Nebraska State Council Proceedings Knights of Columbus 1905-1926

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PROCEEDINGS OF ANNUAL COUNCIL MEETINGS

George Kretz	36.32
W. H. Harty	10.90
P. G. H. Boland	29.92
H. E. Coyne	10.90
John Buttell	29.39
M. E. Fleming	29.39
Dr. H. M. Sampson	35.00
H. E. Barrett	28.64
J. B. Townsend	27.94
W. J. King	41.26
W. A. Leary	48.24
J. E. Friel	17.65
P. A. Tomek	16.00
Frank J. Kam	8.25
James P. Boler	35,00
Francis P. Matthews	128.92
Jacob J. Helmes	30.92
E. P. Ryan	16.82
C. W. Kjar	23.25
B. G. Bauman	40.73
C. V. Dunn	8.25
M. R. Delahunty	23.50
A. Uphoff	17.30
J. H. Pieper	13.00
W. K. Lammers	9.56
W. J. Donahue	13.00
L. G. Brian	20.00
John Burns	21.70
John J. Bogan	20.00
W. P. Rooney	31.22
John Casey	41.26
Frank H. Morrow	16.00
Dr. J. A. Colfer	30.92
Herman Nacke	31.96
W. J. McNichols	23.60
J. A. Morrow	40.73
Matthias Friend	23.10
S. J. Oliverius	13.00
Chas. J. Phelan	6.64
P. Vanderherden	16.00
Wm. G. Bruning	12.49
Henry Schwartz	8.25
G. J. Baumann	16.82
Geo. Laughlin	30.92
Dan F. Sheehan	8.25
A. J. Dewald	31.96
J. P. Barry	31.96
W. J. Gregorius	16.00
Dr. T. W. Leonard	16.00
Multigraph Duplicating Co	4.00
Francis P. Matthews	30.06
P. M. Thies	14.36
Multigraph Duplicating Co	14.35
Francis P. Matthews	56.54

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True Voice Publishing Co	228.63
C. K. Mueller	20.00
Total paid out for expenses of last state convention	$2,646.52
Balance on hand	$7,006.65
Total	$9,653.17
Western Missionary Fund
Balance on hand as per last report	$2,586.88
Received from State Secretary
Total	$2,586.88
Disbursements
Paid to Most Rev. J. J. Harty	$ 500.00
Paid to Rt. Rev. C. J. O'Reilly	1,000.00
Paid to Rt. Rev. J. A. Duffy	1,000.00
Balance on hand	86.88
Total	$2,586.88
Kearney Normal Fund
Balance on hand as per last report	$1,031.80
Paid to B. H. Patterson, sponsor	1,031.80
Which closes this fund	$0,000.00

Approved by Auditing Committee this 25th day of May, 1921.

Worthy State Deputy and Brother Knights:
      After our last state convention, $2,500 belonging to the Western Missionary Fund were distributed as follows:
     To the Most Rev. Archbishop, Bishop of Omaha, $500.
      To the Right Rev. Bishops of Lincoln and Grand Island, $1,000 each.
      Being left to their disposal as to distribution, each of the recipients devoted his share to the best interests of his respective diocese.
      We know that it was placed where it will bring the greatest results.
      Your generosity has been heartily commended by the Right Rev. Bishops. I hope that you will continue to be as generous in the future as you have been in the past. You know that the Lord repays generously anything done in His service, and you know that this fund enables more intensive work to be performed in the vineyard of the Lord.
      There are a few remarks I would like to place before you assembled in convention.

