The Fourth Degree
Knights of Columbus
The Emblem of the Fourth Degree
At a National Council meeting in 1899, it was determined that an additional ceremonial degree was needed that would represent patriotism. The initial Exemplification, as the initiation ceremony is called, was held on February 22, 1900. It was scheduled to be in the Astor Hotel; however, when the class reached in excess of 1,100 candidates, it was moved to the Lenox Lyceum, a temporary wooden structure.
Members were originally part of local councils, but in 1910 a restructuring of the order separated them and called the groups Assemblies. In 1997 with a view toward the formation or more assemblies, the Supreme Council determined that there should be no more than eight member councils per assembly.
The Chain of Command is similar to that of the lower degrees, but with different titles. At the Supreme level, the top man is the Supreme Master, currently Sir Knight Charles Foos. Administratively, the Fourth Degree is divided into areas called Provinces. A Vice Supreme Master is appointed by the Supreme Board of Directors for each of the Fourth Degree Provinces in the Order. At the present time there are 20 Provinces in the Order, with 14 being in the United States, 4 in Canada, 1 in Mexico, and 1 in the Philippine Islands. The state of Maryland is within the Calvert Province, which is comprised of the states of Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware and the District of Columbia with a combined total of approximately 25,000 Fourth Degree Knights. The Vice Supreme Master is the head of all Fourth Degree matters within the Province and exercises general supervision over all Masters and Assemblies located in the Province. The Vice Supreme Master is responsible to the Supreme Master and the Supreme Board of Directors. The Vice Supreme Master is distinguishable at Fourth Degree functions and turnouts by the light blue Cape and Chapeau which he wears.
Recently Maryland Past State Deputy Fran Feeley was appointed as the Vice Supreme Master of the Calvert Province. Fran is a Past Faithful Navigator of the Archbishop John Carroll Assembly and a Past Grand Knight of Cardinal Shehan of Baltimore Council #205. He is only the second person from Maryland to be appointed to this position, the first being PSD John P. Bauernschub, who held the position from 1964 to 1974. PSD Bauernschub was a member of Maryland Council #370 and the Charles Carroll Carrollton Assembly.
Each Province is divided into Districts. The state of Maryland is within the Calvert Province, of whose districts two are located in the Maryland Jurisdiction, the Maryland District and Archdiocese of Washington District (which also includes the Washington, DC). Districts are placed under the leadership of a Master. PSD George Hanna, of Washington, DC is Master of the Archdiocese of Washington District, of which Cardinal Patrick A. O'Boyle Assembly is a member. The Master is identified by the gold Cape and Chapeau, and is often accompanied by a District Marshall who wears a green Cape and Chapeau.
Districts are made up of Assemblies similar to Councils in structure and operation. Many are named after patriots, war heros, etc. There are nine Assemblies in the Archdiocese of Washington District, and three Assemblies covering the Councils in Montgomery County, Maryland.
The Presiding Officer of the Assembly is called a Faithful Navigator, who wears a white Cape and Chapeau. He is assisted by a Captain and a Pilot, which are similar to the offices of Deputy Grand Knight and Warden on a council level. The fourth Chair Officer is the Admiral, always the immediate Past Faithful Navigator. At a Council level Officers are referred to as Worthy, while at the Assembly level Officers are referred to as Faithful.
The other officers are similar to Council officers and include: The Friar, The Purser, The Scribe, The Comptroller, The Sentinels (Two or three in number), and The Trustees (Three in number).
The Color Corps of each Assembly is trained and drilled by a Color Corps Commander appointed by the Faithful Navigator. Large Assemblies may have one or more Vice-Commanders. The Commander is identified by the purple or violet Cape and Chapeau. At District Level events, the District Marshall, in green, is in charge of the Color Corps and may be assisted by one or more Color Corps Commanders. Other members of the Color Corps wear red Capes and white Chapeaux.
To be eligible to become a Fourth Degree member you must be a Third Degree member in good standing, in the Knights of Columbus for one year, and you must be sponsored by a Sir Knight. Exemplifications are usually held only once or twice a year in each district, normally in April in the Archdiocese of Washington District.
As a First or Second Degree member, you are a "Member" of The Knights of Columbus. After the Ceremonies of the Third Degree you are a Full Knight in The Knights of Columbus. After the Exemplification of The Fourth Degree you are a Complete Knight in the Knights of Columbus and addressed as Sir Knight. Only Sir Knights are accorded the honor of The Color Corps at their wake or Funeral Mass. The names of deceased Sir Knights are engraved on a Chalice that is presented to a new Priest or Seminarian at the Ceremony of the Chalice during the Assembly's Annual Memorial Mass.
If you are interested in becoming a Fourth Degree Knight, see your council representative for an application and full details. You may also contact the Cardinal O'Boyle Membership Chairman, Faithful Admiral Ray Campfield, or Faithful Navigator Joe Murtha, or you may visit the other pages of our web sites -- especially The Maryland State Council for more information.
The Triad Emblem of the Fourth Degree of the Knights of Columbus features:
the Dove
the Cross
the Globe
The Dove, the classic symbol of the Holy Spirit and Peace, is shown hovering over the orb of the Earth or Globe. Both are mounted on a variation of the Crusader's cross, that which was found on the tunics and capes of the Crusading Knights who battled to regain the Holy Land.
Our Honored Order cherishes as its patron Christopher (Christ Bearer) Columbus (Dove of Peace), symbolizing the Paraclete.
Spiritually, the sacred symbols on the emblem typify the Union of the Three Divine Persons in one Godhead...the most blessed Trinity.
The colors of the symbols are:
Red, White, and Blue are the colors of the flag of the country in which our Order originated; and are used to stress the basic principle of the Fourth Degree: Patriotism
The Color Corps of the Knights of Columbus are the uniformed members of the Fourth Degree. They are the ones that are most noticeable at church and public functions, parades, etc. They actually consist of two parts:
the Color Guard and
the Honor Guard
Honor Guardsmen are those members who have mastered the Manual of the Sword. All others are Color Guard.
The Corps basically follows a Naval theme with ranks and insignia. Note that the chapeaux, which are never called hats, are similar to the old naval uniforms.
Cape colors are an indication of rank.
Within the local assemblies, the Master more or less sets the rules. In the O'Boyle Assembly, the highest ranking Color Corps member is called Commander; some areas call him by other ranks such as Commodore. Former Vice Supreme Masters, Former District Marshalls, and Past Faithful Navigators are all permitted to wear their respective capes and chapeaux when they finish their term of office.
If you are presently a member of the 4th Degree and would be interested in joining the Color Corps contact our Faithful Navigator Joseph Murtha or Color Corps Commander William J. Kacvinsky.