The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1910-11-05

E IRISH STANDARD. SATURDAY
l.. has the distinction of being the
first to be instituted outside of Con-
necticut. This council was instituted
in April, 1886, by Supreme knight
Mullen and was largely due to an
accident. 1t was originally intended
to locate the council in Stonington,
Conn.,, but few days prior to the
date set for the institution serious
fire destroyed the only public hall
in the town and the parties interested
were obliged to cross the river to
Westerly.
The work progressed principally In
Connecticut until April, 1892, when
the first council in Massachusetts, was
organized in Charlestown, there being
at that time So councils in Connecti-
cut, in Rhode Island and one in New
York. The historic name of Bunker
Hill was chosen for the first council
in the Bay state, and the date of its
institution really marks the begin
ming of the great growth of the order.
The charter members of this pio-
neer council in Massachusetts were
James H. Conley, John H. Black, Ed
win w. Dunn, Thomas Harrison Cum
mings, James E. Hayes, Joseph j.
Corbett, Philip j. Doherty, DR.. John
Duff, John H. OCallaghan, William
IT, Doherty, William H. Hayes, Hum
phrey J. Sullivan, William e. Daley,
Frank Meehan, William H. Townsend,
John F. Donovan, William H. Marnell,
son, John P. Reardon, John F. Bren-
nan, Edward F. Cronin, Edward M.
Conley, James F. Mahoney, Eugene s..
Sullivan, David B. Shaw, William j.
Dover, William H. Breen, James w.
O'Brien, John ]. O'Callaghan, Michael
f. Shaw, John T. Hayes, John G. Kerr
and James F. Coughlin. James H.
Conley was chosen the first grand
knight of the council, and to him and
his little spartan band of knights is
due in no small degree credit for the
magnificent organization of more than
10000 members in Massachusetts
today.
From that time down to the pres.
ent day the history of the knights of
Columbus has been one of remarkable
| growth and success. From fts IL
members at the time it's charter was
granted in 1882 it spread rapidly to
the other states until it has grown
to an organization of nearly 250,O00
with councils in every state and ter
ritory of the United States, every one
of the Canadian provinces, Mexico
Cuba, Porto Rico Panama, and even
the faraWay Philippine islands. There
are 1,450 subordinate councils today
The reason for it's exuberant growth
and strong financial standing may be
found in the superior business meth
DDS of the organization. 1t is vel
understood that, the rates of fra
ternal insurance organization are fire
quently so low that the paying O.
benefits is at a steady loss and the
societies are saved from bankruptcy
by recruiting new members, but f:
disastrous end is inevitable. The
Knights of Columbus, like most o
the others, were carrying on business
at loss and men entered the order
not considering it a profitable bust
I ness venture, but because they ap
proved of and wished to further tn,
work it was doing. Realizing all this
some years ago, the insurance rate
were revised, statistics studied ant
the advice of professional actuarie'
followed, and today the order is in tn,
position that even should enthusiasm
eventually die out to such an extern
that enrolment among the knights
be unsought, which seems very un
likely, the order will still be in posi-
ton to honorably fulfil all of its
financial obligations.
That the knights of Columbus ha
not confined it's efforts for good t,
it's own membership is shown from tn
fact that since it's institution the OF
der has given it's best efforts to tn
defense and protection of Catholi
doctrine, the advancement of educs
ton, the protection of the faith an
the material welfare of orphans an
neglected children who become publ
wards, the care of the sick, the al
> of the unemployed, and has at al
: times endeavored to perpetual
among it's members, in all their work
the fundamental principles of charity
Gift of $4,000.
In 1904 the order presented to tn
Catholic university at Washingto
l $4,000 for the founding of a chair @