• The Knights of Columbus 

• The Vision of Father McGivney 

• Support of Education 

• Charity and Christian Action on 

Every Front 

• For God and Country-

a Distinguished War Record 

• The Councils at Work 

• The Bogus Oath 



SUPREME OFFICERS 

LUKE E. HART 
Supreme Knight 
New Haven, Connecticut 

WILLIAM J. MULLIGAN 
Deputy Supreme Knight 
Hartford, Connecticut 

JOSEPH F. LAMB 

Supreme Secretary 
New Haven, Connecticut 

FRANCIS J. HEAZEL 

Supreme Treasurer 
Asheville, North Carolina 

HAROLD J. LAMBOLEY 

Supreme Advocate 
New Haven, Connecticut 

RT. REv. MSGR. LEO M. FINN 

Supreme Chaplain 
Bridgeport, Connecticut 

DR. GERALD J. LUNZ 

Supreme Physician 
New Haven, Connecticut 

EDWARD A. DOSEK 
Supreme Warden 
Lincoln, Nebraska 

SUPREME DIRECTORS 

WILLIAM E. BUB.D 

Utica, New York 

.TAMES M. DONOHOB 

Huntington, W. Va. 

FRANCIS FAUTEUX 

Montreal, Quebec 

GREGORY T. FEENEY 
Campbellton, New Brunswick 

CLARENCE J . MALONE 

Topeka, Kansas 

DR. CHARLES W. HENNEY 
Portage, Wisconsin 

DR. C. D. KERRIGAN 
Davenport , Iowa 

WILLIAM M. LENNOX 

Philadelphia, Pa . 

.TAMES W. McCOB.MICJC 

Westerley, Rhode Island 

EDWARD P. McHUGH 
Cleveland, Ohio 

GERALD C. RILEY 
Los Angeles, California 

GERV ASE T. MURPHY 
Calumet, Michigan 

E. J. O'BRIEN 
Minneapolis, Minnesota 

JOHN T. RocAP 
Indianapolis, Indiana 

R. CONROY ScOGGINS 

Houston, Texai 



THE SUPREME BOARD of 
Directors of the Knights 
of Columbus, in J anuary, 
1948, put into operation a 
plan to bring the teachings 
of the Catholic religion to 
non-Catholics by means of 
advertisements in maga-
zines of continent-wide cir-
culation. 

The program, patterned 
after a similar plan which had 
been carried on successfully on a 
state basis for several years by the 
State Council of Missouri received 
the hearty endorsement of mem-
bers of the Hierarchy. The adver-
tisements and all incidental liter-
ature bear the imprimatur of the 
Archbishop of St. Louis. 

Magazines having a combined 
circulation in the United States 
of more than 34,000,000 and of 
1,800,000 in Canada were selected 
to carry the advertisements. These 
advertisements were prepared and 
approved, their titles being as 
follows: 

You Hear Strange Things About 
Catholics 

Must We Go To Church To 
Be Christi ans? 

The Bible is a Catholic Book 
Why Millions Call Him Holy 

Father 
Confession?-Ask TheMan Who 

Goes There! 
The J apanese Priest Said 

"Dominus Vobiscum" 

Each advertisement of-
fered a pamphlet without 
cost to those desiring fuller 
information about the sub-
ject. 

The results exceeded by 
far the most enthusiastic 
expectations, more than 
150,000 requests being re-
ceived for pamphlets and 
other information. 

But other results of the cam-
paign were even more surprising 
and encouraging. Although the 
initial purpose of the program was 
to dispel bigotry and misunder-
standing, it also brought forth a 
large number of people seeking 
religious instruction by mail and 
desiring to embrace the Catholic 
faith. 

Mote than 11,000 persons made 
application for religious instruc-
tions as a result of the first six 
advertisements. And while no sta-
tistics are available, it is known 
that many others went to the 
parish priest for counsel and in-
struction after reading the adver-
tisements. 

Encouraged by the success of 
the first series of six ad vertise-
ments, the Supreme Council, in 
the spring of 1949, authorized the 
continuation and expansion of the 
program. Eight advertisements, 
constituting the second series, 
were published-their titles being 
as follows: 

-( 1 )-



Why The Catholic Church Says 
"Investigate! " 

God ... Or The Greatest Fraud 
That Ever Lived 

Who Are These 900,000 Men 
They Call "Knights"? 

Yes, There Is A Catholic At-
titude 

Lord, Teach Us To Pray 

Let 's Stick To Moses 

But Can It Be Found In The 
Bible? 

What Happens After Death? 

Again the results were most 
gratifying. Thousands of addi-
tional inquiries concerning the 
Catholic religion were received 
and many other thousands were 
enrolled for religious instruction 
by mail. With this added proof 
of the desire for Catholic truth 
the Knights of Columbus, in 
January 1950, began the publica-
tion of a third series of eight ad-
vertisements under the titles : 

Yes ... I Condemned The Cath-
olic Church 

What Do You Mean-Only One 
True Church? 

But How Can Educated People 
Be Catholics? 

No- Belief In God Is Not 
Enough! 

The Real Secret of Successful 
Marriage 

Learn The Truth About the 
Catholic Church By Mail-
At No Cost! . 

Is The Catholic Church a Men-
ace To Democracy? 

This series resulted in increased 
demands and soon the fourth 
series of eight advertisements was 
released under the titles: 

A Letter To Our Non-Catholic 
Neighbors 

Yes . . . The Mother of God 
Will Help You 

What Makes A Woman Choose 
Such a Life? 

All Right . .. I'll Tell You 
Why I Am a Catholic 

Why So Many Decide To Be-
come Catholics 

All Right .. . Let Us Judge 
Catholics By The Bible! 

But ... Would Christ Call You 
a Christian? 

But Do You Understand What 
God Told Us? 

As requests continued to mount, 
the next series of eight advertise-
ments was released under the 
titles: 

Should Children Learn About 
God- in School? 

No . .. The Bible Is Not Our 
Sole Guide! 

This Was the Faith of our 
Fathers 

These Are Our 7 Deadly Ene-
mies! 

All Right . . . Let' s Test 
Catholic Loyalty! 

But, Pop-Don't You Love 
God, Too? 

I Was Marked With The Sign 
of the Cross 

But Why the Candles, Holy 
Water and Beads? But Do You Really Understand 

the Bible? As requests reached the million 

-( 2)-



mark, additional advertisements 
were released under the titles: 

. . there shall be ONE fold 
and ONE shepherd 

Why I had to embrace the 
Catholic Faith 

Yes . .. Miracles Happened at 
Fatima! 

Yes-Christ Gave Us The Cath-
olic Mass 

Does The Bible Contradict It-
self? 

. What Does God 's Law Say Be-
tween The Lines? 

The response to these advertise-
ments was even more pleasing 
than that w hich followea publi-
cation of the first two series. As of 
September 1, 1953, the number of 
inquiries concerning the Catholic 
religion that had been received 
totaled 1,400,000 and 120,000 
persons had been enrolled for 
religious instruction by mail. 

It is impossible, of course, to 
evaluate the effect of the adver-
tisements upon the millions of 

readers who did not request liter-
ature, but there is no doubt that 
many have learned the truth abollt 
the Catholic Church and its teach-
ings for the first time and have a 
friendlier and more tolerant atti-
tude toward Catholics and their 
faith . 

Quick to see the merit of the 
advertising lrogram, more than 
500 stare an subordinate councils 
of the Knights of Columbus sup-
plemented the Supreme Councif's 
efforts by publishing the series of 
ads in their local newspapers, thus 
reaching many readers not covered 
by the national magazines. 

The advertising program has 
brought many inquiries from non-
Catholics, a sking about the 
Knights of Columbus-what does 
it stand for, what are its ideals, 
what is its program? The adver-
tisement entitled' 'Who Are These 
900,000 Men They Call Knights?" 
gives a partial answer. A more de-
t ailed description of the Order, its 
ideals, its membership and pro-
gram is given in this pamphlet. 

"Down through the years, the Knights of Columbus has rendered 

many fine services to the Church. We m~y rightfully be proud of 
our contributions to education, to youth work, to the welfare of 

our sons in the several w ars .... Yet it may be truthfully said 

that no enterprise of ours h as been more far reaching and long-

lasting in its benefits than the Catholic Advertising Program 

which tells the world what we believe and why we bel ieve it ." 

Excerpt from report of Supreme Council Catholic Advertising 

Committee, August I952. 

-( 3 )-



~.~ 1 , 1 
~ . .. . . ~ 
~ The VISIon of Fr. McGIvney ~ 
I I 
I I 
~ ~ 
~~ ~~ 
MARCH 29, 1882, was a 
significant date in the an-
nals of North American 
fraternal societies. 

It was the day on which 
the General Assembly of 
the State of Connecticut 
granted the chartel' to the 
Knights of Columbus. 

It was also a glorious 
day in the life of a young 
Catho lic priest, the Reverend 
Michael J. McGivney, curate of 
St. Mary's Parish in New Haven, 
for it marked the fulfillment of 
his dream to unite Catholic men 
in a society founded upon the 
ideals of their Faith. 

The Founders 

launch a fraternal society 
founded upon the ideals and 
having the objectives sug-
gested by the young priest . 

In general, the objectives 
were to provide a system of 
fraternal insurance to care 
for the widows and or-
phans of members; to pro-
vide fellowship among the 
members, to aid the canse 

of religion, and to perform chari-
rabIe, educational and patriotic 
works for the benefit of their 
fellow men and their nation. 

At the meeting of the new 
society held on February 6, 1882, 
the name Knights of Columbus 
was chosen and the decision made 
to apply to the State Assembly 
for a charter. For four years Father McGivney 

had worked closely with the men 
of his pari sh. Out of this ministry The early officers and founders 
came the vision and the ambi- of the Order felt, in the prelim-
tion to organize them into a inary meetings, that the name of 
great and helpful fraternal society. the new organization should re-
Others had attempted to do this late to the Catholic Discoverer of 
but failed. America-to emphasize the fact 

that Catholics discovered, ex-
Father McGivney called to-

1 
plored and colonized the North 

get her in the paris 1 rectory on American continent and that it 
January 9, 1882, a small group of should embody Knightly ideals of 
young men in whom he had confi- service to Church, Country and 
dence. They listened as Father fellow-man. Consequently, after 
McGivney described the need for f 
Catholic men to organize and the an original proposal 0 "Sons of 

Columbus", the title, Knights of 
many possibilities such organiza- Columbus, was adopted. 
tion offered. And they agreed with 
him ' that the time had come to The following excerpts from the 

-( 4)-



charter set forth briefly the pur-
poses of the Order: 

"RESOLVED, By this Assem-
bly that Reverend Michael J. Mc-
Givney, Matthew C. O'Connor, 
Cornelius T. Driscoll, James T. 
Mullen, John T. Kerrigan, Daniel 
Colwell and William M. Geary 
and all other persons in the society 
with them under the name of the 
Knights of Columbus, together 
with all such persons as may here-
after become associated with them, 
and their successors, are consti-
tuted a body corporate and politic 
by the name of the Knights of Co-
lumbus for the following purposes: 

" Ca) of rendering pecuniary aid 
to its members and beneficiaries 
of members; 

"Cb) of rendering mutual aid 
and assistance to its sick and 
disabled members; 

" Cc) of promoting such social 
and cultural intercourse among 
its members as shall be desir-
able and proper; 

" Cd) of promoting and con-
ducting educational, charitable, 
religious, social welfare, war 
relief and welfare and public 
relief work." 

and incorporated into them stand-
ards of conduct they regarded as 
vital to the achievement of the 
Order 's ideals. 

