USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > A History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, vol 1 > Part 65
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State Armory .- One of the most noteworthy and imposing structures in the city is the State Armory, between Elm and Bank streets on Durfee street. This building, which contains quarters for six companies, and a drill hall one hundred and fifty feet by seventy-five feet, was constructed in 1897. The armory, now in possession of the State, cost $150,000, the first expenditure of $100,000 being authorized by the city, January 3, 1895. The State issued bonds therefor, afterwards met by a sinking fund, the city paying a special annual tax toward the fund.
CHAPTER XIX.
THE FRATERNITIES
The fraternal organizations share a very large part in the social as well as the protective and benevolent activities of the city of Fall River. This. a rapidly increasing portion of the life of the modern city. is thus published as thoroughly as the secretaries of the various lodges were pleased to respond.
Masonic .- The original home of the Masonic bodies in Fall River was in the building known as the Pocasset block, occupying the site bounded by South Main, Pleasant, Second and Pocasset streets. In 1868, quarters were secured on the upper floor of the Fall River Savings Bank building,
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located on North Main street, and these were occupied until the Masonic Hall on Franklin street was built, in 1884. On May 6, 1922, the corner- stone was laid for a new Masonic Temple, at the corner of North Main and Elm streets, that was ready for occupancy in October, 1923. The building has a large auditorium on the second floor, with gallery, and is so arranged that it can be used for lodge purposes on special occasions. On the fourth floor are two large lodge rooms and one small one, with a banquet hall on the fifth floor. ' The building is well supplied with ante-rooms and recrea- tion accommodations, and a well-furnished library and parlor. It is inter- esting to note that the homes of Masonry in Fall River for the past fifty years have all been within sight of each other.
Mount Hope Lodge, A. F. and A. M., was constituted and the officers installed September 1, 1825, with eighteen charter members. There was a parade of grand officers and the founders of the lodge, and a sermon was preached at the Baptist Church by R. W. Rev. Paul Dean, of Boston, after which Mount Hope Lodge was dedicated, and these officers were installed: R. W. Leander P. Lovell, M .; W. Benjamin Anthony, S. W .; W. Joseph Rice, J. W .; Joseph E. Reed, treasurer; James Ford, secretary; Augustus B. Reed, chaplain; Richard Chase, S. D .; Lucius Smith, J. D .; Pierce Allen, marshal; John Norris and Oliver Mason, stewards; Calvin Seaver, tyler. The past masters of the lodge are as follows: Leander P. Lovell, Benjamin Anthony, Daniel Leonard, Peleg H. Earl, Thomas D. Chaloner, Ebenezer Andrews, Seth Darling, Joshua Remington, Gardner D. Cook, Robert C. Brown, James Davenport, Josiah C. Blaisdell, Robert Henry, Charles A. Holmes, Henry Paddock, A. C. Hart, Henry Waring, William J. Burt, John T. Graham, Nathan Everett, Charles E. Spencer, Allen Lockwood, James E. McCreery, John Nightingale, William H. Broomhead, William S. Greene, William Crossley, Samuel Smith, Newton Healey, Allen C. Smith, Joseph Turner, William S. Gray, Charles N. Bowen, William Ridings, James Al- lardice, George M. Hood, George Davidson, John T. Schofield, Edwin A. Grant, John Friar, Herbert Barnes, Jr., William Jackson, James Harrison, Joseph L. Presbrey, Clarence W. Stansfield, J. William Grant, Edmund Y. Anthony, Thomas Wolstenholme, Benjamin Barnes, Charles W. Borden.
