AND THE THIRD ANGEL FOLLOWED THEM, SAYING WITH A LOUD VOICE, IF ANY MAN WORSHIP THE BEAST AND HIS IMAGE, AND RECEIVE HIS MARK IN HIS FOREHEAD, OR IN HIS HAND.
*** REVELATION 14:9
Pope Leo XIV meets with Supreme Knight Patrick E. Kelly of the Knights of Columbus Oct. 6, 2025, during an audience with a Knights delegation at the Vatican. On Aug. 25, 2026, Pope Leo appointed Kelly as a member of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
(OSV News) — Pope Leo XIV on Aug. 25 appointed the Knights of Columbus’ Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly as a member of the Vatican Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life.
Kelly has served as the supreme Knight and CEO of the world’s largest Catholic fraternal service organization since 2021. The Knights of Columbus have 2.1 million members throughout the world.
“I am deeply grateful to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV for appointing me as a member of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life,” Kelly said following the Vatican’s announcement.
“Since our founding by Blessed Michael McGivney in 1882, the Knights of Columbus has been dedicated to strengthening Catholic laymen in the faith, to supporting Catholic family life and to building up a culture of life,” he added. “I look forward to supporting this vital work of the Catholic Church.”
As a member of the Vatican dicastery, Kelly will contribute to the dicastery’s mission of enhancing the apostolate of the lay faithful, the pastoral care of young people and the mission of the family according to God’s plan. The dicastery is also dedicated to the promotion and protection of life and the dignity of the elderly.
About 2 dozen serve as members of dicastery
About two dozen people, including cardinals, married lay couples and scholars from around the world, currently serve as members of the laity dicastery. Kelly will join fellow American members Helen Alvaré, lecturer at the George Mason University School of Law, and Cardinal Robert W. McElroy of Washington. The role does not require members to move to Rome.
Pope Francis established the dicastery in 2016, combining the responsibilities of the Pontifical Council for the Laity and the Pontifical Council for the Family. Cardinal Kevin J. Farrell, the former bishop of Dallas, has served as the prefect of the dicastery since its founding.
The Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life plays a key role in organizing World Youth Day, the next which is scheduled to take place in Seoul, South Korea, Aug. 3-8, 2027. The dicastery also organizes the World Meeting of Families and the annual World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly.
Denver, Colo., May 15, 2019 / 05:12 pm (CNA).- A funny, selfless, and kind kid who loved tinkering with his car, goofing around with his friends, and above all, serving others, whether at Knights of Columbus pancake breakfasts or in robotics class - this was the Kendrick Castillo that friends and family gathered to remember at a celebration of his life on May 15 at Cherry Hills Community Church.
“Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat, but if it dies, it produces much fruit,” Fr. Javier Nieva, pastor of St. Mary’s in Littleton, Colo., said at the ecumenical celebration. The quote, from Jesus, is in the Gospel of John.
“We celebrate fruits today,” Nieva said. “Not death (but the) fruits of his life.”
Kendrick laid down his life for others not only “in the moment of dying, but in his love for his family, his passion for service, his love for the truth” and helping others, Nieva said.
Kendrick Castillo, 18, gave his life to protect his friends when he jumped into the line of fire to stop a school shooter on May 7, according to witnesses. Castillo was the only casualty in the shooting at STEM high school in Highlands Ranch, Colo.; eight other students were injured in the incident.
On a sunny Wednesday afternoon in May, friends and family packed Cherry Hills Community Church to remember a funny and kind friend, parishioner and son who was always smiling and helping others. On display at the church were some things representative of Kendrick’s hobbies and passions: a kayak, a red blazer he wore while ushering at Notre Dame parish, robotics and engineering paraphernalia.
Former teachers and friends from school took to the stage one by one to share a favorite memory of Kendrick, to extol his virtues and thank his parents.
Joseph Nguyen, a family friend of the Castillos and a member of the Catholic charitable group the Knights of Columbus, presented Kendrick’s parents, John and Maria Castillo, with a plaque that honored Kendrick as a full member of the Knights.
“Kendrick is forever a brother within the Knights of Columbus,” Nguyen said, presenting a plaque that came from members throughout the country and the world.
War, persecution, and ruin. This was the reality of life in Karamles, an Iraqi town home to Christians and other religious minorities that was ravaged by the genocidal campaign of ISIS that began in 2014.
On Dec. 7, a Mass was held in Karamles as people returned to the town thanks to the efforts and donations made by the 1.9 million members of Knights of Columbus.
In 2016, the Knights committed to raising $2 million to rebuild Karamles and partnered with the Archdiocese of Erbil to resettle refugees, from the town and the surrounding area. Since 2014, the Order has committed more than $20 million to aid persecuted Christians and religious minorities in the Middle East.
The Mar Addai Chaldean Catholic Church, which had been destroyed and desecrated by ISIS along with most of the town's Christian homes, celebrated a rededication Mass that had an overflowing congregation of more than 1,000 people.
In a speech at the end of Mass, Father Thabet Habib Yousif thanked the many groups that made the rebuilding of his town possible, including the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). He offered particular thanks to the continuing U.S. diplomatic efforts to save his threatened people and the Archdiocese of Erbil and Archbishop Bashar Warda, who sheltered and fed the displaced people of his town during the genocide.
"While many people have helped us, 97 percent of the restoration of homes and church buildings came from the Knights of Columbus,” said Father Thabet.
Father Thabet then presented the Knights with a wooden cross made from the remnants of the destroyed church that has a stone embedded in it from the original altar, which had been destroyed and used for target practice by ISIS during their occupation.
During the occupation by ISIS, hundreds of families fled the area, resettling and rebuilding in places like the Archdiocese of Erbil. ISIS declared Christians their “favorite prey.” Christians and other religious minorities faced beheadings and crucifixions, while women and girls as young as 1 year old, were sold into sexual slavery. In the last several years, the Christian population declined in Iraq from 1.4 million before 2002 to barely more than 250,000 in 2017, according to the U.S. State Department’s International Religious Freedom Report.
Meanwhile, the Knights have worked with the U.S. Congress and the Obama and Trump administrations to assist in the humanitarian efforts. The Order also commenced a joint effort with USAID in assisting religious minorities in the rebuilding and stabilization of their communities. Learn more about the Knights’ efforts here.
The latest milestone is the unanimous passage of the “Iraq and Syria Genocide Relief and Accountability Act of 2018,” an act that will provide humanitarian relief for victims of genocide in Iraq and Syria, while holding ISIS perpetrators accountable.
President Donald Trump is set to sign the bipartisan legislation on Dec. 11.
The Knights will continue to help rebuild these communities. Please donate here to help.
For questions, or to tell your Knights of Columbus, reach out to andrew.fowler@kofc.org
Supreme Knight Carl Anderson and Matt Birk, a 15-year veteran of the National Football League, and Super Bowl XLVII champion, who was the conference’s keynote speaker, with Captain Julian Gluck of the United States Air Force. Capt. Gluck, past grand knight at the United States Air Force Academy Council 8200, received the inaugural Distinguished Alumnus Award.
Supreme Knight Carl Anderson and Super Bowl champion Matt Birk addressed more than 250 college Knights at the 53rd College Councils Conference
Supreme Knight Carl Anderson challenged college Knights to be leaders on their campuses at a recent gathering in New Haven.
