Council 867—Lancaster, PA
Honoring Our Past...
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF LANCASTER COUNCIL 867
On March 21, 1904, forty-three (43) laymen and three priests formally filed an application with the Committee on Charters, National Council Knights of Columbus, for a Subordinate Council to be located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and simply known as Council No. 867. Twenty-five (25) men were Insurance Applicants and twenty-one (21) were Associate Applicants.
The provided addresses of these forty-six (46) founding members were from all across Lancaster County and nearby towns: Lancaster City, Quarryville, Columbia, Akron and Marietta; Parksburg (Chester County) and Middletown (Dauphin County). After all, Council 867 was the first Knights of Columbus Council in Lancaster County and apparently, surrounding area. There are now 13 Councils in Lancaster County alone.
At a meeting of the National Council Committee on Charters held in New Haven, Connecticut, the Application for a Charter for the new Council was considered and granted, with Lancaster Council No. 867 instituted on April 10, 1904.
PRIEST AND PARISH INVOLVEMENT
Supreme confirmed that the filed historical Application for Charter did not include a parish affiliation with which 867 was founded. However, three priests are listed on the application:
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Rev. H.S. Christ VF, 440 St. Joseph St. (St. Joseph Church address). Rector of St. Joseph's Church from 1899 until his death in 1939, almost 40 years. Buried in the area reserved for priests next to the St. Joseph Church Rectory at Old St. Joseph Cemetery.
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Rev. S. Clement Burger, 558 West Walnut St. (Sacred Heart of Jesus Church address). One of the first pastors of Sacred Heart Church with personal ties to St. Anthony of Padua Church. Buried in the family plot at St. Anthony of Padua Cemetery.
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Rev. Henry Martin Herzog, Middletown, PA; Following his assignment in Dauphin County, in 1927 Monsignor Herzog began his assignment as pastor of Sacred Heart. Buried in the New St. Joseph Cemetery next to his parents.
Although not officially affiliated with a particular parish at its founding, Council 867 benefitted in its formation from the key active roles of the priests of the Lancaster, PA parishes of St. Joseph Church and Sacred Heart of Jesus Church.
BEGINNINGS OF COUNCIL NO. 867
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Founded—April 10, 1904
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First meeting—April 17, 1904 at the Fulton Opera House, second floor* for the purpose of organizing and selecting a name for the new council. Members elected officers and adopted Lancaster Council No. 867 as its official name**.
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First Grand Knight—James A. Coyle, Attorney*
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First Chaplain—Historic elected officer listings for Council 867 in 1904-1905 newspapers did not include the position of Chaplain. The earliest known newspaper article that mentions a chaplain for Council 867 is from Nov., 1905. It stated that Brother Knights of Lancaster Council No. 867 attended a memorial service. In attendance was the Rector of St. Joseph Catholic Church and Chaplain of Council 867, Rev. Henry S. Christ+. (see Clergy Founders of 867 below)
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Meeting locations 1904 to present—
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Fulton Opera House
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G.A.R. Hall (Grand Army of the Republic)
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Conestoga Bank Building
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35 North Queen Street
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27 West Orange Street
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22 South Prince Street
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1575 New Danville Pike (Columbus Association), and historically Meadow Hills
Primary source: Institution Charter papers provided by Supreme Council, New Haven, CT
*New Home Dedication of Council No. 867, October 12-13, 1985 (booklet)
**News Journal, April 18, 1904, page 4
+Lancaster Daily Intelligencer, Fri., Nov. 20, 1905, p 1
CHARTER PAPERS FOR COUNCIL 867
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Clergy Founders of Council 867
VERY REV. HENRY S. CHRIST
440 Saint Joseph Street
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
The Very Rev. Henry S. Christ VF is considered to be the likely first Chaplain of Lancaster Council No. 867. In 1904, when Council 867 was applied for and instituted, Rev. Christ, at the age of 45, would already have been the Rector of St. Joseph’s Church for five years and where he would serve for the next almost thirty-five (35) years. A signatory on the council's application, he was very engaged within the Catholic community in Lancaster and the Diocese of Harrisburg, having been made Dean of Lancaster in 1903. Local Lancaster newspapers of Nov., 1905 and 1910 report Fr. Christ as the Chaplain of Lancaster Council 867. Obituary.
