Updated November 29, 2011
Origins
October 2, 1881, a small group of men met in the basement of St. Mary's Church
on Hillhouse Avenue in New Haven,
Connecticut. Called together by their parish
priest, Father Michael J. McGivney, these men formed a fraternal society that
would one day become the world's largest Catholic family fraternal service
organization. They sought strength in solidarity, and security through unity of
purpose and devotion to a holy cause: they vowed to be defenders of their
country and their families and their Faith. These men were bound together by the
ideal of Christopher Columbus, the discoverer of the Americas, the one whose
hand brought the Holy Faith to this New World. They were Knights of Columbus.
Through the foresight and leadership of Father
McGivney, and the sacrifice and dedication of those early
Knights, and the millions of their brother who have followed in
their footsteps, the Knights of Columbus would become the world's
foremost Catholic fraternal benefit society, one that has helped
millions of Catholic families grow in their faith and defend
their beliefs. It has made its members better husbands, fathers,
sons, and citizens. It has helped families obtain economic
security and stability through the Knights' life insurance
program. It has built Catholic communities, fed the poor and
defended the vulnerable. It has helped to renovate the Vatican
and bring the Pope to the world.
Continuous Growth
Since it was incorporated on March 29, 1882, the Knights of
Columbus has grown from several members in one council to more
than 13,000 councils and over 1.7 million members throughout the
United States, Canada, the Philippines, Mexico, the Dominican
Republic, Puerto Rico, Panama, the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands,
Poland, Guatemala, Guam and Saipan. The Order has had thirteen Supreme
Knights— from the first Supreme Knight, James T. Mullen, who
designed the famous emblem of the order, to our current Supreme Knight, Carl A. Anderson, who
leads the Order across the threshold of the 21st century.
Millions of Catholic men have been Knights of Columbus—men
of all nationalities and backgrounds and professions—men
like baseball great Babe Ruth and President John F. Kennedy.
Emblem of the Order
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James T. Mullen, a New Haven native and Civil
War veteran, served the Order as its first Supreme Knight from
1882-1886. He presided over the institution of 22 of the Order's
first 38 councils, and watched it grow beyond Connecticut into
Rhode Island (1885). The emblem of the Order dates from the
second Supreme Council meeting, May 12, 1883. It was designed by
Supreme Knight Mullen. The emblem incorporates a shield mounted
upon a formée cross (having the arms narrow at the center and
expanding toward the ends). The shield is associated with a
medieval knight, and the formée cross is an artistic
representation of the cross of Christ. Mounted on the shield are
three objects: a fasces (a bundle of rods bound together about an
axe with the blade projecting) standing vertically and, crossed
behind it, an anchor and a dagger or short sword. The fasces is
from Roman days, carried before magistrates as an emblem of
authority. The anchor is the mariner's symbol for Columbus. The
short sword is the weapon of the knight when engaged in an errand
of mercy. Below is the Emblem of the Order. |
Love of Church and Country
Charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism—these are the
watchwords of the Knights of Columbus. And, since 1882, Knights
of Columbus have backed up these words with actions. During World
War I, Supreme Knight James A. Flaherty proposed to U.S.
President Woodrow Wilson that the Order establish soldiers'
welfare centers in the U.S. and abroad. The Order raised more
than $14 million for this program on its own, and was allocated
another $30 million from a national fund drive during the early
years of World War II, Canadian Knights set up similar soldiers'
welfare centers in Canada. The U.S. Knights were the first
national organization to sponsor a blood donor program, and
numerous councils led war bond drives in support of the war
effort. Thousands of Knights were killed in action during the
war. During the Cold War, Supreme Knight John E. Swift oversaw
the Order's varied responses to the Communist threat, as the
Knights operated speakers' bureaus, funded anti-Communist
advertisements and radio addresses, and published pro-freedom
pamphlets.
In 1954, the Knights of Columbus led the effort to
officially include the words "under God" in the Pledge
of Allegiance to the American flag, a crusade that resulted in
federal legislation signed by U.S. President Dwight D.