“You are evangelists and disciples now, not sometime in the future,” he said at the 53rd College Councils Awards Banquet. “Your colleagues on your campus need you.”
He said Knights are called to be witnesses of authentic faith and leadership.
“It's up to us to assume that kind of leadership.”
Two hundred and fifty-five Knights — the largest attendance in conference history — came from 97 campuses across North America. The attendees participated in leadership training, attended Mass at St. Mary’s Church, and took part in a special consecration to St. Joseph.
Attracting younger men to the K of C is a key priority for the Order. Attracting college Knights is a top priority. By being true Catholic gentlemen, Supreme Knight Anderson said, college councils will grow. He pointed to Matt Birk as a witness of true faith.
Birk, a 15-year veteran of the National Football League, and Super Bowl XLVII champion, was the conference’s keynote speaker.
“Right now today in our society and our culture and our world, there is a war going on with our faith,” Birk said.
Birk noted that college Knights — as students on campus — are on the frontlines. “I'm one of two million Knights. There's strength in numbers. If you're going to fight a war, you better have an army.”
Even as a professional football player, Birk practiced the same drills he practiced as a kid. It’s the same for practicing the faith, no matter one’s age, Birk said.
“The fundamentals are all right there for us. We have Mass. We have the Eucharist. We have Confession. We have the rosary. We have Adoration.”
At the dinner, Supreme Knight Anderson and other supreme officers conferred awards to college councils for exemplary service and achievement.
Captain Julian Gluck of the United States Air Force received the inaugural Distinguished Alumnus Award. A past grand knight at the United States Air Force Academy Council 8200, Captain Gluck is responsible for piloting a five-person heavy bomber and supporting the combatant command and global bomber task force operations. He is deployed in support of the Operations Inherent Resolve and Freedoms Centennial and participated in the liberation of Mosul and Iraq from ISIS.
For a full listing of award recipients, click here.
World Youth Day Kraków: A Pilgrimage of Mercy to air on eve of International World Youth Day
Contact: Joseph Cullen, Knights of Columbus, 203-415-9314, joseph.cullen@kofc.org
NEW HAVEN, Conn., March 28, 2017 /Christian Newswire/ -- An inspiring new documentary, World Youth Day Kraków: A Pilgrimage of Mercy, will enable American viewers to share in the experience of young Catholics from around the world who participated in Pope Francis's international World Youth Day (WYD) in Kraków last year.
Photo: Pilgrims sing and pray in the Knights of Columbus-sponsored Mercy Centre at Tauron Arena during the World Youth Day Krakow celebration.
The 40-minute film is available for purchase in DVD format at Ignatius Press and Knights Gear. It will also air on television on Saturday, April 8, the eve of the annual World Youth Day with Pope Francis in Rome.
"This documentary captures the spirit of World Youth Day, and allows those who could not attend to have a window into this moving event," said Knights of Columbus CEO Carl Anderson. "It brings to life the spirit of Divine Mercy, preached by Pope Francis in the town that is the epicenter of this devotion, and was home to St. John Paul II, his predecessor who also did much to spread that message."
The WYD Kraków theme, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy," united millions of Catholics from around the world as they traveled in the footsteps of Pope St. John Paul II and other great saints of Kraków, discovering new aspects of the rich heritage of their Catholic faith.
World Youth Day is celebrated with an international gathering every two or three years. The event in Poland was the 14th such gathering since WYD was first instituted by St. John Paul II in Rome in 1985. Annually, WYD is celebrated in dioceses around the world on Palm Sunday.
On this Palm Sunday, April 9, Pope Francis will meet WYD delegations from Poland and from Panama, where the next international celebration will be held in 2019. As part of the ceremony, the Polish young people will transfer stewardship of the official WYD cross to their Panamanian counterparts.
The documentary, produced by the Knights of Columbus, includes exclusive footage of the Night of Mercy Youth Festival, featuring music from Matt Maher and Audrey Assad, as well as a spiritual reflection by Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop Robert Barron and a panel discussion on religious liberty with Archbishop Bashar Warda from Erbil, Iraq, and Archbishop William Lori, the chair of the Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty at the USCCB.
The K of C also sponsored the Mercy Centre at Tauron Arena Kraków, which served as the hub of many WYD activities and hosted the official WYD cross during Pope Francis's final meeting with the pilgrims who served as volunteers.
EWTN will air the film on April 8 at 2 p.m. EST, April 10 at 7 a.m. EST, and April 10 at 4 p.m. EST. The film will also air on Salt + Light television in Canada on April 9 at 8 p.m. EST.
Carl Anderson, leader of the Knights of Columbus fraternal order and one of the most influential lay Catholics in the church, has said that abortion outweighs all other issues in the presidential campaign and Catholics cannot vote for a candidate who supports abortion rights. Photo courtesy of Knights of Columbus
(RNS) Carl Anderson, leader of the Knights of Columbus fraternal order and one of the most influential lay Catholics in the church, has said that abortion outweighs all other issues in the presidential campaign and Catholics cannot vote for a candidate who supports abortion rights.
Abortion is not “just another political issue” but “is in reality a legal regime that has resulted in more than 40 million deaths,” Anderson told the Knights’ international convention in Toronto in a speech on Tuesday afternoon (Aug. 2).
“What political issue could possibly outweigh this human devastation? Abortion is different. Abortion is the killing of the innocent on a massive scale,” said Anderson, a veteran Republican official who worked for the late North Carolina Sen. Jesse Helms and served in various positions in the Reagan administration.
“We need to end the political manipulation of Catholic voters by abortion advocates. It is time to end the entanglement of Catholic people with abortion killing. It is time to stop creating excuses for voting for pro-abortion politicians,” Anderson said in remarks prepared for delivery to the crowd, which included some 100 Catholic bishops.
“We will never succeed in building a culture of life if we continue to vote for politicians who support a culture of death,” said Anderson, who called the Knights, who have two million members worldwide, the “strong right arm” of the Catholic Church.
The role of abortion rights in politics has long been a flashpoint for Catholic leaders and Catholic politicians.
In recent decades, the U.S. hierarchy has grown increasingly conservative and for many bishops an elected official’s stance on abortion rights has become a litmus test for a Catholic candidate’s worthiness to receive Communion and for any candidate to receive the support of Catholic voters.
Abortion and gay marriage have been called “non-negotiables” that can disqualify a candidate in the view of many leaders — a stance that has effectively favored Republicans over Democrats, who have become more uniformly supportive of abortion rights.
That dynamic has been playing out in recent weeks with Republican nominee Donald Trump saying he opposes abortion while Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton has steadfastly supported abortion rights throughout her long public career.
Sen. Tim Kaine, Clinton’s running mate, is a practicing Catholic from Virginia who says he is personally opposed to abortion but supports abortion rights.
The election of Pope Francis in 2013 scrambled much of the long-standing political dynamics, however.
While Francis is staunchly against abortion, he lamented early on in his papacy that the church speaks so much about abortion and matters of sexuality at the expense of social justice and the poor and marginalized — topics he has put at the center of the church’s mission.
“I have never understood the expression non-negotiable values,” Francis said in a 2014 interview. “Values are values, and that is it. I can’t say that, of the fingers of a hand, there is one less useful than the rest. Whereby I do not understand in what sense there may be negotiable values.”
It remains to be seen how the abortion issue will play out in the church — the Knights of Columbus are huge benefactors to dioceses and charitable causes — and in the campaign.
