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Knights of Columbus

a fraternal order, restricted to male members of the Catholic Church, established in New Haven, Conn., in 1882. The purposes are declared to be to develop a practical Catholicity among the members, to promote education and charity, and, through an insurance department, to furnish at least temporary financial aid to the families of deceased members.

The organizers in 1882, as a Supreme Committee, instituted the first subordinate council, San Salvador Council, No. 1, New Haven. From that time on subordinate councils were organized in the different cities and towns throughout Connecticut, and in 1885 the order began to be extended beyond the borders of that state. The order had in force April 1, 1918, insurance certificates of $132,344,151.33, the reserve fund amounting to $8,532,967.89. In 1917 the ratio of assets to liabilities was 132.35 per cent.

The order is now established in every state and territory of the United States, every province of Canada, in Newfound land, Alaska, the Philippines, Cuba, Porto Rico, Mexico, the Canal Zone, and Panama. The order has endowed at $50,000 a chair of American History at the Catholic University of America; and fifty perpetual free scholarships at the same institution. It aided in relief work in San Francisco earthquake, Kansas flood, Chelsea fire, Ohio flood and Halifax disaster. The organization was especially active during the World War in relief work, KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS both in France and the United States.

Its work was under the control of the commission of war activities, of which Chairman.

William J. Mulligan was Chairman.

The Over Seas Director was William P. Larkin.

The Knights of Columbus organized canteens and huts where the soldiers were able to resort for social and other activities both in the training camps and in France. In the United States 150 such rest stations were maintained, and in France 45. The total number of secretaries amounted to 350. On Sundays, mass was held in the huts, 100 Chaplains being assigned to the religious phase of the work for the special comfort of the Catholic soldiers.

It is worthy of note that on the Jewish Sabbath, the Knights of Columbus Huts, both at home and abroad were thrown open to the soldiers of the Jewish faith, in order that they might enjoy religious service according to their belief.

Before the close of the war the Catholics of the United States had contributed over $50,000,000 a year for the work of the Knights of Columbus.

During the first six months of 1918 , over $7,000,000 was spent.

See RELIEF, WAR. a The work of lectures to non-Catholics has been taken up with success and was carried to great lengths during the war.

The series of lectures delivered by Bishop Keane of Cheyenne, Wyo., in Denver in 1909, inaugurated the work.

At Cedar Rapids, Ia., 85 per cent. of the audience, at the lectures under the auspices of the Knights of Columbus, was non-Catholic. The Knights of Columbus were largely instrumental in the erecmemorial to Christopher tion of Columbus, in the City of Washington, by the United States Government. "Columbus Day" (October 12) was instituted largely through the efforts of the order. In August, 1920, a commission sent by the Knights of Columbus unveiled a statue of Lafayette presented by the order at Metz and presented a jewelled K. C. marshal's baton to Marshal Ferdinand Foch. Mr. William P.

Larkin, the Over Seas Director, was the orator of this occasion.

The total number of lodges in 1921 was 2085-the total number of members carrying insurance was 203,795. The total number of associate members was 511,078, making a grand total of members 714,873.

The total increase over the previous year in the associate members was 36 ,- 985, with an increase of all members of 121,725.

COLUMBUS id the United States. or the control of the activities, of which an was Chairman. irector was William Columbus crganized where the soldiers for social and other the training camps in the United States ons were maintained, The total number of bed to 350. On Sunheld in the huts, 100 assigned to the reliwork for the special tholic soldiers. note that on the Jew- Knights of Columbus me and abroad were e soldiers of the Jewthat they might enice according to their of the war the Cathd States had contrib- 1,000 a year for the nights of Columbus. six months of 1918, as spent. tures to non-Catholics with success and 'was engths during the war. ectures delivered by Cheyenne, Wyo., in Inaugurated the work.

Ia., 85 per cent. of the ectures under the aus- Thts of Columbus, was Knights of Columbus rumental in the erecorial to Christopher City of Washington, States Government. (October 12) was inrough the efforts of the 1920, a commission chts of Columbus un- Lafayette presented Metz and presented a hal's baton to Mar- Mr. William P.

Director, was the ion. ber of lodges in 1921 tal number of members was 208,795. The e members was total of memover the previous ciate members wan 36, e of all members of KNIGHTS OF LABOR KNOTS