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collect dues as soon as they are payable. It too often happens that a member's dues are allowed to accrue until three or four or more quarters are payable and then the sum required to put the member in good standing is so large that the payment of it amounts to a hardship and a member is lost to the Order. Grand Knights should make a special effort to see that dues are paid promptly and that this evil practice is eliminated.
     One of the encouraging signs to be observed from the acquisition of new members in this State is the large percentage of insurance members in a number of recent classes. Some far-seeing council officers are employing special effort to sell the idea of insurance to every candidate. As a result we have had classes initiated in which the insurance members amounted to seventy-five per cent of the class. This practice should be extended. It is the best guarantee of a strong and stable council that we have available. I urge you to aid the appeals of the Supreme Knight and the Supreme Secretary, and if possible make every new member acquired an insurance member, and when it can be done associate members should be induced to become insurance members.

     The State Convention last year authorized the State Deputy, in his discretion, to assemble district meetings at such time and such places as in his judgment would promote personal contact among the officers and members of the Order in the State. At a meeting of the District Deputies held in Lincoln in November, it was decided to call the district meetings soon after the first of the year. However, when the time arrived to arrange for these meetings the highways of the State were in such an impassable condition that it appeared that were the meetings held they would fail to accomplish the purpose for which they were intended because it would be impossible for the members and officers generally to attend them. Accordingly, the matter of holding the meetings was postponed and arrangements were completed to hold them in April of this year. At that time, owing to illness, the State Deputy was unable to carry out the program of district meetings and did not recover in time to hold them before the assembling of this convention. Notwithstanding the fact that the meetings were not held last year, it is the opinion of the State Deputy that such meetings would promote the welfare and progress of the Order in the State, and I believe that the authority given a year ago to hold these meetings should be renewed this year.

     The annual laymen's retreat authorized by the State Council meeting of last year was held in Hastings at the Immaculate Conception Academy, in September. A full and complete report relative to the success of that retreat will be made by the Chairman of the Committee, Brother Wm. Whelan. You will also be presented with a report of the retreat held in conjunction with the State Convention. I will leave the details of those two important events to be related to you by the Chairman of the Committee. However, it is appropriate to say that the retreats held under the auspices of the Knights of Columbus in Nebraska are producing splendid and commendable results. The members of the committee who are actively associated with the Chairman in arranging for the retreats, namely, Edward J.

Lamb of Beaver City, Dr. E. G. Zimmerer of Lincoln, and Frank M. Colfer of McCook, and the Chairman himself in particular, are deserving of high praise for the work and endeavor they are putting forth in conducting the retreats. Theirs is an unselfish service to the Order and they should be supported and encouraged enthusiastically by the membership in general. I urge that the report to be made by the Chairman of the Committee, together with his recommendations, be given the closest attention and unreserved approval.

     The State per capita tax this year amounts to seventy-five cents per member. Of this amount twenty-five cents is appropriated to the Western Missions Fund, which is divided equally among the three dioceses of the State. The balance of fifty cents is used for general fund purposes, and included among those purposes this year is the cost of publishing the minutes of the first twenty annual State Conventions. As yet, it is impossible to say just what this expense will amount to. If it is possible to publish two thousand of the books of minutes and dispose of same the cost of this enterprise to the State Council will be very small. The expense of publishing two thousand of the books of minutes will be one dollar and three cents each. The book is being offered for sale to the members generally for one dollar and twenty-five cents. The margin between one dollar and three cents and one dollar and twenty-five cents will be used to pay the cost of wrapping and mailing the book and other incidental expenses connected with handling it. However, to make this result possible, we must have the co-operation of the membership at large and sale should be promoted wherever possible.
     In connection with the State per capita tax it should be further explained that about five years ago a surplus was accumulated in the general fund amounting to several thousand dollars. Of late years the per capita tax has been low, and as a result we have not collected sufficient money each year to pay the cost of the State convention and other expenses of the State Council. The surplus has been gradually consumed and for that reason it is necessary to have more funds in order to have a sufficient balance on hand at all times with which to meet expenses. This fact will be reflected by the report of the State Treasurer, which will be submitted later.
     I now come to the concluding portion of my report as State Deputy. In writing these closing paragraphs I have in mind the fact that for two years I have been honored with the position of your executive officer in this State. It is not necessary for me to say to this audience that I am conscious of the distinction which your confidence and generosity has brought to me. The office of State Deputy of Nebraska is a high office, and it brings to any man who is so favored as to be permitted to hold it an elevated position which marks him among his brothers. I feel that of all the men who have held the office thus far in the State, I am the most deeply indebted to the Nebraska members of the Order, because of what they have given to me in conferring the office upon me. As you know, on June 28th of last year the announcement was made that through the intercession of His Grace, Archbishop Harty of Omaha, it was my extreme privilege to be designated as a Knight in the Order of St. Gregory the Great by Pope Pius XI. This papal honor came to me not as an individual, but as your State Deputy and as the ranking