It took IS years to get the 
Order thoroughly established in 
New England and along the upper 
Atlantic seaboard. Then it began 
to spread outward and, within 
eight years, it was firmly estab-
lished from Quebec to California 
and from Florida to Washington. 

The Order Grows 

Within another two years the 
Order had been organized in every 
jurisdiction in North America, 
and its ptinciples of Charity, 
Unity, Brotherly Love and Patri-
otiEm had been adopted as the 
personal principles of hundreds 
of thousands of Catholic men. 

Today the Knights of Columbus 
is an organized, functioning soci-
ety in every state of the United 
States, in the ten provinces of 
Canada, in Alaska, the Canal 
Zone, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Cuba 
and the Philippine Islands. Its 
membership of nearly 900,000 
men ... representing every walk 
of life . .. is in affiliation with the 
Supreme Council of the Order 
through membership in sixty-one 

That these purposes have been state councils and 3,300 subor-
fulfilled and the ambition of din ate councils. 

Father McGivney realized is abun- Ideals mean little unless trans-
dandy proven by the society's lated into constructive, dynamic 
record of accomplishments. action, and the Knights of Colum-

Father McGivney and his asso- bus combines its lofty principles 
ciates laid the foundations well. with positive and 1?ractical action. 
They fixed high standards for From its beginmng the Order 
membership and established sound maintained a plan of systematic 
principles for the guidance of the saving by its members to provide 
members. They formulated rules immediate aid for dependents and 

-( 5)-



loved ones upon the death of a 
member. 

Upon the foundation stones of 
charity and fraternity, there has 
been built a magnificent structure 
h aving nearly one half of a 
billion dollars of insurance in 
force upon the lives of the mem-
bers of the Knights of Columbus, 
and, more recently, upon the lives 
of sons, grandsons or wards of 
members of the Order. 

More than $100,000,000 in ben-
efits has been paid to widows, · 
children and odler dependents of 
insured members since the found-
ing of the Order ... thus helping 
to hold together many homes that 
might have been broken up by the 
loss of the family breadwinner. 

Charity and Fraternity 

The Knigh ts of Columbus t akes 
pride in this, not as a statistical 
achievement, but because it rep-
resents children saved from or-
phanages ... juvenile delinquency 
records that were to remain un-
wri tten ... mothers who were able 
to maintain their homes and raise 
their children under the proper 
family influence. This is Charity 
and Fraternity in action. 

By means of its Automatic As-
sessment Loan Plan, the Order has 
made it possible for members in 
fin ancial difficulty to keep their 
insurance in force without premi-
um payments over a period of 
time. And through its Old Age 
Benefit Concessions, the Order has 
paid more than $7,000,000 to 
living Knights to lighten the 
burdens of their twilight years. 

Good Management 

With the adoption of the step 
rate plan in 1901, the Knights of 
Columbus became the first fra-
ternal benefit society to be placed 
upon a sound actuarial basis. As 
a result, the Order's insurance 
program has been constantly ex-
panded and developed until today 
it provides modern, attractive and 
inexpensi ve plans to meet all pos-
sible needs of the member and to 
provide security for the member's 
family upon his death. 

The Knights of Columbus is rec-
ognized throughout North Amer-
ica as one of the strongest and 
most efficienrl y-managed fraternal 
societies. Its books, like those of 
all other insurance organizations, 
are examined every third year by 
the agents of various state in-
surance commissioners. 

In closing their report for the 
three year period ending Decem-
ber 1950, the Insurance Commis-
sioners for Connecticut, Michigan, 
Maryland and Wyoming st ated: 

"This report of examination as 
of December 31, 1950, finds the 
Knights of Columbus in a sound 
financial condition with admitted 
assets of $79,467,958.94, liabilities 
of $70,385,840.01 and unassigned 
funds of $9,082,118.93. In addi-
tion to the certificate reserve in-
cluded in the liabilities, the un-
assigned Benefit Reserve funds in-
clude a margin of safety of $7,999,-
033 .22 or 11.42% over and above the 
statutory standards for the $373,-
198,537.00 insurance in force." 

-( 6)-



N a ACTIVITY has com-
manded as much interest 
and support on the part of 
the Knights of Columbus 
as the care and education 
of youth. From its begin-
ning the Order has given a 
practical recognition to its 
belief that .. as the twig 
is bent so the tree is in-
clined. " 

While sdll a young organiza-
tion, just beginning to expand 
across the continent, the Knights 
of Columbus presented a gift of 
$50,000 to en:1ow a Chair of 
American History at the Catholic 
University of America, Washing-
ton, D. C. 

In 1907, when a great need con-
fronted the Universi ty, the Order 
raised among its own members the 
then stupendous sum of $500,000 
to endow scholarships there. Be-
sides helping the University out 
of a difficult situation, this gift has 
enabled 836 young men to receive 
the benefits of higher education 
and 232 have received degrees. 

Aid to Veterans 

Following the close of the first 
World War, the Order expended 
more than $8,000,000 in support 
of schools in various cities where 
313 ,916 veterans received free 
training in academic, commercial, 
trade and technical fields. This 

fund also maintained at 41 
colleges and universities , 
scholarshi ps leading to the 
deglees of Bachelor of Arts, 
Bachelor of Science and 
their equivalent for 403 
veterans, of whom 284 
were graduated. 

For five years after the 
first World War, the Crder 
provided home study 

courses without charge for veter-
ans who were unable to attend 
evening schools and more than 
125,000 were enrolled. 

A Notable Victory 

The Knights of Columbus won 
a notable victory for the Ameri-
can people, and especially for the 
children of generations to come, 
by its successful fight against the 
so-called Oregon School Law. It 
began in 1922, when a law pro-
posed by initiative petition was 
enacted in Oregon which would 
prevent children from attending 
private and parochial schools. 

Responding to an appeal from 
Archbishop Christie of Portland, 
the Knights of Columbus provided 
$25,000 with which to carry a 
rest of the constitution ali ty of the 
law through the higher courts and 
eventually to the Supreme Court. 
To the credit of the Knights of 
Columbus, the Supreme Court 
ruled that the law violated the 

-( 7)-



rights of American CltlZenS to 
educate their children in accord-
ance with the dictates of their 
own conscience. 

That is why the people today 
are not interfered with in the op-
eration of their private and paro-
chial schools and in the rearing of 
their children in the manner in 
which they wish them to be raised . 

Many Benefactions 

In 1920 the Knights of Colum-
bus contributed $60,000 toward 
the erection of a gymnasium at 
the Catholic University of Amer-
ica. In the same year a gift of 
$35,000 was made to the Cardinal 
Mercier Fund for the restoration 
of Louvain University. 

The Order raised $1,500,000 in 
1922 to provide for the spiritual 
and recreational welfare of the 
children of Rome, Italy. 

The following year a gift of 
$38,000 was made to the Cardinal 
Gibbons Institute for the care and 
education of Negro children in 
Maryland. 

For more than 25 years, a cor-
respondence school has been main-
~ained ~y the Order providing 
lnstructJOn 111 108 subjects for its 
wide-spread membership and their 
families. More than 40,000 have 
taken advantage of these benefits. 

The Knights of Columbus in 
1924, established at Notre Dame 
University a course in Boy Guid-
ance to develop trained leaders 
interested in the counseling of 
boys as a life work. And at its 
own expense the Order provided 
12 annual scholarships of two 
years each for students . 

The Bey Guidance Course was 
maintained for 15 years, during 
which the Order expended more 
than $400,000 in its support. Ie 
was discontinued only when this 
type of training and instruction 
was made available in schools 
throughout the country. More 
than 200 benefited from scholar-
ships during this period . 

When the Catholic Encyclo-
pedia was published, a special 
Knights of Columbus edition of 
30,000 was sold. 

Defending U. S. 

In 1921 the Knights of Columbus 
organized an Historical Commis-
sion composed of widely-known 
educators to investigate and pro-
tect the United States from propa-
ganda designed to undermine the 
spirit of American nationality. As 
a result of this investigation, cer-
tain widely used history and other 
text books used in schools were 
eliminated or rewritten to remove 
matter misrepresen ting historical 
facts or subverting American 
iqeals. 

The Knights of Columbus His-
torical Commission conducted a 
prize competition for studies in 
American History. Many notable 
books on the subject were written 
as a result, including "Jay's 
Treaty, " by Samuel Flagg Bemis; 
"The Monroe Doctrin e," by 
Thomas H. Mahoney, and "The 
American States," by Allan Nevin. 

More than $60,000 was ex-
pended by the Order in carrying 
out the work of the Historical 
Commission. 

- ( 8)-



In 1939 the Knights of Colum-
bus contributed $10,000 to the 
Golden Jubilee Fund of the Catho-
lic University. Another $85,000 
has been contributed to the main-
tenance of the Catholic Radio 
Hour broadcasts from Washing-
ton and Toronto. 

Educational Trust Fund 

Climaxing the Order's support 
of education has been the estab-
lishment of the Educational Trust 
Fund. Th is pro ject was undertaken 
in 1944, under the leadership of 
Past Supreme Knight John E. 
Swift. Its objective was the estab-
lishment of a $1,000,000 trust fund 
to provide a higher education for 
the sons and daughters of Knights 
killed or disabled in the war. These 
scholarships consist of four years 
at a Catholic college or university, 
leading to the degree of Bachelor 
of Arts or its equivalent. They in-
clude tuition, board and room (or 
an allowance for this item if rhe 
student does not reside on the cam-
pus), books, laboratory fees and 
other incidental college charges 
that may be levied upon the stu-
dent in the pursuit of his studies . 

In less than four years the fund 
was complete. Four hundred and 
one of these valiant Knights have 
been declared eligible for the 
scholarships, 31 have been en-
rolled at various colleges and uni-
versities and thus far ten have 
completed their studies and have 
attained their Bachelors' degree. 

In the years to come, as these 
young people grow into manhood 
and womanhood, fortified by the 
advantages of a college education, 

their broadened horizon and their 
enlarged talents and abilities will 
mean a great deal to them per-
sonally and to the perpetuation of 
the ideals for which their fathers 
suffered and died. 

