Norwich bulletin., 1914-03-02
Especial To The Builetin)

meeting this afternoon in the assembly rooms of the National headquarters building in this city. The meeting was called by the Master of the district, John M. Lee of Norwich, and was for the purpose of making arrangements for the exemplification of the degree to be held in this district on Sunday May 31st. There were in attendance from Norwich, John Nj. Lee and Charles o. Murphy, master and seer tary. respectively of the district and William P. McGarry, representing Rev. Daniel Mailer Assembly of Norwich Every assembly in the district was represented and a great deal was &C., conphshed in the way of planning for the exempli1cation and it Is expected that 1t will be the most successful af- fair ever held in Connecticut. The re- ports of the various officers showed that the affairs of the district were in excellent condition, practically every section having an effective organize ton along the lines laid down by the Supreme officers.
 There was a general discussion re- garding the most desirable place for holding the next exemplffcation and after getting the sentiment of the del- egates it was decided to hold it in Waterbury.
 prominent members of this section of the order who were in attendance and the consensus of opinion was that it was one of the best district meetings ever held In Connnecticut.
 Delegations Present.
 The following delegates were in at tendance Bridgeport, R. T. Rock, John J. Conway and George T. Kelly; Green wich, John J. McDonnell; Hart ford, William V. Callins and James Roach: Meriden, P. T. O'Brien: Mid dlatnun TOh7 MO(xixrn1y Quirk; New Haven, John c. Riley, NJ. F. Campbell, John J. Berigan and John J .Turbett; New Britain, William F. Troy; New London, M. J. Sullivan; Norwich, William P. McGarry; Nor walk, James P. Sheridan; Rockville, NJ. J. Conway; Waterbury, Dr. G. L. Par fridge and William F. Ryan; State Deputy, William J. Muliigan, who was to represent Thompsonville was un- avoidably detained. Following the meeting the delegates were the guests of the Knights of Columbus of New Haven.
 District Masters Report.
 The report of the master, John M Lee, was in part as follows:
 To the Delegates to the District As
 sembly, Fourth Degree Section
 Knights of Columbus:
 Any report which I might make as master of this district must of neces-
 
 work which has been assigned this section of the order has not yet at tained the importance which it will eventually acquire when we as an or ganlzauon realize the latent possibih- ties Of .. body of Catholic men banded together for the purpose of eIevating the standards of American citizenship.
 Perfeetns Organization.
 Last year the district assembly was lad hAc h <l; 5 to be any work of urgent importance requiring it's attention. Following my appointment as master, the work that impressed me as being most urgent was to perfect the organization in this district. To assist in that work. named an advisory committee, consist ing Of one member from each of the eight counties in the state. as follows: Fairfield county, George T, Kelly of Bridgeport; Hartford county, William V. Collins of Hartford; Litchfield coun- ty, F. H. Walsh of New Hartford: New Haven county, Judge D. J. Slavin Of Waterbury; New London county, Will liam P. McGarry of Norwich; Middle sex county. pr. James Murphy of Mid dletown; Holland county. Michael J.. Conway of Rockville; Windham coun- ty, P. J. Hurlihe of Willimantic.
 A meeting was called in New Ha- ven, with full attendance Of tae members of the committee. The situa- tion was thoroughly canvassed and a plan Of organization was outlined. The result was that a number of general assemblies were formed, which in some instances superseded local assem- plies and included a wider range of territory.
 Fourth Degree Membership 546.
 A. few of the larger cities. notably New Haven, Bridgeport and Hartford had already formed general assemblies and were practically taking care of all the members in the towns adjacent to them In a few instances more terri tory was added to their jurisdiction, when such a step seemed advisable. The result was that we have today in this district eleven general assemblies and five local assemblies. The fourth degree membership in this district is s46. according to the records in the office of the supreme secretary. Class of 12s Candidates. On Sunday. June 1. 1918. the fourth degree was exemplifed on class of 123 candidates at Bridgeport. Thanks to the splendid assistance that I had from all sources. and in particular from the members of Philip Sheridan assem- hly, and the cooperation of a very efficient degree team, the exempIiaca- ton was very satisfactory and the fourth degree section in this district has every req son to feel proud of the splendid body of men that parti pated in that function, both as candidates and spectators.
 Great Werk in Lecture Field. It seems hardly necessary for me te dwell at any length upon the great work that has been dene in Ceanect4- cut in the Catholic lecture field. Prob ably no movement thus far inaugural ed by the Knights of Columbus pre- sents greater opportunities and grand CT prospects, for our cause than does the newly established Knights of Co lunbus national lecture bureau. It is in accordance with a plan devised by John H Reddin of Denver, Col, su- preme master of the fourth degree and endorsed by the national board of di rectors, and while the furtherance of the plan is delegated to the fourth de- gree section of the order. the move ment is designed for the benefit of the entire order, and all councils have been urged to avail themselves of the services of the lecture bureau when ever possible. This district has not been negligent in encouraging that work. Supreme Master Reddin ap- pointed Rev. W. A Keefe Of PlainficId as state lecturer and he has been zealous in his efforts to faithfully per form the duties of that position Leo lures have been given by him in near ly every section of the state. and he has at this time number of engage ments, covering places not yet visited If there are towns in the state where the state lecturer has not yet visited, or in which he has no engagement to lecture. l would urge the fourth de- gree members to try and have the n1IT Ia fhA mo T In