USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Century of Catholicism in western Massachusetts; being a chronicle of the establishment, early struggle, progress and achievements of the Catholic church in the five western counties of Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire, Berkshire and Franklin > Part 19
USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Century of Catholicism in western Massachusetts; being a chronicle of the establishment, early struggle, progress and achievements of the Catholic church in the five western counties of Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire, Berkshire and Franklin > Part 19
USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Century of Catholicism in western Massachusetts; being a chronicle of the establishment, early struggle, progress and achievements of the Catholic church in the five western counties of Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire, Berkshire and Franklin > Part 19
USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Century of Catholicism in western Massachusetts; being a chronicle of the establishment, early struggle, progress and achievements of the Catholic church in the five western counties of Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire, Berkshire and Franklin > Part 19
USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > Century of Catholicism in western Massachusetts; being a chronicle of the establishment, early struggle, progress and achievements of the Catholic church in the five western counties of Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire, Berkshire and Franklin > Part 19
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The tongue of monk and hermit, in fair Erin's lone defiles,
The tongue of St. Columba, as he counted Scotia's isles, The tongue of royal Cormas, as his beads he used to tell, The tongue of fearless Brendan. 'mid the wild Atlantic's swell.
In furtherance of this object, a real contribu- tion to scholarship, the Ancient Order established a Gaelic chair at the Catholic University.
The fraternal spirit of Hibernianism was mani- fested in its contribution of $40,000 to aid fellow members who were stricken in the San Francisco quake. During its existence of nearly a century in the United States, the organization has distribut- ed upwards of five millions in relief and ten mil- lions in benefits-a noble record for the first Catholic fraternal organization to appear within the present confines of our diocese.
The objects of the Ancient Order of Hiber- nians became the purpose of its sister society, which was first established as an auxiliary, but beginning with the nineties of the last century, elected its own national officers. These ladies' auxiliaries are scattered throughout these five western counties and working along lines parallel
THE Catholic Mirror
A CENTURY OF CATHOLICISM
IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS
to those of the parent organization. In fact, there are places where the ladies' auxiliary still flourishes, though the Hibernian division has ceased to function. The most notable material works of the Auxiliary were the establishment of a scholarship at Trinity College, Washington, and the erection of the famous memorial monu- ment to the "Nuns of the Battlefield" which stands at the junction of Rhode Island and Con- necticut Avenues, in our national capital. The head and front of this latter achievement, which gave tardy credit to our heroic nuns who left classroom and orphan asylum to relieve suffering
on our Civil War battlefields, was Mrs. Ellen Ryan Jolly, LL.D., national leader of the lady Hibernians.
The men's division had previously obtained an appropriation from Congress to erect a national monument to the memory of Captain John Barry, "Father of the American Navy," the trusted co- laborer of George Washington and recipient from him of Commission No. 1 in our infant naval forces.
In all these triumphs of the Ancient Order and its Auxiliary, the divisions of our diocese have been generous workers and contributors.
Ladies' Catholic Benevolent Association
CATHOLIC society that has stood the test of time is the Ladies' Catholic Benevolent Association. It began its active work among us in 1895, when its first branch was formed in St. Francis' Parish, North Adams, during the pastorate of the late Rev. Charles Burke. This branch, which bears the number 177, is still active and vigorous.
Three years later, Worcester joined the ranks, and Branch 180 was instituted in St. John's Parish, with the warm encouragement of the late Monsignor Griffin. This branch was, in a sense, a daughter of the North Adams foundation, whose Miss Johnson was instrumental in its in- auguration. St. John's Branch proved a veritable mother branch for the community. From it have sprung eleven divisions in the city of Worcester, of which the last, numbered 1405, shows the healthy growth of the order, and reflects public appreciation of its aims and achievements.
Springfield followed with the establishment of Branch 548, at the Cathedral, during the rector- ship of the late Monsignor Edward S. Fitzgerald. This branch, too, proved only an entering wedge to new foundations, of which the Episcopal City now numbers five.
As the objects of the society and its generous
financial offers became better known, branches multiplied elsewhere, and the initiative of North Adams, Worcester and Springfield was followed by Adams, Chicopee, Dalton, Fitchburg, Mitti- neague, Pittsfield, Turners Falls, Westfield, Wil- liamstown and Holyoke, where four branches now flourish.
The Ladies' Catholic Benevolent Association also has a juvenile branch which insures children from one to sixteen years of age, whereupon they are transferred to the senior division.