Trump is viewed with suspicion by some abortion foes, who worry that his conversion to their cause is recent and not sincere. They also argue that Trump’s positions on other issues are disqualifying.
In his keynote address, Anderson also cited the fight for religious freedom at home and abroad as priorities for the Knights.
The organization has been a strong supporter of the legal battle against the Obama administration’s contraception mandate and it has been increasingly involved in efforts to highlight the plight of persecuted Christians in the Middle East.
“Christians there have been tortured, murdered, enslaved and driven into exile,” Anderson said. “Many in the West wanted to look away, but we would not let them.”
The Knights of Columbus annual Supreme Convention is on in Philadelphia. We bring you the latest on what's been happening at this gathering of Knights from around the world.
(SAN ANTONIO) — The Knights of Columbus has created a new award to recognize extraordinary works of charity and service. The first to receive the Caritas Award were the pastor of the Catholic parish in Newtown, Conn., and its Knights of Columbus council.
Supreme Knight Carl Anderson conferred the awards Tuesday night, Aug. 6, with the first going to Msgr. Robert Weiss, pastor of St. Rose of Lima Church, and the second to St. Virgilius Knights of Columbus Council 185. The council, located at St. Rose of Lima in Newtown was represented by Grand Knight Timothy Haas. The awards were announced at a dinner gathering in San Antonio that included approximately 90 members of the Catholic hierarchy, including Boston’s Cardinal Sean O’Malley, OFM, Cap., who delivered a keynote address.
As I returned from Rome this afternoon I learned of the tragic events that unfolded in Newtown, Connecticut today.
There are no words that can adequately express what the children and families at Sandy Hook Elementary School experienced and the shock and grief that have befallen the Newtown community and our nation. As people of faith we denounce and abhor violence of any kind. There is no circumstance that justifies the taking of innocent life and it is incomprehensible that children were the victims of this heinous act. At a time of such great distress we turn to Jesus, who is with us always, even in our most difficult moments, and extends His healing graces in the midst of our pain. We pray for those who lost their lives today, trusting that they have been received into the presence of the Lord, for their families and for all who are impacted by this national tragedy. Coming together with genuine care and concern for all people, we will find the strength to support one another going forward, confident that there is no darkness that can overcome the light of Christ
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I have just returned from attending the Ecclesia in America international congress in Rome, which was held from Sunday to Wednesday. It marked the 15th anniversary of Blessed John Paul II’s apostolic exhortation Ecclesia in America.
However, before I get to the details of the congress, I want to mention an event that took place last week.
Each year during Advent, we host a Mass and luncheon here at the Pastoral Center for our senior priests who reside at Regina Cleri, the archdiocese’s residence for senior priests.
It is always wonderful to be able to gather with these men who have given so much to the life of the Church over so many years.
I also want to take this occasion to remind readers within the Archdiocese of Boston that our collection at Christmas Masses is one of our most important efforts in ensuring the care of our priests.
Joe D’Arrigo, the executive director of our Clergy Funds, wrote a wonderful article on this topic for this week’s Pilot. I urge you all to read it and to be generous in your support of them as they were generous in their ministry to the people of God.
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After arriving in Rome on Sunday, I celebrated Mass at my church in Rome, Santa Maria della Vittoria.
Joining us at the Mass, in addition to the seminarians and Friars, was Dan Kelly who is the head of the Order of Malta in the United States. We met him on the plane, so we invited him to join us for the Mass and the lunch following.
Dan Kelly is pictured on the far left
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The conference itself was inspiring. About 200 bishops, priests, deacons, religious and lay people were invited to be a part of this congress, held to once again rekindle the efforts of Ecclesia in America to build a united Church out of all of North and South America. The Knights of Columbus were instrumental in sponsoring the congress, as well as the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.
The congress centered around the theme of the new evangelization under the patronage of Our Lady of Guadalupe. It was a wonderful opportunity to be together with people from all over the hemisphere and to reflect on common problems and solutions; and to talk about the new evangelization in the context of immigration and the many other challenges of our hemisphere. We also spoke about sharing clergy and help that is being given by priests from Latin America.
Sunday night, we celebrated an inaugural Mass, at which the Holy Father addressed us.
The congress featured many different talks and workshops.
We heard an address from Supreme Knight Carl Anderson who spoke on the laity’s role in the new evangelization and the example of Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Juan Diego.
There were wonderful talks by Msgr. Eduardo Chávez, who was postulator for the cause for canonization of St. Juan Diego, in which he talked about the theology and ministry of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the great role that the apparitions played in the evangelization of Mexico.
Until the apparitions, there were practically no conversions to Catholicism in Mexico, however, after the Blessed Mother appeared there were an immediate explosion of conversions.
In my talk, I spoke about the different ways the churches can collaborate. I gave examples from my own ministry working with immigrants from Latin America and gave a bit of history of past collaborations.
For example, I spoke of the Seminary of Montezuma in the Southwestern United Sates with the help of U.S. bishops to train Mexican seminarians during the time of the persecutions in that country and now there is a seminary in Mexico that is sending seminarians to work in the United States. I also talked about the challenges of trying to evangelize the culture, the need for the Church to find a voice in the public square, and the need to find articulate lay people to help in political life and the needs of communications.
At the general audience with the whole congress, we once again had an opportunity to be with the Holy Father and to congratulate Msgr. Georg Gänswein who has been appointed take Cardinal Jim Harvey’s place as Prefect of the Pontifical Household.
We also had the privilege of being present for the occasion of the Holy Father sending his first tweet.
I think this is an important sign that the Holy Father wants to be present in the world of communications, particularly in the forms of communications being used by young people.
This was a wonderful event which allowed many young people to feel a special connection to the Holy Father and to the Church.
In the audience hall was a beautiful life-size crèche brought by the Mexicans made out of beeswax.
We ended at the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe with a Mass at Cardinal Marc Ouellet’s titular church, Santa Maria in Traspontina, on the Via della Conciliazione.
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During this time, reflecting on Our Lady of Guadalupe, I wrote a special blog post that I published on Tuesday. In case some of you may have missed it I would like to share with you here:
Embracing the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe during this Year of Faith
I have been attending the “Ecclesia in America” conference in Rome, which addresses the history and future of the Church in America. The conference runs from December 9 to 12, concluding with an audience with Pope Benedict XVI.
I wanted to share with you a message regarding the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe and my hope that all Catholics will embrace the celebration of this important feast day in the life of our Church.
12-12-12 is an interesting date, as it represents the last time in this century that the month, day and year will all match. But December 12 for Catholics, during this Year of Faith, is also a very important day.
First, the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI (@pontifex), begins his tweeting ministry, symbolizing in a new way the Church’s embrace of technology and tools of communication as a way to share the eternal and saving Truth of the Good News of Jesus Christ.
The other reason for the day’s importance, and one of the factors in Pope Benedict’s choosing of this day to launch his newest communication initiative, is that it is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, who we revere as the Mother of the New Evangelization and the Patroness of all the Americas (North, South and Central). After Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to St. Juan Diego 481 years ago, one of the most rapid periods of evangelization in the history of the Church began.
During this Year of Faith, I ask all Catholics to study the message of Our Lady of Guadalupe to St. Juan Diego. Our Catholic brothers and sisters from Mexico and in Central and South American countries are devoted to her motherly care, but many Catholics raised in the United States are not as aware of what happened in December of 1531 as I hope they soon will be. Now is a great time for this connection with Our Lady of Guadalupe to be established, renewed or deepened. We can begin by attending Mass and praying a family Rosary on December 12.