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     I would like to draw the attention of Brother Knights to the necessity of having a card guaranteeing the fact that each one has attended to his Easter duty.
     It is a matter of common knowledge that the great ideal proposed by Our Holy Father, Benedict XV, is frequent Communion. Spiritual nourishment is absolutely necessary that our souls may enjoy supernatural life and strength, that will enable us to lead truly Christian Catholic lives.
     Hence he urges all his spiritual children to draw near the holy table frequently, and receive of the Bread of Angels--the living Bread come down from heaven.
     In attending to Easter duty the Knights of the various parishes should go to Holy Communion in a body on a special Sunday. To make this fact public, and to favorably impress others, they should march from their parish halls or clubrooms to the church for Holy Mass, and after Mass, where it is possible or convenient, they might share in a public breakfast.
     It should be a matter of parish pride to make such occasions milestones in the lives of the various parishes that will bring joy to the mothers, wives, sisters, brothers of the members and to the kindly heart of Mother Church.
     In our days of such radical tendencies when the young, especially, are in danger of being carried downstream, with the tide of paganism and irreligion sweeping the land, we need to be a guiding force in their lives, and by our example and every-day conduct to help mold them, so that they may honorably take our places when we are called away.
      Easter duty, then, particularly for Knights, should be a big, serious event in every parish--an index to its spiritual life that we dare not starve or neglect.
     Outside of the Church there is intensive organization today of the men and women, even of the boys and girls, to promote the ends the leaders have in view. Public parades, are made use of to draw public attention, and also to invite membership. The members seem to be proud as they keep step. They try to make a big showing even though they are working on false principles. They often sacrifice their time and comfort to advance the cause as they see it.
     Possessors of the truth, what are we doing in its cause? Truth is mighty, and will prevail, but we must keep it before others. We should make a big showing so that public attention may be centered upon it, and that others may be attracted by it. Working as we are, on true principles, we should be willing and anxious to do much and sacrifice much for God and country.

Another matter to which I would like to draw your attention is, that in seeking to increase membership in our honored Order, we should strive after quality, and not quantity.
It seems natural, indeed, particularly for our smaller councils, to seek to initiate all who may desire membership, laying little stress on their fitness, in order that they may have a strong working council

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at the earliest possible date. Increase in membership does not necessarily mean a stronger council.
     Not only are members taken into the Order who desire membership, but often many are induced to become members who are unworthy of its ranks.
      Now this is where the investigating committee should, by all means, use conscientious judgment. Every true Knight should realize that the well-being of the Order, to some small extent, depends on him, and that to introduce unworthy members would mean the bringing about of demoralizing conditions in the order and, in fact, assist it in slowly bleeding to death.
     In your various councils, bow many members have been initiated who have disregarded their promises? Might not the investigating committees have been to blame because they failed to bring home to themselves the conscientious duty that is theirs? While not at all obligatory to secure the pastor's approval in helping to judge the worthiness of the prospective candidates, it would be well to seek it, and it might often save the Order from future loss of membership, and many sad, unpleasant memories.
     Applicants for membership should have impressed upon them the privilege they are seeking and the high standard they must strive to maintain.
     In the words of a former Sate Deputy who has added lustre to the Order: "A man may be a good man, and yet a poor Knight of Columbus," because progressiveness in the field of Catholic endeavor should be the slogan of every good Knight.
     This is a progressive age. We dare not stand idly by. The Hierarchy of the Catholic Church of the good old U. S. A. have organized the National Catholic Welfare Council to enlist every Catholic man, and every Catholic woman, young and old, under the standard of progress, led by the Cross of Christ, to help promote Catholic lay activity, to assist in meeting new needs of the Church, to train Catholic men and women in the field of social service, to care for the Catholic immigrants, and to help offset offensive legislation hurtful to Church and country.
     Worthy State Deputy and Brother Knights, the field of Catholic endeavor is large, and it requires the whole-hearted co-operation of every Catholic deserving of the name--and we want to make every Catholic worthy of the name.
     Don't ask the Priest to do everything. Help in every way possible to make the Catholic cause triumphant in this age of infidelity.
     Let us, like the brave Knights of old--when Knighthood was in flower--work band in hand with our leaders--the successors of the Apostles--whose mission It is to guide and feed the flock. They have spoken. Like true Soldiers of the Cross let us obey their command, and thus be true Knights in word and deed.

