Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-16
CAPITAL MAN GIVEN
HIGH PAPAL HONOR.
William r. Montavon Re-
ceives Knighthood for Serv.
ices in Mexican Crisis.

Knighthood in the Older Of st.
Gregory the Great was conferred yes
terday by direction of Pope Plus XXI
upon William F. Montavon, 1902
Varnum street northwest, director OF
the legal department OF the National
Catholic Welfare Conference.
The ceremony took place in the home
of the apostolic delegate to the United
States, 1911 Biltmore street, where the
delegate. Most Rev. Pietro F'umasoni-
Biondi, conferred the high honor on be-
half of the Pope in the presence of
distinguished company of Catholic prel-
ates and laymen.
While the papal brief, read by Rev.
DR.. John j. Burke. general secretary of
the Catholic Welfare Conference, did
not specifically mention the acts for
which the knignthood was conferred,
it was explained that the brief referred
to the activities CT Mr.. Montavon in the
negotiations leading to settlement of
MeXico's religious question. -
Lauded for Service.
The papal brief declared that the
recognition was accorded to the recipi-
ent as man outstanding in your active
devotion to the cause of religion" and for
rendering with unfailing zeal valuable
services to the church and in particular
to the apostolic delegation"
Archbishop Fumasoni- Biondi in con-
ferring the order on behalf of the pope
referred to Mr.. Montavon as Catholic
layman devoted to the faith. devoted to
your country. of good judgment and al
ways ready to serve"
Messages of congratulation were re-
ceived from Archbishop Ruiz Flores,
apostolic delegate to Mexico. and Arch
bishop PaScual Diaz, primate OF Mexico
They referred to the work of the Wash
ington man in the recent negotiations
for settlement of the religious question.
The papal brief was signed by Pope
Plus
Native of Ohio. -
Mr.. Montavon was born in Ohio, near
Portsmouth: graduated in 1893 from the
University of Notre Dame and took
three years of postgraduate work at
the Catholic University in this city. He
was designated by the American Gov
eminent as a teacher in the Philippine
Islands and while there rose to the
position of superintendent of schools OF
the Province of Cayabas. He was ap-
pointed commercial attache at Lima,
Peru, and while there acted as Secre-
tary of the International Board on
Enemy Trading. He later became afnli-
ated with an oil company and was in
Strumental in clearing up titles to oil
lands in Peru and Colombia through
International arbitration. Returning to
Washington in 1925, Mr.. Montavon be-
came associated with the National
Catholic Welfare Conference.
The ceremonies yesterday were at
tended by a distinguished gathering
including Very Rev George Sauvate,
procurator general of the Fathers Of the
Holy Cross, with headquarters at Rome;
Right Rev. John M. Mcnamara. auXil-
iarv bishop of Baltimore; Right Rev.
James H. Ryan. rector of Catholic
University Right Rev. George Dough-
ertv of Catholic University: Right Rev.
Patrick c. Gavan. rector OF the Shrine
of the Sacred Heart; Rev. Richard s.
Cartwright, c. S. p, of St. Paul's Col
lege: Rev. Karl J. Alter, director Of
the National Catholic School Of Social
Service; Very Rev. Francis Mcbride,
c. S. c. Holly Cross College, and Rev
Thomas v. Moore, o. S. B. The entire
staff of the National Catholic Welfare
Conference was present, and prominent
laymen included Admiral and Mrs. Will
liam S. Benson, Mr.. and Mrs. J. Leo
Kolb, Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Haltigan.
DR.. and Mrs. Charles P. Neill, Mr.. and
Mrs. Hugh Mitchell.