Vatican Library Foundation 

The Supreme Board of Directors, 
inJuly 1951, adopted a resolution: 
"That there be established the 
'Knights of Columbus Foundation 
for the Preservation of Historic 
Documents at the Vatican Library' 
and that a fund be set aside for the 
microfilming of important docu-
ments at the Vatican Library for 
the purpose of insuring the preser-
vation of their contents and mak-
ing them available for research 
and study in this country .. . . " 

A deposi tory for the microfilms 
of these historic documents has 
been established at St. Louis Uni-
versity, St. Louis, Mo., where 
they will be available for research 
by scholars from the North Amer-
ican continent. This latest cultural 
contribution , which is in keeping 
with the tradition of the Order, is 
described in a brochure which has 
been distributed to colleges, li-
braries and universities. In com-
menting on the project, as an ex-
pression of personal praise and 
approbation of His Holiness for 
the establishment of the Founda-
tion, Monsignor Montini said: 

"In undertaking the financing 
of this vast project, yOU l' Order 
has made a worthwhile contribu-
tion to that Christian learning 
which the Church has ever fos-
tered as part of its mission of peace 
and its educative function in the 

-( 9)-



cause of truth and universal under-
standing among peoples ... 

In keeping with its basic prin-
ciples and its constant endeavor as 
exemplified by its war work, its 
Historical Commission, its oppo-
sition to the Oregon School Bill 
and the nation-wide lecture pro-
gram conducted by Peter Collins, 
David Goldstein, Prof. James C. 
Monahan, Dr. James J. Walsh, 
Paul McGuire and Dr. George 
Herman Derry, the Knights of Co-
lumbus inaugurated in 1946 a plan 

for the preservation and promo-
tion of American ideals, by means 
of the distribution of handbooks 
and other literature and the organ-
ization of discussion groups. 

The objective of this program is 
to acquaint American citizens 
with their rights and duties and to 
develop intelligent, trained Jeader-
ship for democracy and in defense 
of American ideals. Much good 
already has been accomplished and 
this work will continue as long 
as the need may exist . 

"The Knights of Columbus take their place this day in the fore-

most rank of the benefactors of humanity. What was formerly 

done by the great ones of this earth, the creation and endowment 

of the highest institutions of learning, and what in our own times 

has been the privilege of wealthy individuals, has, through the 

Knights of Columbus, been accomplished for the first time by 

the corporate efforts and sacrifices of Catholics associated for 

the highest interests, religious and civil." 

. . . Cardinal Gibbons on occasion of presentation of $500,000 

endowment to the Catholic University of America. 

- ( 10 )-



.~ 
~ Ch- deh-- ~ ~ arlty an rlstlan ~ 
~ ~ 

~ A - E F ~ ~ ctlon on very ront ~ 
~ ~ ~ ~ 
.~~ 

THAT THE Knights of Columbus 
takes full advantage of its oppor-
tunities to practice charity and 
promote religion is manifes t in 
its entire field of activities . A few 
specific examples of these pro jects 
will be of interest. 

The Order contributed $100,000 
to the relief of victims of the 
San Francisco disas ter in 1916. 

$23,000 was contributed in 1920 
to the Irish Relief Fund. 

In 1923, a gift of $25,000 was 
contributed to the fund for the 
relief of the stricken people of 
Japan, following the destructive 
earthquake. 

Flood victims in the lower 
Mississippi Valley were assisted to 
the extent of $50,000 in 1927. 

Prompt Relief 

In 1925, a contribution of $2,500 
was made to aid the victims of a 
hurricane in Puerto Rico. 

Contributions ranging from 
$1,000 to $5,000 in each case were 
made for the assistance of flood 
victims in Louisiana, Texas, Col-
orado, Kansas, Ohio, Kentucky, 
Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Ver-
mont, Cuba, Florida, Newfound-
land, Maryland, Missouri, Cali-
fornia and Santo Domingo. Suffer-
ers from drought in Kentucky, Sas-
katchewan and Nebraska were 
similarl y aided. 

Wherever there has been a great 
public calamity, the Knights of 
Col umbus has been among the first 
to offer practical, substantial , ma-
terial relief-not merely to its 
own members, but to all sufferers, 
regardless of religious faith or 
social affili at ion. 

Aid to Veterans 

For eight years following the 
close of the first World War, the 
Knights of Columbus conducted 
a welfare program among sick and 
disabled veterans in 450 hospitals. 
Knights of Columbus Secretaries 
helped to make life more bearable 
and pleasant for thousands of these 
veterans by personal services, by 
supplying individual needs for 
many items, by furnishing athletic 
equipment and arranging enter-
tainment. More than 500,000 vet-
erans shared in this welfare pro-
gram, including 40,000 in hospitals 
during a period of eight years. 

In Defense of Conscience 

In 1926 and again in 1934 the 
defenseless Catholics of Mexico 
were undergoing cruel persecution 
at the hands of their government. 
Priests, nuns, men, women and 
children were the victims of atroc-
ities committed in the name and 
under the sanction of the govern-
ment fat no reason other than the 
desire to worship God according 

- ( 11)-



to the dictates of their o"vn con-
sCIence. 

The Knights of Columbus raised 
a fund of $1,000,000 for a vigorous 
campaign in protest against these 
persecutions. It had a widespread 
effect. Public opinion was aroused, 
a sympathetic interest was awak-
ened in the hearts of the American 
people, and the Mexican people 
themselves were encouraged and 
demonstrated a steadfastness and 
determination that won for them 
the respect and admiration of the 
people of other lands. 

Commenting on the part played 
by the Knights of Columbus, His 
Holiness Pope Pius XI described 
it as "a magnificent example of 
fraternal assistance and support." 

Many Generous Gifts 

In 1927 the Order contributed 
$5,000 to assist Catholic immi-
grants in Canada and Newfound-
land. And in the same year $5,000 
was contributed to the Mexican 
Seminary at Las Vegas, New 
Mexico. 

From 1937 to 1944, gifts total-
ing $12,000 were made to the 
Reverend Richard Felix, O .S.B., 
for the work of the Defenders of 
the Faith. 

In 1940 the Ordet contributed 
$2,500 to the Paderewski Fund for 

Polish Relief ... and in 1945-46, 
gave $10,000 for relief of the vic~ 
tims of war in the Philippines. : 

In 1946, a gift of $5,000 wa~ 
made to the Catholic Church Ex-
tension Society . . . and in 1948; 
the Order contributed .$10,000 to 
Reverend Patrick]. Peyton, C.S.c., 
for the Family Radio Theatre. 

These gifts, it will be seen, 
are notable not merely for their 
amount, but for the charitable and 
spiritually constructive purposes 
for which they were made. 

The Order's Youth Program 

In addition to its Boy Guidance 
program, the Knights of Colum-
bus in 1922 launched a junior 
order under the name, Columbian 
Squires, for boys of high school 
age. A unit of the Columbian 
Squires is known as a Circle and is 
under the supervision and sponsor-
ship of a Council and a committee 
of Knights called Counsellors. 

Each year the Order provides a 
series of summer schools in boy 
leadership at various Catholic col-
leges and universities, and the 
effect of this training upon thou-
sands of men has been to qual.ify 
them to combat juvenile delin-
quency by means of constructive 
guidance and recreational .pro-
grams. 

"Your Order is in every sense a patriotic Order .. . it h as ever 

shown its steadfast devotion to American principles and Amer-

ican ideals. You are Knights of Columbus, a name of great sig-

nificance." . 
-Calvin Coolidge 

-( 12 )-



~.~ 
~ ~ 
~ ~ 
I For God and Country I 
~ ~ 
~ ~ 
~ - Distinguished War Record - ~ 
~ ~ ~ ~ 
~:~ ~~ 

IT IS with special pride and 
satisfaction that members 
of the Knights of Colum-
bus look upon the Order's 
many contributions to the 
welfare of their country in 
times of peace and times 
of peril. 

All of the Order's educa-
tional, charitable and re-
ligious activities described 
in this book represent substantial 
contributions to the national in-
terests. There are certain achieve-
ments, however, which particu-
larly reflect the patriotic nature of 
the Order and which are worthy 
of special note here. 

The record of the Order's pa-
triotic contributions in time of 
national peril is, in fact, un par-
alelled in the history of fraternal 
groups. It has earned the Knigh ts 
of Columbus world-wide fame and 
the glowing praise of civil and 
religious leaders everywhere. 

Work on Mexican Border 

In 1916, when American troops 
were stationed on the Mexican 
border, t here was serious need for 
recreational and religious work 
among these fighting men. The 
Knights of Columbus set up 16 
clubhouses from the Gulf of 
Mexico to the Gulf of California, 
where clean amusement and 

healthful recreation were 
provided under the direc-
tion of secretaries for men 
of all faiths. Catholic 
Chaplains were maintained 
to provide religious ser-
vices to theCatholic troops. 
This work brought to the 
Order the most flattering 
praise from civil and mili-
tary leaders . 

The First World War 

No brighter chapter can be 
found in the annals of any or-
ganization than that which re-
cords the history of the Knights 
of Columbus war work. 

When America entered the first 
World War, in April, 1917, a 
great crisis confronted the people 
of the Nation and the Catholic 
Church. Young men and tender 
youths who never had been away 
from home were being drawn into 
camps and cantonments for train-
ing and combat duty amid tempta-
tions and hardships which have 
been age-long incidents of army 
life. 

These young men were without 
the counsel and solace of relatives 
and friends and the number of 
Chaplains was wholly inadequate 
to minister to their spiritual needs. 
In this hour of need the Knights 
of Columbus tendered its services. 

-( 13 )-



Kno~~ng the Order's reputation 
for dls111terested service and honor-
able practices, citizens of all creeds 
welcomed the service which the 
Order proposed to render to their 
loved ones and which they them-
selves were unable to provide. 

Helping Hand Everywhere 

Knights of Columbus Secretaries 
and Chaplains became instantly 
popular. Soon they were to be 
found everywhere-in training 
camps and cantonments, on shell-
torn battlefields, in base hospitals 
at embar ka ti on ports, abroad trans: 
POftS and at points of debarkation. 

Clubhouses were erected at all 
these places . Five were maintained 
in London, 4S in France. And 
wherever there was a Knights of 
Columbus clubhouse, hut or tent, 
men of all races, creeds and color 
knew they were welcomed. Every 
man in the armed forces gave 
,eraise to tb~ Knights of Columbus. 
They ltked Its sloean and its pol-
icy of "Everybody Welcome and 
Everything Free." It was a chal-
lenging slogan and veterans of the 
first World War still talk about the 
hos.pitality they always found in 
Kl11ghts of Columbus clubhouses 
wherever military duty led them. 

The !ress and public alike ac-
clalme the Order for its great 
serVIce. The newspapers published 
column upon column in its praise 
and artists and poets tried to outdo 
one another in its honor. Edgar 
Guest expressed the Nation's grat-
itude in the following poem~ 
"They do not ask the faith or 

creed 

Of him that comes into their 
hut; 

True Knighthood's door is 
never shut 

Against a pilgrim warrior's 
need. 

They question only: 'Would 
you rest 

And are you weary and op-
pressed? 

Then, brother, lay aside your 
care, 

And come" t~is sheltering roof 
to share. 