God has often called unlikely people to great missions. It was true with St. Peter, many of the saints, and for St. Juan Diego. This is a great lesson for all of us as we are all called to do our part in the New Evangelization.
When the Blessed Mother appeared to Juan Diego on Tepeyac Hill, he was a simple, humble, 57-year-old widower known for walking with his head down and shuffling his feet. He was an Aztec Indian who had been baptized only seven years before by the Franciscan missionaries. Every Saturday and Sunday he would walk 15 miles each way to Mass. As he was journeying one cold Saturday morning, he heard a voice calling from the top of a hill, “Juanito,” “Dieguito,” “Come here!” He scaled the rocky slope, where at the top he saw the Blessed Virgin Mary arrayed in splendor.
Our Lady announced she was on a mission of mercy and wanted him to be her messenger to the bishop of Mexico City to ask him to build a church on Tepeyac Hill. Obeying simply and immediately, Juan Diego headed in his simple peasant’s outfit to the bishop’s residence, where he was forced to wait for hours in an outdoor courtyard. Eventually the bishop received him, treated him with kindness, but was skeptical regarding the message. Juan Diego left feeling like a complete failure.
Returning to Our Lady on Tepeyac Hill, he said that he had struck out. “I beg you, Noble Lady,” he implored, “to entrust this message to someone of importance, someone well-known and respected, so that your wish will be accomplished. For I am only a lowly peasant and you, my Lady, have sent me to a place where I have no standing. Forgive me if I have disappointed you for having failed in my mission.”
The Virgin smiled tenderly on him and said, “Listen to me, my dearest son, and understand that I have many servants and messengers whom I could charge with the delivery of my message. But it is altogether necessary that you should be the one to undertake this mission and that it be through your mediation and assistance that my wish should be accomplished. I urge you to go to the Bishop again tomorrow. Tell him in my name and make him fully understand my disposition, that he should undertake the erection of the teocalli (temple) for which I ask. And repeat to him that it is I in person, the ever Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, who send you.”
With trepidation, Juan Diego went again. The bishop’s overprotective staff greeted him with exasperation. He was told the bishop was busy with more important matters. He told them he was willing to wait — and did, for several hours in the frigid outdoor courtyard. When he finally met the bishop again, he repeated, with fervor and tears, the message of Our Lady entrusted to him. The bishop asked some questions. Though moved by Juan Diego’s sincerity, he wasn’t going to build a church in a desolate spot on the basis of one native’s unsubstantiated word. To test the message, the bishop asked him for a special secret sign from Our Lady. Juan Diego left at once to ask for the sign.
Arriving back at Tepeyac, the Virgin told him to return the following day to receive the sign to bring the bishop. That sign turned out to be Castillian roses, which had not yet been introduced to Mexico, growing on the top of a stony hill in frigid December temperatures. Juan Diego was instructed to bring them back to the bishop in his tilma (a tilma is a cloak or apron). When he returned to the bishop, as he opened up his tilma, the bishop saw the roses from his native Castille, the sign he was seeking. He and everyone else also saw something even more miraculous: some of the roses had melted into the tilma and produced the miraculous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe: our Lady, dressed like a pregnant Aztec princess, was giving witness that she was ready to give birth to Christ among the Mexican people and on our continent. The bishop immediately fell to his knees, and came to believe in Juan Diego’s message. A church was built on the spot of the apparition, as Mary had requested.
Until that moment, there had been relatively few conversions among the Mexican people, who associated Christianity more with the conquistadors than the Franciscans. But in the decade after the appearance of the Blessed Mother as one of them, over ten million Mexicans were baptized.
Juan Diego’s tilma has been the subject of much research. The tilma, woven out of coarse cactus and vegetable fibers, should have disintegrated after 20 years, but although nearly 500 years have passed the tilma is still in great condition. The pupils of Mary in the picture reflect the Indians and clergy present at the time of the first revelation of the image. No paint was used, and chemical analysis has not been able to identify the color imprint. Additionally, studies have revealed that the stars on Mary’s mantle match exactly what a Mexican would have seen in the sky in December of 1531.
Juan Diego thought there were others who would have been more fitting ambassadors to bring such an important message from so important a person, but the Blessed Mother chose him and she helped him fulfill the mission. She will also help each of us fulfill our part in her Son’s plan of salvation.
Let us turn to Our Lady of Guadalupe during this Year of Faith. She desperately wants the birth of a New Evangelization. May she continue to bring her motherly care to the Americas, the United States and to us in the Archdiocese of Boston.
CARDINAL DOLAN ASKS CANDIDATES TO SIGN CIVILITY IN AMERICA PLEDGE
Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York, has written to the Democratic and Republican nominees for President and Vice-President, and asked them to sign the Civility in America pledgedeveloped by the Knights of Columbus.
The pledge calls on candidates, commentators, and the media to focus on the critical issues facing our nation and to avoid making personal attacks.
In his letters, the Cardinal noted the results of a recent poll that found that 78% of Americans are frustrated with the tone in politics today, and that 66% believe that candidates spend more time attacking their opponents than addressing the issues. He wrote, “That this perception exists cannot be healthy for our country or our democratic political process. Civility in America is giving voice to the desire of Americans of all backgrounds and political parties for more civil discourse during this election season.”
The full text of the Cardinal’s letter to President Obama, Vice President Biden, Governor Romney, and Congressman Ryan follows.
Dear :
At this month’s convention of the Knights of Columbus, Supreme Knight Carl Anderson introduced a new initiative, Civility in America. A recent poll showed that 78 percent of the American people are frustrated with the tone in politics today, and that 66 percent believe that candidates spend more time attacking their opponents than discussing the issues. That this perception exists cannot be healthy for our country or our democratic political process. Civility in America is giving voice to the desire of Americans of all backgrounds and political parties for more civil discourse during this election season.
I am writing to you, and to the other candidates for President and Vice President of this great nation, to ask for your support of this effort, so that the upcoming campaign will remain focused on the critical issues facing our nation, and not on personal attacks. The petition designed by the Knights of Columbus is a simple one. It reads:
We, the undersigned citizens of the United States of America, respectfully request that candidates, the media and other advocates and commentators involved in the public policy arena employ a more civil tone in public discourse on political and social issues, focusing on policies rather than on individual personalities.
For our part, we pledge to make these principles our own.
Might I respectfully ask that you sign this pledge. I would be most happy to be able to convey to Carl Anderson and to the 1.8 million members of the Knights of Columbus, that you have chosen to support this valuable effort.
With gratitude for your consideration, and prayerful best wishes, I am
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works (iniquity), there is none that doeth good. (Psalms 14:1)
What this passage of the Bible says is that God wants us to know that He exists and is not willing to let anyone get away with compromise, for to compromise would mean you are hiding behind a lie. Such a person declares that there is a God but lives as if God actually didn't exist, or that he simply isn't bothered. Though they may engage in charitable works, God does not consider their deeds righteous, in fact (as the prophet Isaiah wrote), their works are as filthy menstrual (Hebrew: iddah) rags (Hebrew: beged) (Isaiah 64:6) strongs reference filthy H5708 and rags H899.