King Philip Lodge was chartered December 6, 1866. There were thirty-seven members. The following-named are the past masters of the lodge: James F. Davenport, George A. Ballard, Charles E. Gifford, Daniel Stillwell, William Davenport, Thomas G. Estes, John P. Henry, Horatio N. Durfee, Charles E. Vickery; Edward T. Marvell, Joseph L. Buffinton, Charles E. Bennett, Enoch J. French, Judson C. Mackenzie, Edward S. Raymond, Alfred H. Hartley, Robert N. Hathaway, Charles A. Leach, Wil- liam T. Learned, John T. Burrell, George T. Wilcox, Albert F. Dow, Elmer B. Young, John D. Munroe, Jesse Blaisdell, Herbert S. Weeden, Frederick W. Lawson, Samuel E. Hathaway, William N. McLane, James W. An- thony, Frank L. Carpenter, Robert D. Blake, P. Coleman Downey, Edwin S. Belcher, William H. Beattie, Joseph W. Mackenzie, William H. B. Kendall, John S. Burley, Guildford C. Hathaway, J. Arthur Childs, William B. Howard, James H. Wood, John V. Thorpe, George M. Hatch, Charles McL. Hadley, William B. Robinson, George B. Lovell.
Narragansett Lodge was chartered on December 13, 1876, with thirty- eight charter members. The following-named are past masters of the
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THE FRATERNITIES
lodge : Daniel Stevens, William R. Robertson, Charles F. Tripp, Robert Mc- Farlane, William Brow, Alexander J. Wilcox, George W. Angell, Mark Phillips, John Sharpe, Abijah H. Luscomb, Henry C. Hampton, Frank A. Pease, Dwight E. Cone, Arthur C. Wyatt, Charles E. Baker, Benjamin A. Skiff, John R. Mason, Willis F. Palmer, James L. Buckley, Henry Ash- worth, Frederick E. Durfee, Clarence E. Hambly, Alex M. Fraser, Myron O. Eldredge, James Connell, William Shepherd, Charles F. Agnew, Nathan T. Jones, William Smyth, George W. Post, William E. Ashton, Charles E. Clarke, George H. Hicks, William S. Ashton, George Slinn, George W. Hopkinson, Robert A. Thompson, Ralph A. Sherman, Arthur B. Hatch, Robert W. Phillips.
Massasoit Lodge was organized in 1915. The past masters: Henry Ashworth, 1915-16-17; George W. Bowen, 1918; James Sinclair, 1919; James D. D. Comey, 1920; Benjamin B. Earl, 1921; Herbert A. Sullivan, 1922; Walter E. Dow, 1923.
Fall River Royal Arch Chapter was chartered January 9, 1865, with thirty-six charter members. The following-named are past excellent high priests : Robert C. Brown, Robert Henry, George A. Ballard, Henry Pad- dock, Hiram C. Harrington, Gideon F. Tompkins, Alfred H. Hartley, Henry Waring, Nelson Wilbur, John P. Henry, John B. Whittaker, John W. Hol- loway, Arba N. Lincoln, Allen Lockwood, Roland M. Chivers, Nicholas Hatheway, Jr., Charles E. Baker, John D. Munroe, James E. McCreery, Samuel Smith, Henry Ashworth, Herbert Weeden, Frank R. Wordell, James D. D. Comey, James H. Barlow, A. Russell Gifford, George W. Bowen, Dwight E. Cone, William J. Gardner, Frank B. Hinckley, Walter E. Russell, John R. Nuttall, Edward B. Saunders, William E. Ashton, George W. Post, William Ferguson, Jr., James H. Wood, Alvin G. Weeks, William H. B. Kendall, A. Edgar Hanson, Charles E. Clarke, J. Arthur Childs.
Fall River Council of Royal and Select Masters was organized January 30, 1868, and chartered December 9, 1868. The charter members were: James F. Davenport, George A. Ballard, Charles E. Gifford, John B. Bray- ton, Robert C. Brown, Andrew M. Speedie, Joel Wood, George A. Tower, James Davis, Silas Williams, John Duncan, Mason Fisher, Leander D. Wil- bur, Henry Paddock, Thomas F. Vickery, W. H. H. Borden, Edward S. Anthony, William Preston, Frederic K. Hill, James C. Ramsey, Perry Gif- ford, James Henry, Robert Henry, Francis W. Eddy, George E. Hoar, Joshua Remington, Abner L. Westgate, George W. Billings, John Shepley, C. P. Haskin;, Josiah C. Blaisdell, Zeno Kelley, Thomas L. Brayton.