The Highest Praise 

Words of commendation came 
from President Woodrow Wilson 
Secretary of the Navy Daniel: 
Secret.ary of War Baker, General 
Persh1l1g, Marshal Foch, Premier 
Clemenceau and many others. 
Bish<;>p. Rus~ell, of the Bishop's 
Admlllistratlve Board, speaking in 
the name of the Catholic Hier-
archy, said thatno one aware of the 
problem confronting the Church 
at the beginning of the war . . . 
and knowing how it had been 
solved by the Knights of Colum-
bus ... could fail to believe that 
the Order was divinely instituted. 

When Selective Service was in-
stituted in the fall of 1940 in 
preparation for the second W~rld 
War, the Knights of Columbus 
again offered its .service to perfor~n 
the same work It had rendered 111 
the first conflict. 

The decision rested with the 
Hierarchy. They decided to create 
a new agency called the National 
S=atholic Community Serv-
Ice, whIch would function under 

-( 14 )-



their direct guidance and control 
and be affiliated with the United 
Service Organizations and that no 
Catholic work of this character 
should be done under any other 
name. The effect of this decision 
was to exclude the Knights of Co-
lumbus in the United States as an 
organization from lerforming a 
service for the anne forces in the 
second World War such as had 
brought it world-wide fame in 
connection with the first World 
War. However, the officers and 
members of the Order gave their 
acti ve individual su pport and made 
their building facilities available 
in assisting the other organiza-
tions wherever and whenever pos-
sib:e. 

With Canadian Troops Too 

Coincident with the war work 
of the Knights of Columbus in the 
United States in the first World 
War, the Knights of Columbus in 
Canada carried on a similar pro-
gram among Canadian forces under 
the name Catholic Army Huts. 

Centers were established at train-
ing camps throughout Canada, at 
points of embarkation, in London 
and at rest camps throughout Eng-
land . These were staffed by Chap-
lains and Secretaries who minis-
tered to every need of the men in 
the service and the slogan, "All 
Soldiers Welcome," was conscien-
tiously lived up to. 

This brought to the portals of 
the Catholic Army Huts men of all 
religions and nationalities. Com-
plete harmony reigned and Colon-
ial fraternized with Imperial and 
Protestant with Catholic. Catho-

lic soldiers appreciated the spiri-
tual opportunities offered and 110n-
Catholics appreciated the fact that 
there was no attempt to attach re-
ligious propaganda to meals, rec-
reation and social entertainments. 

Chaplain Gives Life 

Fifteen chapel tents were erected 
behind the lines in France and the 
Chaplain who occupied one of 
these was killed in the trenches 
while ministering to his men. 

Hospital service was given, com-
forts were furnished, and there was 
entertainment for the sick ; nd t he 
wounded, a service which w as con-
tinued long after overseas troops 
had returned to their homes. 

The three faCtors requisite to the 
success of any organized Catholic 
endeavor-guidance of the Hier-
archy, cooperation of the clergy 
and support of the people-were 
present in generous measure and, 
with the backing of the press and 
the public, the Knights of Col um-
bus performed a service for Canada 
and for its armed forces which 
brought sincerest thanks and ap-
preciation from a grateful nation 
and which will Ii ve in the mem-
ories of its hundreds of thousands 
of soldiers and sailors as long as 
life shall last. 

Thanks From Soldier 

An expression that typified the 
attitude of the men is the follow-
ing excerpt from a letter written 
by one of them: 

"God bless you all, dear Cath-
olic workers, for this work of 
mercy so well fulfilled. Jew and 
Gentile, Protestant and Catho-

-( 15 )-



lie, we all remember with 
grateful pleasure happy hours 
spen~, within your 'well run' 
hut . 

A General Officer Command-
ing at one of the rest centers 
wrote : 

"I can assure you that many 
homes in Canada will thank you 
for your kindness to their sons." 

Second World War 

Upon the outbreak of World 
War II in 1939, the Knights of 
Columbus in Canada, with the ap-
proval of His Eminence, Cardinal 

Canteens were operated, items for 
the personal comfort of the troops 
were supplied, dances were organ-
ized, books and magazines were 
made available. There were radios 
and printed news bulletins, shows 
were organized and movies were 
exhibited wherever possible, and 
sports programs were regular and 
popular features. 

Every facility of the organiza-
tion was open to all service-men, 
regardless of race or creed, and 
this fact was known to and ac-
cepted by all. 

Villeneuve, and other members of Dies in Service 
the Hierarchy, again offered their In May, 1940, one of the Cana-
services to the government. This dian members of the Supreme 
offer was accepted and the work Board of Directors, Lieutenant 
was organized under the name Colonel Dr. Claude Brown, Presi-
Knights of Columbus Canadian dent of the Knights of Columbus 
Army Huts. Candian Army Huts, went to Eng-

From a very humble beginning, land to take personal charge of the 
the work developed into a service work overseas. His splendid 01'-
extending from Victoria to Hali- ganizational ability w as responsi-
fax, to Hong Kong, the Aleutians, ble for the efficient manner in 
Labrador, Iceland, England, which the work was carried on, 
France, Sicily, Italy, North M- and his influence manifested itself 
rica, Tripoli and Egypt. long after his untimely death in 

Huts were established wherever the midst of the work he loved, in 
Canadian service men were assem- April, 1941. 
bled, whether for training or recre- By sheer initiative and the will 
ation in Canada or for combat to do the job, supervisors who 
duty in the war areas, and hotels landed with assault troops in Italy 
were maintained at ports of em- carried on what amounted to an 
barkation. Three large hotels were auxiliary service, despite limited 
also maintained in London, and supplies and lack of transport. 
Town Centers were established at When the Canadian Army of Oc-
eight places in England where cupation took its position in the 
Canadian troops were quartered Wilhelmshaven, Germany, area in 
for training or rest. the summer of 1945, it was ac-

At all of these places lounging companied by Knights of Colum-
facili t ies were provided by the bus supervisors who carried on 
Knights of Columbus supervisors. there the same service that had 

-( 16 )-



been furnished previously in other 
areas. 

Tributes to Knights 

Canadian Government officials, 
army officers and men, and mem-
bers of the press and clergy paid 
warm tributes to the Knights of 
Columbus for their work. A typi-
cal . commendation was from a 
Commanding Officer, who said: 

" The contribution to the 
morale of the Canadian soldier 
is quite beyond measurement. 
Whether during battle, or in 
the difficult months preparing 
for operations, that work has 
gone on without ceasing and 
without stint. " 

From the beginning of the war 
a particular effort was made to as-
sist the Chaplain Services. Funds 
were provided, religious papers 
and religious articles supplied. 
Whenever needed, the Huts were 
made available for religious serv-
ices. In many of the Huts, chapels 
were outfitted and several of them 
also served as living quarters for 
Chaplains . 

"A Golden Chain" 

"In Canada," said Archbishop 
Nelligan, "the Knights of Colum-
bus Canadian Army Huts stretch 
like a golden chain from coast to 
coast .. . . It is indeed a consoling 
fact that these Huts are made to 
serve a manifold utility-a place 
of divine worship on Sunday, a 
theatre of entertainment on dif-
ferent nights of the week and at 
all times a center where the men 
are provided with canteen and 
other facilities. " 

And Cardinal Villeneuve added: 

"The Knights of Columbus have 
had great success in this work .... 
My best wishes and my blessing 
and also my congratulations." 

Distinguished War Record 

The war record of the Knights 
of Columbus is a distinguished one, 
not only for the services rendered 
the troops, but for the number of 
its members who themselves were 
in the ranks of the fighting men 
of the United States and Canada. 
More than 73 ,000 Knights served 
in the armed forces~many with 
distinction, and all with credit to 
themselves, or their branch of the 
service and to the Order. 

A large bronze tablet at the 
home office building of the Order, 
at New Haven , Connecticut, was 
dedicated on J nne 21, 1947, to the 
memory of 1,685 Knights who 
gave their lives in World War II 
in defense of their respective 
countries. It bears the name of 
each of this legion of men who 
made the supreme sacrifice for 
God and country. 

A Program for Peace 

In the midst of the recent 
World War, the Knights of Co-
lumbus ... seeking a formula for 
lasting peace among the nations 
... adopted and made public in 
August, 1943, a Peace Proposal as 
a basis for international amity . 

The program declared that a 
just and lasting peace could be 
achieved only by acceptance of the 
principle of precedence for the 
rights of God over the rights of , 
man, and in ' men themselves the 
precedence of duty over rights . It 

- ( 17 )-



urged that. as a first step toward 
world peace, the law of moritl 
right be substituted for the bar-
baric ruh~ of material right-in 
short, bringing God into world 
government. This program was 
widely endorsed by educators and 
churchmen. Many copies of it 
were distributed and additional 
copies are still available. 

tributed by the Order as part of its 
program of exposing the dangers . 
of this nefarious philosophy. 

Against Appeasement 

Supreme Officers and Directors 
delivered many addresses before 
large audiences, warning of the 
menace, and the Missouri State 
Council of the Knights of Colum-
bus published large advertisements 

War on Communism in newspapers throughout the 

In keeping with its policy of country to call attention to the 
militantly opposing the cncroach- situation and asking that letters 
ment of atheistic doctrines which and postcards of protest be sent to 
would destroy religion and under- the President and members of 
mine the ideals upon which our Congress. 
democratic form of government is Many hundreds of thousands of 
founded, the Knights of Columbus such communications were sent 
maintained for years, a corps of and a large number of resolutio.ns 
lecturers who preached against were adopted and sent to the Pres-
Communist philosophy which de- ident and the State Department. 
prives men of soul, faith, con- The effects of this campaign were 
science and morality, which would obvious. Officials opposed to such 
destroy our free institutions and appeasement were strengthened in 
undermine our principles of civil their position and the rapid trend 
and religious liberty. toward conciliacion was stopped. 

Early in 1946, when it appeared No more humanitarian activity 
th at the United States Govern- was ever undertaken by the Order 
ment and people were adopting a than its Blood Donor Program. 

policy of conciliation and ap- Since 1938, more than 75,000 
peasement toward Communism pints of blood have been donated 
and the Soviet philosophy, a vig- by members of the Order to pro-
orous campaign was launched to vide transfusions for their fellow-
arouse American public opinion Knights, relatives of Knights and 
to the dangers involved. indigent patients. 

Twenty-four transcribed radio On the basis of customary 
programs exposing the dangers of charges for blood transfusions, 
atheistic Communism and ex- these donations in the first fifteen 
plaining the foundation and ideals years of the program represented a 
of our democratic nations have saving of $2,500,000 to sick and 
been on the air on more than 700 afflicted people. More important, 
radio stations. Over a million it also represented an untold num-. 
copies of the Papal Encyclical on ber of lives saved and many 
Atheistic Communism were dis- periods of hospitalization short-

-( 18 )-



ened for those aided. In this, as in 
its many other activities, the 
Knights demonstrated the spirit of 
charity and fraternity at its best. 

Pilgrimage to Rome 

In the summer of 1920 three 
hundred and seventy three Knights, 
headed by the Supreme Knight and 
a Committee of Supreme Officers 
and Directors, made a pilgrimage 
to Rome. 

