The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1900-02-17
DENVER.
) . . 90. . . Z: . : . 9 . . . . :
Office of Intermountain Catholic, 400
Charles Block, 18th and Cur
tbs Streets.
THE CATHOLIC MUTUAL BENE-
FIT ASSOCIATION.
A Comprehensive Sketch of the Noble
Order


task for one interested in any Ofganl-
cation that supplies the many adVan-
tages the c. NJ. b. A. does, and which
defines its objects in its constitution
TO be the Improvement of the moral,
mental and social condition of its mem
bers and the educating them in integ-
rity, sobriety and frugality, and to en-
deavor To make them contented with
their position in life, and to aid and
assist members or their families in case
Of death.
On Sunday, July 2. 1876, a meeting of
the Catholic men of St, Mary's parish,
Niagara Falls, n. Y, was held in the
school house hall pursuant to the re-
quest Of the pastor, Rev. p. A. Moynl-
han. for the purpose of forming a So
ciety which would bring all his people
together in one association, whose OBJ
jects would be charitable and beneh-
cial. A temporary organization was
formed with Mr.. John Clifford preSld-
ing, with John j. Mcintyre as secretary
and James Martin as treasurer. Many
meetings of this temporary organiza-
tiOn were held during the months OF
July. August, September, October and
November of that year. for the purpose
of making the arrangements necessary
to perfect the organization. A commit
tee on preparing constitution ana code
of bylaws ha6 been appointed at tbs
September meeting such committee
consisted Of Joseph McKenna, j. j. Nc
Intyre, John Clifford, James McGraW
and Sebastian Geyer.
At meeting held Oct. Is, 1876, the
committee on constitution, through It's
chairman, Joseph McKenna, submitted
a draft of the proposed constitution and
bylaws. in which the proposed society
was styled the Catholic Insurance So
cety" and at that meeting the new
constitution. as reported by the COM
mittee, was adopted.
The pastor. Rev P. A Moynihan. as
sisted by the Very Rev. r. +. v Rice,
president of the Seminary of our Lady
Of Angels at Suspension Bridge, n. Y,
were the moving spirits in the work OF
arranging the details of the plan of the
proposed society. The matter was laid
before the lamented Rt. Rev. S V.
Ryan. the bishop of the diocese of Buf-
falo. who made a thorough inyestiga-
tion of the aims and purposes of the
proposed society, and the result OF this
investigation was his hearty approval OF
the plan of the society. that 1t had his
warmest support, as it gave satisfac-
tory guarantee Of its future usefulness
and efficiency.
In the latter part of October, 1876, the
constitution, which had been adopted
at the meeting of Oct. Is, was submit
ted to Bishop Ryan for his approval.
The Bishop carefully examined the con-
stitution submitted to him, and on Dec.
l. 1876 retuFned the same to the
Branch, suggesting several practical
amendments. bat substantially ap-
proving the plan of the constitution as
a whole. except the name, and in his
own handwriting erased the name
Catholic Insurance Society,"" substi-
tuting therefor the name Catholic Mu-
tual Benefit Association The sug-
gestions made by the Bishop were
unanimously Incorporated in the con-
stitution and bylaws. and on Dec. l,
1876, the constitution of the Catholic
Mutual Benefit Association was adopt
ed Thus it viii be seen that the name
we are so proud of, c. NJ. B. A.-Cath-
olc Mutual Benefit Association-was
given by Bishop Ryan and adopted
Dec. !, 1876.
The Bishop showed his faith and be
lief in the new association by becom- /
ing a member of Branch >, Lockport !
y. Y, Oct. 9, 1877, there being no
Branch at that time in Buffalo, his ca
thedral city.
On Dec. l. 1876, when the new consti- |
tuition and bylaws were unanimously |
adopted and the new organization was /
named the Catholic Mutual Benefit AS |
sOciation. it had membership of fifty |
seven and a beneficiary fund of S57-$1 /
from each member This charter MEM /
bership consisted of Rev. 2. A. Moyni- |
han, John Clifford, Sebastian Geyer, J. |
J. Mcintyre, James Martin. Michael |
Maloney, Patrick Glynn. James O'Bri- /
en-, Michael Power. James Nolan, owen |
McCabe. John Sullivan Michael Quinn, /
Charles Mcdonald. Patrick j. Moakler. !
William Dinan, Patrick Butler. James !
McGraw, John Collins. Joseph McKen- /
ma, Thomas Stapeton, Thomas Kenne-
dy, Patrick Curry, Thomas Crehan, I
Robert Ferguson, jr., Thomas Neville, /
Dennis Sullivan, John O'ROurke, Mar
tin McInerney. John Hayes. Thomas
Durkin, owen O'Brien, Daniel Barrett.
Philip Reitz, Martin Connolly, John |
Murphy, Patrick Walsh, Jacob Poetz, !
William Fehily, John J. Reilly, Patrick
Graham, John CaffTey, John Flaherty, !
John Donnelly. Patrick Whalen, Pat
rick Dolan, Dennis Cullen, Anthony
Biron, Joseph Girard. Patrick Fleming,
James Lenehan. Cornelius Burns. John
Clune. Henry Mcbride, Patrick Conroy, t
james Hannon. Patrick Henry. all be-
ing residents Of the village of Niagara
Falls, N. y. The Association at that
meeting proceeded to elect permanent
officers pursuant to the provisions OF
the constitution just adopted. The re-
suit was the election of the following
officers:
President-Daniel Barrett.
Vice President-Michael Powers and J.
James McGraw.
Treasurer-Patrick Walsh
Recording Secretary-J. J. Mcintyre
Assistant Recording Secretary
Thomas Durkin.
Financial Secretary-Jacob Poetz
Marshal-Owen McCabe.
Guard-Dennis Cullen.
Directors-John Clifford. Sebastian
Geyer, James Martin, Patrick Curry I
and James Hannah.
The charter members who are vet liV-
ing are as follows: John Clifford. Sebas-
tian Geyer, James Martin. Patrick
Glynn, John Sullivan, Charles A. Nc
Donald, Patrick J. MOakler James Nc
Graw, Joseph McKenna, Thomas Cree
han, Robert A. Ferguson. Thomas Ne
vile, Philip Reitz Jacob Poetz William
Feeheley. John FlaheTty John j. Reil-
ley. Patrick Whalen and thirty seven
charter members who are now dead.
on Dec. q. 1873, at Niagara Falls,
a Grand Council was formed, being the
first Grand Council. and was named the
Grand Council Of New York, to which
all branches subsequently instituted
would be subordinate
The elected officers of this first Grand
Council were:
Grand Spiritual Adviser, Rev. P. A.
Moynihan.
Grand President. Daniel Barrett.
G-and Vice Presidents. John Clifford.
Sebastian Geyer
Grand Treasurer, James Nolan h
Grand Secretary, Joseph HcKenna.
Grand Marshal. Michael Powers.
Grand Guard. Dennis sullivan.
Directors, John Clifford, Sebastian
Geyer, James Martin, Antoine Biron
and James McGraw.
Branch ,, Suspension Bridge and
Branch 3, Lockport. We're instituted in
the month of March, 1877. and Branch
4, at Titusville, Ia, June l, 1877.