The administration of the Supreme Knight, Edward L. Hearn
established the Fourth Degree based upon the Catholic concept of
Patriotism. The Fourth Degree was originally conceived to fulfill
the vast number of requests from members with whom the first three
degrees were so popular. In 1886, James T. Mullen made a verbal
report to the Board of Directors recommending the addition of two new
degrees: the Fourth and Fifth, to be known as commandery degrees.
The Fifth never became a reality. The Fourth is the Highest Degree in
the Order.
The ceremonials of the Fourth Degree are based on a theme of
Catholic Citizenship and detail the contributions made by the
Catholic Church to North America, from its discovery, exploration
and development to its present greatness. We are challenged to be
always ready to sacrifice every thing for our Faith and our Country.
The response of our Order to the needs of our Country in times of
war attests to the fact that we are true to our commitment
Edward L. Hearn, the Supreme Knight, appointed a special
committee to design a new degree. Serving on the committee were
Daniel Colwell, National Secretary, and an author of the original
first three degrees; Charles A. Weber, a National Director; John J.
Delaney, First State Deputy of New York and nationally recognized
Master of Ceremonials; Right Reverend Monsignor Joseph H. Conroy,
Vicar General and later Bishop of the Diocese of Ogdensburg, New
York; Patrick T. McArdle, National Director and an outstanding
fraternalist of the Midwest. Also included were John Hogen of
Syracuse, William H. Bennet of Brooklyn and from Boston, William T.
Cashman and William S. McCary. A subcommittee consisting of Charles
Weber, Msgr. Conroy and John Delaney was authorized to prepare the
ceremonials, while the other committee members dwelt on
qualification and organizational procedures. The ceremonials for the
degree were approved in August 1899. Initially to qualify for
the Fourth Degree, one had to have been a member for three years and
have served the Order, the Church and the Community with
distinction.
Presently, any Third Degree member in good standing, one-year
after the anniversary of his First Degree, is eligible for
membership in the Fourth Degree. The first exemplification of the
new Degree took place on Washington's birthday, February 22, 1900.
The Order had intended to use the Astor Hotel in New York, but with
1100 candidates qualified to receive the Degree, the Lenox Lyceum, a
building erected to display an immense painting of the Civil War,
was available and selected for the gala occasion. Charles A. Weber
was the Master of Ceremonials at this exemplification. Sir Knight
Weber became the First Master of the Fourth Degree in the United
States. Other members of the Degree Team were: William A.
Burns, Historian; William A. Pendergast, Defender of the Faith;
Honorable George F. Roesch, Exponent of the Constitution; John T.
Brennan, Narrator; James E. McLarney, Recorder; and the Reverend
Joseph H. Conroy, Chaplain.
The Fourth Degree was enthusiastically received throughout the
Order and further exemplifications were held in 1900 in Boston,
Massachusetts, and Brooklyn, New York. At the very first
exemplification of the new- Fourth Degree, held on February 22,1900
in New York City, included 55 third degree members from the councils
representing the Philadelphia area. The assemblies formed between
1900 and 1910 consisted of scattered or segregated units, each
governed by its own by-laws and a few general rules lay down by the
National Board of Directors. Most councils had their own local
assembly and functioned independently. There was no attempt to
combine these self-administered units.
The Supreme Board of Directors, on October 17, 1910 approved the
organization of the Fourth Degree as we know it today. It was not
until 1913, when all local assemblies were dissolved and formed into
General Assemblies. The following officers were appointed to head
the Fourth Degree:
John H. Reddin, Supreme Master; William J. McGinley,
Supreme Secretary; Vice Supreme Masters M. J. Boyd of Ottawa,
Canada; Captain D. J. Gorman of Boston; W. J. Boyd of New York;
George W. Young of New Orleans; August Rebhan of Milwaukee and T.J.
Gorman of Seattle. These officers constituted the Supreme Assembly
and its first meeting was held in Quebec, Canada on July 29,1910.
Today, the Supreme Assembly is the governing body and is composed
of the Supreme Master, Charles H. Foos, the Supreme Knight, Virgil
C. Dechant, the Supreme Secretary Carl A. Anderson and 20 Vice
Supreme Masters. The Chester County Assembly is affiliated with the
Calvert Province - PA East District of the Fourth Degree. Sir Knight
(SK) Francis M. Feeley is the Vice Supreme Master of the Province.
The Calvert Province was instituted July 12, 1910 and incorporates
the states of Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and the
District of Columbia. The Master for the Pennsylvania East District
is Sir Knight Bernard A. Pallo and the Master for the Pennsylvania
West District is Sir Knight Stephen J. Cash.
