Knights of Marshall

The Noble Order of the Knights of Marshall is a historical society founded along the lines of the Order of the Knights of Columbus of the United States of America.  It is a Catholic Fraternal Organization in West Africa and London with its Supreme Headquarters in Sekondi, Ghana, and aims at bringing Catholic men (and women) together in the practice of Unity, Charity, Fraternity and Service.

In the year 1925, some enthusiastic young men of St Paul’s Catholic Church, Sekondi, rallied themselves together to plan the formation of a purely Catholic Friendly Society in West Africa for the purpose of bringing together Catholic men for effective lay apostolate and Catholic Action and provide that friendly social forum for Catholic men, who might otherwise be attracted into other non-Catholic secret societies.

These ardent young men made enquiries as regards the history of the Knights of Columbus.  They found that whilst the Knights of Columbus exists as a fraternal organization, it also immortalizes the name of a layman, Christopher Columbus, the discoverer of America.  Inspired by a similar spirit, this band of Catholic young men, with their zealous leaders, Brothers J Brookman-Amissah and JA Kwesi-Aaba, decided to institute a fraternal society that would immortalize the memory of Sir James Marshall, who acting on the West African scene, championed and espoused the re-establishment of the Catholic Church in the Gold Coast (Ghana), West Africa in the year 1880, after nearly 250 years of the breakdown (1637) of the first Catholic Church established by the Portuguese in 1482.

Their researches into the history of the Catholic Church in West Africa revealed that Sir James Marshall, MA, BL, CMG, KCSG, a Scotsman and a Catholic layman, working in the British Colonial Service in Lagos, Nigeria and accredited to the Gold Coast, Ghana, most persistently added his voice and the weight of his endeavour to the appeals and pressures that made Propaganda Fide assign the Gold Coast to the Society of African Missions (SMA).  Following the assignment, the SMA transferred the pioneer Priests Rev Fathers Auguste Moreau and Eugene Murat, both French nationals, from their Island of St Helena Station (South Africa Mission), to establish the Catholic Mission in the Gold Coast (Ghana).  The pioneer Priests arrived at Elmina, Gold Coast (Ghana) on 18th May 1880 soon after Sir James Marshall had been transferred from Lagos to Accra as Chief Justice.  He gave the Priests every encouragement and assistance in establishing themselves and the faith in Elmina.

Sir James Marshall was, for some time, a Chief Magistrate and Judicial Assessor at Cape Coast, Gold Coast (Ghana), Puisne Judge in Lagos (Nigeria) and finally, Chief Justice of the Gold Coast and Nigeria, and resident in Accra, Gold Coast.

Sir James Marshall was also known to have played a significant role in enhancing the growth of the Catholic Church in Lagos, and was involved in the preparatory work that led to the establishment of the Catholic Church at Asaba, Southern Nigeria which actually occurred in 1888, long after he had retired from the Colonial service.  It was to immortalize the name of such a great soul that the Founders named the Society after Sir James Marshall, hence the name Knights of Marshall.

The First Council of the Knights of Marshall was inaugurated and consecrated in Sekondi on 18th November, 1926.  There are presently 108 Councils spread throughout Ghana, Togo, Benin, Liberia and the United Kingdom. 

THE JUNIOR ORDER
The first Junior Order was established at Cape Coast on 25th August, 1978.  It aims at grooming the youth in sound Christian principles and to prepare them to join the Senior Order.  There are presently 59 Junior Councils/Courts.

THE MOTTO, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE NOBLE ORDER OF KNIGHTS AND LADIES OF MARSHALL
The fundamental principles of the Noble Order are Unity, Charity, Fraternity and Service.  Furthermore, the Society pledges unqualified loyalty to the Holy Mother the Catholic Church to support and defend the church under all circumstances.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
a) To inculcate into the members loyalty and fidelity to the state in which the Noble Order operates.
b) To promote and enhance fraternal Catholic spirit both by personal and group action in all phases of life.
c) To promote Catholic Education and Charity.
d) To maintain Fraternal Order of Catholic Leadership.
e) To honour and defend the Catholic Faith.
f) To prepare members of the Order for Lay Apostolate.
g) To render assistance to its members and their families in periods of emergency and need
h) To foster, facilitate, maintain and establish relations with national and international Catholic organizations with similar aims and objectives.
i) To collaborate with members of the Knights of St John International in the countries where the Noble Order operates for the common objective of helping the Catholic Church to flourish.
j) To undertake any financial and economic ventures that will facilitate the goals outlined by the objectives.

The following are the officers of the Eastern Regional Council for the current term, 2011-2013:-
 

Title    Name Contact tel. no.
Regional Grand Knight Worthy Bro. Patrick Anumel 0244314425
Deputy Regional Grand Knight Bro. Kwame Boamah Dwirah 0244383844
Regional Chaplain Rev. Fr. Ernest Amoako-Opare  
Regional Secretary Bro. Joseph Nawo Boafo 0244585602
Assistant Regional Secretary Bro. Benedict Akwetey 0242188199


The constituent councils within the Eastern Regional Council are;

Council 12- Koforidua
Council 33- Odumase
Council 44- Akim-Oda
Council 45- Akosombo
Council 72- Asamankese
Council 86- Kwahu-Tafo
Council 107- Nsawam/Adoagyiri
Council 111 Akim-Tafo

Our contact addresses are as follows;-  
Eastern Regional Council
            Knights of Marshall,
            Regional Secretariat,
            No. SD/C. 13, Prince Boateng’s Street,
            Near the Social Welfare Offices,
            P.O.Box KF342,
            Koforidua, Ghana.
            Tel: 03420-21030
            E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Eastern Regional Court
             Ladies of Marshall
             P.O. Box 955
             Koforidua.


Contact Us / Follow Us
Address: Box KF 625,
Koforidua, Ghana
Tel: 0595-222-361(Office)
E-mail: [email protected]

 
  

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