Eisenhower. In 1957, the Knights of Columbus donated a $1
million, 329-foot bell tower to the National Shrine of the
Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC—a tower that became
known as "the Knights' Tower." The Order has since
donated a 56-bell carillon to the Shrine and provided funding for
its operation. Please see www.nationalshrine.com for more information on the Basilica of the National Shrine of the
Immaculate Conception located in Washington DC, and the very hub of Catholicism
in the USA. During the 1960s and 1970s, decades of degeneration and social
chaos, the Knights of Columbus, behind Supreme Knight John McDevitt and Supreme
Knight Virgil C. Dechant, stood as a tower amidst societal crisis to promote
racial equality and love of country. Against a tide of dissension, the Order
championed Church teaching on divorce, birth control, abortion, and pornography.
Since the late 1970s, Supreme Knight Virgil C. Dechant led the Knights to
record-breaking growth in all areas of the Order's operations: membership, new
council development, international development, insurance sales, volunteerism
and charitable giving. He fostered devotion to the Church and the Blessed
Mother, and pledged the Knights' support for the Holy Father, the cardinals,
bishops and all the clergy and religious. In 2000 the current Supreme Knight
Carl A. Anderson was elected to office.
Continuing the tradition of devotion to the Church and the Blessed
Mother, he rededicated the Order to its role as "strong right arm of the Church"
in the renewal of society. He especially promised new vigour in the fight for
the culture of life over the culture of death as the Order moves into the 21st
century. Knights of Columbus have helped to build and support the Catholic
Church, from the United States to the Philippines. Knights have lived for their
faith in Canada, and died for their faith in Mexico. Throughout the history of
the Order, in these and many other ways, Knights of Columbus have provided
immeasurable support to their families and communities, to their countries and
the Church. The Knights of Columbus has enabled its members to strengthen and
protect their loved ones—spiritually, by developing their faith, and
financially, with the highest quality life insurance available, a product that
has brought security and prosperity to millions of Knights and their families.
Through their dedication to the ideals of the Order—Charity, Unity, Fraternity,
Patriotism—and through their fidelity to Christ's Church and his Vicar, the
Knights of Columbus continue to be what they were called long ago: "The Strong
Right Arm of the Church."
Knights of Columbus Archives
The Knights of Columbus Supreme Council Archives exists to
preserve the history of the Knights of Columbus. The collection
includes correspondence, pamphlets, publications, programs,
newspaper clippings and books relating to the history of the
Order. The collection focuses on Supreme Council activities, but
does contain some material relating to state and local councils.
Some topics relating to the Supreme Council include
anti-Catholicism such as the Mexican Persecution and the Bogus
Oath, the Historical Commission, the Roman Playgrounds, the
Oregon School Case, Columbian Squires, World War I,
Reconstruction, World War II, and the James Cardinal Gibbons
Memorial Statue papers. Material relating to the founder Father
Michael J. McGivney and St. Mary's Church are also collected. The
Archives includes material relating to the Catholic Church as
well as an over three hundred volume library on Christopher
Columbus and Columbus related materials such as the World's
Columbian Exposition of 1893. The Archives is located in New
Haven, Connecticut at the Supreme Council Headquarters. Access to
the archives is available by appointment and with the permission
of the Archivist. Some materials are restricted. The Archives is
usually open Monday through Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm. It is
closed on major holidays.
Knights of Columbus Museum
The Knights opened a museum at their headquarters in New Haven,
Connecticut during the organization's 100th anniversary in August
1982. The Museum is dedicated to the acquisition, preservation,
interpretation and exhibition of information and materials
deriving from or relevant to the history, formation and
activities of the Knights of Columbus. It also contains material
on the Catholic Church, Christopher Columbus, as well as secular
history in America. The Museum has grown over the years, and is
now housed in a separate building. The grand opening of the
Knights of Columbus Museum at One Sate Haven took place on March
8, 2001. The Order's history is now showcased in an attractive
setting, and interactive computer stations enable visitors to
conduct research. You can take a cyber-tour of the museum via the
link below. We soon will be updating our cyber-tour to allow you
to see displays from the expanded facilities.
***For additional information, we
strongly suggest you investigate the Knights of Columbus Supreme
Council's main website at:
www.kofc.org.