First thev visited France to dedi-
cate a sta{ue of Lafayette at the 
military academy at Metz, where 
Lafayette was stationed at the 
time he resigned his French Army 
commission to come to the aid of 
the American colonists in the 
War for Independence. They were 
accorded a wonderful reception by 
the Hierarchy and the French 
government and the highest offi-
cials of Church and State partici-
pated in the dedication service. 

A warm welcome also awaited 
the pilgrims on their arrival in 
Rome, the Eternal Ci ty . They were 
guests of His Holiness Pope Bene-
dict XV in private audience and 

on Sunday, August 25, the Holy 
Father celebrated a private Mass 
for the visitors in the Vatican Gar-
dens; personally distributing the 
Holy Eucharist to each of them. 

Columbia 

The official publication of the 
Knights of Columbus is a care-
fully-edited, well-managed na-
tional magazine called Columbia. 
With its distribution to the Order's 
nearly 900,000 members, it h as the 
largest circulation of any Catholic 
magazll1e. 

Articles on a wide variety of 
subjects of interest to Catholics 
as well as Knights are published 
regularly. Happenings of interest 
within the Order's far-flung mem-
bership are described and illus-
trated in reports and pictures . The 
editorial page carries interesting 
and informed opinions on matters 
of current concern. Columbia is an 
influential force not only for the 
Knights of Columbus, but for the 
cause of religion and the welfare 
of the nation . 

. 'Of all the organizations that took part in the winning of the 

war, with the exception of the military itself, there was none so 

efficiently and ably administered as the Knights of Columbus." 

From address of General John J. Pershing, U.S.A. Commander 
of the American Expeditionary Forces in Wotld War I. 

-( 19 )-



~.~ 
~ ~ 

~ Th C -I W k ~ I e OUnCI s at or ~ 
~ ~ ~ ~ 
~ ~ 
~~ ~~ 
It would be impossible in 
the limited space available 
here to describe even briefly 
the many fields of patriotic, 
civic and humanitarian ac-
tivity in which the State 
and subordinate Councils 
of the Knights of Columbus 
engage. 

They are, to begin with, 
supporters of, and partici-
pants in, all of the national and 
international achievements of the 
Order which are described in these 
pages. In addition, they are active 
at the local level in too many ways 
to attempt to report here. Some 
typical examples of this work at 
the local and State level are the 
following: 

Varied Charities 

Jasper Co unci l donated' 
$25,000 to the cost of a 
Memorial Hospital in Du-
bois County. 

Students Home Erected 

In 1919 the Missouri' 
State Council erected at 
Columbia, Mo., a Knights, 
of Columbus Students' 
Home at a cost of $125,000, 

to serve as a center for Catholic 
students attending the State Uni-
versity. Later it contributed 
$25,000 to its maintenance fund. 
In 1922 it contributed $200,000 
to the Endowment Fund of 
St. Louis University. In 1944 it 
inaugurated the plan of explain-
ing Catholic beliefs and practices 
in paid advertisements in the 
public press . More than $100,000 
has been expended for this pro-
gram, and the current advertising 
program of the Supreme Council 
is an outgrowth of the Missouri 
plan. 

The Indi ana State Council, about 
1923, founded the Gibault Home 
for Boys near Terre Haute, with 
accommodations for 125 boys . 
More than $600,000 has been con-
tributed for the establishment and 
maintenance of this home, and the The Delaware State Council pro-
State Council has made annual motes activities among the Coun-
gifts of $25,000 to the home in re- cils of its jurisdiction. 

cent years. South Bend Council Utah State Council provided 
contributed $25,000 to a fund for $1,000 for the Bishop to assist in 
construction of a Catholic High the education of priests . The Coun-
School. Notre Dame Council con- cil also assists in the maintenance 
tributed $6,000 to Holy Cross of three Newman Clubs. Salt Lake 
Mission at Dacca, Indiana. Saint Council furnished a guest room at 
Thomas Council at Gary gave the Trappist Monastery at Hunts-
$4,000 to Saint Monica's Mission. ville and Ogden Council assists in 

- ( 20 )-



the maintenance of the Newman 
Club at Weber College. 

The New York Knights 

The New York State Council 
began in 1924 the erection of a 
sanatorium for tubercular mem-
bers at Gabriel's in the Adiron-
dack Mountains. The first patients 
were admitted in July, 1927, and 
380 members of the Order have 
been hospitalized there since then 
at a cost of more than $350,000. 
This is in addition to $200,000 
originally invested in the property. 

It awards scholarships to boys 
and girls at an annual cost of 
$15,000, more than $160,000 hav-
ing been spent in this way. Also 
among the many achievements of 
the New York State Council are 
the following: 

Establishment of a burse for stu-
dents for the priesthood at Wad-
hams Hall Seminary, at a cost of 
$5,000 . . . appropriation of 
$25,000 for the erection of a 
chapel, mission house and rectory 
at the place where Col umbus landed 
on the Island of San Salvador ... 
a leisure-time program for boys 
and girls which has cost upward 
of $42,000 . . . a contribution of 
$75,000 during World War II for 
the purchase of Mass kits and 
clerical supplies for Chaplains. 

Works of an outstanding char-
acter by Councils and Chapters in 
New York State include a gift of 
$300,000 to Canisius College by 
the New York Chapter; $10,000 
for two burses for the education of 
seminarians by the· Utica Council; 
$7,000 to the Saint Francis Orphan 
Home by the Oswego Council, 

and $2,500 to Memorial Field by 
Poughkeepsie Council. 

Among contributions to chari-
table, religious and public welfare 
projects by the Wisconsin State 
Council are $25,000 toward the 
cost of a chapel at the University 
of Wisconsin; $15,000 for a Chap-
lain at the Waukesha Industrial 
School ; $10,000 for a Chaplain 
at the Green Bay Reformatory; 
$50,000 for scholarships at Mar-
quette University; $7,500 to main-
tain teaching Sisters at the Mar-
quette University Summer School; 
$6,000 for scholarships for young 
men in the Boy Guidance Course 
at Notre Dame University; $3,000 
for the education of Indian chil-
dren; $20,000 to the Bishops to 
assist in the education of candi-
dates for the priesthood. 

Feeding Orphans 

Outstanding among the Penn-
sylvania activities are movements 
directed by the Philadelphia and 
Pittsburgh Chapters. Each year the 
Philadelphia Chapter sponsors a 
summer outing and at Thanksgiv-
ing a turkey dinner for 3,000 or-
phan children at a cost of $25,000. 
It also established a burse for the 
education of candidates for the 
priesthood and sponsors a non-
sectarian committee to promote 
religious observance of Good Fri-
day. The Pittsburgh Chapter spon-
sors the Catholic Youth Bureau 
which, for 23 years, has provided 
and supervised recreation and com-
munity activity for thousands of 
children. 

Councils in Quebec have ex-
pended more than $1,500,000 in 

-( 21 )-



assistance to orphans, widows, 
the poor, for Catholic education 
and for religious work. 

The North Carolina State Coun-
cil annually contributes $1,000 to 
the Orphanage at Nazareth, and 
a like amount to the Bishop for 
the education of candidates for 
the priesthood. 

The New Brunswick State Coun-
cil has, since 1923, awarded schol-
arships to 82 young men at Cath-
olic Universities at a cost of 
$37,800. Fourteen have been or-
dained to the priesthood, and five 
others will be ordained in the near 
future. The Council's Home Find-
ing Committee has placed 360 
orphans in good Catholic homes. 

The Ontario State Council has 
been active in the preservation of 
shrines of martyrs and in the de-
velopment of youth and educa-
tional activities. 

A Council in Newfoundland do-
nated a fully equipped school for 
four hundred and eighty pupils to 
the Archdiocese . 

In Southern States 

in the writing of a seven-volume 
history known as . 'Our Catholic 
Heritage in Texas" which is rec-
ognized as authentic and authori-
tative. It has accumulated many 
priceless relics and documents 
which have been donated to The 
Texas Catholic Historical Society. 
It built St. Mary's Chapel at the 
Texas A. & M . College at a cost of 
$60,000. 

It established a loan fund of 
$12,000 to assist deserving Catho-
lic students attending Catholic 
Colleges. It donated $3,500 each 
to Saint Edward's University at 
Austin and Saint Mary 's Univer-
sity in San Antonio. It contributes 
to the maintenance of a Chaplain 
at the State Tubercular Sanatori-
um. Ie is now developing plans for a 
home for under-privileged boys. 

The Ohio State Council con-
tributes to the maintenance of 
Chaplains at six state institutions 
at a cost of $2,700 per year. It 
contributed $65,000 to the pro-
motion of Newman Clubs at State 
Colleges and Universities and an-
nually contributes $60,000 to the 
Archbishops and Bishops for the 
promotion of the Youth Programs 
in their dioceses. 

The Virginia State Council has 
contributed $3,000 to a fund for 
the education of candidates for the 
priesthood and makes an annual 
contribution for that purpose. 

"Boys ville " 

The Florida State Council has 
established a burse for the educa-
tion of candidates for the priest-
hood, it has published d. digest of 
approved Catholic books which it 
distributed to libraries throughout 
the country, and it conducts an 
essay contest on the early history 
of Florida which is open to all 
parochial school students and all 
Catholic students in the public 
schools. 

The Michigan State Council ac-
cepted the invitation of the Cardi-

The Te xas State Council, inal and the Bishops to cooperate 
through a Historical Commission, in the establishment and main-
formedbyit,hasexpended$100,000 tenance of "Boysville," near Ma-

-( 22 )-



con, Michigan, for the care and 
training of boys of high school 
age, preference being given to 
homeless boys. 

The British Columbia State 
Council contributes annually to a 
fund for the education of priests, 
its contributions for this purpose 
having amounted in the aggregate 
to $4,000. 

The New Jersey State Council 
maintains two summer camps f01" 
boys with accommodations {or 330 
boys. It provides two scholarships 
for candidates for the priesthood 
at an annual cost of $1,500. 

A New Orphanage 

The Saskatchewan State Coun-
cil raised $110,000 for the rebuild-
ing of the Orphanage at Prince 
Albert, which had been destroyed 
by a disastrous fire. It contributed 
$3,500 to purchase fire safety 
equipment for the orphanage at 
Iruna and it contributes $1,000 
annually to each of the Prince 
Albert and Ituna Orphanages. It 
raised $4,500 for the Old Folks 
Home at Gravelbourg, $3,500 to 
provide equipment for the girls' 
camp at Lebret, $2,600 for S:lint 
Patrick 's Orphanage, $2,500 for 
girls' Welfare Work in Saskatoon 
and $6,500 for the Cardinal Fringe 
European Relief Fund. It has 
pledged $50,000 toward the con-
struction of a new Old Folks 
Home at Gravelbourg. 

