Knights of Columbus, Council #1393 History

On April 24, 1909, twenty-eight Westminster citizens took their first and second degrees. They joined with a third-degree brother and formally organized Westminster Council #1393, seventh council organized in Maryland. T. Herbert Shriver was elected as the first Grand Knight. The following day the same twenty-eight were initiated in the third degree of the order.

Membership and council activities grew hand in hand. Participation in intra-council activities increased until World War I saw a good portion of the membership, including Grand Knight John K. Leahy, enter military service and council-activity turn to the war effort. Brother Edward Case was elected to finish the Grand Knight's term of office. The council was the first in Maryland council to sell Liberty Bonds and also the first council to raise War Well-Fare Funds. A year and two weeks after the armistice, the council had a "Welcome Home" banquet in the Westminster Hotel for those council members who had served in the armed forces. A welcome hone address on the Chaplain's Role was given by Fr. Moore, Chaplain of the 313th Infantry.

Turning again to its normal role, the council promoted charity, unity and fraternity. The Christmas Committee saw to it that no child in the parish lacked the food and toys for a really happy Christmas. Council minutes record the loss of a brother's home followed by physical and financial assistance rendered by the remainder of the council. Social gathering, dances and theatricals were successful and attended by brother Knights form Baltimore, Frederick, and Cumberland.

During the same post-war period, another group arose in Westminster, the Ku Klux Klan. The Klan encouraged distrust and hate for Catholics and other minorities. Council members attended the Klan meetings, challenged and successfully refuted many slanderous statements. Klan pamphlets circulated through out Westminster labeling the Knights of Columbus "an anti-American, anti-Protestant organization connected with the Roman Catholic Church" and accused the Westminster council of preventing them from using the Westminster Armory for a meeting. The council responded by distributing pamphlets denying the charges citing a letter from the Adjutant General, Milton A. Reckord to Captain John A. Magin giving him instructions to cancel the Klan's reservation for a meeting the and a second letter stating that the prior action was taken by the Adjutant General of his own volition and without any solicitation from the Knights of Columbus, directly or indirectly from any member of the Knights of Columbus.

With the opening of the bond drive in April 1924 for the to erection of the Knights of Columbus home at Cathedral and Madison streets in Baltimore, Westminster council became the first council to subscribe to the bond as a council. The minutes of the same year make reference to two already existing activities relating to St. John's School: a council sponsored annual oratorical contest and annual Christian Doctrine award for to the graduating student with the highest average in Religion; both of these activities continue to the present (1965).

Continuing in the same vein, 1925 saw the establishment of an annual summer outing for the school children of St. John at the Baltimore Zoo and Druid Hill Park or at a Baltimore amusement park. This year also saw the establishment of monthly social dances for adult Catholics in the area. Both of the proceeding activities died from lack of funds during the depression era but were well attended throughout their existence. Another activity initiated in the same year, an annual memorial service, and Mass for deceased members, survived and has continued on to the present, being observed annually on Thanksgiving Day, and on the meeting night closest to this day.

During the middle and late thirties council activity dwindled almost to the point of dissolution, smaller and smaller quarters were assumed, then attendance fell to a low of three members, meeting fell to two a year and only the determination of these few men and the Pastor kept the council legally alive. An attempt was made in 1939 to reorganize the council but national mobilization and World War II got the prospective members before the council was really on firm ground.

In April 1944 a meeting attended by state officers attracted sufficient active and new members that a recruitment and reinstatement committee of all present agreed to a concerted drive for revival. Subsequent meetings, arrangements and contacts resulted in a regular meeting May 24the which showed four reinstatements and four candidates for the First Degree. A composite team of visitors from Baltimore administered the degree and returned on June 13th to administer a Second Degree. Meetings continued and a full roster of officers were installed in March 1945. During this period the Council's principal parish activity was the organization and sponsorship of the Boy Scout Troop #420 under Brother Fred Hilmer. At the regular installation of officers in July 1945 an even larger membership elected Fred Hilmer Grand Knight.

The Council grew both in membership and activities throughout the forties and fifties sponsoring again most of the former activities and returning to its role as a Catholic service organization. Money was raised and donated to the parish for many activities: school fund, church repairs, carnival stands and operation, outside Christmas crib, school library, etc. Magazines were collected and sent to Springfield Hospital and a Catholic literature lending library was established. A number of social dances and outings were held.

The growth resulted in the formation of a corporation and the purchase of grounds and a building for a council home in 1958. In 1959 the council reached an all time high in membership under Grand Knight M. D. Gilligan, D.D.S. In 1960 the Boy Scout Troop was relinquished to the parish as a parish function.

In 1963 the Corporation sold the original home, a converted veterans housing unit coupled with a quonset hut, and purchased a large hall much nearer the center of town as the new council home.

On June 16, 1964 Msgr. Coyne, the Associate State Chaplain, assisted by the Council Chaplain Father Melycher, blessed the new council home and dedicated it to the Sacred Heart. Following the ceremony Msgr. Coyne spoke at a dinner celebrating the home dedication and the fifty-fifth anniversary. The affair was well attended by state dignitaries and council members. Meetings at the new home, 181 East Main Street, are held the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 8:30 P.M. with highlights and other council activities announced in the monthly bulletin. Annual affairs presently include family picnic, dance, children's Christmas party, family Communion breakfast, Past Grand Knight's night, and an open house.

During the mid-seventies, the Council was suffering through another low period and was revived by Grand Knight, Philip W. Smallwood, and since has continued to thrive. Membership reached and all-time high in the early eighties and the Council earned the prestigious Star Council Award under Grand Knights, Smallwood, Tulley, Norton, and Robinette.

The Council has been honored over the past eighty years with a number of elected or appointed State Officers. Malcom D. Gilligan, D.D.S. was State Deputy from 1966-1968; Charles O. Fisher, State Advocate; Deacon Mark E. Ripper, Associate State Chaplain and a number of District Deputies, including Fred Hilmer, Charles N. Fisher, David E. Walsh, Michael E. Walsh, Lloyd Lynch, James R. Brown, and William J. Norton.