Lancaster Daily Intelligencer, Mon. Nov. 20, 1905, page 1
St. Joseph Roman Catholic Cemetery Old
Requiescat in pace (Rest in peace)
Credit: findagrave.com
BIRTH
DEATH
BURIAL
September 26, 1859
Chambersburg, Franklin County, PA
January 30, 1939 (79 years)
Lancaster, Lancaster County, PA
Old St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery
Lancaster, Lancaster County, PA
REV. STANISLAUS CLEMENT BURGER
558 West Walnut Street
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Source: Biographical Annals of Lancaster Co., Pa., 1903 Published by J. H. Beers & Co., page 1319.
REV. S. CLEMENT BURGER, the energetic and beloved rector of the Church of the Sacred Heart, the latest addition to the Roman Catholic Churches in Lancaster, is the youngest brother of Prof. Chris Burger, who is a recognized leader in musical circles in Lancaster.
Christian J. Burger, his father, came from Germany to the United States in 1848, and settled in Reading, where he died in 1883. He married Annette Kaul, a sister of the Very Rev. Anthony F. Kaul, of St. Anthony's Catholic Church, Lancaster, and to this union came six sons, four of whom survive: Dr. A. T. Burger, who is now the coroner of Brooklyn; Dr. Francis J., also of Brooklyn; Rev. Clement S.; and Prof. Chris.
Rev. Father Burger was born in Reading Jan. 17, 1871, and was educated in the parochial schools of that city, and for one year in St. Anthony's parochial school of Lancaster. His collegiate course was taken at Notre Dame University, Indiana, graduating in June, 1891, and he pursued his theological course at Mt. St. Mary's, Emmitsburg. On May 10, 1895, he was ordained at Harrisburg, in St. Patrick's Pro-Cathedral, by the Rt. Rev. Thomas McGovern, D. D., Bishop of the Diocese of Harrisburg, Pa., and he was at once appointed assistant to his uncle, Very Rev. Anthony F. Kaul, at St. Anthony's Church, Lancaster, remaining there until Jan. 1, 1899, when he was sent to the Church of the Immaculate Conception, at New Oxford, Adams Co., Pennsylvania.
On Nov. 1, 1900, Father Burger was sent by the Rt. Rev. John W. Shanahan, D. D., Bishop of the Diocese of Harrisburg, Pa., to St. Mary's Church, Middletown, Pa. A few weeks later, on Nov. 20, he was ordered to Lancaster to begin the work of building up a new parish, that of the Sacred Heart. So energetically did he pursue the work that the corner stone of the school and chapel building was laid with imposing ceremonies, on May 26, 1901, and the dedication took place Sept. 22, 1901. Both the ceremonies were held by the Rt. Rev. John W. Shanahan, D. D. The school and chapel are located at the southern end of the plat of ground purchased for the congregation at the corner of West Walnut and Nevin streets, and it will prove a fine addition to that beautiful section. In the near future a handsome rectory will be erected, and the new parish promises to become large and influential, under the ministrations of Rev. Father Burger. At present the parish numbers ninety families, four hundred and fifty souls. On Sept. 8, 1902, the parochial school was opened under the direction of two sisters of the Holy Cross from Notre Dame, Indiana. The enrollment at the opening numbered fifty scholars.
BIRTH
DEATH
BURIAL
January 17, 1871
Reading, Berks County, PA
October 29, 1907 (36 years)
York, York County, PA
St. Anthony of Padua Cemetery
Lancaster, Lancaster County, PA
St. Anthony of Padua Cemetery, Lancaster, PA
In Piam Memoriam (In Loving Memory)
Requiescat In pace (Rest in peace)
Credit: findagrave.com
RT. REV. MONSIGNOR HENRY MARTIN HERZOG VG
Rt. Rev. Monsignor Henry M. Herzog buried next to his parents, Benedict and Philippina A. Herzog at New St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Bausman, PA.
Credit: findagrave.com
An undated portrait photograph of Fr. Henry Martin Herzog.
From the souvenir book published for the 125th anniversary of the Lykens parish, 1978.
Ordained on Sept. 9, 1898, Fr. Herzog served as pastor of Our Lady Help of Christians Roman Catholic Church, Lykens, Dauphin County from 1902-1927.
Msgr. Herzog served as pastor of Sacred Heart Church, Lancaster, from 1927 until 1939, the year of his death. Honors for Priestly Service and Obituary.
Middletown, Pennsylvania
BIRTH
DEATH
BURIAL
June 4, 1873
April 25, 1939 (65 years)
New St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery
Bausman, Lancaster County, PA