The Masonic Order is one such example. To be a Mason one must accept that there is a god, and engage in philanthropic endeavours, yet the very nature of Freemasonry is shrouded in secrecy, occultic rituals and, at its highest levels is, according to some of it's highest ranking leaders, Luciferian. These are fools that hide behind a lie (as if there were no God, or that he simply wasn't bothered) in order to justify their abominable works/iniquities.
They think by doing good works they will gain favour from the Lord, yet they choose to compromise the gospel in the name of humanitarian aid, thus they become futile in their deeds and their good works are not accounted as righteous because they have forsaken the very things that God has said. Having dealings with the occult the Bible says:
”For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” (1 Sam. 15:23)
General William Booth (1829-1912), founder of the Salvation Army c.1900
The photograph above shows Booth with two of his grandchildren. John Wesley’s life and ministry has been a source of inspiration to many within the evangelical tradition. Some churches may not have the name Methodist in their title, but are nevertheless members of the Wesleyan family .
William Booth was a minister of the Methodist New Connexion before founding the Salvation Army. Booth’s travelling ministry, organisational skill, outreach to the poor and patriarchal image identifies him as a true ‘Gospel Son’ of John Wesley, Booth is buried next to his wife Catherine.
Even when the gospel was preached it was also being undermined by William Booth's acquaintances, especially with one luciferian, in particular Lord Rothschild (a high ranking freemason who appreciated Booth's work so much he gave him £1000) [1] Booth had no issues in receiving money from anyone or group as he did not believe in dirty money.
Even though Booth was mixed up with Lord Rothschild and had Masonic friends, I have no reason to believe that he himself was a mason; he just got mixed up and associated with the wrong type of people. This did him no justice. There is confusion because many Masonic sites list the "General" as a famous mason. However what we have here are two different William Booth's. The William H. Booth, who is listed as a freemason, was married to Mary Kelso Booth [2], The William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, was not a freemason and did not even have a middle name. He was married to Catherine Booth [3] This affirmation therefore is simply not true.
Because of William Booth's association with Lord Rothschild this had led to The Salvation Army coming directly under the influence of freemasonry.
Acording to a reference quoted by many (Wilson, op. cit., p. 92.) The Rothschilds also wielded much influence and power not only in Secret Societies, but also in Christendom’s churches. The Salvation Army under the suggestion of the Rothschilds adopted the Red Shield (Roth-red Schild-shield) for their logo. One history of the Rothschilds remarks, "The Rothschilds had rapidly propelled themselves into a position of immense financial power and political influence. They were an independent force in the life of Europe, accountable to no one and, to a large extent, reliant on no one. Popular lampoons depicted them as the real rulers of Christendom..."
The infiltration of Luciferians has for a very longtime been at the root of Christendom, there are many people we look to who have decieved and are still decieving to this very day.
The connection and partnership between the Salvation Army and freemasonry is stronger today than it ever was. Officially the Salvation Army has stated it recognises that freemasonry is incompatible with Christianity and, therefore officially membership of the craft is not compatible with the Salvation Army. Salvationists are discouraged from being members of the masonic fraternity.
In 1925 General Bramwell Booth sent a letter to every officer in the Salvation Army in which he said: “No language of mine could be too strong in condemning and officer’s affiliation with any society which shuts Him (Christ) outside its temples; and which in its religious ceremonies gives neither Him nor His Name any place…the place where Jesus Christ is not allowed is no place for any Salvation officer.”
Bramwell Booth recognised that in the masonic fraternities are incompatible with Christian teaching, it is masons who conduct ceremonies will have devoted themselves to Lucifer at as stated by Manley P Hall 33 o, "When The Mason learns that the Key to the warrior on the block is the proper application of the dynamo of living power, he has learned the Mystery of his Craft. The seething energies of Lucifer are in his hands and before he may step onward and upward, he must prove his ability to properly apply this energy." (The Lost Keys Of Freemasonry, p. 48)
The Salvation Army still bears the name of Rothschild today (Red Shield), and there is even greater affiliation with freemasonry. The Salvation Army globally has members (and even officers) who are active freemasons, which is something the Salvation Army has been quiet about, others are in denial. Past Grand Master, Forrest D. Haggard, writes in the book "The Clergy and the Craft" p.134 published in 1930 "Lt. Colonel Reginald E. Clevett of the Salvation army feels "that we who have given time to Masonry have received from it a great deal, even much more then we are able to give."
P.136 Major H. H. Lawson of the Salvation Army, Johnson City, Tennessee: "Masonry has provided the most profound lessons to be found anywhere - and you find them, carefully followed, complimenting your own private faith."
Though Booth issued his condemnation of masonry, his association with the Rothschild's has led the Salvation Army not only to accept Masonry, but even collude with masonry.
Below is a compendium of official information on Salvation Army officials colluding and its affiliations to Freemasonry.
The Compromise is not only with Freemasonry, it is also with the Pope at the Vatican in Rome.
Salvation Army's statement:
The Pope greets the Army's international leaders at an ecumenical gathering the day following his inauguration. Photograph by Arturo Mari courtesy of L'Osservatore Romano.
The person who is shaking the Pope's hand is Commissioner Freda Larsson seen with her husband Commissioner John Larsson became chief of the staff, second in command of The Salvation Army worldwide. His wife, Commissioner Freda Larsson, became World Secretary for Women’s Organisations (later Women's Ministries). They are now retired.
Following their comments they state: Great respect and hospitality was extended to The Salvation Army throughout the weekend visit. The General was seated on the front row during Sunday’s inauguration service, also attended by Majors Massimo and Jane Paone (Command Leaders, Italy).
General John Larsson and Commissioner Freda Larsson attended the inauguration of Pope Benedict XVI in Rome as guests of the Vatican. This was the first time a General of The Salvation Army has been present at a papal inauguration.
The Salvation Army purports "The Pope preached a powerful, Christ-centered address using simple gospel imagery. It was pastoral and evangelical. And it was interrupted by applause again and again.’ "
The next day, the Pope met the General and Commissioner Larsson during an ecumenical gathering with Christian leaders and representatives of different faiths.
Then they go on to say:
The General thanked the Pope for his Christ-centered message on the Sunday and assured him of the prayers of Salvationists. The pontiff thanked the General and expressed his hope that all Christians everywhere would work together to meet the challenges of a secular society.
Commissioner Larsson commented: ‘We came away from this historic occasion with a sense that Christian leaders have a renewed willingness to talk to each other and build on our points of unity.
The General added: 'Cardinal Walter Kasper, who is responsible at the Vatican for ecumenical matters, spoke for us all when he commented that the things that unite us are greater than those which divide.’
Papal Visit UK 2010
A British Christian, Ecumenical and known for supporting roles and advocates in the pro-homosexual community [see info...] reports "Commissioner Betty Matear of the Salvation Army and the Presidents of the ecumenical grouping Churches Together in England, have welcomed Pope Benedict XVI’s visit"
Commissioner John Matear, the Territorial Commander of the Salvation Army, hoped that the Papal visit would help the churches to "…together proclaim the good news of the Kingdom in word and deed".
Lieut - Colonel Alan Burns, Scotland Secretary for the Salvation Army says, 'On behalf of Salvationists in Scotland I’m pleased to welcome Pope Benedict XV1. His visit, coinciding with the feast of St Ninian, will give Christians throughout the nation opportunity to collectively celebrate the life and work of the Churches throughout the ages.
