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THE
ELECTION of Patrick E. Burke as State Deputy at the 1913 New Orleans
convention signalled a revival of enthusiasm and of efforts for further
spread of the order in Louisiana. On August 23, 1913, he announced these
appointments of District Deputies: Clarence S. Hebert of New Orleans, 1st
District; Guy Knobloch, Thibodaux, 2nd District; John M. Prescott,
Washington, La., 3rd District; John P. Hird, Shreveport, La., 4th
District. The State Deputy announced that the districts would remain the
same, as previously divided by Judge Leche. |
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There had been a net loss of 433 members throughout
the state, between July 1, 1912, and July 1, 1913. As of the latter date,
the National Secretary's report showed 3019 associate members in
Louisiana, 462 insurance members, or a total of 3481. During January,
1913, Frank J. Spurlock, Special Supreme Agent of the Knights of Columbus,
New Haven, passed through New Orleans on his way to visit other Councils
in the state, and he urged greater attention to the insurance feature of
the order.
On August 23, 1913, State Deputy Burke, made the
following historic announcement:
"Our State has been honored in the selection of
our Past State Deputy, Judge Paul Leche, to membership on the Supreme
Board of Directors and we owe it to him as well as ourselves to show our
appreciation of this great compliment."
Judge Leche, member of Ascension Council, was the
first Louisiana Knight honored ,as Supreme Director. Past State Deputy
Young had been honored as a member of a national committee, but this was
the first election to the Supreme Board. Such an honor came to Louisiana a
second time later, when Past State Deputy William J. Guste, Sr., K.S.G.,
was elected to the Supreme Board of the order. When Supreme Director Judge
Leche visited New Orleans early in 1914, Knights tendered him "a
magnificent banquet at the Louisiana Restaurant in honor of his election
as a member of the National Board of Directors . . . A very pretty token
of esteem was presented to the Judge on this occasion."
State Deputy Burke had dedicated himself to further
expansion of the order in Louisiana, and he made many trips through the
state to promote the formation of additional Councils. With Morgan City,
Jeanerette and Franklin having organized Councils, Knights at Patterson
who had joined the Morgan City Council set about the formation of their
own Council.
On November 23, 1913, the charter having been
obtained and officers chosen, installation ceremonies were held at
Patterson for Council No. 1710. On hand were District Deputy G. J.
Knobloch and District Warden Marquette to seat these pioneer heads of the
new group: Grand Knight, John J. Vetter; Deputy Grand Knight, P. C.
Rogers; Chancellor, N. C. Maloz; Recorder, A. P. Gautreaux; Financial
Secretary, A. J. Boudreaux; Treasurer, A. C. Kleinpeter; Lecturer, W. B.
Juge; Advocate, L. E. Lassus; Warden, J. G. Higgins; Inner Guard, C. P.
Bourg; Outer Guard, Ed Dubroc; and Trustees, E. F. Marin, D. H.Maloz and
C. L. DeGravelle. The Chaplain of the new Council, who had given it his
encouragement and personal aid, was none
other than Rev. Godfrey Frohn, who later serves for some two decades as
Chaplain for New Orleans Council 714. His devotion and aid to Columbianism
in the state were lifelong.
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