The Seven Founders of the Knights of Peter Claver
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The Knights of Peter Claver, Inc. Volume 92 • Summer Issue 2009 • www.kofpc.org The Seven Founders of the Knights of Peter Claver Rev. Conrad F. Rev. John H. Hon. Frank Hon. Gilbert Hon. Frank Rev. Samuel J. Rev. Joseph P. Rebesher, S.S.J. Dorsey, S.S.J. Collins Faustina Trenier Kelly, S.S.J. Van Baast, S.S.J. 100th Anniversary inside this issue Officer messages • District news • Junior division ClaveriteThe he Order was founded November 7, 1909 at Mobile Ala.; by four priests of the St. Joseph’s Society of the A Catholic fraternal magazine published by: Sacred Heart (the Josephite Fathers) of Baltimore, Md. – Fathers: Conrad F. Rebesher, John H. Dorsey, The National Council Knights of Peter Claver TSamuel J. Kelly, and Joseph P. Van Baast, S.S.J.’s and the three lay and National Court Knights of Peter Claver men of the Diocese of Mobile – Birmingham, Ala. Messrs: Gilbert Ladies Auxiliary Faustina, Frank Collins and Frank Trenier, all now passed to their eternal rewards; Incorporated July 12, 1911; the Fourth Degree Approbation was authorized in 1917; the Constitution for Junior Knights was The Most Reverend Alfred C. Hughes compiled by the Reverend Joseph P. Van Baast, S.S.J. and his com- Archbishop of New Orleans mittee. The Ladies Auxiliary was authorized and their constitution adopted at Opelousas, La., August, 1922; the constitution of the Gene A. Phillips, Sr., Supreme Knight National Council was revised by committee August, 1925; August, Geralyn C. Shelvin, Supreme Lady 1929; October, 1936; August, 1948; August, 1951; August, 1971 Paul C. Condoll, Interim Administrator and August, 1979 August, 1989 and August, 1999. The Ladies Debra A. Frazier, Claverite Coordinator Auxiliary was recognized as a Division of the National Council at Galveston, Texas, August, 1926; and the Junior Daughters was The Knights Of Peter Claver established in 1930; the Constitution of the Junior Knights was Founded in Mobile, Ala., in 1909 revised establishing the Junior Knights as a Division of the National Headquarters in New Orleans, La. Council, effective Oct. 1, 1935. The first official organ of the Order was The Shield published for the first time at Mobile, Ala., No- vember 1910, with Frank Trenier, Charter Member and National All items intended for publication in The Claverite must be Secretary, as Editor. The successor to The Shield is The Claverite, au- submitted by: April 10 for summer issue and September 10 thorized in 1922 as a monthly publication, and its first Editor was for winter issue Joseph H. Rieras who served until 1928. The Claverite changed to introduction a quarterly publication in 1948 at which time it was edited by the Please send your news items to [email protected], National Secretary. Presently, The Claverite is published biennially and include a photo. When taking photographs for the magazine, by the Executive Director. please make sure your camera is set on the highest resolution set- The following excerpt from the Josephite Colored Harvest tells ting possible. Photographs should be 300 dpi or higher at full size the story: for them to print well. Please provide stories in a Word document and photos as jpg files. An Important Movement For Colored Catholics – Article taken from The Colored Harvest Vol. VI, No. 2 - March 1910 “TRUST IN GOD” is our Password “On Sunday, Nov. 7, 1909, in the city of Mobile, Ala., took place “ONWARD” is our war cry the “Initiation” of the first band of forty colored men, the nucleus of a fraternal society, which will be known as “The Knights of Peter Claver.” This is undoubtedly the most important movement for in this issue colored Catholics that has taken place for many a day. From the beginning, the missionaries to the colored people have been very much hampered by the fact that most all the 4 message from the supreme knight men belonged to one or other of the fraternal organizations, 6 message from the supreme lady which they would not, or could not, leave. They simply joined them for social and beneficial purposes. Time and again they 7 message from the Bishop Perry have told the missionaries that they would gladly leave them if 8 officer messages there were anything else to take their place. The missionaries 24 fourth degree news tried in vain to have the ban to these secret societies removed, so that the Catholics could practice their duties. Finally, it was 26 district news determined to form a new society for colored men which would be Catholic, and, at the same time, include all the fraternal and 42 junior division beneficial qualities of the secret organizations. This has been 46 board of directors done, and the Josephite Fathers on the “Coast” (Alabama) are Most Pure Heart of Mary Church Baast, Dorsey and Rebesher, the pastor, were present. 