After the visit of the Pope to Westminster Abbey for the celebration of evening prayer, I was privileged to be invited to participate in a dinner and discussion hosted by our Government, involving Roman Catholic cardinals and bishops.
It confirmed that engagement of Church and State is critical and productive. It is important that the different parts of the Body of Christ, the Church, talk to one another. The recent visit gives us the opportunity to build and strengthen relationships and to be confident in the gospel of grace we share.
(Comment: No Commissioner Betty Matear the Church of Rome and the ecumenical movement do not share the same Gospel, the Church of Rome and the Pope is an abomination before God).
Together as the Body of Christ we work to express and understand the common faith we share and how we might live out the gospel of Jesus Christ.
(Comment: No Commissioner Betty Matear Common Faith with the Pope is not something we should share.)
I want to confirm that our Salvation Army is at the heart of all of this.
In recent days we took time to ask every division to share where we were working ecumenically and, to date, the responses stretch to a 28-page listing! There are no exceptions; in every division there is involvement at every level.
The words of 1 Corinthians 12 regarding the Body of Christ describe our interconnectedness, our roles and God’s desire and design for unity.
(Commissioner Betty Matear this is false doctrine and pure Blasphamy.)
The following described how the Salvation Army with their involvement with freemasonry has been falling into total apostasy.
Since we posted this interesting photograph several months ago we have received several enquiries asking what the organisation parading is or was. A number of suggestions have been offered but none of them were correct. We can now that the parade is being led by a Salvation Army Band and the main body is that of the International Order of Good Templars (IOGT). The Order originated in Syracuse, New York State, USA, in 1852. It later spread to many parts of the world including Scotland. It was conceived as a temperance organisation and remains so to this day.
[4] (Freemasonry Today Magazine Summer 2004 Issue 29) "the majority of Standard Lodge are members of the Salvation Army and are brass band players. Three such lodges were originally founded by Salvationists and in addition to Standard these are Constant trust, No. 7347, and Jubilate, No. 8561.
David B. Mortlock, Retired Bandmaster, Reading Central Salvation Army Band, Standard Lodge, No. 6820, Clerkenwell, London."
[5] Standard Lodge is now qualified as a Grand Patron for the Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys. Leslie Condon Trust – As with previous masters W.Bro Ray is pleased for the Lodge to support this trust in its assisting young Salvationists from developing countries to achieve their spiritual and musical aspirations.
[6] The Worshipful Master: "Joy, my wife, who has supported me in all my activities within the SA and professional life supports me in my new role as Master. " - W.Bro Ray
Since 17th June 1949 Todays Connection in freemasonry in the UK and Abroad can be seen from the following UK lodge has been founded by Salvation Army members for 58 years.
[7] STANDARD LODGE NO. 6820 on the register of the United Grand Lodge of England and Wales Consecrated on 17th June 1949, Standard Lodge was formed by a number of members of The Salvation Army as a place where Salvationist brethren could join together in friendship. 58 years on, the lodge continues to go from strength to strength, growing in number, with the same aim and purpose of its founders, sharing fellowship under two flags.
Standard Lodge - its background and raison d'etre The Lodge was founded in 1949, the first master being the late W.Bro. Charles Harris, PAGStB. The last remaining founder of the Lodge W Bro Will Gale, a grand officer, was promoted to the Grand Lodge Above during 1997. The invitation letter stated that it was desired that the founders should be members of the Salvation Amy or `very near Salvationists' and that the composition of the Lodge thereafter should be on those lines. It was to be a strictly temperance lodge. In obtaining the Army's acknowledgment of the establishment of the Lodge an undertaking was given that the Lodge would not initiate serving officers, it being the Army's belief that, with a full time commitment to the ministry, an officer would not have the available time and resources to participate in masonry.
Indeed, we understand that officers are now obliged to declare membership of freemasonry. The Lodge grew and many Salvationists were initiated into masonry and experienced the very special, rich fellowship which we all continue to enjoy today.
Extracted from a lecture by W. Bro. Ollie Allen
Members are listed as:
W.Bro. F. Bailey,
W.Bro. T. T. Steventon,
W.Bro. I. Janes,
W.Bro. R. Guess,
W.Bro. C.Crosby,
W.Bro. G. Steventon,
W.Bro. C. Crosby,
Bro. D. B. Mortlock,
W.Bro. K Gamblin,
Bro. R. Crosby
W.Bro. N. Garbutt,
Bro. D. B. Mortlock,
Bro. M. R. Whybrow,
Bro. J. Staves
Bro. A. Mitchell
Bro. A. Munn
Bro. R. F. Munn
Bro. G. Twist
PM Senior Warden
PM Junior Warden
PM Chaplain
PM Treasurer
PM, LGR Secretary
PM, LGR Director of Ceremonies
PM, LGR Almoner
LR Charity Steward
PM, LGR Senior Deacon
Junior Deacon
PM 7347, SLGR, SLGCR, PPGStB (Essex) Asst. Director of Ceremonies
The Lodge of Constant Trust No. 7347, warranted on 2nd June 1954, and Jubilate Lodge No. 8561 were indeed connected with the Salvation Army but they were not the first. The Petition to form the Lodge of Constant Trust gives the following information:
“…the Standard Lodge is unique in its conception and formation, being made up of Salvationists and adherents to this Organisation. Because of this the number of applicants wishing to enter the Craft through the Lodge is very large. The object of forming a Daughter Lodge, which would follow the pattern of the Standard Lodge, is to continue to provide an entry to those who would like to be associated with their fellow-Salvationists, and at the same time prevent the Standard Lodge from becoming too large numerically (already after four and a half years the membership is 70).”
Standard Lodge No. 6820 was warranted on 2nd February 1949. The Petition records that the Founders consisted of Brethren who “are, and have been, connected with the Salvation Army”, although it was not intended to make it an official Salvation Army Lodge. Its purpose was “to provide a Temperance Lodge and meeting place in London for Provincial Brethren now domiciled in London , and Brethren from Overseas, engaed in the work of this world-wide organisation.”
Jubilate Lodge No. 8561 was warranted on 12th December 1973 as “another Lodge to meet [the] needs of Salvationist Masons in the North of England, to meet on common ground as Masons and Salvationists.”
Acording to the The Provincial Grand Lodge of East Lancashire, the Salvation army meet at the three locations, the first location is Jubilate Lodge, No. 8561 Salvation Army meets in East Lancashire– at Shaw Masonic Hall, Kershaw Street , Shaw, Oldham.
- To see photos click on image below.
The Lodge of Constant Trust, No. 7347, the Salvation Army meets at 10 Duke Street, St James, London that the Salvation Army is confermed by the United Grand Lodge of England to be part of this Lodge the Freemasonry Databank states concerning the Lodge of Constant Trust:
Headquarters of Supreme Council 33 Degree is at 10 Duke Street, London. (Known as Grand East by Masons) The building contains a 'Black Room' a 'Red Room' and a 'Chamber of Death' for ritual purposes. No Mason can rise above the 18th Degree without the unanimous agreement of the entire Supreme Council.
Extracts from Stephen Knight: The Brotherhood: Pages 38-45
-To see photos click on image below.
Lodge with links to Salvationists is Standard Lodge, No. 6820. This meets at the Masonic Centre, Clerkenwell Green, Clerkenwell, London.
