Omaha and Greeley councils have purchased permanent homes within the year and Columbus has made substantial payment on the property previously purchased for a home.
     The insurance membership has increased proportionately with the past but not as I would like to see it grow. I believe that the insurance feature is the bulwark of our order, especially in rural districts. The permanent club house will hold together members so located as to be able to enjoy its pleasures, but for the others insurance is the bond that will hold us together.
     Harmony reigns throughout the Omaha district, both in the councils and between the councils and the state and supreme officers, and we have every reason to hope for a continued vigorous growth with the true spirit of fraternity directing our actions, a condition which 1 feel is in store for us.

Sincerely and fraternally yours,
JAS. M. FITZGERALD,
District Deputy Supreme Knight.

     Voted that the report of Brother Fitzgerald be accepted and included in the minutes of the proceedings.

Report of District Deputy Frank Real, Hastings District

Worthy State Deputy and Brothers of the State Council:
     In compliance with a request from our worthy state deputy I submit the following as my report from Hastings district:
     We have a total membership of 737, 167 of whom are in the insurance class, and 570 in the associate class. In this district there are three live councils, namely, St. Mary's council No. 1159, of Grand Island; Hastings council No. 1123, of Hastings; and McCook council No. 1126, of McCook.
      St. Mary's council has a total membership of 314, of which 72 are in the insurance class, and 242 in the associate class. During the past year six associate members were suspended and one died. They have a paraphernalia worth about $400, and money in the treasury, $4,283.75.
     Hastings council No. 1123 has a total membership of 247, 46 being in the insurance class, while 210 are associate members. In the past year 43 associate members were suspended and two died. Cash on hand $53.30, and a home worth about $5,000. They also have a paraphernalia worth $400.
     McCook council has a total membership of 176, of which 49 are in the insurance class, and 127 in the associate class. During the past year one insurance member died and five associate members were suspended. Money in the treasury, $318.39, and paraphernalia valued at $400.
     Wish to state that since this report was made a large class has been initiated at Grand Island, also one at Hastings. McCook has in her territory fine material for a very large class, but owing to failure of crops for the past two years in western Nebraska, it was thought best to let it go over until fall.
     I desire to call your attention to this one fact, that the 54 members suspended in my district the past year were of the associate; not one of the insurance members having dropped out. This alone

proves beyond a doubt the insurance feature of the order is not only its most important end but it Is its backbone. It is the one Item above all others that insures stability and permanency. I also take this opportunity to urge the officers from the councils in my district to use their best efforts to increase our insurance membership, to explain to our members the benefits of insurance and especially to satisfy them of the soundness and reliability of this feature of our order.

Respectfully submitted,
FRANK REAL, District Deputy.

     Voted that the report of Brother Real be accepted and included in the minutes of the meeting.

     Voted that the Council adjourn for lunch until 1:30 p. m.

     Afternoon Session

     The council reassembled at 1:40 p. m., with State Deputy Straub in the chair. The resolutions, audit and mileage committees not being ready to report, it was voted that the committee on Catholic literature, appointed at the last meeting, present their report.

     Brother H. A. Dow of Omaha, chairman of the literature committee, then delivered a verbal report of their visits to the public libraries.

Report of District Deputy E. B. Hirschman, O'Neill District

To the Worthy State Deputy and Delegates of the State Council:
     I beg to submit the following report on membership and on the financial condition of the councils in the O'Neill district as of April 1, 1912, as follows:
     Chas. Carroll of Carrollton Council No. 701, O'Neill, has a total membership of 344, of which 100 are in the insurance class and 244 in the associate class. Suspended during the year: Insurance class, 5; associate, 32. Withdrawal, associate, 1. Died, associate, 3. Transferred, associate, 11.
     Count Creighton Council No. 1238, Creighton, has a total membership April 1, 1912, of 229, of which 82 are in the insurance class and 147 of the associate class. Of the insurance class since April 1, 1911, one member has been suspended, one withdrawn and one died.
     Hartington Council No. 1233, Hartington, on April 1, 1912, has a total membership of 184, of which 55 are in the insurance class and 129 in the associate class. Of the insurance class since April 1, 1911, three members have been suspended. Of the associate class eight have been suspended, two withdrawn, one died and two were transferred.
     Emerson Council No. 1309, Emerson, on April 1, 1912, has a total membership of 105, of which 32 are insurance members and 73 are associate members. Of the insurance class since April 1, 1911, one member died and one has transferred. Of the associate members two have been suspended, one died and one transferred. Total membership of district, 862; insurance, 269; associate, 595.
     Emerson Council No. 1309 initiated a class on May 5 of three insurance and 33 associate members. Total 36, making a total membership in the district to date: Insurance, 272; associate, 626; total, 898.

