The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1920-05-22
DUTY OF THE KNIGHTS

of free will merit, or demerit is duty.
In every intelligent mind free will and
duty are inseparably connected. You
cannot express the one without imply
ing the other. The tree whose allur-
ing fruit, to Adam, was forbidden, God
planted in the center of the Garden
He prepared for mans abode. He
commanded Adam not to touch the
fruit; but he left him free even to
eat it.
Without freedom Adams act could
not be more than Indifferent, merit
ing neither praise or blame. His
disobedience was blameworthy solely
because without diminutiOn of his
freedom he might have obeyed.
Enlightened Christianity sees more
in the story of paradise Lost" than
an arbitrary command on the part OF
God, and unreasonable disObedience
on the part of Adam. The tree of
knowledge of good and evil which
grew in the garden of Eden was both
a symbol and a substantial reality,
the moral limit God set to mans SOW
ereignty. Forbidden to touch it's fruit
Adam was not forbidden to look upon
it. Trust in God was all that was re-
CURED to make him see in it a splen-
did occasion offered him, to prove by
his obedience to the command he re-
ceived the sincerity Of his love for
God.
It's purpose was to mark the bOun-
Diary between created and uncreated
power, to teach man that though he
was lord and master of earth, and
king Of visible creation, he was, never
theless, the subject of God.
The Knights of Columbus is not
mutual admiration society, and fiat
tering words from me were uniting
praise. No man lights lantern to
show his neighbor the risen sun, its
own rays proclaim the fact.
Worthy knights by deeds, not
words, proclaim their worth. The or
der has survived its adolescence, and
reached its manhood responsibility.
With faith in its strength, hope in its
future, and charity for its WatchwOrd
it is a recognized power in the Church
and state.
After the signing of the armistice
the Knights of Columbus might, not
without hOnOrs, have retired from &C
tive duty; but the vitality of the order
! forbade inactiOn. Cessation of war
| offered them a field for new and great
err work, the reparation of the devas-
| tation war had made. UnaWed by the
| magnitude of the task, Systematically
| and industriously they labor, encour-
| aged by the achievements of the past,
| they see the possibility Of success,
I and gladly lend their assistance for
the accomplishment of this worthy
work Faithful children of the Cath
Ollie Church, since no others are adj
mitted to the rank of the order, and
| loyal citizens of their country natur-
ally they expect, from both Church
and state, freedom of action, and en-
! enlargement of their efforts. The
| knights must not be surprised or
blndly led into forgetfulness of their
allegiance. though hindrance is found,
where least expected. Even the child
of prediction is not always praised
ard petted by the fondest parents.
Without taking from her children
their freedom, it is the privilege of
the Church to ask proof of their devO-
ton, and the state is not always will
ing and ready to reward its best citi-
| Zens.
Gold and silver are tried in the
fire; but acceptable men in the fur
mace of humiliation" Obstacles over
come is glory won. If the Knights Of
Columbus are to maintain their repu-
tation, and win undying fame how
great soever their freedom, they can
never allow interest to dim the splen-
dor of duty. In the crown Of the
saved the priceless pearl that out
shines every other jewel is the reward
of disinterested devotion, the eternal
standard by which one day all serv-
ice shall be measured.