Knights of Columbus History

Through the forKnights of Columbus Historyesight and leadership of Father McGivney, and the sacrifice and dedication of those early Knights, and the millions of their brother who have followed in their footsteps, the Knights of Columbus would become the world’s foremost Catholic fraternal benefit society, one that has helped millions of Catholic families grow in their faith and defend their beliefs. It has made its members better husbands, fathers, sons, and citizens. It has helped families obtain economic security and stability through the Knights’ life insurance program. It has built Catholic communities, fed the poor and defended the vulnerable. It has helped to renovate the Vatican and bring the Pope to the world.

The emblem of the Order dates from the second Supreme Council meeting May 12, 1883, when it was designed by James T. Mullen, who was then Supreme Knight. A quick glance at the emblem indicates a shield mounted upon the Formée Cross. The shield is that associated with a medieval Knight. The Formée Cross is the representation of a traditionally artistic design of the Cross of Christ through which all graces of redemption were procured for mankind. This then represents the Catholic spirit of the Order. Mounted on the shield are three objects: a fasces standing vertically, and, crossed behind it, an anchor and a dagger or short sword. The fasces from Roman days is symbolic of authority which must exist in any tightly-bonded and efficiently operating organization. The anchor is the mariner’s symbol for Columbus, patron of the Order, while the short sword or dagger was the weapon of the Knight when engaged upon an errand of mercy. Thus, the shield expressed Catholic Knighthood in organized merciful action, and with the letters, K. of C., it proclaims this specific form of activity.

The red, white and blue in the background of the shield and the foreground of the Cross of Malta are the colors of our country. As such, red is the symbol of hope, of calm tranquility under God and of confidence in the protection of our country. White is the symbol of nobility of purpose, of purity of aim and of crucible—tried ideals to be carried out. But there is another symbolism of color in red, white and blue. This is the ecclesiastical symbolism in which red becomes the reflection of the drips of Christ’s redemptive blood shed upon Calvary, and of the martyr’s blood shed in defense of the faith.

Red then is the symbol of Faith, of belief in Christ, in the Redemption and in the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ. White is the color of the Eucharistic Host, pledge of God’s Eucharistic presence among men, of the infinite love God has for man and the overwhelming affection which the Godman has for each individual.

White then is the symbol of Christ-like Charity. Blue is the color of Our Lady’s mantle, in which she wrapped her beloved Son, through Whom came salvation to a sinful world. Blue is then the symbol of Hope.

CONTINUOUS GROWTH

Since it was incorporated on March 29, 1882, the Knights of Columbus has grown from several members in one council to more than 12,000 councils and over 1.6 million members throughout the United States, Canada, the Philippines, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Panama, the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, Guatemala, Guam and Saipan. The Order has had twelve Supreme Knights — from the first Supreme Knight, James T. Mullen, who designed the famous emblem of the Order, to our current Supreme Knight, Virgil C. Dechant, who has led the Order to tremendous increases in membership, prestige and influence. Millions of Catholic men have been Knights of Columbus — men of all nationalities and backgrounds and professions — men like baseball great Babe Ruth and President John F. Kennedy.

LOVE OF CHURCH AND COUNTRY

Charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism — these are the watchwords of the Knights of Columbus. And, since 1882, Knights of Columbus have backed up these words with actions. During World War I, Supreme Knight James A. Flaherty proposed to US President Woodrow Wilson that the Order establish soldiers’ welfare centers in the US and abroad. The Order raised more than $14 million for this program on its own, and was allocated another $30 million from a national fund drive.

During the early years of World War II, Canadian Knights set up similar soldiers’ welfare centers in Canada. The US Knights were the first national organization to sponsor a blood donor program, and numerous councils led war bond drives in support of the war effort. Thousands of Knights were killed in action during the war.

During the Cold War, Supreme Knight John E. Swift oversaw the Order’s varied responses to the Communist threat, as the Knights operated speakers’ bureaus, funded anti-Communist advertisements and radio addresses, and published pro-freedom pamphlets. In 1954, the Knights of Columbus led the effort to officially include the words “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag, a crusade that resulted in federal legislation signed by US President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

In 1957, the Knights of Columbus donated a $1 million, 329-foot bell tower to the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC — a tower that became known as “the Knights’ Tower.” The Order has since donated a 56-bell carillon to the Shrine and provided funding for its operation.

During the 1960s and 1970s, decades of degeneration and social chaos, the Knights of Columbus, behind Supreme Knight John McDevitt and current Supreme Knight Virgil C. Dechant, stood as a tower amidst societal crisis to promote racial equality and love of country. Against a tide of dissension, the Order championed Church teaching on divorce, birth control, abortion, and pornography.

Since the late 1970s, Supreme Knight Dechant has led the Knights to record-breaking growth in all areas of the Order’s operations: membership, new council development, international development, insurance sales, volunteerism and charitable giving. He has fostered support and devotion to the Church and to our Blessed Mother. He has pledged the Knights’ support for the Holy Father, the cardinals, bishops and all clergy and religious. He led the way to increased support for Catholic telecommunications, education, and special charities, such as the International Special Olympics.

Knights of Columbus have helped to build and support the Catholic Church, from the United States to the Philippines. Knights have lived for their faith in Canada, and died for their faith in Mexico. Throughout the history of the Order, in these and many other ways, Knights of Columbus have provided immeasurable support to their families and communities, to their countries and the Church. The Knights of Columbus has enabled its members to strengthen and protect their loved ones — spiritually, by developing their faith, and financially, with the highest quality life insurance available, a product that has brought security and prosperity to millions of Knights and their families.

Through their dedication to the ideals of the Order — Charity, Unity, Fraternity, Patriotism — and through their fidelity to Christ’s Church and his Vicar, the Knights of Columbus continue to be what they were called long ago: “The Strong Right Arm of the Church.”