     Hartington Council will initiate a class May 19. Count Creighton Council will initiate a class on May 26. Chas. Carroll of Carrollton has a class ready for initiation.
     On the Financial Condition--Chas. Carroll of Carrollton Council has cash on hand, $300; fixtures, $600; stock in hall company, $5,600; total, $6,500. Count Creighton Council has cash on hand, $1,777.61; fixtures, $300; total, $2,077.64. Hartington Council has cash on hand, $154.85; fixtures, $500; stock in home, $1,400; total, $2,054.85. Emerson Council has cash on hand, $413; fixtures, $100; total, $513. Total property of councils, $11,145.49.
     Hartington Council erected a home during the year at a cost of about $24,000. All the stock is owned by the council and members of the council.
     Chas. Carroll of Carrollton Council has a home erected since 1907 at a cost of about $22,000. The four councils in the O'Neill district ore all in a prosperous condition.

E. B. HIRSCHMAN, D. D.,
O'Neill District

     Voted that the report of Deputy Hirschman be accepted and included in the minutes of the proceedings.

Report of District Deputy F. F. Shields, Alliance District

Alliance, Neb., May 12, 1912. W. E. Straub, Esq., State Deputy.
     Dear Sir and Brother:
     Following is the condition in Knights of Columbus circles in Northwestern Nebraska district, including Alliance, North Platte and Chadron. Presuming that you have a copy in detail of financial and membership standing of each council, I herein report only the general conditions:
     Alliance council, while showing a decrease in membership, is in much better condition than under previous conditions, wherein the membership was shown as a greater number. This being accounted for on account of the present officers, particularly the financial secretary living up to our constitution and suspending members who were delinquent, which had not be done heretofore. The same is true of the other councils in my district, wherein too much leniency has been shown delinquents. At Alliance we anticipate purchasing a lot for prospective building at an early date. We also anticipate a class adoption in early fall. Throughout the district we have material applying for admission; but are held back on account of money being scarce at this time, which condition will improve in early fall. North Platte has just successfully adopted a class of 81 with enough left over for another class in the near future. Conditions are particularly bright at North Platte, they having purchased a lot and anticipate erecting their own home shortly. A debt of $2000 is now being borne by this council which, considering the location they have obtained in the choice of the lot and the contemplated building, the income of which will soon offset this indebtedness. Also at Sidney we have had much correspondence regarding the installation of a council there. This is within North Platte's territory and the committee on charters, with the approval of our worthy state deputy, saw fit to reject this installation. This received my approval also. The material at Sidney

was somewhat questionable and also the time was not considered ripe for such installation. We hope to get these men to come in at North Platte or Alliance if it can be so arranged. I am given to understand that about 45 are obtainable in this town. We now have Rev. Father O'Byrne, a member of North Platte's (St. Patrick's) council, located at Sidney who, no doubt, can do us much good in the future. Chadron is not contemplating any building soon, but conditions are in a flourishing state and much good work is being done. A class was recently put on at Chadron, which was a success in every way.
     At Alliance we have suffered a severe handicap to our finances on account of the burning of Holy Rosary Church last winter a year ago and were called upon as a congregation to erect a new one, which was done at a cost of $35,000.00. This is a credit to northwestern Nebraska and already having the academy and an up-to-date hospital we feel that our money has been well expended. All in all, everything considered, our district is in a flourishing and promising condition and with the continued assistance of all officers and members we hope to see wonderful results accomplished for the coming year and at our next state convention show a much better financial condition and increased membership of the right sort.
     At Scottsbluff, on the Guernsey line in Nebraska, quite a community of Catholics are settling. Of this number we hope to secure good timber to augment our ranks for our class early in the coming fall. Above all harmony reigns supreme and we are being guided by the spirit of fraternity and unity upon which our noble order is founded, the continuation of which is to be desired. I cannot help but mention the grand accomplishment of our order of the long withheld recognition of our noble patron, Christopher Columbus, to whom 'ere long will be erected a grand monument at the unveiling of which (June 8, 1912) a large number of Nebraska Knights will be found present and by their noble example will thereby win for we Nebraskans much worthy of note, by displaying to the effete east that we have as polished gentlemen in our broad state as any in this broad land.

Fraternally yours,
EDWARD F. SHIELDS,
District Deputy.

     Voted that the report of Brother Shields be accepted and included in the minutes of the meeting.

Report of District Deputy J. B. Troyer, Lincoln District

Lincoln, Neb., May 15, 1912.