To the Worthy State Deputy and Delegates to the State Convention of the Knights of Columbus:
      As District Deputy of the Fourth District of Nebraska, I beg leave to submit the following annual report of the councils comprising this district.
      Columbus Council, No. 938, has a present membership of 315, of which sixty-six are in the insurance class and 249 In the associate class. During the year there were six insurance members suspended and four associate members. The council has cash on hand, $1,141.82.
      Immaculate Conception Council, No. 1666, has a present membership of 181, of which fifty-five are in the insurance class and 126 in the associate class. During the year there were five suspensions and three deaths in the associate class. The council has cash on hand, $241.83.
      Leo XIII Council, No. 1708, has a present membership of 165, of which fifty-nine are in the insurance class and 106 are in the associate class. During the year there has been four suspensions and two deaths in the associate class. The council has cash on hand, $1,037, and building and loan stock, $200.
      Tihen Council, No. 1717, has a present membership of 392, of which 119 are in the insurance class and 273 in the associate class. During the year there were four suspensions in the insurance class and sixteen suspensions and one death in the associate class. The council has cash on hand, $1,299.74.
      The councils in this district, which is largely a farming community, have perhaps never experienced a financial condition as they have just passed through during the last six or eight months. Considering this, we find that they are in an exceptionally good condition. The suspensions, we consider, have at least been no greater than we might expect, and while David City is the only council in the district which has recently initiated a class, arrangements are being made for an initiation at Columbus on June 5. There are also prospects of early initiations in the remaining councils. As stated above, the financial stringency has affected each council in the district and will perhaps continue to do so while conditions do not improve, or even grow worse. It would seem then that each Knight of Columbus should feel it incumbent upon himself to maintain, so far as possible, the confidence of his Brother Knights, and to use his every effort, not only to preserve the present membership, but to aid the Order to maintain its natural growth through this period when aid Is most essential.

To the Officers and Members, Nebraska State Council, Knights of Columbus:
     Beg leave to report the following as present condition in District No. 9:
      Madison Council, No. 1788, last year reported forty-six insurance and thirty-six associate members. They lost during the year four associate members by suspension, one withdrawal and one death, leaving them forty-six insurance and thirty associate members at this date, with cash on hand amounting to $983.40.
      Sacred Heart Council, No. 1793, at Norfolk, has been compelled for some reason to suspend twenty-eight members during the year. They reported last year eighty-nine insurance members and 243 associate members, lost during the year thirteen insurance members by suspension and fifteen associate members, leaving seventy-six insurance and 228 associate members at this time, with cash on hand amounting to $415.76.
      Phil Sheridan Council, No. 1497, at Fremont, presents the best record of the year and the only old council showing a gain in membership. Last year they reported 102 insurance and 313 associate members; during the year they lost five associate members by withdrawal and three by death, and show a present membership of 107 insurance and 352 associate members, with $864.99 on hand.
      After several years of effort, St. Joseph Council, No. 2272, at West Point, was instituted on May 8, and without a question of doubt, will in a few years become one of the largest and most active councils in the state. There were nineteen new insurance members and twenty-three new associate members, and as their transfer members are not yet shown on report of other councils, they do not appear on this report.
      A recapitulation of the figures for the district show that last year there was reported 237 insurance and 592 associate members. This year we show 248 insurance and 633 associate, a gain of eleven insurance and forty-one associate members, or a total gain of fifty-two members, so that without the new council at West Point the district shows only a gain of ten members. Fremont shows a gain of forty-four, while Norfolk shows a loss of twenty-eight and Madison six.
     The financial condition of the district is in keeping with times and shows a big loss for the year.

We had on hand last year		$ 3,387.62
Received from initiation fees		1,575.00
Received from dues		3,495.43
Received from insurance assessments		2,456.56
Received from Miscellaneous sources		1,196.74
Making a total of		$12,111.35
Paid National Insurance Account	$2,756.59
Paid National Assessment	1,042.55
Council Expenses	2,778.10
Miscellaneous Expenses	2,813.37
Total Paid Out		9,390.51
Leaving a Balance in all Councils of		$ 2,720.84

