PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

work contemplated. The following are the names of the ten men who, at a meeting held about January 1 I, 1882, adopted a resolution to “form a mutual benefit society.” Rev. Michael J. McGivney, James T. Mullen, Daniel Colwell, Cornelius T. Driscoll, Mat- thew C. O'Connor, William M. Geary, John T. Kerrigan, M. E. Tracy, .William H. Sel- wood, James J. McMahon.

At this meeting committees were ap- pointed to bring in additional names, and some five or six were added to the list, among them being that of Rev. P. J. Lawlor, pastor of St. Mary’s church, of New Haven. At this meeting, also, Father McGivney was in- structed to visit Boston, Massachusetts. and arrange for the affiliation of the contemplated society with the Catholic Order of Foresters, then thriving, as it is today, in~Massachu- setts. \Vith a zeal born of the noble cause in whidl he was interested, Father McGiv- ney went to. Boston, and saw the representa- tives of the Foresters_ in that city. He was treated most courteously, and all the docu— ments and information which could essen- tially aid the New Haven society were most cheerfully given, but upon Father McGiv- ney’s return home, affiliation with the Massa- chusetts Foresters was denied.

Father McGivney made his report at a meeting held at the office of Daniel Colwell, 159 Church street, New Haven, February 2, 1882, and the enforced abandonment of their original plan only served to urge this hand- ful of enthusiasts to renewed effort. After a full discussion of the situation, it was unanimously “Resolved, That an original so- ciety be formed.”

A name was asked for, and Father Mc- Givney suggested "Sons of Columbus.” Mr. James T. Mullen, who was later elected first supreme grand knight of theorder, suggested,

15

225'

“Knights of Columbus,” and this name was unanimously adopted. The other important business done at this meeting was the ap« pointment of Daniel Colwell, as a cOmmittee of one, to draft articles of incorporation and submit the same to the state assembly of Connecticut, which was then in session. Thus the Knights of Columbus was organized on February 2, 1882, being duly and regularly incorporated by the state assembly of ‘Con- necticut on March 29, 1882, in the granting of the original charters.

At the time the charter was granted there were but eleven members of the society. A council was formed and the name San Salva- dor was selected. All meetings up to the Ist of May, 1882, were held either at 159 Church street, or in the basement of St. Mary’s church, by permission of Fathers ' Lawlor or McGivney. On May Ist a hall. was secured in the Hoadley building, New Haven, and on June 5th following about thirty of the leading Catholics of New Haven were initiated into the Knights of Columbus. From this date the order began to spread in influence and power. At the meeting held May Ist a committee was appointed to pre- pare a constitution, and finally the original constitution, known as the “Laws of 1882,” was reported and adopted, and these laws re- mained in force until 1885, when a new set was formulated and adopted early in that year. . At this meeting, also, a committee, con- sisting of James T. Mullen, Daniel Colwell, James T. McMahon. John T. Kerrigan, and William H. Selwood was appointed to draft and submit a ritual which should contain three degrees or sections. This committee did its work so well that the ritual which it reported on June 5, 1882, was used in the order without change until 1893. No mem-