About 1909 the Supreme Council added to the Laws Governing the Knights of Columbus, Section 242 which authorizes chapters. The creation of chapters is upon the authority about the discretion of the State Deputy who may establish one for three or more councils. He determines the representation of the composing councils, and any District Deputy, who has jurisdiction of one or more of the components, as well as any Supreme Director resident in the state are exofficio members.
Fundamentally the function of a chapter is to coordinate Columbian activity in a specified area. “Chapter shall take into consideration matters relating to the well being and good of the society in the locality, may promulgate such by-laws, rules and regulations for their own government as they may find necessary for the proper conduct of their affairs, provided that the same shall not conflict with, or be in opposition to, or in any way impair the enforcement of the constitution, laws, rules or regulations of the Supreme Council or Board of Directors, and such by-laws shall not become operative until approved by the Supreme Advocate.” Section 242. In addition the Boards of Directors of Chapters may levy and collect assessments to meet necessary expenses.
With the existence of San Francisco Chapter and of Southern California Chapter, and their success caused Peter E. Mitchell of Sacramento Council No. 953 to call a meeting, to discuss the possibility of forming a chapter to coordinate Columbian activities in the northern part of the state. This conference was held in Travellers Hotel in Sacramento on October 28, 1928. Peter Mitchell presided throughout as temporary chairman.
It was decided to form a chapter and letters were ordered sent to the following councils inviting them to affiliate: Auburn No. 2276, Chico No. 1137, Colusa No. 2145, Grass Valley No. 1875, Marysville No. 1869, Oroville No. 2607, Red Bluff No. 2249, Sacramento No. 953, Mt. Lassen No. 2549, Willows No. 2054, Woodland No. 2143.
A second meeting was held in Marysville on Sunday December 9, 1928. Twenty-five delegates were present. Regular officers were elected.
At the close of the year, Northern California Chapter was composed of ten councils, represented by fifty delegates according to the report of District Deputy Harry J. Devine. He reported further that under the auspices of the organization three major initiations had been held. He cheerfully pointed to the Chapter’s existence in these words, “The principal accomplishment in this district was the organization of what is now known as the Northern California Chapter.” It should be noted the chapter decided that delegates to the Chapter ‘should consist of the Grand Knight, Deputy Grand Knight, Financial Secretary and two members elected by each Council becoming a member of the Chapter.
Present Composition. At present the Northern California Chapter is composed of all the councils in the Diocese of Sacramento. The diocese is far flung and covers twenty-one counties and has an area of 43,320 square miles. That the Chapter has been functioning successfully under these conditions is a tribute to the interest and loyalty of the membership.
It should be noted that the Church had a long hard struggle for existence and growth in most of the area now included in the Diocese of Sacramento. Of course, legally the Church was free to advance, but a heavy non-Catholic population in the rural areas and lack of priests made progress difficult. A tribute should be paid to the many priests, who from All Hollows Seminary in Ireland, dedicated their lives to the interests of the Church in northern California. The social adjustment of the Church was improved by the institution of the Knights of Columbus Councils. And the Chapter has aided further the work of the Order, and, of course, the Church.