Street Preaching 

The Colorado State Council has 
contributed to the street preaching 
and public speaking funds of the 
two dioceses and the maintenance 
of Newman Clubs at variou s col-

leges and universities. The Denver 
General Assembly is sponsoring 
the erection of a shrine to Mother 
Francis Xavier Cabrini on the top 
of Lookout Mountain. Each year 
it provides a four-year scholarship 
at Regis College for a deserving 
graduate of the Catholic High 
Schools. It contributed $5,000 to 
the Loretto Heigh ts Building Fund, 
$1,000 to the Infant of Prague 
Nursery and $500 to a Seminary 
burse. Walsenburg Council spon-
sored the erection of the Saint 
Mary's Athletic Field at a cost of 
$2,000. Pueblo Council con tributed 
$500 to the New Catholic High 
School. 

Recreation Aided 

The Idaho State Council has 
established a fund to be used for 
the construction of a gymnasium 
and recreation building at St. 
Joseph's Chi ldren's Home at CuI 
de Sac, which is operated for 
orphans and under-privileged chil-
dren. The building will be a me-
morial to members who were 
killed in World War II. It con-
tributes annually to a fund for the 
education of candidates for the 
priesthood. It contributed the 
money required to install a new 
heating system. Wallace Council 
has for more than ten years main-
tained bus service for children 
attending the parochial school. 

In Arkansas, the activities of 
two councils are outstanding. 
Little Rock Council established a 
burse of $5,000 for the education 
of candidates for the priesthood. 
Each year it raises $5,000 for St. 
J oseph 's Orphanage and $2,500 for 

-- ( 23 )-



St. Mary's Academy and it pro-
vides an annual Christmas dinner 
for the children in St. Joseph's 
Orphanage. Pine Bluff Council 
raises $4,000 each year for the 
Annunciation Academy. 

A Retreat House 

The State Council at Maryland 
raised $90,000 for the Manresa-
on-the-Severn Retreat House. Each 
year it provides a Christmas Din-
ner for the 1200 children in Cath-
olic Orphanages. This year it 
contributed $2,500 to the Home 
for the Aged . It installed an ele-
vator for the Little Sisters of the 
Poor at a cost of $10,000. 

Support of Education 

The Georgia State Council con-
tributes annually to the support 
of the Saint Thomas Vocational 
School for Boys and to the fund 
for the maintenance Qf schools and 
churches. The Augusta and At-
lanta Councils provide entertain-
ment for the children in St. 
Joseph's Home. The Columbus 
Council assisted in the erection of 
the Catholic Hospital at that place. 

priesthood and has $3,600 on hand 
for another. 

Hospital Beds 

The Rhode Island State Council 
maintains two hospital beds for 
free use by members . It contributed 
$5,000 for an altar for the sem-
inary. It established a fund of 
$10,000 to provide scholarships 
for deserving Catholic young men 
and $1,200 for scholarships in 
Catholic High Schools. It contrib-
utes $10,000 annually for charities 
and the care of ill and dependent 
members. The Assembly at New-
port has contributed $80,000 
toward r.he maintenance of schol-
arship for worthy Catholic young 
men. 

The Connecticut State Council 
has contributed $5,500 to Saint 
Agnes Home, $2,000 to Saint 
Francis Orphan Home, $25,000 to 
Saint Thomas Seminary. $10,000 
to Saint Joseph's College, $5,000 
to Highland Heights Orphanage, 
$25 ,000 to Saint John's School for 
Boys , $2,500 each to the new 
Retreat Houses of the Passjonist 
Fathers and the Holy Ghost 
Fathers and $5,000 to the Bishop 
of Hartford. 

The Kansas State Council is en-
gaged in the erection of a me-
morial to Father Juan Padilla at 
the spot where he first raised the Youth Camp 
cross as he accompanied Coronado The South Dakota State Council 
into Kansas in the early part of the has established a burse of $5,000 
sixteenth century, the cost of to assist in the education of candi-
which will be $8,000. Wichita dates for the priesthood. It main-
Council has established a $10,000 t ains a Y outu Camp in the Black 
burse for the educatjon of candi- Hills. 

dates for the priesthood. The Montana State Council pro-
The Oklahoma State Council vided a fund of $50,000 for scholar-

has established a $15,000 burse for ships at Carroll College. Great 
the education of candidates for the Falls and Helena Councils provide 

-( 24 )-



:a special dinner for persons who 
have just been admitted as citizens. 

The Vermont State Councilmain-
tains a scholarship for young men 
studying for the priesthood. It 
contributes $1,500 annually to 
the Don Bosco School for under-
privileged boys. It assists in pro-
viding transportation for Sisters to 
the State School for Mentally De-
fi cient. It maintains' a center in 
Burlington where Catholic litera-
ture and reference work is avail-
able for students at the State 
University and Saint Michael's 
College. 

and has contributed an additional 
$3,500 for the same purpose. It 
has fostered beneficial legislation 
for students attending parochial 
schools. 

Each year the California State 
Council contributes $1,000 to pro-
vide scholarships in the four 
Catholic Colleges and $3,000 to 
the Bishops for the education of 
candidates for the priesthood. 
The councils affiliated with the 
Southern California Chapter raised 
$12,000 to build a chapel at the 
Rancho San Antonio :Qoys Home 
and contrib\:!tes $2,500 annually 
for its maintenance. Pasadena 

Homes for Children Council contributes $1,000 each 
The Illinois State Council has year to Saint Luke's Hospital. 

maintained a Home Finding Serv- Glendale Council provides Christ-
ice for children at a cost of $7,000 mas cheer each year at the Vet-
per year for many years. It con- erans Hospital. The Northern 
tributes $5,000 each year to the California councils are engaged in 
Newman Foundation at the Uni- raising funds for an addition to 
versity of Illinois . It maintains the Archbishop Hanna Home. 

annual scholarships at the Catho- The Tennessee State Council 
lic Boys Schools and the Councils makes an annual contribution to 
in the Chicago Archdiocese annu- the Bishop for the education of 
ally raise funds for the Bishop candidates for the priesthood. Lo-
Sheil Underprivileged Youth Fund, retta Council raised $5,000 for the 
the amount now aggregating over Father Ryan School. 

$600,000. The Louisiana State Council 
The Arizona State Council co- contributed $21,500 toward the 

operates in the maintenance of operation of Catholic Student 
the Newnan Club Program and it Centers at the State Universities . 
contributes $500 each year for that It has raised $15,500 toward a 
purpose. fund for a state sponsored youth 

The Oregon State Council co- project. The councils in the Alex-
operated actively in the movement andria Diocese are assisting in 
to defeat the Oregon School Bill raising funds for a Seminary, Re-
and in having it presented to the treat House and Boy's Camp. 
Supreme COU1't, which held it to The Iowa State Council contrib-
be unconstitutional. It established uted $55,000 to the Bishops of 
a burse of $5,000 for the education the State to assist in educating 
of candidates for the priesthood candidates for the priesthood; 

-( 25 )-



$50,000 for the maintenance of 
Student Pastors at the State edu-
cational institutions and it is now 
raising funds to support Catholic 
Student Centers at those institu-
tions; it assisted in the mainte-
nance of Catholic Chaplains at the 
Ve terans Hospital at Knoxville. 

The Minnesota State Council 
has [or many years maintained a 
bureau at the Mayo Clinic at 
Rochester with a secretary in 
charge who visits sick patients, 
itssists them with their correspond-
ence, provides them with litera-
ture and does everything possible 

to make the lot of the sick and 

convalescent more cheerful. It 

sponsors a Catechetical Contest 

and awards an annual scholarship 

to the winning boy or girl in each 
of the five dioceses . It is engaged 

in raising $150,000 to erect a 

Catholic Student Center at the 
University of Minnesota. 

The Washington State Council 

has for three years sponsored the 
publication of Narberth articles in 

thirteen newspapers throughout 

the State at an annual cost of 

$10,000. 

" The Knights of Columbus represent the American expression of 

Catholic Action. The Knights are organized for a purpose which 

has meaning only insofar as they are in perfect accord with the 

mind of the Church. In the spirit of this accord they are the real 

warriors of our time, whose armor is Christian fraternity, whose 

sword is the truth, and whose banner proclaims peace through 

sacrifice. They are showing in our day a deep understanding of 

their purpose and are set upon an enlightened program of action. 

Decent men cannot help bur be attracted to an Order so zealously 

professing the rich truths of the faith. This is the spirit that makes 

Columbian action Catholic Action." 

Excerpt from address by the Most Reverend J ohn King Mussio, 

Bishop of Steubenville at the 50th Anniversary State Council 

Meeting of Ohio. 

-( 26 )-



The Structure of the Order 

Fundamentally the Knights of Columbus operates in 

accordance with the laws relating to fraternal benefit 

societies, which require a representative form of govern-

ment with a supreme governing or legislative body and 

subordinate branches into which members shall be 

elected, initiated and admitted in accordance with its 

constitution, laws and rules. Accordingly, the Knights 

of Columbus. has for its governing body the Supreme 

Council, State Councils in each of the 61 jurisdictions in 

North America and 3,300 subordinate Councils compris-

ing a membership of nearly 900,000. 

The Supreme Council is composed of the Past Supreme 

Knights, the Supreme Officers and Supreme Directors, the 

State Deputy and the last living Past State Deputy of the 

various State Councils, and such Delegates as may be 

chosen by the various State Councils. 

The Supreme Council elects seven Supreme Officers 

and 15 Supreme Directors who together constitute the 

Supreme Board of Directors. All executive authority of 

the Order is vested in this body. 

The State Councils consist of the State Officers, the 

last past State Deputy, the Grand Knight and Past 

Grand Knight from each subordinate Council. 

Charters for subordinate Councils are granted upon 

application of a specified number of members or appli-

cants for membership. The presiding officer of a sub-

ordinate Council is the Grand Knight. 

-( 27 )-



T HE RECORD of the Knights 
of Columbus has elicited 
the most favorable com-
ment by persons high in 
civic and religious affairs. 
Because of it, the late 
Cardinal Gibbons said of 
its members: 

"They are our joy and our 
crown 

They are the glory of 

Jerusalem 

They are the joy of Israel 

They are the honor of our 
people." 

But, as might be expected, the 
Crder's noteworthy record has not 
protected it from vicious, mean 
and unjustifiable attacks . There 
are those who would destroy this 
great society and w ho would 
malign the men who compose it. 
The means adopted for this pur-
pose is the circulation of an un-
godly and un-Christian bogus 
"oath" that is alleged to be taken 
by the Knights of Columbus. 

clothing" to mask their 
vicious purpose to destroy 
the harmony that should 
exist among men and to 
deprive their fellow-citi-
zens of their sacred heritage 
-the right to worship 
God in accordance with 
their own convictions. 

No man is a true fol-
lower of the Savior who 

ignores His injunction, "Tholl 
shalt not bear false witness," and 
that is what every man who 
circulates the bogus "oath" is 
guilty of doing. Do those who are 
guilty of this terrible offense 
against their fellow men ever 
stop to consider the warning of 
Scri pture: "The man th at in 
pri vate detracted his neigh bor, 
him did I persecute" CPs. 100:S)? 