Thus the Ladies' Catholic Benevolent Associa- tion appeared among us soon after its original or- ganization, in 1890-the first woman's insurance organization in America, though many have since followed in their footsteps. In its forty years of existence, this society has paid claims amounting to over thirty-seven millions of dollars, while it has a reserve of over seventeen millions more. Its certificates of insurance are issued either on the Whole Life Plan or on the Twenty-Payment Plan, in either of which its rates are the lowest possible for an insurance run upon safe, con- servative lines, and the member who perseveres draws out more than she pays in. The Ladies' Catholic Benevolent Association has a record of prompt payment and financial stability which accounts for its steady growth and increasing prosperity among Catholic women.
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The Knights of Columbus
W HEN the Massachusetts Catholic Order of Foresters decided to confine its activities to the Bay State and refused to organize in Connecticut, a new Catholic so- ciety, destined to become not only national but international, sprang up there. Its origin is traced to New Ha- ven, in 1882; its founder was the Rev. Michael J. McGivney, then assistant at St. Mary's Church, in that city. It became an insurance and fraternal organization, with insurance and associate mem- bers. By a happy coincidence, its present supreme chaplain, Rev. P. J. McGivney, is a member of the same family as its distinguished founder. The progress of the order was rapid. Its constitution was adopted the year of its foundation. It received the approval of the Apostolic Delegate in 1890.
The Knights of Columbus, then, as an organ- ization, is rounding out half a century of varied and valuable existence. Its membership has passed 700,000. It has crossed state and national lines until today it flourishes far beyond the frontiers of the United States, in Mexico, Canada, Panama, the Philippines, Cuba, Porto Rico, Newfoundland, while it has opened playgrounds, athletic fields and clubhouses at Rome itself, to combat the post-war efforts of proselytizing agencies.
Financially, the organization is sound and flour- ishing. Its insurance in force amounts to over $290,000,000, while the increase in its benefit membership is steady and healthy, even in the face of our present industrial reverses. The assets of the society amount to nearly $32,000.000, while its
annual revenue from mortuary assessments and expense dues approach $4,000,000.
The Knights of Columbus have been in the forefront of patriotic and relief work. Their 500 huts along the danger zones in the World War made internationally familiar, and famous, the sign the doughboy loved : "Everybody Welcome. Everything Free." American generosity furnished over fifty million dollars to the "Casey" relief secretaries, to supply creature comforts for our boys on the firing lines, and the society distributed it with free and lavish hand. The Knights fur- nished 100,000 enlisted men, 3,000 secretaries and 1,100 chaplains to Uncle Sam's forces on land and sea. The first to fall in the American lines, and the last, were Knights of Columbus-Lieut. Fitzsim- mons, of Kansas City, and Chaplain Davitt, of Lenox, whose name and fame are perpetuated in the title of the Lenox Council.
Once the war-drums ceased to beat, the organ- ization loyally used its surplus for works of recon- struction. Employment bureaus found work for 400,000 ex-service men. A lost soldier bureau located 7,000 missing veterans. On Memorial Day, heroes' graves in France were decorated, each with wreath and a card, stating: "From a brave man's parents, through the Knights of Columbus." Nearly 50,000 ex-service men were enrolled in the Knights of Columbus night schools. All this made up a record of unselfish service which the national government officially recognized when the Ship- ping Board launched the good ship "Casey" in the fall of 1919.
Equally important has been the educational
RAYMOND F. DYER Chicopee
WILLIAM R. BARRY Ware
EDWARD B. O'SULLIVAN Leominster
FRANK T. RALEIGH Springfield
AUSTIN E. LIVINGSTONE Gardner
DISTRICT DEPUTIES OF THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, FROM THE DIOCESE OF SPRINGFIELD
JOSEPH H. MARTIN State Secretary
ANDREW J. LEACH State Auditor
REV. JOSEPH F. COPPINGER, I.P.P. State Chaplain
JOSEPH M. KIRBY State Deputy
CHARLES F. BARTICK State Warden
JAMES E. HAFEY State Advocate
THOMAS F. MCGRATH State Treasurer
MASSACHUSETTS STATE OFFICERS OF THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
THE Catholic Mirror
A CENTURY OF CATHOLICISM IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS
JAMES F. TULLY Dalton
LAWRENCE H. BRANAGAN Millbury
JOHN L. BURNS North Adams
HOWARD A. BLANCHET Amherst
JOHN J. SPILLANE Worcester
DISTRICT DEPUTIES OF THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, FROM THE DIOCESE OF SPRINGFIELD
work of this energetic order. It gave half a million dollars to the Catholic University, at Washington, as foundation for fifty scholarships, enrolled 150,000 ex-service men in its vocational schools, sponsored a popular edition of the Catholic Ency- clopedia, established nearly one hundred and fifty evening schools, subscribed over four hundred scholarships for ex-service men in our leading col- leges and universities, and opened schools ex- clusively for the Negro.