Standard Lodge was privileged to use the Indian Temple in Great Queen Street for its fiftieth anniversary celebratory lodge meeting in 1999 and on that occasion we formed a twenty-piece brass band which played in the lodge meeting. The reason for our close association with brass bands is because the majority of Standard Lodge are members of the Salvation Army and are brass band players. Three such lodges were originally founded by Salvationists and in addition to Standard these are Constant trust, No. 7347, and Jubilate, No. 8561.
David B. Mortlock, Retired Bandmaster, Reading Central Salvation Army Band, Standard Lodge, No. 6820, Clerkenwell, London.
The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit USA served breakfast to thousands of Detroiters in need on Thanksgiving in 2010 at the Detroit Masonic Temple is the world's largest Masonic Temple. (USA) at 500 Temple Street the building serves as a home to various masonic organizations including the York Rite Sovereign College of North America. (source: Wikipedia)
If you have problems playing the videos click on the YouTube logo to watch them on YouTube.
George Washington Masonic National Memorial is a Masonic building and memorial located in Alexandria, Virginia. It is dedicated to the memory of George Washington, the first president of the United States, and a Mason.
C Hunter Ritchie Singing Eagles performing with the Salvation Army Band at George Washington Masonic Memorial in Alexandria VA on Dec 13,2009.
If you have problems playing the video click on the YouTube logo to watch them on YouTube.
FREEMASONRY TODAY - Summer 2004 - Issue 29 Reading through the Spring issue of Freemasonry Today I was delighted to see the photograph of the Reading Central band of the Salvation Army during its performance at the 2003 Family Festive Concert in the Grand Temple. This is the second such event they have supported....
Reading Central Band of the Salvation Army with some of the Chorus
The Grand Temple was the setting for the second Family Festive Concert, and the 750 Freemasons, family and friends who attended enjoyed an exciting and entertaining evening. Andrew Parmley and Bob Corp-Reader had pulled out all the stops to ensure that the evening cracked along at a tremendous pace, with something to delight everyone.
Frank Renton was kind enough to compere the event and, as before, the Reading Central Band of the Salvation Army soon had the audience on their feet, enthusiastically joining in much-loved, traditional carols. The Anglo-Sierra Leone Choir, ‘dedicated Masons with a passion for singing’, gave a delightful rendition of ‘Ding Dong Merrily on High’ and, together with the London Masonic Choir and the Harrodian School Choir, contributed individual pieces as well as supporting the audience. In keeping with the tradition of such occasions, there were four readings to balance the music, all on the theme of Christmas, but from very different angles. Louise Roper, Will Wadham, Russell Race and Sir Tim Rice selected and read some delightful pieces. Tim Rice is Vice-President of the Children’ s Country Holiday Fund, one of the charities that benefited from the evening.
Caboolture Lodge Australia
Tents for the local needy children.
19th March 2009 the Worshipful Master presented the Salvation Army with a cheque, which was organised by Wor. Bro. Dawson, to assist them in the purchase of two new tents.
These are for the use of their ‘Guarding And Legions Activities’ group who hold regular camps to give the local underprivileged children experience of the great outdoors. This group is open for any child between the ages of 5 – 17 with many coming from poor socio-economic situations. This donation was greatly helped by the Board of Benevolence through their ‘Dollar for Dollar’ subsidy.
Buckinghamshire Provincial Grand Lodge
David Malcolm Sawyer Provincial Grand Chaplain
A committed member of the Salvation Army and became a Full-time Minister.
This ‘work’ has been so very compatible with my religious duties, and the great joy for me has been that I have always been able to carry out those Masonic duties as if I was wearing the Salvation Army uniform ‘S’ insignia on my collar. There will inevitably be those who will say “Ah! But what about the Gospel of Christ – where does that fit into your belief as a Salvationist and your Masonic teaching!
Well, I don’t have a problem with that - but perhaps it could, or maybe should, be for a future discussion or article!
Homeland Security (USA) has in partnership (a player on the same team): The United States Postal Service and the Salvation Army. The Salvation Army’s mission is an International movement of the Universal Christian Church to preach the gospel (Good News) of Jesus Christ. My own assessment of Homeland Security is that it is unreliable at best and does not compare to ones own personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The reference to the Salvation Army as a partner is a cloak to conceal Homeland Security's own flaws. I do not say these things to cause offense or to dismiss the good that does come from their labor, but they are not operating by Christian teachings. The color warnings of potential terrorist attacks can easily be used to manipulate mass hysteria. There is reason that the Lord taught us that there is no fear in love!
The Honorable Thomas M. Davis III Congressman from Virginia, United States House of Representatives
On November 17, 2002, Dr. John W. Boettjer, 33°, G.C. (l.), Managing Editor of the Scottish Rite Journal, presented Ill. David Kruger, 33°, then S.G.I.G. in Virginia, a copy, mounted in gold on a walnut plaque, of a tribute to Ill. Kruger as printed in the Congressional Record of September 19, 2002 (Vol. 148, No. 119). Photo: Ill. George A. Page, 33°
Mr. DAVIS: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. David Kruger, an outstanding citizen of Alexandria, Virginia, who, for over half a century, has served his community and humanity in many ways.
His downtown Alexandria optometry office is a local landmark patronized by a wide clientele. In fact, Dr. Kruger was among the first healthcare professionals to open his office in a past era of discrimination to clients of every economic or social status and ethnicity. He is universally recognized as a leader in nearly every community cause and is honored by a caricature in an Alexandria restaurant as a leading citizen.
Active in a variety of civic causes in Alexandria, he is especially noted for his support of and leadership roles in such community groups as the Red Cross, Boy Scouts, United Givers Fund, Kiwanis (President 1960), and the Salvation Army.
Patrick Henry Callahan, a member from Boston who was active in the Democratic Party, worked through Secretary of War Newton D. Baker to get the centers approved. Callahan assured Baker, "There will not be any propaganda or the remotest sort of proselyting [sic]." In return Baker gave the Knights the same privileges that the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) had to establish nonsectarian service clubs. Between June 1917 and June 1919 hundreds of centers were established in the United States, France, Belgium, Italy, and Germany-places where thousands of Catholics received the sacraments and enjoyed recreational amenities. These canteens were affectionately called "Caseys" by additional thousands of non-Catholic servicemen who received succor and "spiritual comfort without evangelization" in the spirit for which the Order was well known.
Ibid., pp.197-198.
The importance of this program and its ecumenical approach was spelled out by Cardinal Gibbons on July 4, 1917. "1 want to congratulate the Order for ...caring for the temporal and spiritual wants of the soldiers, regardless of their creed or membership in your Order," Gibbons wrote to Supreme. "Your [service center program] should forever stamp [you] as men of practical forethought, timely patriotism, and true Christian charity." In 1918 Bishop Peter J. Muldoon of Rockford, chairman of the National Catholic Welfare Conference (NCWC), was charged with coordination of all war work by the Church. Bishop Muldoon was even more effusive in praising the service program, telling Supreme:
[You] are the most important body of Catholic laymen that has ever existed in this country.... The Catholic Church is looking to you to make a record, you Grand Knights of the Gospel of Jesus....The Knights of Columbus are doing a sacred work, a truly priestly work ....You are one in Christ and in His Prayer. You have behind you a united Catholic people. Therefore go forth for Jesus Christ and the Glory of the Church.
