The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-02-16
KNIGHTS HONORED
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
Appropriate. Program Was
Carried Out Last Night
SPEECH BY 0'BRIEN
Father Hughes Added Testi-
mony To Rail SpIitter's'
\ Greatness

With short patriotic addresses, and
a program of music and dancing fol-
lowing a dinner served at $3.50
o'clock in Loyola hall last evening,
Mankato Knights of Columbus cele
| brated Lincoln's birthday in a fitting
manner. The hall had been decorat-
ed for the occasion with American
i flags and knight of Columbus col
!. ors, while a large framed picture OF
Lincoln held a center position on the
stage. The banquet tables were dec
GRATED with potted primroses. The
ladies of St Peter and ST. Pauls
Catholic parish received many com
pliments for the excellency of the
food, and the prompt manner in
which it wasNseryed. The meeting
was very largely attended. During
the serving of the banquet, and dur
ing the dance later in the evening
the Loyola orchestra furnished good
music.
Miss Agnes Thro, daughter of Mr.
artistically rendered a number, Of pi-
ano solos, which were greatly APP
preciated by all those present.
John Regain acted as toastmaster,
and introduced the speakers of the
evening.
Rev. John B. Theis, pastor OF st.
Peter and st. Paups Catholic parish,
was the first speaker. He said that
the gathering Of people reminded him
of the early days Of the Christian
era, when Christians gathered to-
gether and encouraged each other to
go out and fight the battle of life.
The speaker Said that I'VE of the
present day have our battle to fight.
One of these is the battle for true
education. This battle is either for
good, or against good; for truth, or
against truth. We are living in
somewhat evil times, and this battle
for the education of the children is
no easy task. In the face Of all this,
however, the speaker said, if we
have men and women who will not
sacrifice or minimize the principles
OF Christianity, but stand firm for
what God teaches, there need be no
fear of the onslaughts of hell"
Address BY Father Hughes.
The next speaker of the evening
was Rev. Father Robert Hughes,
pastor of st. Johns Catholic parish
in, this city. His speech % as fol-
lows: ,r.-
History, sacred and profane,
human race have not always been
the popular heroes OF their own
time Perils by land and by sea
make rough the reformer'S road.
Seldom do great men live TO enjoy
the fruit of their worth while work.
Jerusalem stoned the prophets whom
God appointed to carry the messages
of His will to His chosen children,
and to warn them of the impending
dangers which threatened their de-
struction unless they forsook their
wicked ways. We are constantly
brought face to face with the fact
that gratitude is posterity's peculiar
privilege.> To praise the good and to
give honor to whom honor is due is
a splendid virtue enriching both the
giyer and the receiver. So spontan-
eously and luxuriantly does this vir-
tue grow in the rich soil of a gener
Gus heart that only the mentally de-
fective have never felt it's impulse.
This celebration by the Catholic
Knights, in commemoration of the
birth of Abraham Lincoln, one of the
nations most distinguished bene-
factors, is magnificent TnanifestaA
ton of the spirit of patriotism when
the order has, at all times, so in
dustriously and successfully cultivat-
ed among its members. 1t Is more
over conclusive evidence Of the Cath
Ollie Knights, appreciation of great
and good man whose superior intel
lect could distinguish the difference
between liberty and license which
lesser minds so often confound. The
world, oppressed by false ideas of
what liberty really is, in its affliction,
cries out o Liberty what crimes
have been committed In thy name
License and liberty differ from each
other as night from day. Liberty is
freedom to do good-license exemp
ton from certain law. What a sup
CRITICAL idea of liberty he must have
who thinks it exempts him from all
law! AS if to freely go to a place
meant to keep away from the road
that leads to it. Passing from this
apparent difficulty, and emphatically
denying any real relation between
license and liberty, we come to a
consideration of the distinction be-
tween physical or natural liberty, and
moral liberty. Man, dependent for,
his very existence, and for the at
tainment of his final destiny upon q
power greater than his own, is
obliged, If he would obtain the good
he desires, to travel on the road that
leads to it, to fulfill his religious,
moral or civic duties and the finger
boards which point the way he
should go IL no infringement OF his
moral liberty, 1t is different, how
ever, with physical libertyx-that is
mans unconditioned and inalienable
right.
Christianity always taught ply
steal freedom lis the inherent right
Of humanity, without distinction of
creed or color. In the fullness of
time Lincoln, with a loftier, truer,
and more christian conception OF lib
erty than any of his predecessors,
put that fact into the constitution of
our beloved country, and won for
himself the admiration of every low
er of liberty, and the enduring graft
tude of every loyal American citi-
zen"
Address BY Judge o,srien
Judge Thomos D. O'Brien of st.
Paul brought the speaking OF the
evening to close by a. very elo-
quent and patriotic address. He said
that the celebration was held to eel
citrate the birthday Of Lincoln, the
man that all classes held as the
most typical American. Born of
humble parents. and in extreme
poverty, he had had hard struggle
to acquire an education. Here the
speaker told of the struggles Of Lin