Its relief work in times of peace has brought succor to the victims of practically every local and national disaster, from the Galveston Flood, in 1900, to our recent inundation of the Connecticut, and includes generous donations to the sufferers in the San Francisco earthquake, the Duluth con- flagration, the Chelsea fire, the Messina earth- quake and tidal wave, the Salem fire, the Indiana and Ohio floods, the Illinois cyclone, the Mexican Punitive expedition, the Halifax explosion, the Texas tornado, and local catastrophes elsewhere. The reputation of the Knights is synonymous with generosity and promptness, as though their motto was : "He who gives quickly, gives twice."
Of course, this golden record of unselfish service is made possible only by the loyal support of the local councils and state officers. The Springfield Diocese has reason to be proud of the part its Knights have played. The five western counties have forty-four councils, with a total membership of approximately fifteen thousand. The first coun- cil in our midst was Home City Council, of the episcopal city. It was the first council in our dio- cese, and second only to Bunker Hill Council of
Boston, in our state. Of the four largest councils in the state, three are in our diocese: Alhambra, of Worcester, leads with 2785 members; Home City is second, and the Holyoke council is fourth.
Once our diocese has furnished the head of the Knights in Massachusetts. The term of John E. Swift, of Milford, was a term of activity, progress and good will, in which many an old misunder- standing was ironed out, and closer contact was established between the local councils and the state headquarters. Scholarly, eloquent, approachable, Mr. Swift left only one regret when he retired, and that was that he retired. The culmination of his labors was the Supreme Convention in Boston, in 1930. At present, he has entered the national councils of the order as a Massachusetts represen- tative on the supreme directorate. Springfield's present representatives at state headquarters are Attorney Francis P. Mckeon, of Worcester, Past State Advocate; Attorney James E. Hafey, of Chicopee, State Advocate, and Andrew J. Leach, of Brookfield, State Auditor. This representation shows that our Knights of Columbus councils are exerting a real influence in state and national circles of the order. The rollcall of district deputies also shows the activity of Springfield's knighthood, for it includes James F. Tully, Dalton, John L. Burns, North Adams, Howard A. Blanchet, Amherst, Frank T. Raleigh, Springfield, William R. Barry, Ware, William B. Belli, Springfield, Leo Renaud, Southbridge, Austin E. Livingstone, Gardner, Edward B. O'Sullivan, Leominster, Raymond F. Dyer, Clinton, John J. Spillane, Worcester, and Lawrence H. Branagan, Millbury.
ce 269
Massachusetts Catholic Order of Cforesters
AMONG the organiza- tions which num- ber their adherents by the thousands in our diocese is the Massachusetts Catholic Order of Foresters. Its first court was organ- ized in March, 1879, and its first court in our diocese was established at North Adams, in October of the same year. For the next fifteen years, its membership was closed to women, but when this bar was lifted and women were admitted, in 1894, one of the first three courts composed entirely of women was the flourishing St. Valerian Court, of Springfield, established in December of that year. Its charter list of twenty-five was the mustard seed which has grown to more than one thousand members.
The Massachusetts Catholic Order traces its origin to the yellow fever epidemic in the South, where the Independent Order of Foresters was especially strong. The large number of victims in the South made heavy demands upon the purses of the members elsewhere. Careful consideration of the need of a new organization led to the con- clusion that the time had come for a strictly Catholic insurance and fraternal society, and the Massachusetts Catholic Foresters resulted. At times there have been temptations to go beyond the boundaries of our state. It was an attempt to organize a court in New Haven, coupled with the decision of our state officers not to branch out into another state, which began the Knights of Colum- bus. Western Catholics in Missouri wished to establish courts, but the decision to remain in Massachusetts resulted in a new organization of Catholic Forestry in the Middle West. These in- vitations to branch out and the imitation which is the sincerest flattery are high tributes to the suc-
MISS KATHRYN FITZGERALD Member High Standing Committee
cess of the Massachusetts Catholic Foresters, banded together, to use the words of their charter, "for charitable purposes, in the promo- tion of fraternity, unity and true Christian charity among its mem- bers, and for the purpose of raising and maintaining a fund, so as to enable us to give substantial assist- ance in time of sickness and distress ; to make suitable provision for the widow and orphans ; and to do all in our power to further the interest of our fellow members."