The past thrice illustrious masters: James F. Davenport, John P. Henry, Robert C. Brown, Crawford E. Lindsey, Alfred H. Hartley, John B. Whittaker, Albert F. Dow, James E. McCreery, Roland M. Chivers, Charles E. Baker, Samuel Smith, John D. Munroe, Elmer B. Young, Frederick W. Lawson, Edward L. Hawkins, James D. D. Comey, Frank L. Carpenter, Samuel E. Hathaway, Clarence E. Hambly, Henry Ashworth, William J. Gardner, Arthur F. Fish, John R. Nuttall, Robert D. Blake, George W. Bowen, William Hardie, George W. Post, J. Arthur Childs, William H. Beattie, Samuel Wood, Charles N. Bowen, George H. Hicks, William H. B. Kendall, Walter E. Dow, Benjamin B. Earl.
Godfrey de Bouillon Commandery was chartered October 13, 1868, with
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forty charter members. The eminent commanders: 1868-70, Robert Henry ; 1871, Robert C. Brown; 1872-73, Stephen W. Butler; 1874-75, John B. Whittaker; 1876, George A. Ballard; 1877, Charles E. Gifford; 1878-79, Alfred H. Hartley ; 1880-82, Albert F. Dow; 1883, Henry Waring; 1884-85, William Davenport; 1886, Edward S. Raymond; 1887-88, Robert N. Hath- away; 1889, Herbert Field; 1890-91, James E. McCreery; 1892-93, Judson C. Mackenzie; 1894, Abbott E. Slade; 1895-96, John D. Munroe; 1897-98, John M. Davis; 1899-1900, David J. Burdick; 1901, Herbert S. Weeden; 1902, Elmer B. Young; 1903, Samuel E. Hathaway; 1904, Henry Ashworth; 1905, W. Frank Shove; 1906, James W. Anthony; 1907, Dwight E. Cone; 1908, Clarence E. Hambly ; 1909, Frank L. Carpenter; 1910, Jesse Blaisdell; 1911, Sydney H. Borden; 1912, Frank B. Hinckley; 1913, George M. Hood; 1914, William H. Beattie; 1915, Charles N. Bowen; 1916, J. Arthur Childs ; 1917, William Ridings; 1918, Guilford C. Hathaway; 1919, George W. Bowen; 1920, George M. Hatch; 1921, William H. B. Kendall; 1922, Wil- liam B. Robinson; 1923, Joseph W. Mackenzie.
Scottish Rite Bodies .- Fall River Lodge of Perfection, fourteenth degree, was chartered September 21, 1911. Past T. P. masters: Robert N. Hathaway; thirty-third degree; Henry Ashworth, thirty-third degree; William H. B. Kendall, thirty-second degree; Stephen H. Taylor, thirty- second degree.
Samuel C. Lawrence Council, Princes of Jerusalem, sixteenth degree, chartered March 8, 1912. Past Sovereign Princes: William H. Beattie, thirty-third degree; John H. Holt, thirty-second degree; William N. Mc- Lane, thirty-third degree; Frank L. Carpenter. thirty-second degree; Charles N. Bowen, thirty-second degree.
St. Andrew Chapter, Rose Croix, eighteenth degree, was chartered March 8, 1912. Past N. W. Masters: David J. Burdick, thirty-third degree; James W. Anthony, thirty-second degree; Joseph W. Mackenzie, thirty- second degree; Everett W. Clarke. thirty-second degree.