How It Started 

No proof that the Knights of 
Columbus take this alleged" oa th" 
has been offered and none can be 
produced. But to give the pre-
tended "oath" the appearance of 

Wanton Slander genuineness, many of the pam-
Its purpose is to breed hatred phlets containing it bear the nota-

and intolerance, regardless of truth. tion "Copied from the Congres-
Many of those who circulate it sional Record, February 15,1913." 
claim to be actuated by religious However, they fail to state how 
motives, but this is a mere cloak this false "oath" came to be 
for their wicked purpose to arouse printed in the Congressional Rec-
hatred and ill will among their ord, or the fact that the only 
fellow men. Their protestations purpose of printi ng it was to prove 
of religious fervor are the' 'sheep's its falsity . By referring to the Con-

-( 28 )-



gressional Record it will be found 
that this so-called .. oath" was 
printed therein merely as an ex-
hibit in the contested Congres-
sional election case of Bonniwell 
against Butler, in which Mr. Bon-
niwell, a Knight of Columbus , 
claimed that his defeat was 
brought about by the circulation 
of this false "oath". His oppo-
nent, Mr. Butler, repudiated the 
document and in presenting his 
defense said: 

. 'I apprehended with alarm 
the use of such a document in 
a political campaign or at any 
other time. I did not believe in 
its truthfulness and so stated 
my judgment concerni ng it on 
November 4, 1912, as soon as 
complaint was made to me of 
its general circulation." (See 
Congressional Record, Vol. 49, 
February 15, 1913, p. 3219.) 
In its report, the Congressional 
Committee on Electi ons said: 

" The Committee cannot con-
demn too strongly the publica-
tion of the false and libelous 
article referred to in the paper 
to Mr. Bonniwell and which 
was the spurious Knights of 
Columbus Oath, a copy of which 
is appended to the paper." (See 
Congressional Record, Vol. 49, 
February 15, 1913, p. 3221.) 

port in which it was certified that 
the Knights of Columbus is not an 
oath-bound organization, that its 
ceremonials inculcate principles 
that lie at the foundation of every 
great religion and that-

"Neither the alleged oath nor 
any oath or pledge bearing the 
remotest resemblance thereto in 
matter, manlier, spirit or pur-
pose is used or forms a part of 
the ceremonies of any degree of 
the Knights of Columbus. The 
alleged oath is scurrilous, w icked 
and libelous and must be the 
invention of an impious and 
venomous mind. \Ve find that 
the order of Knights of Colum-
bus, as shown by its rituals, is 
dedicated to the Catholic reli-
gion, charity and patriotism. 
There is no propaganda proposed 
or taught against Protestants 
or Masons or persons not of the 
Catholic faith . J ndeed, Protes-
tants and Masons are not re-
ferred to directly or indirectly 
in the ceremonials and pledges. 
The ceremonial of the Order 
teaches a high and noble patrio-
tism, instills a love of country, 
inculcates a reverence for law 
and order, urges the conscien-
tious and unselfish performance 
of civic duty, and holds up the 
Constitution of our countrv as 
the richest and most precious 

Masonic Committee's Report possession of a knight of the 

A complete set of the work, Order. We can find nothing in 
ceremonials and pledges of the the entire ceremonials of the 
Knights of Columbus was sub- Order that to OLIr minds could 
~nitted to a committee of prom- be objected to by any person." 
went members of the Masonic $25,000 Reward 
Order. After carefully examining For t we 11 t y-fi ve yea r s the 
them, the committee made a re- Knights of Columbus has main-

-( 29 )-



tained a standing offer of $25,000 
to any person or persons who will 
furnish proof: 

1. That the alleged "oath" is 
taken or subscribed to, or ever 
was taken or subscribed to, by the 
Knights of Columbus, or 

2. That Protestants or Masons 
are or ever were referred to di-
rectly or indirectly in the Cere-
monials of the Knights of Colum-
bus, or 

3. That the following is not the 
true obligation taken by Fourth 
Degree members of the Knights of 
Columbus in the United States 

"oath' " the California Court of 
Appeals, in affirming the convic-
tion of the defendant, said: 

"The evidence conclusively 
shows that defendant published 
the article knowing it to be un-
true and without justifiable ends 
and for the sole purpose of in-
juring the members of the so-
ciety by discrediting their hon-
esty, integrity and reputation, 
and with a desire to expose them 
to public hatred, contempt, or 
ridicule, and that the so-called 
oath was false and that no mem-
ber of the fourth or any degree 
of the Order ever took such 

"I swear to support the Con- an oath. " 
stitution of the United States. 
I pledge myself, as a Catholic In Crane v. State, 14 Okla. Cr. 
citizen and a Knight of Colum- 30, the Court in affirming a con-

b f 
viction of crimi nal libel for cir-

us, ully to enlighten myself 
upon my duties as a citizen and culating the bogus" oath" said: 

conscientiously perform them "It is to be regretted that 
entirely in the interest of my the state does not prescribe im-
country, regardless of personal prisonment in the penitentiary 
consequences. I pledge myself to as the punishment for this class 
do all in my power to preserve of crime in order that such 
the integrity and purity of the characters as this record dis-
ballot and to promote r~spect closes plaintiff in error to be, 
for law and order. I promIse to should receive the judgment 
practice my religion consistently which the author in this book 
and faithfully, and to so con- says would be proper if his 
~uct myself in public affairs and statements are untrue . That 
10 the exercise of public virtue they are untrue and false in toto 
as to reflect nothing but credit the proof offered in this case 
upon our Holy Church, to the overwhelmingly establishes .... 
end that she may flourish and It is remarkable that in this 
our country prosper to the great- country where freedom of con-
er honor and glory of God. " science in religious matters was 

one of the chief basic doctrines 
Decision of the Courts upon which the government 

In People vs. Gordan, 63 Cal. was founded, people who hold 
App. 627. in which the defendant themselves forth as possessing 
was convicted of criminal libel even ordinary intelligence would 
for h aving circulated the bogus indulge in this character of 

-( 30 )-



criminal conduct. . . . The 
charge that members of an 
honorable organization, secret 
religious, or otherwise, sub-
scribe to such an oath as that 
complained of or the doctrines 
alleged is not tolerable and is 
not permitted by law .... The 
plaintiff in error was properly 
convicted by the jury.' 

In sentencing J. Harold Hunter, 
who had pleaded guilty to circu-
lating the bogus "oath" at Flint, 
Michigan, the Court said: 

"The founders of this nation 
and of every state have taken 
into consideration religion as 
one of the basic things in the 
nation and in the state and in 
a desire to accord to every man 
their right the law should take 
exception to the fanatic who in 
the night time under an assumed 
name will strike against any 
recognized religion or organi-
zation or who foments race or 
religious prejudice . It is un-
American; it is unconstitutional, 
and it is unlawful. This docu-
ment is libelous per se." 

fend ant did not deny that she 
circulated the oath and did not 
deny that it was false .... The 
evidence abundantly authorized 
the defendant's conviction." 

In sentencing Reverend E. L. 
Bateman, whom a jury at Newark, 
New Jersey, found guilty of circu-
lating the bogus "oath" the 
Court said: 

"You have been convicted of 
a libel. You have borne false 
witness against your neighbor. 
You have tOld an untruth." 

The New Orleans Daily States 
said: 

"If the Jersey Judge before 
whom the Reverend Mr. Bate-
man was tried should take it 
intO his mind to put him in 
stripes it would go a long way 
toward stOpping the circulation 
of an outrageous forgery." 

Press Cites Lie 

The bogus "oath" was de-
nounced from press and pulpit. 
Great newspapers, such as the 
Saint Paul Pioneer-Press, the Mont-
gomeryAdvertiser, The SaintJohn's, 
Newfoundland, Evening T elegram 

In affirming a conviction in and Daily News, the St. Louis 
Alumbaugh v. State, 40 Ga. App. Post-Dispatch, the New YOl"k W ofld, 
15, the Court said : the New Orleans Daily States, the 

"The State proved to the sat- Cleveland News and many others 
isfaction of the jury that the assailed it. A committee of prom-

f inent Masons described it as' 'scur-purported oath was alse, that 
it was maliciously circulated by rilous, wicked and libelous" and 
the defendant and that its circu- "the invention of an impious and 
lation tended to blacken the venomous mind. " 
honesty, virtue, integrity and Many persons who circulated 
reputation of the parties alleged the "oath" were prosecuted and 
to have been defamed and ex- convicted of criminal libel and 
posed them to public hatred, some were sent to jail. 

contempt and ridicule. The de- And still the bogus "oath" IS 

-( 31 )-



circulated from time to tim:e-
usually in connection with a polit-
ical campaign. The Knights of 
Columbus has published a booklet 
setting forth the facts regarding 

the so-called oath and if any of our 
readers are interested, they may 
obtain a copy of it by writing to 
Supreme Secretary, Knights of Co-
lumbus, New Haven, Connecticut. 

"His Holiness would h ave me express to the Knights of Columbus 

His personal praise and approbation for the establishment of a 

Foundation of the Order, which will make available to scholars, 

at St. Louis University, the microfilmed copies of thousands of 

precious manuscripts of the Vatican Library. 

"In establishing the Foundation for the preservation of the 

historic documents at the Vatican Library, your Order has made 

a most worthwhile contribution to that Christian learning which 

the Church has ever fostered as part of its mission of peace and 

its educative function in the cause of truth and universal under-

standing among peoples. 

"It is thus a tribute to the genuine Catholic spirit of your mem-

bership that this initiative of true Christian humanism should 

have enlisted your generous support and that these priceless 

documents, preserved through the centuries for future ages by 

the farseeing custody and cultural appreciation of the Supreme 

Pontiffs, should now, at a Catholic institution of learning in 

the United States and through your assistance, become a source 

of ready consultation to all who value the heritage of the past 

and of our Christian civilization." 

M essage of His Holiness Pope PittS X II to the I95 I meet ing of 

the Supreme Council . 

