The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1910-11-05
HISTORY OF THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS.

HISTORY :NNll Of
The knights of Columbus, which to-
day is admitted to be one of the fore
most fraternal and social organiza-
tions in the world, and which was the
dominating influence in bringing
about the establishment of Columbus
day as legal holiday in is states
of the union, had rather a simple be-
ginning. but its wonderful growth and
magnificent achievements long ago
justified its existence and proved be-
yond question that it's founders build
ed better than they knew, says the
Boston Globe of Sunday, October 2.
The writer continues:
There have been many speculations
and theories as to the origin and in
ception of the knights of Columbus,
but most of them have no foundation
in fact. There are really few men
living today who are qualified to write
an authentic history of the order, from
actual participation in its struggle
for existence and subsequent sue
cess. Without doubt the best equip
ped man to perform this service is
Daniel Colwell of New Haven, Conn.,,
who ia one of the men instrumental
in founding the organization, it's ma
tional secretary, almost from its in
ception until little over year ago
and who today occupies the position
of national historian. He is one of
its four surviving original incorporat-
ors and sponsor for most of the facts,
relative to the establishment of the
order. contained herein.
In order to explain the semimilitary
character of the knights of Columbus
it is necessary to 60 back several
years prior to its real institution, that
events leading up to that date may be
fully understood, and to refer to sew
eral events that had an important
bearing upon its conception and ulti.
mate formation.
The first of these, in 1856, was the
election of Gov. Minor by the know
nothing party In the state of Connecti'
cut. Immediately upon his assuming
ofiice he issued an order disbanding
all military companies in the service
Of the state who were composed OF
Irishmen or the sons of Irishmen, on
the ground that Irish soldiers were
not loyal to the state or country. His
orders were carried out, and for a
period of nine years following there
was not militia company of the Irish
race in the service of the state.
The memory of that wanton action
was deep seated and bitter-the ale
cation that a brave, generous, patri
otto people were not loyal to the Am
erican flag was as maliciously false
and SO brazenly stated that it stag
gered the leading men of the Catholic
faith. The governors action was
however, somewhat softened by the
sturdy manhood of Hon. John c. Hol
lister, the adjutant general of the
state, who steadfastly refused to obey
the mandate and resigned his position
rather than attach his signature tt
such an unjust order. 1t is almos
inconceivable that such an actor
could have taken place in that intelli
gent little commonwealth which ha
since given to the world one of tn
most successful fraternal, social an,
patriotic organizations in existence
At the close of the civil war, wa
in which nearly every Catholic fam
lily in the north made heroic sacr
fees, thousands of young Catholic
men returned from the army and nav
after years of faithful service, an e,
perienced, seasoned lot of soldiers Q
which any nation might we'll be proud
Their return revived the old militar
spirit that had been so rudely assaile
In 1856. Buckingham, who at tina
time was governor of Connection
knew the value of Catholic soldier
and with a desire to, so far IA lay i
his power, make amends for the mis-
take Of his predecessor in office, an
as an acknowledgment of the spler
did service given by the Catholi
soldiery, sent an invitation to the r,
turned soldiers to form company
be attached to the national guard {
Conneo6cs~. His Irritation was a,
cepted.
Is Conspicuous amonA Ne me
who attended the first meeting calle
for this purpose was the late Jane
T. Mullen, who later became tn
first grand knight as we'll as the fir