executive officer of the Knights of Columbus in the State of Nebraska. I assure you that I am fully aware of that fact and very properly appreciate that it is through you and my other Brother Knights of Columbus in the State that I happened to be in the position which made me the recipient of the honor which was really intended for the membership at large. It is a sacred responsibility to be designated as the custodian of this honorary title emanating from the Supreme Pontiff himself, and in your name I shall endeavor to preserve that knighthood in the nobility of the Church in the same immaculate state in which it was conferred upon me.
     One more personal reference is necessary before finally closing my report. At the meeting of the Supreme Council held in New York last August, your State Deputy was elected to the poistion (sic) of a member of the Supreme Board of Directors of this Order. This, too, was a recognition of the membership at large in the State of Nebraska, and was in no way personal to the individual holding the office of State Deputy. I would be wholly lacking in a proper understanding of the situation if I failed to realize that to you and the other members in the State I owe the opportunity which has come to me to serve as one of the Supreme Officers of the Order. If you had not made me State Deputy I could never have been a Supreme Director and I am proud of the confidence and esteem which prompted you to put me in the position which has made it possible for me to participate officially in the work and deliberations of the Supreme Council. How long it shall be my privilege to hold the office of Supreme Director, I, of course, cannot say, but however long that may be, I shall ever keep in mind the fact that it is you, the members of the Nebraska State Council, as well as myself, who will be judged by what I do there, and with whatever power and ability I happen to possess I shall at all times and under all circumstances endeavor to prove worthy of your trust in me.
     As a parting word to the members of this State Council meeting, I desire to express to every Knight in Nebraska the heartfelt gratitude which I feel for the many kindnesses extended to me. During the two years which I have held the office of State Deputy I have received universal co-operation and assistance at every hand. The State Officers have put forth every effort possible to carry on the affairs of the Order in the State successfully. District Deputies have performed their duties faithfully and with untiring unselfishness the officers of each and every council, in every instance, have responded to each call made upon them. I am grateful to each and every one in a measure greater than it is possible for me to express and if in the performance of my official duties I have been able to be of service to you and meet your expectations in some degree, I am pleased.
     I bespeak for the incoming State Deputy, who will take over the responsibilities and burdens and pleasures of this office on the let of next July, the same united, generous and uninterrupted support which I have received at your hands. To him and to you I extend affectionate and sincere wishes for a successful administration.

     The reading of the report of the State Secretary was on motion .postponed because of the delay in receiving council reports.

     The report of the State Treasurer, J. Howard Heine, was read and adopted on motion of Bro. J. J. Bogan, as follows:

To the Officers and Members of Nebraska State Council, Knights of Columbus, in annual meeting assembled:
     Beg leave to report herewith all transacted financial business by me as your Treasurer for the past year:

     In the absence of the Chaplain, Rt. Rev. Mons. Dunphy, of Sutton, the acting Chaplain, Rev. Father Link, made a brief address especially commending the State Council for its efforts in forwarding the laymens' retreat movement.

     The State Deputy briefly thanked the acting Chaplain for his interest and encouragement.

     The reports of District Deputies were read as follows, and accepted on motion of State Treasurer Heine:

To the Worthy State Deputy and Delegates to the Nebraska State
     Convention, Hastings, Nebraska, June 1st and 2nd, 1925:
     This district comprises the Councils at Omaha, Fremont, West Point and Plattsmouth.
     Official visit and installation of officers was made to each of these Councils with the exception of West Point. A death in the District Deputy's family and had roads at the time of later meetings prompted the officers of West Point Council to postpone this ceremony as their members would be unable to attend.
     The letter from our Worthy Supreme Knight in regard to Insurance Year was acted upon by the District Deputy and each Council in this District was requested to make a special effort to make a success of this movement.

