The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-03-03
|IN0|ET AND Initiation
| # KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
Impressive Procession to
Church Precedes Initiation
Of Many Candidates
In Hall.

In Hall.
Although the public be damned
policy of the government operated
railroad, kept away about two hun
dred Burlington and Fort Madison
members who wanted to get to Keo-
kuk on time, the procession to church
Of the Knights of Columbus Sunday
was very impressive scene.
First was the big Keokuk Concert
band in full strength and playing its
best.
Next came the soldier members OF
the order here, commanded by Lieu
tenant J. Riley McManus and Lieu
tenant Louis A. Rovane. Their colors,
two fine flags, were carried by a sol
der. Raymond Dickey, and navy
sailor, Willard Geltz. with Arthur F.
Gordon and A. J. Herbner as color
guard.
These acted as escort for the mem
bers Of De LaSalle council X. c., two
hundred strong, marching in column
of tours in close order, and following
them came the sixty-one initiates
from Keokuk who were given the
second and third degrees in the after
noon.
The Procession to Church.
The procession in almost crowded
close order was over city block
long, and in the usual marching open
order would have extended for two
or three blocks.
1t marched up Main street from the
Hotel Iowa to ST. Peters church
where high mass was said by Very
Rev. James W. Gillespie. An elo-
quent and feeling sermon was deliv-
cred by Rev. Francis Phillips, as
sistant pastor, and the church was
crowded. The music was particularly
good.
In the beginning, at $3.50 o'clock,
an hour before the mass, meeting
was held at the hotel. of the
neophytes and officers of the De La
Sale council.
Better Late Than Never.
After the services at the church.
there was luncheon at the Hotel
Iowa, and by that time the many
members from Fort Madison and Bur-
lington had arrived.
Their train was due here at ls:O6
O'Clock, and 1t arrived shortly before
noon. In the old days when this
train was very late into Burlington,
another train was made up there to
bring down only the mail.
But yesterday, the railroad men
could not send a train down on the
time Of No 10, even to bring several
hundred passengers. So, the mem.
beers of the Fort Madison and Bur
lington councils coming to Keokuk TO
the tri-city initiation and celebration,
had to wait until the train sauntered
along.
The Impressive Degrees.
The first degrees had been given
10 the initiates by each council, and
all combined to confer the second
and third degrees here Sunday after
noon at the hall of De LaSalle coun'
(, Gil.
! The team of the Fort Madison
! council merited the hearty praise
given. them by all the other knights
4 of Columbus, for the perfect way N
which they did the ceremonies OF the
second degree.
/ James H. Devany is an impressive
orator. Of excellent voice and M
! mOdulat10n, WIFI d LlSh oShoS W -
dramatic. and he and his staff gave
the third degree in a manner tho;
made the ceremony extremely IN
!, pressiye.
There were fourteen Initiates froii
!, Burlington, twenty-four from Fu'
! Madison and ffty-nine of keokuN-
Many Visitors Here
! There were members OF the order
here from Galesburg, Warsaw
Quincy. Davenport, kahoka, ant
] other towns in this section.
/ Most of them went home on the
! early morning trains, those from tbs
. north leaving at 8 O'Clock this morn
ing. except number who stayed Al
j! night and went up early this foe
: noon.
ii After the session of the three coun
: ellis in the lodge room, the memteTs
!, visited together until time for th'
lbig banquet at 1880 o'clock in Wocd
man hall, prepared and served unds-
! the auspices of st. Mary's PARIS
with wonderful skill in both COOKER
: and service.
This lasted until after midniSA
and was a big success in every wa