Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-19
COLUMBUS CLUB
MAY TAKE OVER
THE INSTITUTE
Merger of K. of C. Organization
With Old Cathedral So
ciety Proposed.

Efforts to consolidate in the near
future the Columbus Club and the
Young Mems Catholic Association
ore being made by representatives of
the two organizations The Column
bus Club is composed of the 1900
local members of the knights of CO.
lumbus. The Young Mems Catholic
Association is popularity known as
the Catholic Institute, and had its
Headquarters at &c New street for
many years. 1t is the oldest organl-
zntion for Catholic young men in the
United States.
In the event of the proposed con-
eolidation being effected the Colum-
bus Club will move from its present
headquarters at $50 Broad street at
the expiration of it's present lease
to the Institute building
The Columbus Club has had plans
under way for several months to
erect a large clubhouse in the CEN
trial section of Newark. 1t was pro-
posed to spend $4,000 on the struc-
tiire. A campaign was begun ana
more than 100000 has been SUB
scribed. The building would nave
been under way this fall, but the un-
expected stringency in the money
market prevented the taking UP OF
the required loan.
In the event of the Institute build
ing being taken over by the knights
OF Columbus the acquired property
will be utilized until the proper time
to go ahead with the new clubhouse
project.
The Catholic Institute was founded
about sixty years ago by the late
Bishop Bernard ]. McQuaid, OF Roch-
ester, He was then rector of st. Pat
rick's Cathedral, this city. At that
time the cathedral parish was the
centre of activity for nearly all the
social affairs of the Catholic young
men and young women of Newark
and vicinity.
Monsignor whelan is Head.
The Institute" building and land is
now owned by Bishop OConnor ana
the Catholic Diocese OF Newark r,s
Monsignor I. p. Whelan, rector of st.
Patrick's Cathedral, is president and
Bernard NJ Stanley, jr., Vice-presi-
dent of the association.
Monsignor Whelan is n strong au-
vocate of concentration of all the
Catholic young mems lyceums, CLUBS
and associations into one body to do
more effective work.
When seen today, Monsignor Whe-
Ian said that while he had heard or
the merger plan unofflcially, no ac-
tion had been taken by either the
Institute or by the knights of Column
bus. The plan had been talked over
by individuals of both organizations,
he said. but nothing had been done.
The arrangement, he said he thought
would be beneficial to both parties
It would fit In perfectly with his
theory that better work could be done
by centreing activities instead OF
spreading them out In numerous
small branches in the various
marshes, he declared
The Catholic Institute" is situated
about $50 feet west of Washington
street on the north side of New street
The building is three stories in height
and contains hall or auditorium,
library, game rooms, pool and billiard
rooms. bowling alleys. rifle ranges,
gymnasium, meeting rooms and 'ot-
fees. 1t has frontage of DO feet on
New street and depth of about 100
feet.
Leading Catholic Club.
The Young Mems Catholic Insti-
tute has occupied its present quarters
for about fifty-eight years. For near
ly a half century Ii was, perhaps the
leading Catholic club in the diocese, If
not in the State. 1t was among the
members of the Institute that the
plan to form a national union OF
Catholic mems clubs was conceived,
and through the efforts of local men
the Catholic Young Mems National
Union was formed in this city, and is
still in existence. Timothy ]. Ryan,
one of the first members of the club,
who took a prominent part In this
and other young mems activities. is
still an active member of the 1nsti-
tute.
OF late years the clab has not
enjoyed the popularity of its younger
days, principally because of the es-
Establishment of parish clubs and or
ganizations throughout Newark that
drew away the members of the In
stitute. Before the establishment OF
these clubs the Institute had large
membership roll and the clubhouse
was always crowded. For many years
the members of the Institute pub
lished the official Catholic paper OF
the diocese, called the Institute Ga
zette. but this was dropped when
another Catholic paper came into be-
ing to give the latter clear field.
Many prominent city officials, pro-
fessional and business men are for
fner members or still connected with