The Reverend Michael J. McGivney of
St. Mary's Church, New Haven, Connecticut, founded the
Knights of Columbus, a fraternal organization of Catholic
men, in 1882. The society took its name from its efforts
to help immigrants from the Old World, represented by
knights, make the difficult transition to the New World,
discovered by Christopher Columbus.
Father McGivney created a benefit system
for widows and children which has evolved into a comprehensive
modern insurance program. His vision prefigured the
contemporary order of the Knights of Columbus, structured
with four degrees of membership, distinctive ceremonial
and attire, and loyal dedication to the American Catholic
heritage. In 1993, 1.7 million Knights functioned in
11,000 councils worldwide. Tuxedo-clad with capes, chapeaux,
and swords similar to those worn by Columbus, the Knights
often form honor guards at religious and civic celebrations.
The concept of Knighthood expanded
into every state of the Union by 1905. The Knights arrived
in Denver, Colorado, in 1900. From there a contingent
of thirty-six came to Salt Lake City on 8 September
1901 to establish Council 602, the first council west
of the Rocky Mountains. In 1902 thirty Utah Knights
chartered a train to Spokane, Washington, and Butte,
Montana, for the institution of councils in those locales.
Thirty-five charter members initiated Council 777 in
Ogden on 21 June 1903. Delegates from Salt Lake, Ogden,
Pocatello, Reno, and Boise met to adopt by-laws at the
first territorial meeting on 2 May 1905.
Mayor John Welsh served as first Grand
Knight of Council 1129, founded in Park City on 3 June
1906; and Mayor James D. Stack became first Grand Knight
of Council 1136 in Eureka the following month. Maintaining
a tradition of service to the diocese, Utah Knights
financed a diocesan history to commemorate the dedication
of the Cathedral of the Madeleine on 15 August 1909.
They conducted a three-million-dollar War Fund Campaign
in 1918, and throughout the years have supported the
goals of each diocesan bishop.
St. Anthony Council, formed in Price
in 1926, assisted the Catholic Church in Carbon County.
Between 1961 and 1983 twelve additional councils were
established in Utah. Membership statewide numbered 1,500
in 1993. Knights gather annually for an outing at Lagoon,
held for the first time in 1908. In 1980 Provo Council
1136 raised a permanent steel cross above Dominguez
Hill in Spanish Fork Canyon to mark the entry in 1776
of the Dominguez-Escalante expedition, which represents
the first recorded Catholic presence in Utah.
Bernice M. Mooney
