Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 February 1916 — COLUMBUS CLUB HELD ANNUAL BANQUET [ARTICLE]

COLUMBUS CLUB HELD ANNUAL BANQUET

Knights Had Ninety-Two at Fourth Annual Affair—Number of Eligibles Were Guests This Year. The Knights of Columbus of Rensselaer, which make up the membership, of the local Columbus Club, held their fourth annual banquet Tuesday night at the parochial school hall, ninety-two covers being laid. The Knights had as guests of honor this year, a number of eligible men for membership, of Rensselaer and surrounding community. Eight members from Kentland were present. Also twenty Knights and their ladies from Lafayette. After invocation by Father Daniels, the Christian Mothers Society served a four-eourse dinner. The songs and toasts followed. The first number was a song by T. J. Connelly, Grand Knight, of Lafayette council. He sang “A Little Bit of Heaven,” and was called back for several encores. Rev. Ernst, of Lafayette, then gave a talk upon the true ideals of Knighthood, which greatly all present. Frank Meyer, formerly of this place, -then told the local members about the great work the order was accomipilshing in the state of Illinois. He also pleased the crowd by telling several witty stories and jokes. Mr. Meyer is ex-grand knight of Danville, 111., and also district deputy of that section of the state. Miss Ruth Wood then sang several songs in he* usual pleasing manner and responded to a number of encores. Father Wagner, D. D. of St. Joseph College, then spoke on “The Knights of Columbus and Education,” and told of the perpetual scholarships which the Knights had established in the Catholic University of Washington, of the high intellectual standard of this class of Knights who were only eligible after completing a sixteenyear course of education and then compelled to pass rigid examinations before being admitted. Hon. Lawrence D. Carey, of Monticello, then told of the activity of the Knights in trying to aid their respective communities in all civic movements and doing all in their power to promote better feeling, with their fellow men. "The Soul of a Violin,” a reading by Mrs. Harvey Messman, held the audience spellbound, Mrs. Messman delivering it with her usual great ability. • E. P. Honan acted as toastmaster and the banquet this year was under the direction of John Ramp, now president of the club. The Wood orchestra played while the dinner was being served. Their music was excellent and greatly enjoyed by all. The state convention of the K. of C. will be held some time in May, and many of the local Knights intend to be present, as the first three degrees will be exemplified at this time and several large classes will receive the degrees.