The Knights of Columbus in World War I

American Catholic History

Noelle & Tom Crowe

History, Christianity, Religion & Spirituality, Education

5 • 724 Ratings

🗓️ 15 November 2024

⏱️ 16 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

During World War I, the Knights of Columbus did more than anyone else — including the U.S. government — to help soldiers serving overseas, or even in remote parts of the U.S. Through their huts the “Caseys” distributed stationery, gum, playing cards, cigarettes, and so much more. Catholic soldiers could find the sacraments. "Everybody Welcome, Everything Free" was the motto, and they meant it. Everybody could come in to find a place to relax, read a book, play a game of cards, find counsel and solace, and have a bit of "home away from home." The huts also provided entertainment, sports tournaments and exhibitions. The Knights' efforts were the precursor to today's USO and the GI Bill. More than 100,000 of the soldiers who served during World War I were Knights, and both the first American soldier overall, an the final American officer to die in Europe during the Great War, were Knights of Columbus. The K of C was recognized by many for their contribution.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello and welcome to American Catholic history.
0:08.9	If you like our podcast, be sure to rate us and give us a review wherever you get your podcasts.
0:14.6	I'm Noelle Heister Crowe.
0:16.2	And I'm Tom Crowe.
0:17.3	Today we're talking about the Knights of Columbus and their remarkable work during World War I.
0:24.2	This is really a coming-of-age story for the Knights of Columbus. It was during this error that they really
0:30.5	asserted themselves as the most significant lay Catholic organization in the United States, if not the world.
0:37.3	Right. And not only did they do amazing things that Catholics took note of, Catholic organization in the United States, if not the world.
0:43.0	Right. And not only did they do amazing things that Catholics took note of, but some of the things they did during this period were later imitated by the government in big ways that
0:48.2	everyone knows about, but most probably don't know that the knights were doing those things
0:52.7	first. We'll talk a bit about those things, but as you'll hear in this episode,
0:57.2	there are many, many other stories about the nights that we'll have more to say about in the future.
1:03.2	Absolutely. There's just so many stories that off shoot.
1:06.1	It actually took some time to decide how to limit this episode to keep it, you know, relatively short.
1:11.6	Right. Well, let's keep it short and get into it. The Knights of Columbus were, of course,
1:17.0	founded in New Haven, Connecticut in 1882 by Father Michael McGivney, who has beatified in 2020.
1:24.3	Yes, he brought together men of his parish to form a society that would support fatherless
1:29.4	families, combat anti-Catholicism, and would provide Catholic men a social organization
1:35.5	that would prevent them from feeling the need to enter other fraternal organizations that
1:40.0	the church forbade membership in, like the Freemasons.
1:43.9	And it didn't take long for this organization
1:45.6	to spread across the country. The nights were also quick to establish from the get-go that they
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