The contribution of the Spring- field diocese to the successful achievements of those thoroughly Catholic purposes has been a notable one, while every worthy Catholic project has received a help- ing hand from the Foresters. Hospitals, charitable institutions, colleges, relief funds, all have ex- perienced the generosity which this order displays to every deserving cause. Our diocese has thirty- six courts, with a total membership of about eight thousand. The most active centres are Springfield, with eleven courts, Worcester, with six courts, and Holyoke with three.
Though our first court, St. Francis', of North Adams, was established the same year as the order itself, in 1879, it no longer exists. The Worcester Court, No. 59, dates its origin to 1885; Shields Court, No. 63, of Holyoke, followed in 1887, Gallagher Court, No. 64, of Springfield, sprang into existence the same year, and Onota, No. 98, Pittsfield, was born in 1893. Since then courts have multiplied and membership has grown to the present prosperous proportions. The youngest court in our diocese, the John J. Collins Court, of Springfield, perpetuates the memory of a great Forester, who, by dint of splendid work for his chosen order, reached the state leadership before he was called to his reward-Foresters
THE Catholic Mirror
A CENTURY OF CATHOLICISM
IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS
c3:
JAMES H. BENSON Springfield
JAMES E. O'LEARY Worcester
JOHN J. COLLINS* Springfield
JAMES A. DONOVAN Springfield
JOHN F. HARRIGAN Worcester
PAST HIGH CHIEF RANGERS OF CATHOLIC ORDER OF FORESTERS, FROM SPRINGFIELD DIOCESE
have thus handed many a noble Catholic character down to grateful remembrance in the naming of their courts. Springfield Foresters thus honored the names of Father Gallagher, builder of the Cathedral, Father McDermott, builder of Sacred Heart, Father Sherry, founder of Holy Family, Bishop Beaven, second bishop of our diocese, and their own sterling Foresters, Major John J. Leonard and Catherine T. Leonard, as well as John J. Collins. In the naming of its courts, Worcester has preserved the memory of Father Fitton, whose missionary labors made all Catholic New England his debtor; Major McCafferty, Civil War hero and first Catholic justice of our Massachusetts tribunals. Holyoke's court bears the name of Rev. Michael Howard, beloved founder of Holy Rosary Parish. Chicopee Falls' Court rejoices in the name of the kindly Father Stone, first pastor of St. Patrick's. The Amherst court recalls Rev. John Gavin, generous and genial pastor of St. Bridget's for two decades. The Northampton court took the name of Rev. Joseph T. Lynch, who died in the early years of a most promising priestly career. These titles have a definite historical value, and express the Catholic Foresters' admiration for pioneer members of their church as well as their order.
The order of Catholic Foresters have been the strong right arm of Father Tully in his work for delinquent children ; have, through the Past Chief Ranger's Association, furnished a room at Mercy Hospital, established the Major John J. Leonard Scholarship at Holy Cross College. The quick
and timely relief work done by the Past Chief Ranger's Association in 1927, when the Connecti- cut and its tributaries were on a rampage, is a golden page in the current history of Forestry. In addition, of course, our Catholic Foresters have lent a hand to the splendid relief efforts of their order in stricken districts beyond the limits of our diocese, and religious work beyond the confines of our state. Our hospitals and chaplains, especially, will not soon forget the Foresters' relief efforts.
It is with pride, too, that we recall the prom- inent part which our Foresters have played in the leadership of this statewide order. Election to the highest position within the gift of Forestry, the high chief rangership of the order, was the recog- nition accorded the exceptional qualities of leader- ship displayed by John F. Harrigan, and James E. O'Leary, of Worcester, and James H. Benson, John J. Collins and James A. Donovan, of Spring- field. In addition to these five who attained Fores- try's highest office, and served on her High Stand- ing Committee, the roll of her Governing Board includes the names of Major John J. Leonard, Springfield's first member, who served from 1894 to his death in 1909, Timothy J. Collins and Hon. William P. Hayes, both of Springfield, and George F. Dorman, of Worcester. At present the only rep- resentative of our diocese on this committee is the first woman from our numbers to be thus honored : Miss Kathryn G. Fitzgerald, of Springfield, the first member ever elected without opposition.
This splendid order, with its 60.000 members. has assets approaching four million dollars.