Weetamoe Chapter No. 57, Order Eastern Star, was organized in 1897. The Past Matrons: Mrs. S. Adeline Armstrong, Mrs. Jane W. Brown, Mrs. Clara D. Gifford, Mrs. Mabel V. Blossom, Mrs. Ann A. Fraser, Mrs. Minnie H. Pearse, Mrs. Annie B. Cummings, Mrs. Alice A. Barlow, Mrs. Katie J. Gifford, Mrs. Annie Clayton, Mrs. Elizabeth D. Sumner, Miss Margaret Cummings, Mrs. Phanuel B. Almy, Mrs. Ethel W. Ridings, Mrs. Sadie E. Holland, Miss Cora C. Sherman, Mrs. Mattie B. Littlefield, Miss Martha A. Entwistle, Miss Izetta A. Frost, Mrs. Lena G. Lennan, Mrs. Leonora M. Hart, Mrs. Mary J. Bowen, Miss Martha E. Wood, Mrs. Sadie A. Sulli- van, Mrs. Alice M. Miller, Mrs. Lillian F. Friar, Mrs. Eva J. Cook. The Past Patrons: Charles E. Baker, Alexander M. Fraser, Percy S. Waite, Derwin T. Johnson. William H. Armstrong, David J. Burdick, William E. Blossom, James Barlow. John R. Mason, William F. Brown, William Rid- ings, John N. Burgess, Charles N. Bowen, E. Barron McBeath, James H. Waring, Winfield S. Solomon, William H. Pearse. George Dover, Harlan W. Littlefield, Frederick A. Keith, William H. Pearse. Jr., John Friar, Charles A. Cook, George M. Hatch, Frank Rivers, Herbert A. Sullivan.
Fraternal Order of Eagles .- On Sunday afternoon, December 13, 1903, at the Bijou Theatre, a charter was granted, under authority of the Grand
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Aerie, Fraternal Order of Eagles, to the following applicants for member- ship in an organization destined to become one of the foremost fraternal societies, Aerie No. 570: William J. Coyne, Charles P. Ryan, Jeremiah Mc- Carty, Joseph A. Parks, Edward V. Fannin, Edward Lynch, William Lynch, William Dillon, Alphonse Belanger, P. J. Doyle, Alfred Britland, John A. Watters, C. D. Sullivan, J. E. O'Connor, M. D., J. S. Hyde, M. D., Frank Kennedy, William J. Dempsey, Charles McCarty, John Moller, Patrick F. Driscoll, John O'Neil, B. J. Dundin, Edward W. Cantwell, Edward A. Crowley, William P. Tierney, J. P. Lavoie, M. D., Joseph A. Read, John H. McNamara, Henry M. Cody, Henry Meyer, William J. J. Tobin, J. Frank Kelly, Michael H. Sullivan, James P. Burrows, W. Fred Mason, T. P. Sullivan, D. D. S., Michael O'Rourke, John F. Hopkins, James H. O'Brien, John W. Cain, D. J. McCarty, J. P. Jackson, M. D., Joseph O. Dooley, Frank Jones, Thomas A. Sullivan, Richard Garrity, Joseph Lizotte, A. D. McGraw, Louis F. Maynard, Alfred P. Dumais, Mark A. Sullivan, George C. Newall, Jr., Frank W. Grant, J. B. Trainor, M. D., John E. Roberts, James Holleran, Richard Duckworth, Alfred Bellefeulle, A. A. Bryson, M. D., William H. Dwyer, Albert Donahue, George Bagnall, L. B. Jackson, N. Ledeaux, A. Curtis, Bernard Flanagan, Bernard Flynn, John Goff, John Murphy, Patrick H. Shea, J. W. Quinn, W. C. Edwards, Daniel Sullivan, J. F. Doherty, E. J. Diskin, John H. Griffin, Owen F. Kearns, P. C. Gilday, James Fairhurst, H. J. Butler, Dennis J. Sullivan, James Murphy, Peter Mitchell, Edward F. Mckeown, James F. Mckeown, Albert J. Bou- viere, E. J. Doran, J. W. Moriarity, Thomas McGuire, Jr., J. W. Quill, George Brazillian, M. F. O'Brien, James H. Riley, H. W. Braun, David A. Kearns, J. P. Sullivan, James Brittin, John F. O'Brien, W. McGowan, M. J. Langdon, W. St. Ours, U. J. Kelly, Dennis E. Mahone, George W. Nelson, J. P. Paradise, D. F. Sullivan, George Picard, E. W. Morrissey, James E. Devine, Julius Sevigney, William F. Corbett, James H. Riley, John B. Creigh, John Cox, M. F. Shea, Henry McCauley, Patrick Lavell, A. C. Heyman, H. J. Daley, Thomas Jackson, Robert Cusick, E. P. O'Brien, F. Brittin, P. J. Mullen, Bernard Keegan, J. I. Johnson, William H. Conroy, Daniel E. Sullivan, T. J. Roberts, D. F. Connelly, Magalore Berube, David I. Coleman, James Diskin, M. J. O'Brien, Patrick E. Sullivan, John F. Sul- livan, George S. Wiley.
