The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-08-08

ING OF THE KNIGHTS OF CO
LUMBUs Its PURPOSE ANE
Observation-Disclosures Off
GERS AND DIRECTORS ST
PAUL COUNCIL, THE FIRST IN
THE WEST-ITS PRESENT STA
TUs-SPEclAL WORK OF THE
KNIGHTS FOR EDUCATION.
The Knights of Columbus, one oil
the largest and strongest fraternal so
cieties in the world, was founded in
New Haven, Conn. on February 2
1882, chiefly through the efforts of the
Reverend Michael j. McGivney, who
was then stationed at ST. Mary's par.
ish in that city. The charter members
of the order were, in addition to Fa-
ther McGivney, Daniel Colwell, James
T. Mullen, Cornelius T. Driscoll, DR..
M. c. OConnor William Geary, John
Tracy, Michael Tracy, John T. Kerri-
gan, P. H. Cosgrove, Michael Curran,
Rev. p. p. Lawlor, Patrick Madden, J.
T. Mcmahon and William H. Sellwood
From this small beginning, this group
of fifteen men who at one time consti-
tuted the entire membership of the
organization, it has grown during a
period of thirty-two years to an asso-
citation which numbered on June 30,
1914, 326,S5S members.
From it's original field of operation,
the city of New Haven, it has spread
over every state of the Union, every
province of the Dominion of Canada,
Newfoundland, Cuba, Porto Rico, Mex
leo, the Canal Zone, and the far-off
Philippine Islands. Recently, coun-
Gil was established in Alaska and ar
rangements are being made to give
the order permanent foothold in
South America. The original council
established in New Haven and known
as San Salvador Council No. 1, has
increased to 1870, forty,seven of which
were added during the past year.
Preliminary Efforts.
The work of organizing the Knights
of Columbus was beset with many diff
culties. The original idea of Father
McGivney was to establish an organi-
zation of Catholic young men of high
character and intelligence who would
cooperate with the clergy in further
ing the interests of the Church. Little
did he dream that the seed of Colum-
bianism which he planted in New HaV-
en- would produce such bountiful
harvest. Nothing short of prophetic
vision could have enabled him to
see that the society which he pro
jected would become the parent of
an international organization which in
less than third of a century would
comprise within it's ranks more than
a third of million Catholics.
It's beginnings were very humble.
In the fall of 1881 a local society,
known as est Joseph's. Young Men"
of New Haven, of which Father Nc
Givney was chaplain, desired to join
an association of national extent. Eff
forts were made to affiliate in body
with the Ancient Order of Foresters,
but this did not meet with the ap-
proval of the Right Reverend Bishop
Mcmahon of Hartford. Shortly after
this, Father McGivneys attention was
called to a local literary association
of Catholic young men, known as the
Red Knights" who were making an
effort to reorganize their association
on broader lines, and overtures were
made to them with the result that, on
January 16, 1882, meeting was held
at 157 Church Street, New Haven, at
which representative of the Red
knights met Father McGivney and a
number of Catholic young men. The
idea was to establish a protective fra
ternal order and affiliate it with the
Massachusetts Catholic Order of For
esters The attempt failed.
Organized in 1882.
Father McGivney was not discour.
aged. He took up the matter
with renewed energy and another
meeting was called a week later at
which James j. Mullen presided and
William M. Geary was appointed sec
retary pro tenn. 1t was unanimously
decided that a new independent orig
inal organization be established and a
committee on permanent organization
was appointed which met on February
2 at which the chief topic of dis
cussion was the name to be given
to the new society. Father McGiv
ney suggested "Sons of Columbus
as indicative of the American Catholic
character of the proposed organization
Mr.. Mullen proposed the name
knights of Columbus" which was
finally adopted. 1t was decided tt
prepare a ceremonial with dignifieC
and impressive initiation based upol
educational lines, and having for it
theme Catholic American achieve
ments conveying lessons of fidelity t.
Church and States This was done ant
on March 20, 1882, the Connection
LEGISLATURE granted charter to th'
new society, whose specific purpos'
was to bring into existence a Catholic
fraternal organization which woult
have an uplifting influence on the live
of Catholic men socially, which woult
coordinate the efforts of successful
CATHOLIC men in order that they nigh
the better promote the cause OF char
ity and education and, through the in
surance department. furnish at leas
temporary financial aid to the familie