Columbianism in, T ezas
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Scout organization would reach thousands of boys even below the age of twelve, placing them under Catholic leadership earlier, and bringing under Catholic guidance many who had not been attracted to the Colum- bian Squires. As far back as 1919, the Holy See had commended Catholic units among the Boy Scouts of America. His Eminence Cardinal Gaspard wrote the national Catholic War Council on October 7 of that year, "The Holy Father has learned with much interest and pleasure that steps have been taken to promote the formation of distinctively Catholic units among the Boy Scouts of the United States; that the movement has the approval and support of His Eminence Cardinal Gibbons and also of many Arch- bishops and Bishops." The National Council of Catholic Men, therefore, established at that time a Bureau for Catholic Extension. headed by Cardinal Hayes, to help Catholic clubs and organizations. A further boost was given the movement in 1932, when a national Catholic Committee on Scouting was established by the Hierarchy, con- sisting of nine Bishops, headed by the dynamic Bishop Kelley of Okla- homa. The A ltare Dei Award, originated in the Los Angeles Archdiocese, in connection with scouting and was adopted officially by the national officers of Scouting for Catholic scouts. Local councils of the Knights of Columbus in Texas have appointed Troop Committees to organize Catholic boys troops, an activity that has proved popular everywhere and benefited many of our boys. Work with the Boy·Scouts movement did not replace the original Boy Guidance program of the Knights. Rather, it strengthened it. In 1932, State Deputy Paul Kilday appointed Reverend Father E. V. Mooney, C.S.C., Director General of the reorganized Boy Guidance Committee, now renamed Boy Life Commission, a group much larger that included representatives from nineteen districts of the State Council. The leader- ship of Father Mooney and the enthusiasm and loyal cooperation of his program proved most fruitful. A Boys' Home. Deeply interested in underprivileged boys and the victims of environment, the Knights appointed a committee at the Dallas Convention in 1947 to study j uYenile delinquency and the feasibility of providing a home for underprivileged boys. It was fully realized that the undertaking would be an arduous task at best. When, in search of advice they turned to the hierarchy of the State, the Knights were told that the work contemplated was greatly needed and were realistically informed that it would involve a large initial outlay and a considerable
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