He is remembered as founder of the Columbian Squires of the Knights of Columbus[1] and as a driving force in establishing the early relationship between the Boy Scouts of America and the American Catholic Church.

[2] Brother Barnabas entered the novitiate in 1885 and taught in elementary schools and at the Placing Out Bureau of the New York Catholic Protectory, which prepared boys for farm work.

Together with Victor F. Ridder and with the cooperation of James E. West, he is credited with founding one of the earliest Catholic Boy Scout troops at St. Patrick's Cathedral in 1912,[4] having received formal approval of John Murphy Farley, Cardinal Archbishop of New York.

Squires have fun and share their Catholic faith, help people in need, and enjoy the company of friends in social, family, athletic, cultural, civic and spiritual activities.

In 1914, he was asked to serve on the major’s committee and investigate reported widespread abuses in the management of private charitable institutions which were receiving public money.