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He was so impressed by the ceremony that he immediately began to explore
the possibilities of organizing a Fourth Degree assembly in Lake Charles.
Throughout most of 1943 he discussed the project with other Fourth Degree
members to awaken enthusiasm, and did his part in recruiting 12 candidates
for a Fourth Degree Exemplification in Bunkie on July 9, 1944. The new Sir
Knights, all of whom became charter members of Msgr. Cramers Assembly
were: Charles J. Benoit, the Rev. Jules O. Daigle, C.H. Doiron and Rolland
Romero, all of Welsh; Clabie Clark of Jennings, the Rev. M.J. Cramers of
Bell City; and A.L. Broussard, C.C. Jaubert, Columbus Moss, Paul L.
Perrin, Arthur R. Taylor and Walter H. Williams.
Application for a charter for a new assembly, to be domiciled in Lake
Charles, was submitted to the Supreme Board of Directors in New Haven,
Connecticut, in late 1944.
On January 14, 1945, Floeter was able to inform the Fourth Degree
members in the area that, "In correspondence and conversations with
ViCe Supreme Master Patrick Burke and Master Numa Bertel, I have been
advised that the petition for a new assembly has been granted."
Floater called a meeting at the Calcasieu Council 1207 hall on Sunday,
January 28, 1945, for the official organization of the assembly. It was
decided that the new assembly should be named for the late Msgr. Hubert
Cramers, who had been pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Lake
Charles for 33 years, and who had acted as chaplain for Council 1207 for
most of that time.
The organizational meeting was duly held, and the following members were
officially accepted as charter members:
Calcasieu
Council 1207
Alcide L. Broussard,
Pierre F. Coco, Joseph Comeaux, Leo P. Daspit, Harry L. Floeter, Walter P.
Hebert, Harry Huber, Charles C. Jaubert, Adolph LaGrange, John A.
McNamara, Wylis J. Moreau, Columbus J. Moss, Thomas J. Navarra, Paul L.
Perrin, Edward B. Pintado, Vance Plauche Sr., James Jefferson Price Jr.,
J.W. Richard, Rudolph Richard, Conrad H. Ruysenaars, Arthur R. Taylor,
Walter H. Williams and Paul Zimmermann.
Welsh
Council 2855
Dr. Raymond R.
Arceneaux, Charles J. Benoit, the Rev. Jules O. Daigle, Dr. Phillip O.
Kramer, C. Herbert Doiron, Dr. Charles A. Martin, Rolland Romero and P.J.
St. Romain Sr.
Jennings
Council 2012
The Rev. Gustave Berube,
D.J. Castille, Rev. Matthias J. Cramers, Claby Clark, the Rev. Lawrence M.
Fournet, Charles H. Houssiere Sr., H.H. Hungerford, the Rev. Jules Lanoie,
Gerald Melancon and L.L. Toups.
Kinder
Council 2893
A.E. Darbone, N.K. Deumite,
the Rev. J. Otto Jud, Habib Karam, J.J. Karam, Thomas
J. Karam, Dr. E.H. Kent, HUdred W. Leger, E.E. Miguez and Valerie Montou.
The following officers
were elected at this organizational meeting:
Faithful Navigator -Floeter; Captain - Daspit; Admiral - Father Cramers;
Comptroller - Father Lanoie; Faithful Friar - Father Daigle; Pilot -
Miguez;
Purser - Pintado;
Sentinels - Williams and McNamara; trustees - Daspit, McNamara and Rudolph
Richard.
The by-laws of the new
assembly were read by Sir Knight Perrin and adopted.
March 4th was selected as the date for the installation of officers. The
Fourth Degree Knights attended Mass at 11 a.m. in the Church of the
Immaculate Conception in official dress, and then lunched at the Majestic
Hotel. Msgr. Louis H. Boudreaux, pastor of Immaculate Conception PariSh,
was a guest.
The Worthy Master, Numa Bertel of New Orleans, installed the officers in
an afternoon ceremony in Calcasieu Council 1207 hall.
After the installation, Faithful Navigator Floeter appointed the
following committees:
Membership: Father Cramers, chairman, Father Daigle and Sir Knights
Toups, Moss and Williams.
Welcome: Sir Knight LaGrange, chairman, and Sir Knights perrin,
Zimmermann and Huber.
During this first year ofthe assembly's existence, meetings were held
quarterly. One of the first actions of the assembly was to vote a
contribution often cents per member per year to Master Bertel for the
advancement of the Fourth Degree.
In January, the Faithful Navigator appointed Father Daigle to chair a
committee to draft a program of activities for the assembly. At the same
meeting, the assembly adopted legislation requiring each Sir Knight to own
a full dress suit.
The assembly took part in the Lake Charles Carnival Ball in March,
sponsored by Council 1207, and in April, Faithful Navigator Floeter was
elected as the assembly's delegate to the Fourth Degree convention, with
Sir Knight Perrin as an alternate
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