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To the Honorable State Deputy and Members of the Knights of Columbus of Nebraska:
     I take pleasure in submitting the following report for the years 1920 and 1921 for the Council of St. Michael, Albion, Neb.; Ave Marie Council, Humphrey, Neb.; SS. Peter and Paul Council, St. Paul, Neb., and Bishop O'Connor Council, Greeley, Neb.
     St. Michael's Council, No. 1739, of Albion, Neb., reports a membership of 285. Of this number, eighty-five are in the insurance class and 200 in the associate class. During the year nine insurance members were suspended and fifty-two associate members were suspended for the non-payment of dues. This council reports cash on hand to the amount of $657.72.
     Ave Marie Council of Humphrey, Neb., reports a membership of 334. Of this number. 152 are insurance members and 182 are associate members. This council reports that four insurance and twelve associate members were suspended during the year. Ave Marie Council reports cash on hand to the amount of $337.56.
     SS. Peter and Paul Council, of St. Paul, Neb., reports a membership of 217. During the year four associate members were suspended and one has withdrawn. This council reports cash on hand to the amount of $700 and $200 in Liberty Bonds.
     Bishop O'Connor Council, Greeley, Neb., reports a membership of 517. This membership is made up of 145 insurance members and 372 associate members. During the year four insurance and three associate members were suspended. Seven insurance and three associate members have withdrawn and two associate members have died. Bishop O'Connor Council reports cash on hand to the amount of $3,833.19.
     The four councils above named report a total membership of 1,353. The same councils last year reported a membership of 1,337, making a net gain for the present year of sixteen members for the councils above mentioned
     Ord Council the youngest in the state, has a membership at this time of fifty-five members and promises well for the future. This new council will no doubt have a class at least once a year for a good many years to come.
     SS. Peter and Paul Council of St. Paul will have a class of sixty-two on Sunday, May 29.
     Taking into consideration the trying times through which we are passing, I believe the Knights of Columbus of this district will in the future, as they have in the past, uphold the principles upon which our order is founded.

To the State Deputy and Delegates of the State Convention:
I herewith submit the following report for the year ending March 1, 1921, for the councils in District No. 2, comprising the councils at O'Neill, Hartington, Creighton and Emerson.
The Charles Carrollton Council, No. 701, at O'Neill, showed at the last report a total insurance membership of 144 and associate of 267, a total of 411. The membership this year is 141 insurance and 259

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associate, a total of 400, a net loss of eleven. Two members have died during the year.
     Hartington Council, No. 1233, showed last year eighty-four insurance members and 300 associate, a total of 384. This year they have a total of 452, ninety-seven insurance and 355 associate, a gain of seventy-two.
     Count Creighton Council, No. 1238, of Creighton, at the last report, had 133 insurance and 255 associate members, a total of 380.
     The present report shows 145 insurance and 255 associate, a total of 400, being a gain of twenty. Two members died during the year.
     Emerson Council, No. 1309, at the last report numbered seventy-nine insurance and 250 associate, a total of 329. This year they have sixty-eight insurance and 242 associate, a total of 310, or a loss of nineteen members. Three members died during the year.
     At the last report this district showed a membership of 440 insurance and 1,064 associate, a total of 1,504 members, in the percentage of 29.3 insurance and 70.7 associate. The present total is 1,562, a gain of fifty-eight, divided 451 insurance and 1,111 associate, the percentages being 28.8 insurance and 71.2 associate, there being a small loss in the percentage of insurance members.
     Hartington and Creighton councils each put on a class during the past year. Hartington Council is to put on a class on May 29.
     The O'Neill council was to have put on a class during May, but have been compelled to postpone it on account of the fact that the financial situation is very acute at the present time.
     All of the councils report a good balance of cash on hand, not as large as last year on account of the fact that the treasury of each has been called upon heavily for charitable purposes.
      I wish to call the attention of the State Council to reports of initiations from different councils of the state in both religious and secular papers, in which the personnel of the teams and the different degrees in which they take part are gone into in detail. My idea is that no mention of degrees should be made in any manner. This is a matter that should be taken up by the officers of the councils and those who give these reports to the papers, and I recommend that the officers take greater care in the matter of giving information to the public in degree work. It is of no good to our order that the public should be so generally informed and oftentimes is the means of spoiling classes when the teams are given out beforehand.