To the Worthy State Deputy and State Council:
     Fitzgerald Council No. 833--A. V. Johnson, G. K.; F. M. Ovel, financial secretary. Insurance members last report, 64; present members, 81; associate members last report, 253; present members, 311; members suspended, 3; members withdrawn, 5; members dead, 2. Capita assessment, $98.00. Cash on hand, $1,495.36.
     Falls City Council No. 1336--R. A. Coupe, G. K.; J. F. Coupe, financial secretary. Insurance members last report, 40; present membership, 57; associate membership last report, 58; present membership, 73; members suspended, 2; members withdrawn, 2; per capita assessment, $23.65; cash on hand, $106.25.
     Wymore Council No. 1295--A. P. Mentgen, G. K.; S. L. Bates,

financial secretary. Insurance members last report, 43; present membership, 42; associate members last report, 65; present membership, 53; insurance members suspended, .1; associate members suspended, 11; members dead, 1; per capita assessment, $15.65; cash on hand, $310.00.

Respectfully submitted,
J. B. TROYER,
District Deputy.

Report of Committee on Audit

     We, your committee on audit, have examined the books of the state secretary and state treasurer, and find that they compare and are correct. All monies collected have been accounted for, and all checks and vouchers returned, and $828.83 cash on hand as reported are correct.

Election of Officers

     While awaiting the report of other committees it was moved and seconded that the rules be suspended, and if there are no objections, that the present state officers be the unanimous choice of this convention for the ensuing year.

     Brother A. V. Johnson, of Lincoln, acting as temporary chairman, repeated the above motion, which was carried unanimously.

     Voted that the state secretary be instructed to cast the entire vote of the state council for the election of the present state officers for the ensuing year.

Meeting Place Next Year

     Grand Island and Omaha extended invitations to the state council for their meeting next year. Grand Island then withdrew, and it was voted that it be the sense of this meeting that the 1913 meeting of the Nebraska State Council be held in the city of Omaha.

     Committee on resolutions now stated that they were ready to report.

     Voted that the resolutions be taken up separately, and discussed before adoption.

     The following resolutions were read and adopted:

Resolutions

     1. BE IT RESOLVED by the Knights of Columbus in annual convention assembled that the grand knights of each subordinate council strongly urge each member in his respective council to attend the unveiling of the Knights of Columbus monument in Washington D. C., on the 8th day of June, 1912.
     2. BE IT RESOLVED that the grand knight of each subordinate council shall see that Sec. 168 of the national laws regarding the payment of due and assessments and the ipso facto suspension of members for the failure to comply with the same be strictly enforced, and paying the assessment of members notify the state secretary.
     3. BE IT RESOLVED that the secretary of each subordinate council be required to keep a list of all rejected applicants given to

the secretary of the state council, and that the secretary of the state council be required to keep a record of such rejected applicants and suspended members and upon request from the grand knight of any subordinate council the state secretary will furnish such grand knight with a list of all applicants who have been rejected in the past twelve months, and that the grand knight of each subordinate council be required to ask the state secretary for a list of the names of all rejected and suspended applicants at least fifteen days before the day set for the initiation and that the application of any applicant who has been rejected within the previous twelve months be rejected by such subordinate council.
     4. BE IT RESOLVED that the committee on resolutions be appointed by the state deputy one month prior to the holding of the state meeting.
     5. BE IT RESOLVED that the financial secretary of each subordinate council attend each meeting of the state council at the expense of the state council for the purpose of discussing with other secretaries the most efficient means for carrying out the duties of his office.
     6. BE IT RESOLVED that the lecturer of the various subordinate councils devote part of his time to the discussion of church history in the course of his year's work.
     7. BE IT RESOLVED that we express our appreciation of the very able and unselfish labors by our worthy state deputy, W. E. Straub, and other state officers, on behalf of our order.
     8. BE IT RESOLVED that the suggestions embodied in the report made by our worthy state deputy be approved.
     9. BE IT RESOLVED that a vote of thanks be extended by the state council to Omaha council for the entertainment and courtesy extended to the visiting Knights of the state council.

Report of Committee on Expense Bills and Mileage

     We, your committee on bills, mileage, expenses and assessments, have carefully examined the expense accounts as presented by the officers and delegates, and find them to be correct, according to our judgment, and we would therefore recommend that the state treasurer be instructed to draw checks in favor of the attached list:

     We also recommend that the state per capita tax for the next year be twenty-five cents.

     Voted that the report of the committee be accepted as read, and that the report be included in the proceedings of the meeting. Since the above report a bill of $10.00 for hall rent at Omaha has been received and paid.

