CATHOLIC ORDER OF FORESTERS

CATHOLIC ORDER OF FORESTERS. On July 30, 1879, some members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Boston, Massachusetts, most of them Irish immigrants, desiring to have a Catholic fraternal insurance society, organized one on the plan of the "courts" of the INDEPENDENT ORDER OF FORESTERS and called it the Massachusetts Catholic Order of Foresters. Originally membership was confined to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, except in one instance, where a court was formed at Providence, Rhode Island. (1)

By January 1, 1909, the official report stated that there were 235 courts organized nationwide, with a membership of 27,757. Of the members 9,679 were women. The insurance in force on December 31, 1908, was $27,757,000. (2)

In 1927 Dubuque's five courts (St. Raphael's, LaSalle, St. Columbkille's, Holy Ghost, and Marquette) of the Order hosted the state convention. With 1,100 members, Dubuque was one of the leading centers of the organization in the state with over $1 million in insurance in force. In addition, three of the state officers-John RYDER, chief ranger; Rev. Henry P. ROHLMAN, state chaplain; and George Roepsch, state trustee were Dubuque residents. (3)

On August 11, 1958 the Agreement of Association, Articles of Incorporation, Constitution and Bylaws of the Society were amended to change the name of the organization to Catholic Association of Foresters. (4)

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Source:

1. "Catholic Order of Foresters." Wikipedia. Online: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Order_of_Foresters

2. Ibid.

3. "Plans Complete for C.O.F. Meet," Telegraph-Herald and Times-Journal, June 12, 1927, p. 23

4. "Catholic Order..."