     During the past year this District has taken in 56 insurance and 150 associate members, all of these having been initiated into Omaha Council. On June 14th West Point Council will initiate a class of 40 candidates, a large percentage of which is composed of insurance applicants. Plattsmouth Council reports progress in obtaining candidates for a class in the very near future. At their last meeting Fremont Council took active steps towards the initiating of a class some time in June.

     All councils in this district are in good financial standing.

Plattsmouth Council own their own building and Omaha Council has now started work on their new building which is to cost about $600,000.

To the Officers and Members of the Nebraska State Council of the Knights of Columbus:
     As District Deputy for the District comprising the Councils located at Falls City, Wymore, Hebron and Beatrice, I submit herewith a brief report of the activities of the Order in that area covering the year 1924-1925.
     You are all familiar with the expression, "That people is happy which has no history," and in a very real sense the saying is true.
     A reasonable degree of comfortable prosperity in a society is conducive to good order and makes for a placid existence. I am pleased to report such a condition has existed throughout the period in question in my district. Each of the Councils has exemplified the work of the society within its own territorial limits and the status of membership in the various councils is uniformily (sic) satisfactory. Lapsations have not been heavy, and on the other hand it is equally true that there have been no large additions to the membership.
     The public standing of the Society in the District remains unimpaired and enviable. The spasmodic activities of certain individuals and organizations which would, if they could, destroy the society, have probably had no effect whatsoever. Or if they have produced any consequences it is rather a greater solidarity of interest and enthusiasm in activity. All of which is not surprising for it is as true today as it was in the era of the Catacombs that worthy institutions thrive on unworthy opposition.
     One cannot submit a report without some reference to the financial situation in the Councils, and I am pleased to state that in each Council there is a healthy and sound financial outlook.
     All in all, the Order in this District is in a prosperous condition, not only in a military way, but also, and more especially, from the standpoint of its membership and its position in the community.
     I forbear to go into specific and minute details in presenting this report, for the reason that your State Deputy and State Secretary have before them all of the data which has been presented to me, and as no unusual nor embarrassing questions are requiring solution, a verbose report would merely tire the convention and would be productive of no worth-while results.

To the Honorable State Deputy and Delegates of the Knights of Columbus State Convention:
     I herewith beg leave to give a report of the Fourth District of Nebraska, under my jurisdiction, for the year beginning, April 1st, 1924, and ending March 31st, 1925.

     The Fourth District of Nebraska is made up of the following Councils:

Columbus Council, No. 938, Columbus Nebr.
Leo XIII Council, No. 1708, York, Nebr.
Tihen Council, No. 1717, David City, Nebr.
Wahoo Council, No. 1833, Wahoo, Nebr.

     Number of Insurance Members begining (sic) of year, 61; at end, 55; decrease, 6.
     Number of Associate Members beginning of year, 163; at end, 133; decrease, 30.
     Number of Insurance Members suspended, 5; withdrawn, 0; dead, 1.
     Number of Associate Members suspended, 29; withdrawn, 2; dead, 1.
     Total membership beginning of year, 224; at end, 188; decrease, 36.

     Number of Insurance members beginning of year, 56; at end, 54; decrease, 2.
     Number of Associate Members beginning of year, 131; at end, 111; decrease, 20.
     Number of Insurance Members suspended, 2; withdrawn, 0; dead, 0.
     Number of Associate Members suspended, 14; withdrawn, 4; dead, 2.
     Total membership beginning of year, 187; at end, 165; decrease, 23.

     Number of Insurance Members beginning of year, 111; at end, 120; increase, 10.
     Number of Associate Members beginning of year, 273; at end, 287; increase, 14.
     Number of Insurance Members suspended, 0; withdrawn, 0; dead, 0.
     Number of Associate Members suspended, 0; withdrawn, 0; dead, 0.
     Total membership' beginning of year, 383; at end, 407; increase, 24.

     Number of Insurance Members beginning of year, 98; at end, 106; increase, 8.
     Number of Associate Members beginning of year, 116; at end, 130; increase, 14.
     Number of Insurance Members suspended, 3, withdrawn, 0; dead, 0.
     Number of Associate Members suspended, 7; withdrawn, 0; dead, 3.
     Total membership at beginning of year, 214; at end, 236; increase, 22.

