The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-08-07
RAPID GROWTH Of
KNIGHTS COLUMBUS
Order Has Been In Existence for
ThIrty-four Years-tsas
Branches All Over
the Country.
PRIEST HAD FIRST IDEA
Total Membership Near Four Hundred
Thousand Mark-lowa
Stands Sixth In
Numbers.
PRIEST HAD FIRST IDEA

| OF the knights OF Columbus In Daven-
port last week, calls to mind the
rapid growth the order has had in tho
thirty-four years Of its existence. De
LaSalle council OF Keokuk has been
organized for some fifteen years; at
the present time 1t is In flourishing
condition and Is considering plans for
q new permanent club building. which
will be a credit to the order and the
city. Following is the story of the
growth OF the national order:
In the thirty-four years of its ex-
istence the knights Of Columbus has
sprung from a small order to one Of
the largest and most important in the
United States and Canada.
Father Michael j. McGivney of New
Haven, Conn.,, had the first idea Of the
organization Of such an order and his
genius for organization together with
an inclination toward the development
of Catholic manhood made possible the
first steps. Father MnGivhey. had
been trained under the Jesuit fathers
in Montreal and he had hoped to join
them but his father interposed and
forbade the step. Not until his father
died did the young man resume his
studies for the priesthood in st. Mary's
seminary. Baltimore. During those
years HIS ideal was constantly before
his mind. He wanted to organize the
Catholic men Of the United States and
Canada. He conflied his plans to
few associates, some college gradu-
ates, and nearly all young men.
OF these men to whom the plans
were confided. the best known IL DAN
lei Solwell, for many years afterward
NATIONAL secretary of the order. Mr..
Colwell still survivesand has q live
interest In the order and its activities.
Those Who Assisted
The other associates of Father Nc
Givney were Stephen Maher, re-
porter; John T. Mcfarland. COM
mercial traveller; William NJ. Geary.
O1Connor, M. D.; Edmund Downes;.
John T. Phelan and G. T. Driscoll at
torneys. and James r. Mullen. city
alderman The last named became the
fiust supreme knight OF the order.
Among the founders were also Will
liam H. Sellwood, Michael e. Tracy.
John T. Kerrigan and James ]. Nc
Mahon The actual incorpOrators were
Rev. M. J. McGivney, Rev. p. p. Law.
lor, Bartholomew Healey. DR.. OsCon-
| nor and Messrs Mullen. Driscoll, Col
we'll, Geary, Kerrigan and Curran.
| These men are justly entitled to the
honor OF having designed and planned
the ceremonials and degrees Of the
order The name was given by Rev.
McGivney who was, from the start.
the leading spirit in the order.
The preliminary organization Of the
knights of Columbus was accom-
Iplished in the city Of New Haven. Feb
ruary 2, 1882 On March 20, 1882 the
connecticut legislature granted q
charter
The specific purpose Of the organi-
cation was to establish Catholic fra
ternal society that would be an up
lifting influence in the lives of Cath
Ollie men socially; the bringing to-
(gether OF successful Catholic men t.
the end that they might, through their
united efforts, advance the cause CT
Catholic charity and education, and
still further, that they might. through
their insurance department furnish
at least temporary financial aid to the
families Of deceased members.
On February 1882 the organizers
met and established themselves as the
supreme committee composed OF the
Following supreme officers:
James T. Mullen supreme knight.
John r. Kerrigan deputy supreme
knight.
! Rev. M. ]. Mckinney supreme coun-
Gil corresponding secretary.
James T. Mcmahon, supreme coun-
Gil recording secretary.
Michael Curran, supreme council
treasurer.
Cornelius T. Driscoll. supreme
council advocate.
Rev. P. P. Lawlor, supreme coun-
Gil chaplain.
Dr.. M. C. O'Connor, supreme coun-
ell physician.
Daniel Colwell, supreme council
lecturer.
No further plan for organization was
adopted, however, and they adjourned
,pending action OF the Connecticut
Legislature upon their application for
charter, which was granted March 20.
1882
i On May Is, 1882, the supreme COM
Imittee granted the first subordinate
Gated in the city of New Haven. and
was named San Salvador council, No.
1.
At this time the supreme commit
tee exemplified the ceremonies of the
society for the new subordinate coun-
:. Gil. The ceremonials consisted Of a
!, first degree, a second degree and \
third degree, together with an elabor.
ate presentation OF charter to subor.
dinate councils. These ceremonials
received favorable comment from thu
newly made members, which resulted
in a great deal of enthusiasm locally
for the newly launched knights OF
Columbus.
The plan of developing the orEani.
cation from this time on was one of
different cities and towns throughout
the state Of Connecticut, and Il was
mot until April 10. 1856. when . sub