The pioneering sir knights, who deserve recognition for bringing
the Fourth Degree into Pennsylvania, were the 55 members from
councils representing the Philadelphia area at the First
exemplification in New York at the Lenox Lyceum.
In 1911, in accordance with a call issued by Master Philip A.
Hart, the members of the Fourth Degree assembled at the K of C
Headquarters in Philadelphia to form a new assembly consisting of
all the local assemblies. At the meeting, Michael J. Ryan was
elected the Faithful Navigator and the name selected for the first
assembly in Philadelphia was Archbishop Ryan General Assembly,
subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.
After the approval in December 1912, by the Board of Directors,
the Archbishop Ryan Assembly was formally organized in its present
form in 1913,and all Fourth Degree members in the Philadelphia area
became members of the new assembly. During the following decades
when many new Councils had been formed and number of members
increased, the Archbishop Ryan Assembly grew in excess of 3400
members. The formation of new assemblies in the Greater Philadelphia
area became imperative: Cardinal Dougherty Assembly in Springfield,
St. John Neumann Assembly in Bristol, Fr. Joseph C. Tomko Assembly
in Bridgeport, Archbishop Wood Assembly in Warminster, Pius IX
Assembly in Reading, and the Chester County Assembly in West Chester
were founded in succession.
The organizational structure of the Fourth Degree is similar to
that of the lower degrees, but with different titles. At the Supreme
level, the Supreme Master is in charge of the Fourth Degree.
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. 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
distinguishable at Fourth Degree functions by the light blue Cape
and Chapeau that he wears.
Each Province is divided into Districts. Two of the Calvert
Province districts are located in the jurisdiction of Pennsylvania
(PA). PA East District and PA West District are placed under the
leadership of a Master. SK Bernard A. Pallo is the Master for
the PA East District, which the Chester County Assembly is an
affiliate member. The Master is identified by the gold Cape and
Chapeau, and is often accompanied by a District Marshall (District
level Color Corps Commander) identifiable by his green Cape and
Chapeau. Districts are made up of assemblies similar to Councils in
structure and operation.
Many are named after, Saints, Popes, Cardinals, Bishops, priests,
patriots, or war heroes. There are twenty-nine assemblies that make
up the PA East District of the Calvert Province.
The Presiding Officer of the Assembly is called the Faithful
Navigator he 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 the council level. The fourth Chair
Officer is the Admiral, which is the same as Chancellor at the
council level, always the immediate Past Faithful Navigator. At the
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,
and the Trustees.
The Color Corps of each assembly is trained and drilled by a
Color Corps Commander who is 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, 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.
Exemplifications in the PA East District are normally held in May
and June each year. 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 Order. After the
Exemplification of the Fourth Degree you are a complete Knight in
the Knights of Columbus. Not all Knights of Columbus wear plumes,
capes and swords, only those Knights who belong to the Fourth
or "Patriotic Degree".
These Knights are called "Sir Knights". We volunteer at public
functions to add color and dignity to the occasion, and to
demonstrate publicly their loyalty to the church, or to their
country. There is a tendency today to dress "casually" as much as
possible, slacks, no tie, old clothes, etc. It takes pain, it takes
nerve, and it takes discomfort to be dressed up in black clothes,
with white collar, lined cape and carrying a sword, wearing a
chapeau with feathers. Why do it ??
To demonstrate in a positive way that Church, Law and Country are
concepts that deserve our esteem and high regard, especially during
times when authority, law and decency are being trampled upon and
disrespected by so many. It is by one's example that most preaching
is done !!
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Fourth Degree
Emblem
The triad emblem of the Fourth Degree features the dove,
the cross and the globe. The dove, classic symbol of the Holy Spirit
and peace, is shown hovering over the orb of the Earth (globe). Both
are mounted on a variation of the Crusader's cross, which was found
on the tunics and capes of the Crusading knights who battled to
regain the Holy Land from the pagans.
Spiritually, the sacred symbols on the emblem typify the union of
the Three Divine Persons in one Godhead, the most Blessed Trinity.
- The Globe -- God the Father, Creator of the Universe.
- The Cross -- God the Son, Redeemer of Mankind.
- The Dove -- God the Holy Spirit, Sanctifier of Humanity.
The colors of the symbols are:
- A blue globe with the land of the Western Hemisphere in
white.
- A red cross with gold borders and gold knobs at the end of
the points forming the ends of the arms of the cross, also known
as the Isabella cross.
- A white dove.
Red, white and blue are the colors of the flag of the country in
which the Knights originated. They are used to stress patriotism,
the basic principle of the Fourth Degree.