During the twenty years of its existence Fall River Aerie has paid out in sick benefits approximately $60,000; funeral benefits, $25,000; and for social welfare, $5,000. It maintains two physicians for the members and their dependent families. During the World War, every member of the order serving the colors was insured for one thousand dollars. Yearly, hundreds of dollars are expended from the treasury for the proper care of the widows and the orphans of deceased members. Kiddies Day is ob- served annually. The order stood firmly behind the movement that made Mothers' Pension, and the order stood back of the workingmen's compensa- tion act. The officers for 1923: President, William J. Murphy; vice-presi- dent, John A. McCarty ; chaplain, John A. Millerick; secretary, Simon A. Sullivan; assistant secretary, John Foley; treasurer, John J. Quigley; con- ductor, John J. Lord; inside guard, Michael Herlihy ; outside guard, Patrick Garrity; trustees: Edward Doyle and Harold D. Powers; physicians: Francis J. Harrington, Leon J. Menard.
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Knights of Columbus .- Fall River Council, No. 86, Order of Knights of Columbus, was organized in Odd Fellows' Hall on January 21, 1894, with the degree staffs of Taunton Council No. 82 officiating under the direction of State Deputy James E. Hayes, of Charlestown. There were forty names on the charter list, comprising Patrick F. Eagan, Ignatius J. Kelly, James H. Lynch, J. Egbert Kennedy, James J. Gorman, Rev. John F. Haney, Edward J. Leary, James F. Dalton, Daniel R. Sullivan, Thomas E. Lahey, Thomas F. Finnegan, Dr. Michael A. Cummings, James E. Sul- livan, Dr. Owen J. Eagan, Dr. John H. Leary, Michael F. Byrne, John E. Sullivan, Thomas F. Hickey, Quinlan Leary, James M. Bowe, James E. Furlong, William J. O'Donnell, Peter McManus, Joseph A. Kennedy, Thomas E. Green, William E. Bowe, Dominick F. Corrigan, Samuel B. Morris, Edward F. Murphy, James D. O'Neil, Daniel J. Flynn. William A. Leary, Michael Cleary, Dennis P. Murphy, Michael McManus, Michael J. Leahy, Dr. William E. Synan, William F. Kennedy, Jeffrey E. Sullivan and James Nugent.
The first grand knight of the Council was Dr. Owen J. Eagan, and his successors, up to and including the years 1922-23, were, in order: James D. O'Neil, Thomas E. Lahey, James J. Gorman, John H. Carroll, Philip J. Myles, William J. McGrath, J. Frank Shay, John T. Sullivan, Thomas H. Connors, Thomas F. Higgins, Thomas D. Sullivan, Charles P. Ryan, Frank A. Brady, Arthur B. Higney, Peter F. Connelly, Ignatius X. Cuttle, William M. Conroy, Edward J. Guiney, Michael J. Collins, J. Leo O'Gorman, Jeffrey E. Sullivan, James J. Higgins, and Algernon D. Sullivan.
