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125 Years

Florida's First Council,
Serving America's First Parish,
in the Nation's Oldest City Since 1901

Cathedral - 1901

The Founding of Our Order - 1882
New Haven, Connecticut

1882: The Knights of Columbus is born on Feb. 6, 1882, when the first members choose Columbus as their patron. Immediately after the Order’s March 29 incorporation, Father McGivney sends a diocesan-wide appeal for new members to priests.

1886: By the end of his four-year term as supreme knight, James T. Mullen presides at the institution of 22 of the first 38 councils. John J. Phelan is elected and is the first supreme knight to see the Order’s future as a national society.

1890: Father McGivney dies Aug. 14, 1890.

 

1892: The Order passes laws allowing noninsurance (associate members) to join.1892: 6,000 Knights march in the New Haven Columbus Day parade to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus’ discovery of the New World.

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1895: The Vatican’s first acknowledgment of the Knights comes when Archbishop Francesco Satolli, apostolic delegate to the United States, writes a letter extolling the “merits of this splendid Catholic organization” and giving the Order his apostolic blessing.

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1897: On Nov. 25, 1897, Canada’s first council — Montreal Council 284 — is chartered.

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1900: The first exemplification of the Fourth Degree takes place on Feb. 22, 1900, in New York City where 1,100 Knights receive the degree. The following May, another 750 Knights take the degree in Boston.

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Our Founder, Blessed Michael McGivney

October 1901: The Knights of Columbus Arrives in Florida

In the early part of 1901, a group of men from the Cathedral Parish gathered to discuss the establishment of a Knights Council in St. Augustine. We can only imagine the irony considered among the men to have an organization named after Columbus, when Menendez is our Founder, but never the less, they agreed, and so the notice was sent up to the National Council in New Haven, CT.

 

Towards the end of August 1901, the Council was approved, and so plans were to commence on an Initiation Ceremony here in St. Augustine. In attendance were the 5th Supreme Knight, Edward L. Hearn, his District Deputy Supreme Knight, D.J. Callahan and the closest Council to St. Augustine, Norfolk Council 511 was to conduct the initiation, and with them came their Secretary of State for Virginia, Hon. Jas T. Lawless. At this time, there were no highways, and rail wasn't the most reliable, so they arrived by boat. 

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The dignitaries arrived on Saturday night, October 12th, and were put up at Florida House. On Sunday, October 13th, the men and candidates assembled at City Building and marched in a body to the Cathedral for Sunday mass. After mass, they return to the Hall in City Building where the First Degree was conferred by Newport News Council 511. Local members numbered about 50, and following the first Officers were elected. 

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  Grand Knight:  W.O. Boutwell

  Chaplain:  Rev. M. Maher

  Deputy Grand Knight:  Theodore Pomar

  Chancellor:  A.J. Rogero

  Recording Secretary:  O.B. Rogero

  Financial Secretary:  Xavier Lopez

  Treasurer:  R.B. Garnett

  Lecturer:  Rev. James Nunan

  Advocate:  A.H. Mickler

  Warden:  John A. Melclier

  Inside Guard:  Oliver Monson

  Outside Guard:  John Triay

  Board of Trustees:  P.S. Arnau, Joseph T. Pacetti,

  A.J. Pellicer, A.B. Phillips, E.L.Capella

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  Physician:  Dr. R.B. Garnett

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Afterwards, 80 people attended a banquet at Florida House, with D.J. Callahan as Toastmaster. W.O. Boutwell was presented with a handsome silver gavel engraved from Newport News Council 511 to First Florida Council 611.

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Our First Grand Knight:

SK W.O. Boutwell, PSD, FM

Born: October 7, 1865 in Athol, Massachusetts

Died: December 13, 1933 in St. Augustine, Florida

 

Occupation: Chief Clerk of Passenger Traffic Department –

                       Florida East Coast Railway - 1904-1933

 

  • First Grand Knight of Council 611 – October 13, 1901

  • First Territorial Deputy of Florida – November 28, 1901

  • First State Deputy of Florida – August 3, 1905

  • Master of the 4th Degree

  • Kiwanis Club

  • St. Augustine Country Club

  • Holy Name Society

  • Woodsmen of the World

  • Resided at:

    • 33 Cordova Street - 1899

    • 34 Cordova Street - 1904

    • 36 Cordova Street - 1907

    • 31 Saragossa Street - 1911 until his death in 1933

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  • Grave site: San Lorenzo Cemetery, St. Augustine

    • Section 1, Block 4, Lot 5, Grave 4

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Snips of Our History

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Knights of Columbus decorate Cathedral Street during a 1902 Ponce de Leon Celebration.

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Members of Our Council who took their 4th Degree

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In 2004, Our Council sold it's home of nearly 100 Years, moving into the Bishop Baker Center adjacent to Cathedral Parish School. The funds from that sale have been donated throughout the community, buying 2 Ultrasound Machines for St. Gerard Campus, Donating to the Parish for its renovation in 2015, our former Boy Scouts Troop No. 63, and so many other things in our Community. The funds left over have established our Scholarship Fund, from which we give 2 Scholarships Annually to deserving students at Cathedral Parish School and St. Joseph's Academy. 

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