Catholic Knights of America
Encyclopedia
The Catholic Knights of America was an American Roman Catholic fraternal organization; it existed from 1877 to 2005. It was based around a life insurance
company, chartered under the laws of the State of Kentucky, U.S.A.
In 2005 Catholic Knights of America merged with Catholic Knights in Milwaukee, a financial services company.
by James J. McLoughlin, D. N. Burke, John Broderick, and John McDonald. The first meeting was held, 23 April 1877, at Emmett Hall, Nashville, with James J. McLoughlin as temporary chairman. At the second meeting, 1 May 1877, the first permanent branch was organized with J. J. McLoughlin, president, and John McDonald, secretary.
The name selected for the new organization was the Order of United Catholics, which was subsequently changed, on the recommendation of Bishop P. A. Feehan, of Nashville, to Catholic Knights of America. The bishop gave his approval to the new society, and accepted the office of spiritual director. In June, 1877, plans were drawn up for the establishment of a supreme council form of government, and branches were organized in Grafton, West Virginia
; Louisville, Kentucky
; New Albany, Indiana
; and Galion, Ohio
.
The first session of the supreme council was held in Louisville, Kentucky, 9 July 1878. Sixteen branches were represented; a supreme constitution was adopted, the Hon. W. C. Smith of Louisville was elected first Supreme President, and Bishop Feehan was chosen Supreme Spirltual Director. At the second annual session, held in Indianapolis 8 July 1879, seventy-two branches were represented. It was then decided to hold biennial sessions.
.
Life insurance
Life insurance is a contract between an insurance policy holder and an insurer, where the insurer promises to pay a designated beneficiary a sum of money upon the death of the insured person. Depending on the contract, other events such as terminal illness or critical illness may also trigger...
company, chartered under the laws of the State of Kentucky, U.S.A.
In 2005 Catholic Knights of America merged with Catholic Knights in Milwaukee, a financial services company.
Foundation
It was founded in Nashville, TennesseeNashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
by James J. McLoughlin, D. N. Burke, John Broderick, and John McDonald. The first meeting was held, 23 April 1877, at Emmett Hall, Nashville, with James J. McLoughlin as temporary chairman. At the second meeting, 1 May 1877, the first permanent branch was organized with J. J. McLoughlin, president, and John McDonald, secretary.
The name selected for the new organization was the Order of United Catholics, which was subsequently changed, on the recommendation of Bishop P. A. Feehan, of Nashville, to Catholic Knights of America. The bishop gave his approval to the new society, and accepted the office of spiritual director. In June, 1877, plans were drawn up for the establishment of a supreme council form of government, and branches were organized in Grafton, West Virginia
Grafton, West Virginia
Grafton is a city in, and county seat of, Taylor County, West Virginia, USA. The population was 5,489 at the 2000 census. The only two national cemeteries in West Virginia are located in Grafton. Mother's Day was founded in Grafton on May 10, 1908; the city is the home to the International Mother's...
; Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
; New Albany, Indiana
New Albany, Indiana
New Albany is a city in Floyd County, Indiana, United States, situated along the Ohio River opposite Louisville, Kentucky. In 1900, 20,628 people lived in New Albany; in 1910, 20,629; in 1920, 22,992; and in 1940, 25,414. The population was 36,372 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of...
; and Galion, Ohio
Galion, Ohio
Settlers arrived in the area as early as 1817. The location was at the crossroads of a north-south road from Columbus to Portland , and the east-west route that later became the Lincoln Highway and subsequently the Harding Highway....
.
The first session of the supreme council was held in Louisville, Kentucky, 9 July 1878. Sixteen branches were represented; a supreme constitution was adopted, the Hon. W. C. Smith of Louisville was elected first Supreme President, and Bishop Feehan was chosen Supreme Spirltual Director. At the second annual session, held in Indianapolis 8 July 1879, seventy-two branches were represented. It was then decided to hold biennial sessions.
Early years
Like most of the fraternal societies that were founded at this period, the Catholic Knights had to learn by experience that their rates were inadequate, and the association was among the first of these bodies to change the rate system. Although the organization then sustained a loss, this was soon made good by the influx of nearly 5000 young members in a period of a little over two years. It became one of the stronger organizations of its kind in the United States. It spread into most states, with a headquarters located at St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
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