     Voted that the per capita tax for the next year be twenty-five cents, as recommended by the committee.

Election of Delegates and Alternates to National Convention

     Dr. H. A, Copsey, of Alliance, was named as delegate for the associate members, and as there were no other nominations it was voted that the nominations be closed, and the secretary be instructed to cast the unanimous vote of this convention for Dr. Copsey.

     L. P. Wirth, of Falls City, was nominated for Alternate to the state deputy. There being no other nominations, it was voted that the nominations he closed, and the secretary instructed to cast the unanimous vote of the council for Brother Wirth.

     Frank Real, of McCook, was nominated for alternate to Past State Deputy A. F. Mullen, and there being no other nomination it was voted that the nominations be closed and the secretary be instructed to cast the unanimous vote of the council for Brother Real,

     Hugh J. Boyle, of O'Neill, was nominated as alternate to Associate Delegate Dr. H. A. Copsey, and there being no further nominations it was voted that the nominations be closed, and the secretary be instructed to cast the unanimous vote of the state council for Brother Boyle.

     Voted that the state secretary be authorized to have the proceedings of this meeting, together with the reports of the state officers and district deputies, published in pamphlet form and distributed pro rata to the councils of the state.
     The state officers then met and unanimously re-elected Rev. W. Wolf, of Grand Island, state chaplain.
     There being no further business the state council was closed in due form.
     To the best of my knowledge, the foregoing is a true, correct and complete copy of the original minutes of the proceedings of the state council of the Knights of Columbus of Nebraska, held in Omaha on the 14th day of May, 1912.

MARK BURKE,
State Secretary

Approved:
     W. E. STRAUB, State Deputy.

Five State Districts

     The state is now divided into five districts, comprising the following counties:

OMAHA DISTRICT--J. M. Fitzgerald, D. D.

     Garfield, Valley, Wheeler, Greeley, Boone, Nance, east one-half Merrick, Platte, Polk, Butler, Colfax, Dodge, Saunders, Sarpy, Douglas and Washington.
     The fellowing (sic) councils are located in this district: Omaha, No. 652; Columbus, No. 938; Bishop O'Connor, No. 1312, at Greeley; Phil Sheridan, 1497, at Fremont.

O'NEILL DISTRICT--E. B. Hirschman, D. D.

     Keya Paha, Boyd, Rock, Holt, Knox, Antelope, Pierce, Madison, Cedar, Wayne, Stanton, Dixon, Dakota, Thurston, Cuming and Burt counties.
     The following councils are located in the O'Neill district: Charles Carroll of Carrollton, No. 701, at O'Neill; Count Creighton, No. 1238, at Creighton; Hartington, No. 1233; Emerson, No. 1309.

LINCOLN DISTRICT--Dr. J. B. Troyer, D. D.

     York, Seward, Lancaster, Cass, Otoe, Johnson, Nemaha, Richardson, Pawnee, Gage, Jefferson, Saline, Fillmore and Thayer counties.
     With the following councils: Fitzgerald, No. 833, at Lincoln; Wymore, No. 1295; Falls City, No. 1336.

HASTINGS DISTRICT--Frank Real, D. D.

     Blaine, Loup, Custer, Sherman, west half of Merrick, Buffalo, Hall, Hamilton, Clay, Nuckolls, Webster, Kearney, Franklin, Phelps, Harlan, Gosper, Furnas, Frontier, Red Willow, Hayes, Hitchcock, Chase and Dundy counties.
     This district contains the following councils: Hastings, No. 1123; McCook, No. 1126; St. Mary's, No. 1159, at Grand Island.

NORTH PLATTE DISTRICT--William Maloney, D. D.

     Sioux, Dawes, Box Butte, Sheridan, Cherry, Thomas, Hooker, Grant, McPherson, Logan, Dawson, Perkins, Keith, Deuel, Cheyenne, Morrill, Kimball, Banner, and Scotts Bluff counties.

     With the following councils: Chadron, No. 1128; Alliance, No. 1175; St. Patrick's, No. 1211, at North Platte.