100th Anniversary 1899-1999 Two new councils more have already been organized, one of Mon Louis, Ala., 22 members, and one at Chastang, Ala., 20 members. The Josephite Fathers will do all in their power to organize and increase the membership in the Knights of Peter Claver. It shall be their endeavor to open councils along the “Coast” to New Orleans, La., through Louisiana, Texas, Kentucky, Tennes- see, Virginia, Maryland and Delaware. The home of the national council is in Mobile, Ala. There are already two subordinate councils, one at Mon Louis, Ala., and one at Chastang, Ala. Subordinate councils may be formed in any city or state, subject to the National council, where fifteen men wish to form a council, by applying to the national secretary and complying with the constitution. The National Council and the two sub-councils are in excellent financial condition, having already a substantial bank account. The initiators are an intelligent body of men, many of them al- ready well acquainted with organization business. The Knights of Peter Claver have a safe and practical constitution of laws and by- laws. The writer has personally met many of the A century of blessings – Mobile, Ala. cover members of the national and sub-councils, and he entertains high This is the Church where the first 40 men were initiated. hopes of their ability to manage their business affairs. The address of the national secretary is Mr. Frank Trenier, the leading spirits in this movement, with 606 Dearborn Street, Mobile, Ala. He will gladly furnish any story Father Conrad Rebesher, pastor of the Church information desired.” of the Most Pure Heart of Mary, Mobile, Ala., as the prime mover. More than a year ago Father Rebesher spoke of the projected movement to his superior, and was promised all the assistance possible to carry out the plan. On the morning of the initiation, forty col- ored men (forty men in a small mission parish) went to holy Communion in a body in the pres- ence of Most Rev. E. P. Allen, D.D., Bishop of Mobile, and Fathers Kelly, Rebesher and Dorsey. The Bishop was evidently pleased, as he is deeply interested in the work for colored Catho- lics. The congregation was very much impressed (for never before had any of them seen such a sight), and the work of making converts and of bringing back “the stray sheep to the fold” got a mighty impetus. Father Dorsey, the colored priest attached to St. Joseph’s College, Montgomery, Ala., preached the sermon, in which the reverend preacher en- deavored to impress on his hearers the necessity of good Christian operation among the mem- bers, with an unflinching obedience to the laws and by-laws of the order. The “initiation” of the new members of the Knights of Peter Claver, “K.O.P.C.,” took place at 5 o’clock in the evening. The ceremony was This house is the home of the preceded by the Benediction of the Most Blessed Knights of Peter Claver Sacrament. The Josephite Fathers, Kelly, Van Mobile Council #1, established Nov. 7, 1909. 4 The Claverite | Summer Issue 2009 | www.kofpc.org Knights of Peter Claver Message from the Supreme Knight Gene A. Phillips, Sr., 15th Supreme Knight Fraternal Greetings: have worked hard to define new ways to encourage new mem- bership to our organization. You are creating opportunities to n Nov. 7, 009, the Knights of Peter strengthen our organization that will assure a long and bright future for us. Claver, Inc. will celebrate its 100th The Junior Division is doing fantastic things and remains O Anniversary. Just as our founders dedicated to the order. I commend Jr. Supreme Knight Des- had foresight and determination to build a strong mond Taylor and Jr. Supreme Lady Jasmine Chavis for all of foundation, we, as Clavers, will continue their their tireless work in promoting the Junior Division. I, in turn, work by remaining committed to the Church, our would like to encourage all Juniors to transfer into the Senior Division prior to their 19th birthday. supreme knight supreme organization and community service. I have appointed Knight Jerald Bass of Council #98 from Barrett Station, Texas, as the new National Emerging Leader On Sunday, Nov. 7, 1909, in the city of Mobile, Ala., at the Most Chairperson of the Knights Division. If you are between the ages Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 40 men were initiated of 19-35, please contact him. His information can be found on into the Knights of Peter Claver. This began the long journey our KPC Web site at www.kofpc.org . of Claverism. Knight Gilbert Faustina became the first Grand Knight of Council #1, along with being the first Supreme Knight Expansion report of the Knights of Peter Claver.