-( 32 )-



~~~ 
~ ~ ~ ~ 

I Who Can Be A J(night? I 
~ ~ 
~ ~ 
~. 

MEMBERSHIP IN the Knights of fees and dues set by subordinate 
Columbus is open to practical councils under regulations estab-
Catholic men over the age of lished by the Supreme Council. 
eighteen. Application blanks are The insurance privileges of mem-
available from any member of bership are available to all men 
the Knights of Columbus. Every who can qualify and they repre-
Knight is happy to propose eligi- sent an important advantage of 
ble Catholic men for consideration membership. For men in every 
2.S members . walk of life the name of the 

Acceptance of an applicant de- Knights of Columbus brings the 
pends upon a vote of the members thought of a united organization, 
of the subordinate Council in efficiently going about its tasks of 
which he is making application. Charity, Unity, Fraternity and 

Application for mem ber- Patriotism, composed of men who 
ship must be made through the are giving unselfishly of their 

time and talents in the service Council in the community nearest 
the applicant's place of residence. of their Gol and their country. 

Interested prospects, such as men This pamphlet shows how the 
temporarily away from home Knights of Columbus has grown 
through duty in the armed forces, from a small but purposeful group 
must make application through into a gre:.tt and powerful Catholic 
their home-town Council. If fav- fraternity whose patriotic and re-
orably voted upon, the applicant ligious services have won for it a 
becomes a member by initiation high place in the esteem of the 
in what is known as the First world and whose good deeds have 
Degree. He is subsequently ad- smoothed the pathways of count-
vanced to the point in membership less thousands. 

where he is entitled to wear Membership in the Knights of 
the emblem of the Knights of Columbus provides the oppor-
Columbus by initiation in the tunity for wholesome association 
Second and Third Degrees. The with congenial companions who 
Fourth, or Patriotic, Degree of the are, first of all, practical Catholic 
Knights of Columbus is available gentlemen. It offers the oppor-
to Third Degree members follow- tunity for association with those 
ing a period of membership in the who are of the same belief, who 
Order and the meeting of special recognize the same duty to God, 
qualifi cations for that degree. to family and to neighbor and 

There are nominal initiation who stand side by side in defense 

-( 33 )-



of those beliefs. Programs are so 
organized as to appeal to the 
individual interests of the mem-
bers. Through many practical 
programs of Christian fraternity, 
members are enabled to render 
service to their church, their 
country and their fellow-man. 
Through membership they de-
velop a consciousness of their 
abiliry to be of assistance. 

OrganizedColumbianism, united 
behind the individual Knight of 
Columbus, provides the full force 
of an intelligent, alert body of 
Catholic men-a strength which 
the individual by himself cannot 
achieve. 

Knights of Columbus have a 
prou d heritage. The qualified Ca th-
olic man can share in that heritage 
and build for an even greater 
future by affiliating himself with 
this strong, militant body. 

In 1952 the Knights of Colum-
bus established at the Supreme 
Office aNew Council Develop-
ment Department designed to ex-
plore the possibilities of estab-
lishing new Councils in the fringe, 
or suburban areas, of cities in 
order to make more conveniently 
available membership in a Council 
in the area or neighborhood in 
which qualified prospec.ts lived. 
If you and your Catholic friends 
live in such neighborhoods where 
Councils are not now in existence, 
you can secure information on the 
possibilities of establishing a 
Council by writing the Supreme 
Office. 

Persons desiring to become mem-
bers should contact a member of 
the nearest council, or address 
their inquiry to Supreme Secre-
tary, Knights of Columbus, New 
Haven, Connecticut. 

"The community of interests afforded by membership in this fine 

Catholic order, the assistance coming from close association with 

others who share Catholic culture and Catholic traditions, are 

bound to mean benefits to us and to the city in which we live. 

" As Columbus was a faithful and devoted son of the Church, so 

every Knight of Columbus will find in his fraternal affiliation 

a powerful means to grow in the spirit of Catholicism and in 

the ability to affect his fellowmen by that spirit." 

-Rochester, N. Y. Catholic Courier. 

-( 34 )-



.. ..:hie, " ~~~'t~ 
III SVA SANTITA. 

..... --
Dear Mr. Hart: 

:Vatican City. 
May 12, 1953 

At the gracious direction of the Holy Father, 
I have pleasure in acknowledging receipt of the 
report, whiah you enclosed in your letter of 
May 1st, 1953. 

His Holiness has followed with paternal 
interest the steady progress of the Catholi c 
Advertising Program undertaken by the l(nights of 
Columbus, and notes with particular satisfe~tion 
how it continues to produce encouraging results 
in making the Catholic Faith better known among 
peoples and bringing many withtnthe fold of the 
Church. 

Today this is a very necessary form of the 
apostolate. Everywhere men are becoming dissatis-
fied with the present disorder they see in the 
world and are beginning to look elsewhere for a 
spiritual solution to the numerous problems that 
confront them, a solution which can .only be found 
in the Christian teaching of the Catholic Church. 

The Holy Father is very pleased, therefore , 
with the fruitful re sults of your apostolic work 
and in order to give further encouragement to your 
labours, He cordially imparts to you and to your 
faithful collaborators in this campaign of truth t 
His special paternal Apostolic Blessing. 

With assurance of my personal esteem and 
cordial regard, I remain, 

Mr. Luke E. Hart, 
Catholic Advertising 
1303 La Salle Bldg., 
St. Louis I, Mo . 

Yours sincerely in Christ, 

Committee, 

-( 35 )-



.~~ 
~ ~ 
~ ~ 
~ M h he d ~ ~ enI ers Ip an ~ 
~ ~ ~ ~ 
~O eF S e ~ ~ pportunIty or erVIce ~ 
~ ~ 
~ ~ ~ ~ 
~,~~~ 

THE PREVIOUS pages have 
given you an opportunity 
to become acquainted wi th 
the historical background 
and accomplishments of 
the Knights of Columbus. 
Qualified Catholic men 
who become members of our 
society personally participate in 
these and many other commend-
able projects through the councils 
in the communities in which 
they live. Alone a Catholic man 
is definitely limited in the ex-
tension of his services to Church, 
to community and to fellow-man . 
United in an organization of 
900,000 other Catholic men who 
think and act the way he does, 
his influence and his opportunities 
for service are greatly magnified. 

Membership in the Knights 
of Columbus is available, upon 
invitation, to practical Catholics 
over the age of eighteen years . 
Qualified Catholic men should 
seriously consider any such in-
vitation to become members of 
our great organization. 

It has not been possible in 
this small pamphlet to outline in 
any detail the hundreds of mag-
nificent projects in which our 
councils in local communities are 

engaged. We have been 
able to give you but a 
brief review of some of 
the major programs of 
the 'Order. The activities 
which are ' conducted at 
the local level are of sig-

nifi cant importance in the whole 
program of the 'Order. The success 
of these projects locally depends 
upon the active participation of 
every possible qualified Catholic 
man. Through our plan of com-
mittee organization, through our 
council meetings and activities, 
the Catholic man is given the 
opportunity to use his particular 
talents in the program area in 
which he is most interested. 
Through his membership in the 
council in his community the 
Knights of Columbus also playa 
particular part in the continua-
tion of the present programs of 
the 'Order and will play an 
important part in the extension 
of these programs and in the 
development of new activities. 
Your friends and relatives who 
are presently members of the 

Knights of Columbus will be 

very glad to discuss your possible 

membership in the 'Order with 
you. 

-( 36 )-



STATE DEPUTIES - 1953-1954 

Alabama-Robert 1. Mackey. Mobile. 

Alberta-Frank J. Trainor. Calgary. 

Arizona-Patrick J. Smith. Bisbee. 

Arkansas-Leo J. Byrne. Little Rock. 

British Columbia-James V. Hughes. 
Vancouver. 

California-Bernard J. Loughman. 
Ventura. 

Colorado--George M. Turner. 
Walsenburg. 

Connecticut- Thomas F. Parks. Hamden. 

Cuba-Julio Jover Vidal. Havana. 

Delaware--Theodore N. Burke. 
Wilmington. 

DlslItct of Columbia-Henry G. Catucci. 
Washington. 

Florida-Leonard A. Burt. Kendall. 

Geo19la-Joseph F. Kunze. Columbus. 

Idaho-Lawrence J. Cowen. Pocatello. 

IlUnola-Charles J. Morgan. Chicago. 

Indiana-Thomas G. Medland. 
Loqansport. 

Iowa-Matthew W. Hart. Davenport. 

I[cmaal-Vlrgil R. Linot. Wlchfta. 

Jtentucky-Owen W. Serey. Ashland. 

Louislana-EmUe Reggie. Crowley. 

Malne--Robert J. Ouellette. Brunswick. 

Manitoba-Jossph P. Guay. St. Boniface. 

Maryland-John P. Bauemschub. 
Baltimore. 

Massachusetts- Daniel J. Fitzgerald. 
Springfield. 

Mexico--Guillermo Orozco. Mexico City. 

Mlchiqan-Thomas M. Kavanagh. 
Carson City. 

Minnesota-M. J. Daly. Belle Plaine. 

Mississippi-John F. Smith. Natchez. 

Missouri-Clemens M. Wolff. SI. Louis. 

Montana-Roderick F. McCarvel. 
Anaconda. 

Nebrallka-George M. McCarthy. 
O'Neill, 

Nevada-Rudolph S, Lak. Reno, 

New Brunswick-Gregory T. Feeney. 
Campbellton. 

Newfoundland-Joseph A. Ryan. 
St. John·s. 

New Hampshire-Bernard Boutin, 
Laconia. 

New Jersey-Thomas A. Barry. 
Barrington. 

New Mexico-Albino A. Remero. Belen. 

New York-Denis A. Mansfield. 
Saratoga Springs. 

North Carolina-Harry W. Clody. 
Raleigh. 

North Dakota-Tore S. Allegrezza. 
Grand Forks. 

Nova Scotla-S. J. Khatter. Sydney. 

Ohio-Larry N. Rogers. Warren. 

Oklahoma-Marlon J. Blake. Tulsa. 

Ontario-Tobias Kelly, Toronto. 

Orec;ron-Dr. F. A. Reiling. Eugene. 

Pennsylvania-H. Pat Bearer, DuBois. 

Prince Edward Island-Leo F. MacDon· 
ald. Charlottetown. 

Quebec-Hon. T. Adelard Fontaine. 
Montreal. 

Rhode Island-Joseph A. McGarry. 
Cranston. 

Saskatchewan-William A. Reid, 
Saskatoon. 

South Carolina-AI J. Baumann. Sumter. 

South Dakota-Cletus G. Natz. 
Sioux Falls. 

Tennessee--Tom Ed Murray. Nashville. 

Texas-Reynaldo G. Garza. Brownsville. 

Utah-Henry C. Hannsmann, Salt Lake 
City. 

Vermont-William L. Hammond. 
Burlington. 

Virginia-James C. Welsh. Jr .• 
Richmond. 

Washington-Edward T. Walsh. 
Richland. 

West Virginia-Howard F. Smith. 
Grafton. 

Wisconsin-Dr. Eugene A. Krembs, 
Merrill. 

Wyominq-M. Joseph Burke. 
Medicine Bow. 



Gateway to Security and Protection 

NON-PROFIT LIFE INSURANCE 

available only to 

Knights of Columbus Members 

Nine Standard Plans of Adult Protection 

Double Indemnity for Accidental Death 

Waivei' of Payments for Disability 

Annuity Contracts - Maturity at Ages 60-65·70 

Juvenile Insurance 

Stability and Safety 

Write today to: 

1finight!lllf QJlllumbus 
SUPREME COUNCIL 

P. O. Box 1670 

NEW HAVEN, CONN. 


	825276-001
	825276-002
	825276-003
	825276-004
	825276-005
	825276-006
	825276-007
	825276-008
	825276-009
	825276-010
	825276-011
	825276-012
	825276-013
	825276-014
	825276-015
	825276-016
	825276-017
	825276-018
	825276-019
	825276-020
	825276-021
	825276-022
	825276-023
	825276-024
	825276-025
	825276-026
	825276-027
	825276-028
	825276-029
	825276-030
	825276-031
	825276-032
	825276-033
	825276-034
	825276-035
	825276-036
	825276-037
	825276-038
	825276-039
	825276-040