The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-08-13

ARCHBISHOP HANNA IN THANK:
ING DELEGATES GETS OVATION
FUNDS FOR ITALY-NEW AM
ERlcAN HISTORY - SCHOOLS S
FOR FORMER SERVICE MEN,
HOSPITAL WORK FOR DIS
ABLED.
Eight hundred thousand officers and
members of the Knights of Columbus
have been pledged by the Orders
thirty annual convention, which
closed August in San Francisco, to
cooperate so far as possible with
all the good works of the National
Catholic Welfare Council"
In respect to the program of activ-
tiles adopted and the growth and in
fiuence to which the reports of the
Orders officers testified to the con-
vention, it was the most notable gath
ering in it's history. 1t was announced
that $2,500,000 of the fund subscribed
for the Orders welfare work in the
war and reconstruction and not yet
expended, would be devoted to great
scheme of disqualification in behalf
of sick and disabled former soldiers.
100000 for Italian Welfare.
Subscriptions of a total of 81 ,000,-
900 with which to inaugurate and con-
duct welfare work in Italy were au-
thorized by the convention. This
money will be gathered from the
members of the Order. The activities
in Italy, it was explained, will be
undertaken at the request of Pope
Benedict. Supreme Advocate Joseph
c. Pelletier, in an interview, stated
the purpose of the fund as follows:
ut is our aim to go to Italy and
introduce American welfare work, to
repay Italy in part the debt laid upon
America when Columbus, the great
Italian, found this western world and
made it possible for Christendom to
extend it's sphere
The American History.
The names of several historians and
authors who will be engaged to write
a correct and impartial history of
America, under the auspices of the
Order, were made public at the con-
vefltfon by Supreme Knight Flaherty.
They were those of Maurice Francis
Egan, former United States Minister
of Union College; Charles S. McCar-
thy, professor of American History at
the Catholic University: and Admiral
w. S. Benson former chief of opera
tions of the United States Navy during
the war.
The commission which will be in
charge of the preparation Of this his
tory of America will have for its
chairman, Edward F. McSweeney of
Boston. A fund of 81 900, 900 has been
appropriated by the Knights for the
work of writing the history.
Campaign of Education.
To present the true story of Amer
lea to the people of the country, Su
preme Master John H. Reddin of Don
yer declared, campaign of popular
education will be started by the Order
IF need be, we will flood every town
in the country with pamphlets that
tell the true tale of Americas great
origin and Americas greatness
stripped of all manner of European OF
Asiatic coloring," said Mr. Reddin.
1t was decided by the convention
that the educational facilities provided
by the Order, particularly for former
soldiers, sailors and marines, will be
continued The 500 colleges and uni
versity courses and the 1872 Knight!
of Columbus night vocational schools
for veterans and civilians will bt
financed and operated during tn,
forthcoming year.
Endorsement of the Boy Scout move
ment in the United States and
pledge to support it wherever it ha
been approved by the Archbishops ant
Bishops for Catholic boys were vote,
by the convention.
To Publish Oath.
To counteract the campaign of hos
tility against the Knights in which
spurious 'toath" ascribed to the men
bers of the Fourth Degree Assembl
is widely circulated, the conventio
authorized the publication of the az
tual obligation taken by members G
the Order This was the second tim
the Knights have sanctioned the pull
fishing of their oath, which bind
them to patriotic service in behalf {
the United States and to faithfl
observance of their religious duties
Although expressing doubt as to tn
efficacy of censorship of plays an
motion pictures, the delegates hel
that the public should adopt som
safeguards against indecency on tn
stage and the screen.
Most Rev. Archbishop Hanna,
one of the first sessions of the col
vention, addressed the delegates
the evil of divorce. declaring that "tf
laxities of certain American divort
laws. is a national shame
"The tendency is to treat diyort
as national idiosyncracy, when
reality it is national menace, Il
Grace said.
10000 Delegates Attend.
There were nearly 10000 delegate
and visitors at the convention, w1it
was made the occasion for gre
civic demonstration in which publ
officials and the representatives
various fraternal organizations too