Ibid., letter from Gibbons, p.210, letter from Muldoon, p.219.
Such praise was sufficient to convince doubting Knights that the Order truly worked on behalf of God and Country. So after the Armistice in 1918 the Knights expanded their overseas operation to include occupation forces in Belgium, Italy, and Germany. Over the July 4 holiday in 1919 an ecumenical series of musical shows was presented in Antwerp. The theater was provided by the Catholic Knights, the entertainment by the Protestant YMCA, and the orchestra by the Jewish Welfare Board. It was said at the time that the YMCA gained fame through its canteen service, the Salvation Army through its coffee and donuts, and the Knights of Columbus through its sponsorship of athletic contests (boxing matches, basketball, and softball). In 1920 Secretary of War Newton Baker, a Mason, awarded the Distinguished Service Cross to Supreme Knight James Flaherty in recognition of contributions to the war effort by the Order.
Ibid., post-Armistice program, p.221, award to Flaherty, p.223.
Del Woodford and Kay Henderson from the Salvation Army (both left) gratefully accept a hamper of goodies from Lodge Lismore City United members Tom Maxwell and Ken Hirst, and Lodge Eltham member Fred Trow and his wife Maisie.
Local Freemasons from Lodge Lismore City United and Lodge Eltham have joined forces to help local families this Christmas, donating a hamper of goodies to the Salvation Army.
The members wanted to spread a little joy, and are well aware of how important the Salvation Army's Christmas Appeal is to local people struggling to make ends meet.
"All these small donations add up and at Christmas time we are able to feed about 80 families and distribute toys to around 250 kids," said Del Woodford from the Salvation Army. "There are lot of families that would otherwise have nothing and we couldn't continue our valuable work without this sort of support."
The donation is just one of the many ways local Freemasons support the community throughout the year. Younger men are always wanted to join the local Lodges and there are plenty of social and community activities new members can participate in. It's a great way to give something back to the community and new members will be made very welcome.
Wellington Villages Trust made presentation to the Board covering all Masonic Retirement Villages in the Central Division. It was stated that lack of Government funding was affecting the viability of the retirement Homes. It was noted that Presbyterians, Methodists, RSA, Salvation Army and some Catholic Orders have sold their retirement homes for this reason. Mr Warwick Dunn, Chief Executive for Wellington Villages Trust thanked Freemasons for their ongoing support.
The brethren of the Operative Lodge have left their mark all over the world. Their work is their legacy and here is but a few: The Paris Opera House, the entire Thames Embankment, the London Bridge (now in Nevada U.S.A.) the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the State Capital Building in Austin, Texas, the foundations and lower level of the Freemasons Hall Edinburgh. In the Granite City there is Union Street, the C.G.U. Building, the Town House, the Salvation Army Citadel, the Marschal College, which is the second largest granite building in the world. And finally, the Aberdeen Masonic Temple, who’s history is also outlined on this web site.
17th Masonic District Lends Support to Manning Salvation Army Kettle, Saturday, 4 December 2004
Members of the 17th Masonic District (Greater Portland) volunteered to assist the Salvation Army, Portland Corps with its Holiday fundraising efforts by manning a kettle for a 12 hour period at Shaw's Supermarket in Falmouth. Two Masons per one hour shift spanning the 12 hours is all it took. The Masons and one lady who volunteered their time enjoyed the interaction with the public and felt good about their contribution to the community and to the Salvation Army.
Photos by Brother A. James Ross
Daskam-Columbia Lodge No. 25 A. F. & A.M.
John Heacock (left) and Bob Nordstrom (right), two of the 11 brothers and 2 candidates of Daskam- Columbia Lodge No. 25 who staffed the Holiday Store with Jane King (center) of the Salvation Army.
Joe A. Williams of Oklahoma was installed Grand Secretary at the 84th Annual Session in Denver, Colorado on June 19, 2004.
Brother Williams was born on May 16, 1936 in Enid, Oklahoma. In 1952, Brother Williams joined Guyman Chapter DeMolay in Guymon, Oklahoma.
DeMolay Career - Community Activities
Long active in his community, Brother Williams is a Past President of Sand Springs Lions Club, Chamber of Commerce, Education Foundation, Salvation Army and Museum Trust Authority. He is an Honorary Chapter Farmer of FFA. He served on the Tulsa County Charter Commission and the United Way Board.
Staffing the phones for the Salvation Army's Coats for Kids telethon, officers and members of Lamberton Lodge No. 476, Lancaster, raised $8,620. Picking up on the spirit of giving, two months later the lodges of the 1st Masonic District contributed another $4,000 to the Salvation Army. At work by the phones at WGAL-TV, Lancaster, are the brethren of Lamberton Lodge (l-r): Front Edward R. Lloyd, Chaplain; James E. Gustafson, W.M.; Douglas M. Wiker, then-D.D.G.M.; Richard C. Bledsoe, P.M.; and R. Steven Sturdevant, S.W. Rear Charles E. Landis, P.M.; Lester Turner; Walter R. Mull, P.M.; Charles H. Rahe II, Treas.; and Charles Smithgall, who also is the Mayor of Lancaster.
All DeMolay chapters observe an annual "Day of Comfort" between Thanksgiving and Christmas to emphasize the needs of others. Each chapter has its own program of service. Typical projects include volunteering at a nursing home, raising money for local and national charities, community clean-ups and renewal work parties. To raise funds for charity, members participate in various sales, fairs and community festivals. They conduct walk-a-thons, bike-a-thons, all-night dances, and other programs to encourage donors to pledge charitable gifts. Some chapters work at telethons; others ring bells for the Salvation Army. Many chapters participate in food banks and clothing drives, while others volunteer with Habitat for Humanity.
Gallagher Bassett Services Gardner Marketing Group Garland ISD Garland Masonic Lodge Garland Space Center Gary's Quality Plumbing General Electric Company Gem Plus
In the cold that accompanied the December 20th snow storm, the volunteers from our Lodge found the warmth of holiday giving inside the Salvation Army Holiday Store at Somerset Square. On this morning, GPD dropped off the hundreds of unwrapped toys, which they had collected for distribution to help others have a happier holiday. Those shown are, from the left: John Heacock, Harold Rosenthal, Herb Grommeck and Arnie Grot.
After my contact with the Salvation Army they state:
From WebTHQ-Admin@salvationarmy.org.uk
Christianity has fundamental problems with Freemasonry. At its most basic level, any loyalty that claims to precede or conflict with a Christian's loyalty to Christ has no place in a Christian's life. Similarly, any way of life that would seek to put its own members' interests before those of other people in need does not square with Christ's teaching and example. Some Christians would go so far as to say that the lore of Freemasonry also exhibits elements of paganism.
As a Christian church, The Salvation Army prohibits its officers (ie full-time ordained ministers of religion) from membership of such secret societies. However, membership of the Freemasons is not at present explicitly proscribed for non-officer Salvationists (ie members of its worshipping congregations).
Salvation Army Webmail Administrator.
As the offical statement from the Salvation Army (USA): Unchristian organisations. Officers are not permitted to be members of any order, organisation, or secret society which requires that oaths be taken or credence be given to statements of belief, principle or practice clearly contrary to the spirit and teaching of Scripture.
Clearly this is a strange statement, the Salvation Army do not promote a true conservative Gospel message but a message that has been contaminated with ecumenism, freemasonry and various inter-faith groups.
