New Britain herald., 1914-05-12
KNIGHTS OF COLUNDUS| IN ANNUAL SESSION
s ate C9uel Delegates AsSemb ( at Cftc..W oh and Elect CfiterS.

Greenwich Conn.,, May 12.-The state council. Knights of Colusabus. ceived reports of the years work, and chose officers for the coming year. Before the session opened the \ delegates and visitors to the council attended high mass at St. Msry's' church, and listened to a sermon by the pastor, Rev. F. J. Murphy Inn mediately after this service the coun-a cil was called to order at the town hall by State Deputy William J. Null ligan of Thompsonville. In present. ing his report the state deputy said, that the work of the past year was the most productive of many years.
 Spirit Is Unsurpassed ig
 Notwithstanding the fact that the opportunities for establishing new councils in Connecticut for the pres ent, at least are few" he said, i've can point to spirit existing among members which is not surpassed by any state or country possessing q Knights of Columbus council. Your state officers entered upon this years work with a determination to make every member feel the importance of being an active one. How well thes state officers have succeeded is indi- cated by our large net increase in membership. ~s
 Let me remind you of the watch fulness and wisdom displayed by our supreme officers in their effort to have excluded from the mails the scurrilous sheets which, not only libelJ our church and our order, but seek to 2 tear down the very principles upon which our government was founded. How we'll they have undertaken the arduous task of combating an evil which, if it gained headway, would threaten the civilized world, is known to us all. fe
 Catholic University Fund. 8r.
 "The accomplishments of the past year will be remembered, but per- haps the one achievement surpassing all others was the presenting of the $500,000 to the Catholic University at Washington. Connecticut did remark ably well in contributing toward this fund, but it must be remembered that the expense incident to the collecting of this money must be paid. Several councils in Connecticut have as yet failed to take favorable action on the matter and as the amount stiIl due from Connecticut is $1,7e1.26. II Aear- nestly request that such councils as are in arrears will see that their pro- portion is sent to the supreme secre- tary not later than July @15. The total amount paid by Connectfcut xl,& Sl1,450.ps.' 's9~1 @%f. an @e tf Afs sF
 Consolidation Of Councils.
 Reference was made to the work of the lecture bureau, and to the lecturer, Rev. William A. Keefe, pastor of St. Johns church, Plainfield, who, the state deputy said, as lecturer of the Connecticut fourth degree district. "has been untiring in his work of further advancing the cause of our crder;" and also to the S1,000 given. ty the Knights to the St. Agnes fund, which Bishop Milan is raising to es- tablish a children's home. Taking up the question of consolidation of councils, the state deputy said that the iGea of consolidating councils in cities possessing more than one coun- cil has gained considerable headway 0ur1ng the past year. New f1ANen and Meriden," he said, have taken the lead in this movement, for in both places actual amalgamatiion to very large extent has taken place. The councils in New Britain, Hartford and Bridgeport have discussed the plan of amalga mating and eventually 1t will come to pass in each of these places Consolidation of councils cannot be toov urgently pressed and the earlier the councils in these cities decide to con- solidate the better it will be for the order"
 Present Membership 10000.
 The present membership of the order in the state, the deputy said. in. round numbers is 10000. During the year $50 had been received as ,, members, making a total net gain of 607, which is 317 more than last year.
 On the matter of districts the deputy said that Connecticut is divided into fourteen, with total of seventy councils, but that the new rule re- gently tablished by the board of di- rectors to the effect that each dis trict should comprise not less than four councils. will necessitate a few changes in the district lines. This matter, he said, will no doubt be adjusted as speedily as possible and to the satisfaction of most members.