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EDWARD F. McSWEENEY ASSEMBLY #400 Jurisdiction of |
Edward F. McSweeney served as Chairman of the Boston Consumptives Hospital Trustees, organizing that institution in such a way that led to advanced care of tuberculosis clients. His lectures and appearances before legislative bodies brought about greater expenditures that resulted in care that extended the lives of patients and brought many back to a useful living.
He was one of the first sponsors of workingmen’s compensation by state legislation and he was a member of the first commission (the Massachusetts Industrial Accident Board -the first body of its kind in the United States to administer the law when it was adopted
Edward F. McSweeney joined the Knights of Columbus through Council 164, New York on February 15, 1897 (at age of thirty three). He transferred to Council 116, Dorchester on April 11, 1904. He received the honors of the Fourth Degree at San Francisco on July 31, 1921.
Following World War I, the Hon. Joseph C. Pelletier of Boston, (a past state depute), then Supreme Advocate of the Order and Edward F. McSweeney, proposed a plan to stop the falsification of American history, then so prevalent. As a result of their suggestion, the Supreme Assembly of the Fourth Degree adopted a resolution to "appoint a board or body of learned and loyal citizens to be known as the 'Knights of Columbus Historical Commission' to investigate the facts of history as applicable to our country, to correct historical errors and omissions, to mollify and preserve our national history, to exalt and perpetuate American ideals and to combat and counteract anti-American propaganda by means of pamphlets, each to be complete and authoritative unto itself, to be issued from time to time for free distribution to schools, colleges, universities, libraries and by such proper means and methods as shall be approved by the Supreme Assembly." The Supreme Council, meeting in convention in San Francisco on August 3, 1921 authorized the Supreme Board to furnish all funds necessary in carrying out the work beyond those available from the general Fourth Degree Fund.
Supreme Master John H. Reddin then appointed the "Knights of Columbus Historical Commission" under the chairmanship of Brother Edward F. McSweeney and comprised of distinguished and outstanding men from many walks of life.
As a result of the investigation of the Commission, certain widely used history and other text books used in the schools were eliminated or rewritten to remove matter misrepresenting historical facts or subverting American ideals.
The Commission conducted a prize competition for studies of American history based insofar as practicable on original research from primary sources. As a result many notable works were written. The major prize was won by Samuel Flagg Bemis, Professor of American Diplomatic History at Whitman College, Walla Walla, Washington, for his monograph "Jay's Treaty." Mr. Louis Morton Hacker of Columbia University won the undergraduate prize for his study, "the Genesis of the Interstate Commerce Act."
Under a non-competitive program, such works as "The Monroe Doctrine" by Thomas Mahoney, "The American States, 1775-1789" by Allan Nevins, and "Origins of the Propaganda Movement" by Charles Edward Russell, to mention but three were published.
Edward McSweeney himself wrote many articles and pamphlets for the Commission that had wide distribution.
The historical contribution of the Knights of Columbus through its patriotic degree was ridiculed in the beginning by a few authors, publishers and propagandists, but other patriotic societies followed in the wake of the Knights of Columbus, with the result that a great public sentiment was aroused against the subtle poisoning of the wells of history through the powerful influence of foreign and internal propagandists which had been going on for a generation or more - subtle because it was administered to American children through so-called revised history books. The Knights of Columbus are justly entitled to great credit for bringing back to the young and old of our land the ideals that animated the fathers and founders of this Republic and the principles for which they fought. And Edward F. McSweeney was chairman of the Historical Commission that accomplished all this.
David Goldstein, convert to Catholicism and famed for his "Catholic Campaigners for Christ" once wrote to this writer "His (McSweeney's) opposition to Socialism caused him to aid the late Mrs. Martha Moore Avery and me at the time we resigned from the Socialist Movement (1903) in our statewide campaign to expose Marxian principles and tactics."
Edward F. McSweeney came to Framingham Center to reside on Salem End Road in the Dr. Brown residence, which later became the famed 1812 House about 1908.
In his home community he was sought after as a speaker. He was one of three "Macs" who led the campaign to build two junior high schools - Lincoln (later the Jr High School) and Memorial (later Elementary School). The others were Rev. John McClelland, Presbyterian minister, and Judge Edward L. McManus of the District Court. Their town meeting orations, which attracted hundreds of voters, are credited with the favorable actions taken.
Edward F. McSweeney was active in St, Bridget's mission when he came to Framingham and through his interest and influence, it gained parish recognition. Previously it was served as part of St. Stephen's parish.
His wife, sons and daughters were active community leaders during their residence in Framingham Center.
Edward F. McSweeney's death was tragic. He was driving his car on Pleasant Street, Framingham, and was hit at the New Haven Railway Crossing, dying of fatal injuries received on November 18th1 928, at the age of sixty three.
His funeral was held at St. Brigit's church, which was filled to capacity. Many personages, including United States Senator David I. Walsh and those high in state government, including former Governor Eugene N. Foss and many leading churchmen and Knights of Columbus officials, including Supreme Secretary William B. McGinley were in attendance. He was buried at Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Marlboro.
Edward F. McSweeney General Assembly, Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, established October 25, 1936, was named in honor of this stalwart and outstanding American Patriot.
Researched and edited by Past State Master and Past Faithful Navigator Joseph Boothroyd for the Edward F. McSweeney Assembly.
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