     Total Insurance Members in District beginning of year, 325; at end, 335; increase, 10.

     Total Associate Members in District beginning of year, 683; at end, 661; decrease, 22.

Total membership in District beginning of year, 1,008; at end, 996, decrease, 12.

     In conclusion I will state that all Councils in the Fourth District are in a healthy and flourishing condition; while Columbus and York Councils have shown a decrease for the year they have both held initiations since April 1, 1925. Columbus initiated 35 and had 15 reinstatements; York initiated 24. David City also had a class of 50 candidates since April 1st. and had three reinstatements; so at the present date I am sure the number of members in the District will reach the 1100 mark.

To Francis P. Matthews, State Deputy, and Delegates of the State Council:
     In accordance with the rules of the Order I submit herewith a report on the physical and financial condition of the councils in the Albion District,
     This jurisdiction is comprised of six subordinate councils, namely:

St. Michael's Council, No. 1739, Albion.
St. Boniface Council, No. 2411, Elgin.
Madison Council, No. 1788, Madison.
Ave Maria Council, No. 1794, Humphrey.

     The total membership of the District is 744, of which number, 274 have availed themselves of the insurance privileges of the Order. There has been a net gain in membership during the past year of 30, which gain is almost wholly in the insurance class, in spite of the fact that much dead timber has been stricken from the rosters and the further fact that the class installations for the year are, in some cases, yet to be held. The thriving new Council at Elgin put on a successful class initiation on May 24th, at which 30 new members were admitted into the Order. Ave Maria Council at Humphrey, under the able guidance of John E. Hugg, has put in an active and profitable year, and has held two good sized class installations during the past twelve months. The Albion and Madison Councils installed classes since the last State Council and plan to have classes again later in this year.
     Of the various Councils in the District, Ave Maria Council, at Humphrey, leads in membership, with a total of 306, of which approximately half are insurance members, a situation greatly to be commended. The finances of the district are on a sound basis, each council showing a substantial cash surplus on hand as of May 1st. There is a growing tendency in the subordinate councils to prune the dead limbs from the tree and to carry on the rolls only those members who make a decent effort to keep up their dues and assessments. This policy, while in some cases making a rather startling list of suspensions, is on the whole resulting beneficially to the Order. It costs the faithful members of the Order entirely too much to carry delinquents on their rolls and pay per capita tax to the state council on an imposing array of "dead-heads." Personally I would prefer a Council of 100 live members, all carrying insurance, if insurable

risks, all ready and willing to bear their part in the financial and fraternal requirements of the Order, than to have one of thrice that number, whose chief connection with the Order consists in a yearly presence at a class installation, after having paid six months back dues at the door of the initiation hall as a primary requisite for admission thereto. "Not on numbers do we rely" Is a part of the ceremonial. It should be made a rule of action in dealing with the habitual slackers on our rolls.
     Our district is essentially an agricultural community, and, as in other communities of like character, the financial condition of the people has resulted in a good many suspensions for delinquency in dues and assessments. This of course is chiefly noticeable in the associate membership ranks and the councils of the district are making a special effort to write more of the other class. We hope with the return of better financial conditions more insurance memberships will be available.
     It must be admitted that there is a falling off in enthusiasm in many quarters which in my opinion may be attributed largely to a lack of a concrete objective toward which to strive. During the hiatus of war the membership was solidified into an active and enthusiastic body of workers for the accomplishment of large projects and the rendition of great and needed service. Since the successful termination of those activities the morale in fraternal affairs, has, to a great etent (sic), shared in the slump that afflicted every other line of endeavor, and that slump is reflected in the work and activity of most of the local councils of the Order. It requires large responsibilities and big tasks to develop an outstanding character in men; our Order is a collection of men and the same rule applies. Like the giant in the fairy tale it demands and requires big tasks to keep us healthy and contented. It also needs the stimulus of some large and worthy cause on which to exercise and develop its potentialities. Perhaps the coming National Council will supply that motive.

To the Worthy State Deputy and State! Council:
     I submit the following report for the year ending May 1, 1925, on the membership and financial condition of the councils of District Six:

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