessary for the
secretaries in charge to return to their
Irrespective homes the writer assumed
charge as secretary, from August 31st
until November 18th, when it became
necessary for him to leave in re.
Spouse to call from the National War
Activities Committee located in Wash
Chairman at Washington he was as
signed to Camp Shelby near Hatties-
burg, Miss. There we're some 10000.
soldiers located in this camp, COM
posed mostly of West Virginians, Ken.
tuckians and Hoosiers.
Among the Chaplains who were as.
ISOLATED with the writer in this camp
were Rev. Father Bernier of St. Ed
munds, Winooski Park, Winooski, Yer
mont; Rev. Father M. O'Reilly, Regi-
mental Chaplain of the old 18th Caval-
ry and now known as the 10th F. A.;
Father O'Reilly is Professor Of Dog.
matte Theology and History of Civili.
cation at the Catholic University,
Washington; Rev. Dudley Tierney,
Regimental Chaplain of the old 10Th
Cavalry, now known as the 18th F.
A., associated with the missionary
Band; Rev. Father McGinn, famous
socialogist from Notre Dame Univer.
sity, Notre Dame, Indiana; Rev. Geo.
Finnegan from the same University,
who was associated with the Mission.
airy Band, and Rev. Edward Finnegan,
Project of Studies, same University;
Rev. Father Hanley of the Cleveland
Ohio, diocese, Rev. Father Schellinger
of Cheyenne, Wyo.; Rev. Father Sla
ven, S. j., New Orleans, La. Most
of these Chaplains are now associated
with the work in France and all OF
them have received distinction for ex
cellent services rendered.
The writer sailed for overseas activ
tiles early in April last year, arriving
in France when the organization was
very small and but tell secretaries who
had previously sailed were endeavor
ing to conduct the work of the knight,
of Columbus abroad. n
The writer was sent to Chaumont
the headquarters of the American Elk
peditionary Forces. Having complet
ed my duties at this post l returned