One of the first big social events in the history of the Council was a mock initiation ceremony by about fifty members of Tremont Council, of Boston, in 1896. The annual social and ball was inaugurated in 1899 and has been a feature to the present day, the attendance for the past dozen years having been restricted exclusively to members and their ladies. A banquet in 1908 to Rt. Rev. William Stang, D. D., the first bishop of the Fall River diocese, marked his last public appearance, he leaving the next morning for Rochester, Minnesota, where he underwent an operation from the effects of which he failed to rally. In 1919 a post-war banquet was tendered Rt. Rev. Daniel F. Feehan, the second bishop of the Fall River diocese, the additional speakers being Rt. Rev. Mgr. James E. Cassidy, D. D., vicar-general of the diocese; Rev. Osias Boucher and Judge Edward L. Logan, war chaplain and colonel, respectively, of the 26th Division, in the 101st Regiment; while in the same year the Council won first prize, a beautiful silver shield, for having the largest number and best-appearing men in an Americanization parade participated in by all the civic and mili- tary organizations of the city.
For a period covering many years of its existence the Council had appreciated the need and had discussed the advisability of having perma- nent quarters of its own, but no really positive step forward was taken until after the big fire of February, 1916, when the society's quarters in the Campbell building were wiped out. Temporary rooms were placed at the disposal of the Council in Anawan Hall by the Y. M. I. A. C. T. A. and B. Society, and in short order the D. M. Anthony homestead, on North Main street, between Locust and Walnut, was purchased. Many thou- sands of dollars have since been expended in putting the building into
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shape for a clubhouse, and it stands today as an asset to the Council valued at $50,000, and without a cent of incumbrance upon it. The burning of the mortgage during the administration of Grand Knight Jeffrey E. Sullivan was one of the notable incidents in the life of the organization.
Fall River Council played a part in all the war activities of which it is justifiably proud. Of its then membership of about six hundred, fully a third of this number entered the service, their monthly dues and insurance assessments being cared for by the body until every man had returned to the city or had made the supreme sacrifice. A drive for additional mem- bers was then started by an energetic committee headed by Past Grand Knight John H. Carroll, with the result that the numerical roll was length- ened to include 1200 names, since increased to 1450. Annual memorial masses and participation in holy communion masses have developed into a feature that of late has drawn out a very large proportion of the member- ship. For two years the Council conducted an evening school for ex- service men that enrolled hundreds of young men and women and was highly instrumental in their educational uplift. Of the 350 members of William Stang Assembly, fourth degree members, instituted in 1899, fully 200 are from Fall River Council, the balance from McMahon Council of New Bedford.
Joseph H. Fay Council, No. 424, named in honor of the late Dr. Joseph Fay (a member of Fall River Council at the time), had its origin at a meet- ing held in Holy Name Hall of the Immaculate Conception Church, on May 1, 1899, a committee comprising John McGraw, Dr. Homer Barre and James E. McDonald being selected to obtain suitable quarters. It was in- stituted on May 28, 1899, in Shields' Hall, Greaney building, under direction of District Deputy James J. Gorman and Grand Knight Philip J. Myles, of Fall River, with this board of government : Grand Knight, John T. Cunneen ; deputy grand knight, John J. Gormley; chancellor, James E. McDonald; warden, John McGraw; financial secretary, Alexander T. Walsh; recording secretary, Patrick J. McGuigan; treasurer, Joseph D. Sullivan; lecturer, John Burke, Jr .; advocate, Francis Hughes; inside guard, Leonard Walker; outside guard, Patrick Anderson; chaplain, Rev. Michael B. Sullivan; phy- sician, Dr. Thomas E. Boylan. The first and second degrees were conferred on June 13, 1899, by Messrs. Gorman and Myles, assisted by the officers of Fall River Council, while the major degree was exemplified in Columbian Hall by a class of forty-two candidates, the same evening, by District Deputy Gorman and his staff. After an existence of a few years, it was decided to merge with Fall River Council, and this was done. Outside of Mr. Cunneen, the leading chair of grand knight had been held by James E. McDonald, Felix McKenney, Jr., and Joseph D. Sullivan.
