The Purpose of the 4th Degree
The Fourth Degree is the Patriotic Degree of the Knights of Columbus, and on a national level, it comprises roughly 10% of the membership of the Order. It has five major objectives.
To promote and strengthen the patriotic spirit of the civic community.
To educate its members, and others, both in the teachings of Holy Mother Church, and the history of our nation.
To promote by example the highest type of citizenship so necessary for the preservation and perpetuation of Republican form of government, and its democratic institutions.
To oppose dissemination and spread of doctrine dangerous to our form of government, and to the Divine law of faith and morality.
To support by word and deed, the duly constituted authorities of local, state and national government, and to recognize excellence in public life.
The Fourth Degree, both collectively and individually, supports those religious, civic, and charitable causes which are designed to implement one or more of those five objectives.
History
Not many years after the Knights of Columbus was organized in 1882, many of the members began to urge the foundation of a higher degree. The Supreme Board of Directors approved the formation of the Fourth Degree in 1899. The first exemplification of the Fourth Degree was held at the Aster Hotel in New York on February 22, 1900 with a class of 1400 candidates.
The degree expanded swiftly, and a separate board of governors was set up for the new degree in 1910. The chief executive officer of the Fourth Degree is the Supreme Master. The Fourth Degree is divided in to geographical units known as provinces, of which there are fifteen.
Our province is the Father Edward F. Sorin C.S.C. Province and consists of the states of Kentucky, Indiana, and West Virginia. The chief executive officer of the province is the Vice-Supreme Master. Each province is divided into districts which normally, with few exceptions, coincide with the respective states. Each District has a executive officer known as the Master.
(Thanks to the Kentucky State Website for information contained in this page and other 4th degree pages on this website.)
This page was last modified on Thursday, May 14, 2009