The Washington times., 1901-07-29

adopted by the National Board of Di-
rectors on December 9. 1889. This went
into effect on the installation of officers
for the year 1900
TO be eligible for the fourth degree
, members must have had the other three
for Two years, must be twenty-one years
old or more, of good financial and social
standing. and must be vouched for in
writing by their pastor as practical Cath
olics. This last clause, and. in fact, the
new degree, was aimed at the backsiiders
who had got into the organization without
compliance with the requirements as to
the Sacraments
Those in the fourth degree are the elite
of Thc body. carry swords and are tricked
out in other regalia, and 1t was asserted
when IL was instituted that the fourth
degree will he one of the most elaborate
and expensive examples of degree work
eXemplifled by any secret society in this
country. =
The first exemplifcation took place in
this city on February p 1900 1t can only
be exemplitied on six days of the year
Lincoln's Birthday, Washington's Birth
day Decoration Day, Fourth of July, Oc-
tober II columbus Day), and Thanks
giving Day. Only ten members from each
council were allowed to have the privilege
of applying for the fourth degree.
From the little Connecticut parish of
its origin in 1852 the Knights spread slowly
to other towns in the State, and then
Rhode Island Joined. followed by Massa-
chusetts, the factory towns supplying ma
terial.- In 1882 the first councils were or
ganized in Maine and New Hampshire.
II was not until the spring of 1895 that
the first New York State council came into
existence, and with this the real boom
of the organization began.
Much OF. its success and rapid. growth
has been due to the organizing abilities
and ceaseiess zeal of John j. Delaney.
who is known all over the Jnited States
as the champion worker of the ritual and
promoter of councils. The national head
quarters is at New Haven Conn. and the
government a
composed of delegates from the various
States in which the knights are repre-
sented. The national officers are su-
preme Knight, who gets salary of 1880
year; deputy supreme knight. a sec
retary, treasurer, physician, advocate, or
sanizer, warden, chaplain, and spiritual
The possibilities of the society were ap-
parent at an early day TO the politicians
In many cities, they are 10 be found
largely on the froll of its membership.
the administration of Supreme Knight
John j. Cone, of Jersey City in the years
lS9S-3. He expected to be reelected to
office as a reward for his success, but at
the meeting of the national body held in
March, 1900. the politicians from New
YORK and those from some of the New
England States opposed him, and the
office was given TO Edward l. Hearn. of
South birmingham. Mass. The other ma
uonal officers are Deputy Knight John
w: Hogan, Syracuse, n. Y; National Sec
retary, Daniel. Cowell. New Haven,
Conn: National Treasurer. p. j. Grady,
Cleveland, Ohio; National Advocate,
James E.. Mcconnell, Fitchburg Mass !;
National Warden, Matthew Mcnamara,
New London. Conn: National Chaplain,
Rev p. j. McGivney, Middletown, Conn,
a brother of the founder: National Physi-
clan, NJ. I. McMannis, New York City.
AT this meeting it was stated that the
membership consisted of 3o.436 insured and
1926 associate members, total gain
during the year of 12.10S members There
were then 539 councils, in which New
York leads, with 16i and a membership
OF 1850. Massachusetts came next, with
120 councils.
Last month Charles Weber, of Brook
lyn, one of the national directors. while
on a visit to ireland. organized council
in Dublin and thus began the first inter-
national scheme of affiliation. The Euro
pean Bishops, who are very chary of
American innovations in Church influ-
ence and procedure, can be relied on TO
back up Bishop Janssens enquiry at
Rome if the progress of the Knights
shows any Indications of immediate
prominence within their jurisdiction.