* Deceased
cd 271
L'Union St. Jean Baptiste
PRIME ROBICHAUD Gardner Supreme Director
WILFRID J. BEAUDRY Holyoke Supreme Director
DR. J. C. Z. POTVIN Springfield Supreme Vice-President NATIONAL OFFICERS, L'UNION ST. JEAN BAPTISTE
UNION St. Jean Baptiste d' Amérique grew from a meeting held in Holyoke, in 1898, for the purpose of federating the Franco-American organizations of New England and New York. A committee was appointed to send invitations to all the interested societies, to be represented at a convention the following year. At that convention, also held in Holyoke, one hundred and three accredited delegates were present, and Edward Cadieux, of Holyoke, was elected presi- dent, Joseph Beauchemin and Pierre Bonvouloir, both of Holyoke, were chosen assistant secre- taries. This convention debated the best form in which to organize a fraternal and benefit society, discussed at length the ways and means adopted by similar organizations elsewhere in Canada and the United States, and ended in the appointment of a committee, two from each state represented, to draw up a plan of federation for submission to a future convention. On that com- mittee was Dr. A. Desrochers of Adams.
After several sittings, this committee submit- ted a report on which the actual formation of the Union St. Jean Baptiste was based. At the fol- lowing congress, the Union already had 7346 members, and a reserve fund of $38,297.74. Sub- sequent conventions all showed progressive in- creases, both in membership and in amounts on hand, until today the organization counts over fifty thousand members, and its financial assets
approach five million dollars. This growth has been attained in a little over thirty years, from that inconspicuous beginning at Holyoke.
The society, of course, has a primary and fundamental financial program, like every frater- nal and benefit organization. At the Worcester convention of 1915, the president general said : "It is with legitimate pride that we can, after fifteen years of existence, look back on a success- ful past, on tears dried, families relieved, widows and orphans protected against hunger and misery."
The society, too, supervises French Canadian activities, and makes every effort to see that the French Canadian receives fair play in the clash of elements which constitute our American life. Its special object is to safeguard the interests of religion and language, that the tongue of Mar- quette and Champlain may remain a living lan- guage, and their faith a vital guiding force, among the descendants of Canada's pioneer race.
This Union, also, regards it as a duty to care for its aged members, those who, in earlier days, contributed to its success. In establishing its relief for the aged, it insists that such relief is an obligation for the society and in no sense demean- ing to the recipient. This aid is extended to the aged, those incapacitated by injury, and those afflicted by an incurable disease. More than one hundred and twenty-five of such unfortunates are thus cared for at the expense of the society, not in charity, but in gratitude because "they gave
A CENTURY OF CATHOLICISM WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS
IN
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time and energy to ensure our future. They have an absolute right to the gratitude and protection of the society. We cannot refuse it to them with- out compromising our honor."
The Union, too, champions the all important cause of Catholic schools, contributes to their support and defends them before legislative bodies against the menace of hostile law. It strives to preserve the folklore and folk songs of Canada and France, and has entrusted to the Assumption College, at Worcester, the Mallet Library, a collection of nearly two thousand vol- umes, many of which are composed of unedited manuscripts dealing with early Canadian achieve- ment.
It makes its contribution to scholarship, not merely by championing Catholic schools, but also by aiding the deserving student to pursue higher studies, to the end that able leaders may be fostered. A fund has thus been established to further the cause of advanced work for the promising children of members. At present. more than 70 students are being benefitted by this pro- vision, either at Assumption College in Worces- ter, or in the colleges of Quebec.
Thus, the Union de St. Jean Baptiste d'Amér- ique, in less than a quarter of a century, has advanced from small beginnings to imposing strength, whether judged by its membership or its financial resources. It has aided our Franco-
American citizens in every worthy field of prog- ress-charitable, educational, civic. Many of its founders and present leaders are members of our diocese, in which the Union has sixty-nine coun- cils and 10,272 members. Among its supreme officers at present are : Wilfred Beaudry, of Hol- yoke, supreme director; Prime Robichaud, of Gardner, supreme director ; and Dr. J. C. Z. Pot- vin, of Springfield, supreme vice-president. It is interesting to note that Holyoke, the birthplace of the Union, leads the diocese of Springfield with five councils which have over fourteen hundred members.
And so, in matters of faith and fatherland, in furthering the cause of the one and keeping alive the sweet memories of the other, L'Union St. Jean Baptiste strives to maintain unsullied its banner with the impressive motto: Melius Mori quam Foedari -- "Death before Dishonor." Its members firmly believe that they can best prove themselves Americans by adding to our melting pot the rich treasures of their literature and folk- lore, the loyalty of a faith which began with Clovis at the baptismal font of Rheims, and the love of the old motherland, so perfectly preserved amid Canada's snowclad forests that it has been called "the Canadian miracle": death before the dishonor of proving false to the rich heritage of Bossuet's language, St. Louis' faith and Mont- calm's memory.
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