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

Colwell was commissioned to draw up
the articles for presentation to the
legislature, then in session.
A few days later the articles of
incorporation were presented to the
legislature at Hartford and referred
to the committee on interpretations.
On reaching the committee it was
found that they were not in complete
accord with the requirements of the
laws of the state, the defect lying in
not specifying the right to acquire
and hold real estate. Finally this
matter was fixed up and on March 20,
1882, the petition, as amended, was
granted.
On April IL, 1882, the most import
ant meeting up to that time was held
in Tyler's hall, Chapel st. There was
very large attendance of prospect
i've members. Among the many mat
tiers of importance disposed of at this
meeting was the election Of officers,
and as titles had not as yet been
adopted for the various offices the us.
ual designations were followed. Those
chosen to hold Office until the first
meeting in May were James T. Mullen,
pres, John T. Kerrigan, vice pres,
Rev. Michael J. Mckinney, cor. sec.,
John F.. O'Brien, rec Sec, James T.
Mcmahon, fin. Sec, Michael Curran,
treas, Cornelius T. Driscoll, advo-
cate, Rev. P. P. Lawler, chaplain,
Daniel Colwell, lecturer and DR.. M.
c. O'Connor, medical examiner. This
was the first set of>off1cers ever elect
ed by the knights of Columbus.
Charter List Of Order.
At this meeting it was also decided
that the following names would con-
stitute the charter list of the order:
Rev. M. ]. McGiveny, James T. Null
len, Daniel Colwell, John T. Kerrigan,
William M. Geary, James T. McMa-
hon, c. T. Driscoll, Michael Curran,
John Tracy, H. P. Keeney, Thomas
Leddy, William H. Selwood, F. D.
Cook, Patrick Madden, George D.
Cook, James Clancy, Peter Clancy,
Rev. P. P. Lawlor, P. H. Cosgrove,
Thomas ]. Dunlia, John r. O'Brien,
Thomas McCurry and Michael Turbet.
Committees on ritual, constitution,
hall and other matters had been ap-
pointed and were working diligently
to conclude their labors that the or
ganization might be perfected.
At the time the charter was grant
ed there were but II members to the
society, and Of this number only four,
Daniel Colwell. DR.. M. c. O'Connor,
William T. Geary and Cornelius T.
Driscoll survive. The name chosen
for the first council was San Salvador
one particularly appropriate for a
Catholic society. Although chartered
as an insurance organization, those
who founded the order had higher
motives in view, and at the very out
set determined that it should be
founded on a trinity of virtues, char
itv unity and brotherly love. The
unf1agging zeal, undaunted adherence
to principle and undying faith in thei,
cause, enabled the small band Of
Catholic gentlemen to establish or
firm and enduring principles the great
order, which today embraces within
its ranks about quarter of a million
members.
The committee on ritual consisted
OF five members, but the work of pre-
pairing the ceremonial of the new
order finally devolved upon DAME
Colwell and James r. Mullen. Mr.
ColWell gave considerable thought
and attention to this feature of the
organization and essayed severa
times to hit upon the proper theme
only to tear the effort up and consigr
it to the waste basket. Finally, almos
IN despair, he went to Mr.. Muller
and advised him of his futile effort,
to evolve anything that looked prom
Using, but the optimism of the latte
overcame his fears, and with the ali
of some suggestions which he gave
Mr.. Colwell in a few days submit
ted new draft of the first degree
This manuscript was adopted by tn,
committee, and it is tribute to tn,
} ability of both these gentlemen tina
, 1t stood without change, as original,
, written, until the fall of 1892, a perio,
, of 10 years. Such is the early histor,
of the knights of Columbus.
The second council to be institute,
was Silver City council at Meriden OF
May 16, 1888, and this was followe,
by Forest City at Middeltown, Conn
in October of the same year. Thi
was followed by the formation IF th