Catholic Knights of America, Branch 320, Charleston, S.C. records

The Catholic Knights of America was an American Roman Catholic fraternal organization, existing from 1877 to 2005. It was based around a life insurance company, chartered under the laws of the State of Kentucky. In 2005 Catholic Knights of America merged with Catholic Knights in Milwaukee, a financial services company. Catholic Knights of America was founded in Nashville, Tennessee, by James J. McLoughlin, D. N. Burke, John Broderick, and John McDonald. The first meeting was held 23 April 1877, at Emmett Hall, Nashville, with James J. McLoughlin as temporary chairman. At the second meeting on 1 May 1877, the first permanent branch was organized with J. J. McLoughlin, president, and John McDonald, secretary. The name selected for the new organization was the Order of United Catholics, which was subsequently changed on the recommendation of Bishop P. A. Feehan, of Nashville, to Catholic Knights of America. The bishop gave his approval to the new society and accepted the office of spiritual director. In June 1877, plans were drawn up for the establishment of a supreme council form of government, and branches were organized in Grafton, West Virginia; Louisville, Kentucky; New Albany, Indiana; and Galion, Ohio. The first session of the supreme council was held in Louisville, Kentucky, 9 July 1878. Sixteen branches were represented; a supreme constitution was adopted, the Hon. W. C. Smith of Louisville was elected first supreme president, and Bishop Feehan was chosen supreme spiritual director. At the second annual session, held in Indianapolis on 8 July 1879, seventy-two branches were represented. It was then decided to hold biennial sessions. Like most of the fraternal societies that were founded at this period, the Catholic Knights had to learn by experience that their rates were inadequate, and the association was among the first of these bodies to change the rate system. Although the organization then sustained a loss, this was soon made good by the influx of nearly 5,000 young members in a period of a little over two years. It became one of the stronger organizations of its kind in the United States. It spread into most states, with a headquarters located at St. Louis, Missouri. By the mid-1990s, membership growth had stalled and, in fact, was beginning to decline. It was clear that Catholic Knights would be facing a major crisis. After some reorganization, Catholic Knights became a model for how other fraternal benefit societies in the United States should operate. As a result, a few of these organizations indicated a desire and willingness to become part of the Catholic Knights family. In 2005, an historic merger took place in which Catholic Knights of America (the original parent of Catholic Knights), merged with Catholic Knights in Milwaukee to create a larger organization.

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