Good Night, Good Knight

By Roger Eaton, grandson*

*Relation to Andy and/or Flora Lehr

Andy Lehr was a devout Catholic.  His devotion was likely inspired from his parents, Andrew Joseph Lehr (Sr) and Catherine (Hughes) Lehr.  Andrew, Sr was born in Indiana and attended Mary, Help of Christians Catholic Church at Mariah Hill, Indiana.   

The family carried their religious devotion with them to Augusta, Kansas as they migrated west in the 1870s.  Both Andy’s parents died when he was 13 years old, in 1911.  His aunt, Elizabeth “Lizzie” (Miers) Hoffman, added Andy and his two brothers to her family.  He drew strength from his faith.

During his years in Augusta, Andy attended St. James, Catholic Church in Augusta, Kansas, and his wedding was conducted there.

The couple raised their eight children at Skelly Number 2, in El Dorado, Kansas.  Skelly Number 2 was one of four company houses owned by the Skelly Oil Company. Each night Andy would sprinkle holy water on the family as they completed their nightly prayers.  St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, El Dorado, Kansas was the center of the Lehr family life.  All children attended the church’s school, Andy and Flora participated in the Alter Society.  Andy was an active member in the Knights of Columbus.

The Knights of Columbus was founded by a Catholic priest in New Haven Connecticut on October 2, 1881.  Anti-Catholic prejudice was widespread and forming a group of Catholic men provided strength against the prejudice.  During that time, working conditions in factories were dangerous and left many families fatherless due to workplace accidents.  The newly formed group wanted to provide support to widows and orphans. 

They adopted the name from Christopher Columbus, a celebrated Catholic with a strong patriotic image.  Nearly forty (local) councils had been formed by 1886 and the organization was thriving.  At the 1892 Columbus Day parade, in New Haven, over 6,000 knights marched.  Three years later the Knights of Columbus was recognized by the Vatican with an apostolic blessing. 

Over the past 130 years the organization has grown to include: an A+ rated life insurance company, donations of over 200 million US dollars per year to worthy causes and a membership of over 1.6 million knights world-wide.

Core Principles

• Charity
• Unity
• Fraternity
• Patriotism

The Emblem of the Order dates from the Second Supreme meeting, on May 12, 1883. It was designed by James T. Mullen, a New Haven native and Civil War veteran, who served the Order as its first Supreme Knight from 1882-1886.   The emblem incorporates a shield mounted upon a Formée Cross (having the arms narrow at the center and expanding toward the ends). The shield is associated with a medieval knight, and the Formée Cross is an artistic representation of the cross of Christ, through whom all graces of redemption were procured for mankind. This, then, represents the Catholic spirit of the Order.   Mounted on the shield are three objects: a fasces (a bundle of rods bound together about an ax with the blade projecting) standing vertically and, crossed behind it, an anchor and a dagger or short sword.   The fasces represents “Strength through Unity”, and in Roman days was carried before magistrates as an emblem of the authority which must exist in a tightly bonded and efficiently operating society.   The anchor is the mariner’s symbol for Columbus, patron of the order, and the short sword is the weapon of the knight when engaged in an errand of mercy.   Thus, the shield expresses Catholic Knighthood in unified merciful action, and with the letters K. of C., proclaims this specific form of activity.   Minnesota Knights of Columbus, mnknights.org

The four degrees of knighthood are reflective of the core principals.  The first three degrees are organized together with the fourth degree knights structured in a separate organization.  Fourth degree knights frequently participate in both organizational units – especially in smaller communities.  First through third degree units are Councils and fourth-degree units are Assemblies.

The fourth degree of knighthood is patriotism and the most visible.  They wear distinctive uniforms at church and community events.

The knights provide community services and raise funds for worthy causes.  Most (first through third degree) councils help support seminary students along with community organizations. 

During Andy’s days with the knights, he served in many roles.  I was able to research the records from his (third-degree) council, in El Dorado, Kansas.  They maintain records from their inception, in 1926. 

The fourth degree knights dress uniform was a black tuxedo with cape and chapeau (hat).  The color of the cape lining denoted the knight’s role, e.g., Purple for the Assembly Commander.  While Andy didn’t wear the chapeau and cape, he did wear the sash and carried a sword.

Andy’s example inspired others to become knights.  His son, Jim, became a fourth degree knight and served the same (third degree) council.   At the council’s Silver Jubilee, He served as the Master of Ceremonies.

Charlie Smith, Andy’s son-in-law, served the council and became its Grand Knight in 1963-64.  He served until moving to Topeka, Kansas in 1966.

I became a fourth degree knight in Leawood, Kansas and earned the Shining Armor award. After relocating to Manhattan, Kansas in 2015, I transferred my memberships to the Manhattan Council and Assembly.

In 2016 Aubry James “A.J.” Eaton, Andy’s great-grand son, became a first degree knight. 

Meeting proceedings are private, but meetings usually include planning for community activities.   On the night of Wednesday, October 28, 1964, Council 2296 conducted their final meeting prior to the November 1^st Pancake and Sausage Feed.  They were likely making the final arrangements for the fund-raising event.  This was in addition to their regular monthly meeting (on October 21^st).  I searched the meeting records for this meeting.  Unlike normal monthly meetings, minutes were not recorded.  Andy’s son-in-law, Charlie Smith attended the meeting.  Charlie was the council’s Grand Knight (leader) at the time of the meeting.

The meeting was held at the Saint Joseph’s Home. After the knights adjourned, Andy and Charlie walked down the stairs and out the rear door of the home.  Andy would not live to see the Pancake and Sausage Feed.  He took his last breath at the door of the Saint Joseph’s Home.

He was interred at the Walnut Valley Memorial Park, El Dorado, Kansas. His memorial includes the Knights of Columbus emblem.  Sir Knight Andy Lehr completed his duties and so we say good night to a good knight.

Please add your memories of Andy Lehr’s Knights of Columbus service in the Reply/Comment section below.