Daughters of Isabella .- Assumption Circle No. 74, of Fall River, an auxiliary of the National Circle, Daughters of Isabella, was organized by Agnes Davies and its officers installed by Mrs. Lowney, of New Bedford, State Regent, on April 7, 1918, the first board of government comprising the following: Past Regent, Laura Daley; regent, Mrs. Mary A. Dillon; vice- regent, May Dailey; recording secretary, Emma McDermott; financial secretary, Annie Dillon; treasurer, Julia Cahill; custodian, Mary Burke; monitor, May Owens; chancellor, Esther Gilligan; first guide, Helen Mc- Carty; second guide, Elizabeth Crowley; inside guard, Margaret Daley ;
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outside guard, Margaret Arkison; trustees (for one, two and three years, respectively), Annie Leonard, Kathryn Kirby and Catherine Dailey; or- ganist, Annie O'Hearn; scribe, Marjorie Arkison. Starting with a member- ship of sixty-two, it was decided at the initial meeting to take up Red Cross work, as the spirit of warfare hovered over all, and the social meetings were devoted to knitting, first aid and sewing hospital garments. At the first initiation, in September following, 37 new names were added to the rolls. In February of 1919 a bowling league was organized that furnished much sport and amusement for the members. In April there occurred the largest class initiation in the history of the circle, 157 candidates being initiated. In June the members presented the musical comedy "Florodora" for the benefit of the Catholic Instruction League, and turned over a profit of $500 to Rev. Fr. John J. Sullivan, then in charge, subsequently donating $200 to the Irish Victory drive. The month of October was given up to sewing for Saint Vincent's Orphans' Home, while in December two boxes were purchased for the charity ball conducted for that institution, a gift of $100.
In April of 1920 the Daughters conducted a very successful concert in Anawan Hall, the talent comprising Mme. Marguerite Boas, soprano; Miss Marguerite Rooney, pianiste; Miss Madeline Driscoll, elocutionist; and it was followed by participation in the Septofest of Fall River Council, Knights of Columbus, when over $900 was raised on a hope chest com- petition. Reports read at the October meeting in 1921 showed that a total of $2000 had been contributed for the needy. During December, Rev. Fr. Charles A. Donovan, spiritual director of Saint Vincent's Home, assumed duties of chaplain of the Daughters by direction of Rt. Rev. Bishop Daniel F. Feehan, of the Fall River Diocese, and at a reception tendered the new chaplain the members pledged themselves to be responsible for the running expenses of Saint Vincent's for the first quarter of the next year, a pledge that was fulfilled to the letter. In that same month the local circle joined the National Council of Catholic Women of Washington, D. C.
The year 1922 was marked by the holding of a fiesta for the benefit of Saint Vincent's that netted almost $3000, during February. In May a ban- quet was tendered Rt. Rev. Bishop Feehan, Rev. Fr. Donovan and others of the city clergymen, in the Mellen Hotel, the occasion being the silver anniversary of the organization of the National Circle. In the conduct of the fiesta in February of 1923 for the same worthy object the sum of nearly $2500 was raised. The local circle has had the benefit all these years of the able and energetic service of Mrs. Dillon as regent, and at the present time it numbers 328 members in good standing. Its annual fixtures com- prise a valentine party in February, an open social and dance in April and a Hallowe'en party in October. Its social meetings are of varied order, in- cluding musical revues; art nights, showing pictures by the best masters as posed by members; literary nights, with a discussion of books and their authors ; the drama; the theatre, its needs and what it means to the people. The circle, it is generally agreed, fills a unique place among Fall River's social organizations.
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