During Black Catholic History Month We Salute...

The Knights of and Teackle Wallis Lansey,

In 1909, an important movement among Black Catholics took root through the establishment of the Knights of Peter Claver, a fraternal order mostly comprised of Black Catholic lay men. Fr. John Henry Dorsey, SSJ was one of the founders. The Knights of Peter Claver, founded in Mobile, Alabama gained the heart and attention of many Black men who were not allowed to participate in the . The organization was religious in nature and it’s founding constitution was drafted similarly from the Knights of Columbus. Fr. Conrad Rebesher,SSJ was the pastor of the Church of the Most Pure Heart of Mary in Mobile. It was through his vision that other Josephites and laymen co-founded the Knights. The other Josephites included, Fr. John H. Dorsey, SSJ, Fr. Samuel Kelly, and Fr. Joseph Van Baast, SSJ. All three of the laymen who became co-founders were Black; including Gilbert Faustina, Frank Collins and Frank Trenier. Mr. Faustina served as head of the Knights for the first seventeen Years. In 1917 a “junior knights” was organized. It was not until 1922 when the Ladies Auxiliary of Peter Claver was established with “junior daughters” following in 1930. According to Rev. Cyprian Davis, OSB- noted historian… The Knights of Peter Claver spread throughout the south in the first 25 years of its existence, and it became a very important element of in the life of Black Catholics.

In 1915, Baltimore became one of the first places in the north (even though we are on the Mason-Dixon line) to establish Council No. 13. While in Baltimore, for a visit, Fr. Rebesher did an intervention, introducing the idea about forming the Knights . Several noted Black Catholic men assembled in Baltimore … including Ignatius Walter Adams, Major Charles Emory Gladden, George McKim, two printers… Gabriel Braxton Maddox and Charles Marcellus Dorsey along with Charles T. Woodland a physician and Teackle Wallis Lansey a businessman.

Teackle Wallis Lansey, founder of Ideal Savings Bank, served as the first Grand Knight of the Knights of Peter Claver, Council No 13 in 1915.Grand Knight Lansey then went on to become State Deputy for the region in 1917. Though Council No. 13 was the only active council on the East Coast at that time, Mr. Lansey’s

[1] appointment as state deputy showed the optimism for future expansion says Knight Jari C. Honora historian for the Knights of Peter Claver.

While Mr. Lansey was a leader in Church, he also was a leader and visionary in the business world. In 1920 Ideal Savings and Loan Bank was established to help African American families buy homes. Up until last year, this bank was the oldest continually-operating African American financial institution in Maryland. Teackle Wallis Lansey and several Black community leaders, including a janitor, high school principal and a chauffer committed $100,000 and opened the bank across the street from Lansey’s Laundry Company, which had a contract to wash linens for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.

Teackle Wallis Lansey had seven sons… Austin, Alfred, Teackle, Lincoln, Edward, Warren and E. Gaines Lansey and one daughter Josephine. Josephine Lansey is the only living offspring of Teackle Wallis Lansey.

E. Gaines Lansey married our very own Priscilla Phillips Lansey who is a parishioner at Immaculate Conception Church along with her daughters. The children of E. Gaines and Priscilla Lansey include… Priscilla Gaines Lansey, Yvonne F. Lansey, E. Gaines Lansey,Jr., Frank W.P. Lansey and Patrick Lansey, many who are active in the life of the .

QUIZ 1. Who was baptized by Fr. John Henry Dorsey, SSJ?

2. Who in their family has a relative who is an Oblate Sister of Providence?

3. Who helped the Oblate Sisters in raising funds for the Order?

4. Who was the first Grand Knight of The Knights of Peter Claver, Council No.13?

5. What can you do to promote, Black Catholic activism?

written by Therese Wilson Favors

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