To the Worthy State Deputy and Delegates:
     Report of the Sixth Jurisdiction, Knights of Columbus, comprising McCook Council; St. Stephen Council, Lawrence, Neb.; Liberty Council, Hebron, Neb., and Hastings Council.
     I beg to submit herewith my report of the growth and conditions of the councils within this jurisdiction, as shown by the reports of the Grand knights and financial secretaries of the respective councils.
     McCook Council has now eighty-four insurance members and 231 associate members. This represents a gain of eight insurance members and a gain of forty-two associate members since the last report.

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     Only one suspension is reported. The council has paid on a building lot $1,500, and has cash on hand amounting to $514.09. This represents a splendid financial condition for this rapidly growing center of Catholicity. I have watched with some pride the substantial improvements made since the establishing of this council. There has been built there a modern and well-equipped parochial school, financed very largely by the Knights of Columbus. The recognized leaders in every forward movement in and around McCook are the Knights of Columbus, and the officers deserve great crelit (sic) for the progress made.
      St. Stephen Council, No. 1906, at Lawrence, Nebr., reports fifty-two insurance members, which is a loss of one, and eighty-seven associate members, which is a gain of two, and no suspensions. Cash on hand in the amount of $1,029.52 shows a splendid and satisfactory financial condition for this council. Lawrence has made phenomenal progress during the last few years in a material way and are planning for a beautiful church in the near future. There is in this rural, but intensely Catholic community, a parochial school building second to none in the state. The most complete harmony and co-operation exists among the members and the great work of the order, and the church is going rapidly forward.
     Liberty Council, No. 1904, located at Hebron, Nebr., is comparatively a young council, but has made a good start. There are twenty-four insurance members, which is a loss of two, and there are eighty associate members or a gain of seven since the last report. Suspensions are shown as twelve, and there is $269.71 of cash on hand.
     Hastings Council, No. 1123, has the largest membership in the jurisdiction, and eighty-eight of these are insurance members, being a gain of eleven since the last report, and 354 associate members, being a loss of thirty-six since the last report. This loss is made up partly by transfers and largely by suspensions.
     The council has very wisely followed the course of not building for its own needs during the period of high prices, but on the other hand it has invested in what will become la a short time a very valuable business property site, and is, paying off the indebtedness while waiting the time when building conditions will become more favorable. Cash on band is shown as $922.26, The Knights of Columbus of Hastings are doing great things in a material way for the Church. During the past year there has been paid off a church debt of over $20,000, and a site for a new parochial school has been purchased and paid for and now the parish is organized for the purpose of raising the funds to erect the new school building, which is estimated will cost not less than $50,000. This work has been initiated and pushed by the united efforts of the members of the Knights of Columbus, and the council is to be congratulated upon the very substantial progress made.
     I desire to mention also that through the efforts of the members of the order in this part of the state the work of the National Catholic Welfare Council is making rapid progress. We have organized the district council and now the parishes are perfecting their respective parishes into councils to co-operate with the diocesan and national officers.
     I also take this opportunity to extend to all Fourth Degree Knights a cordial invitation to come to Hastings on June 5, when we

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are to put on the Fourth Degree there under the direction of Hon. George F. Corcoran, Master of the Fourth Degree.

May 24, 1920--Balance of Cash on Hand	$ 9.42
June 24, 1920--Received from Treasurer of State Council as the second and final installment on per capita assessment	1,031.80
Total Receipts	$1,041.22

June 24, 1920--Final payment on loan from Central National Bank, Kearney, Neb., and accrued interest		$ 902.20
July 2, 1920--The Kearney Hub, binding eight volumes of standard magazines		27.90
July 2, 1920--The Catholic Educational Review-Binding Volume XVII in half morocco	$2.00
Postage	.17	2.17
Total Disbursements		$ 932.27
May 22, 1921--Balance of Cash on Hand		108.95
		$1,041.22