Knights of Columbus Financial Secretaries' Association of Nebraska

     One of the most important officers of our organization is that of the financial secretary of our local councils, and to him tails the pleasant task of encouraging the majority of our present membership to keep in good standing, and as no provision has been made in our constitution to enable him to attend any of the state or national gatherings, a request was presented to the 1911 state council of Nebraska, asking them to devise some way of getting the financial secretaries of the various councils of the state to meet at the time of the state meeting and there debate on their method of collecting the finances of the order, and the following resolution was drawn up and presented to the state council by the committee on resolutions: Resolved, That the Nebraska state council recommend that the financial secretaries of the various councils meet at the same time as the state council, their expenses to be defrayed by their respective councils.
     Acting upon the above resolution of the state council, nine of the local councils sent their financial secretaries to Omaha, and a meeting was called, and the following secretaries were present: F. M. Ovel, Council 833, of Lincoln; Mark Burke, Council 938, of Columbus; F. P. Uerling, Council 1123, of Hastings; Charles Skalla, Council 1126, of McCook; W. H. Laughlin, Council 1159, of Grand Island; P. M. Thies, Council 1233, of Hartington; Jos. P. Ryan, Council 1238, of Creighton; E. J. Delehant, Council 1295, of Wymore; J. M. Liewer, Council 1300. of Emerson, and Luke Mundy, Council 1497, of Fremont. State Deputy W. E. Straub, of Lincoln; State Treasurer J. P. Boler, and Delegate L. P. Wirth, Council 1336, of Falls City, were also present at the meeting which was called to order by State Deputy W. E. Straub, and Brother Mark Burke, of Columbus, was nominated and elected chairman, and Brother P. M. Thies, of Hartington, secretary.
      The name, Knights of Columbus Financial Secretaries' Association of Nebraska, was chosen and adopted.
     After spending some time discussing the duties of the office and getting very valuable information from those present, and wishing to have every secretary in the state present next year, the following resolution to the state council was read: That the financial secretaries of the local councils meet annually, said meeting to be held at the same place and time as chosen by the state council. The expenses to be paid by the state council.
     In behalf of the financial secretaries of Nebraska we wish to extend our thanks to the state council for adopting the resolution as presented by their committee.
     The meetings of the secretaries can be made very interesting and productive to the order, and let us hope that every secretary in the state will be present at the next meeting.
     The following letter from the supreme secretary is of interest to every member of the order and should be carefully read.

MARK BURKE, Chairman.
P. M. THIES. Secretary.

Supreme Council

New Haven, Conn., U. S. A., May 1, 1912.

Dear Sir and Brother:
     The board of directors desire to call attention to the provisions of our laws regarding payment of dues and assessments and ipso facto suspension for failure to comply with the same:
     "Sec. 168. Any member of this order shall ipso facto forfeit his membership in the order:
     "1. Who fails, neglects, refuses to pay his proportionate part of any assessment for thirty days from the date of mailing or transmitting the notice for assessment by the secretary of his council, or of the regular monthly assessment, within thirty days from the first day of the month in which levied; or
     "2. Who shall fail to pay his dues to his council within three months after the same are due and payable (other than dues levied by the supreme council, board of directors or for death assessments)
     These provisions of law are plain and cannot be waived or altered by any council or any officer.
     Payment by a council for a member is not payment by the member and cannot legally benefit him unless it is made under the provisions of a loan fund by-law adopted by the council and approved by the supreme board of directors in accordance with Section 247, as follows:
     "Sec. 247. 1. A council may authorize the payment of a member's assessment as a loan or gift from its general fund, to a number not to exceed six assessments, but such payment must be made to the financial secretary before the time fixed for such payment to avoid suspension under the law.
     "2. Every by-law or standing resolution of any council, authorizing the payment of a member's assessment as a loan or gift from its general fund, as herein provided, shall be submitted in duplicate to, and approved by the board of directors before it shall become operative.
     "3. A by-law or resolution whereby a council agrees to pay an assessment for a member as a loan, is not binding upon the Knights of Columbus, unless it is complied with, and no claim of a member, in case the assessment is not paid, shall be recognized or valid. If the financial secretary shall omit to pay, within the prescribed time, an assessment for a member in compliance with such resolution or by-law, the member stands suspended at the expiration of the time for payment."
     If your council has no such by-law, model forms can be obtained from the supreme secretary. If it has such a by-law, its provisions should be strictly followed.
     If the financial secretary is carrying members who have been suspended by their own act under Section 168 such a practice should he promptly stopped.
     The board of directors also desires to call attention to the provisions of Section 157, paragraph 9, of the laws and rules:
     "Sec. 157. Any subordinate council may be suspended or dissolved and its charter forfeited for any of the following causes:
     "9. Issuance of appeals for aid or contributions to any council

within the state, district or territory, without consent and approval of the state or territorial deputy, or to councils or members without the state, district or territory, without the approval of the board of directors."
     Attention of councils is called to the gambling laws of their respective states and jurisdictions, particularly relating to lotteries and to the United States laws regarding lotteries, the use of the mails, etc. We should be first in our allegiance to all laws.

Fraternally yours,
WM. J. McGINLEY,
Supreme Secretary.

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