The Uniform

One of the charms of the Fourth Degree lies in the fact that it is the uniformed degree of the order. It is the part of the order which is most visible to the public. The winter uniform consists of black tuxedo, plain white shirt, black bow tie, black cummerbund, black shoes black socks and social baldric. The summer uniform is the same, except that a white dinner jacket is substituted for the black tuxedo jacket.  A regulation Fourth Degree lapel pin and a pocket name badge are optional and highly recommended. The jewel of current office, worn on the official ribbon around the neck is authorized, as are miniature medals of jewel of Knights of Columbus offices previously held, worn on the left breast tuxedo jacket pocket. The uniform is worn on public occasions, when the Fourth Degree participates as a group in a church ceremony; on the occasion of wakes and funerals of members, and high church dignitaries; for memorial services; in civic or patriotic ceremonies of solemnity and dignity. It is also recommended to be worn for special K of C social occasions such as parties and balls.

Fourth Degree members should purchase a cape, chapeaux, white gloves and a ceremonial sword and these may be purchased one piece at a time and given as birthday gifts, Christmas and anniversary gifts. The Faithful Comptroller will be pleased to assist in the purchase of these items and to advise on the approximate cost of each. All Fourth Degree members are urged to purchase these items and become a member of the Color Corp of their Assembly which is organized to participate in special religious activities, during which the pocket name badge and other adornments are removed. The Color Corp Commander will instruct the members in this regard.

Colors

Many of our Ladies, as well as some long time members of the Third Degree of our order, have asked about the various colors of capes and chapeau worn by the Fourth Degree when in full regalia, and what these colors signify. They are as follows:

Vice Supreme Master	Light Blue
Master	Gold
District Marshal	Green
Color Corp Commander	Purple
Faithful Navigator	White
General Membership	Red Cape-White Plumes

Once a Sir Knight attains an office, he is entitled to wear the colors of that office until he elected or appointed to a higher office, except for the Marshal [appointed by the Master of District] and the Color Corps Commanders [appointed by the Faithful Navigator] who are appointed for a specific term and then revert to their previous colors when that term expires.

A Bit of History on 4th Degree Regalia

Evolution of the 4th Degree Color Corps regalia is interesting as the Swords and Uniforms have developed since the institution of the 4th degree. It is a study in that the only thing constant is change.

The original swords were made by Gleason long before TheEnglish Company or Lynch started making them and they were longer. The first pommel was an Eagle with a very plain blade but was longer.  The scabbard for these swords displayed the 3rd degree K of C emblem, not that of the 4th degree.

The sword evolved to a shorter version with Christopher Columbus'head facing forward when in the Scabbard andagain the use of the 3rd degree insignia.   Modern swords feature Christopher Columbus facing towards the side when in the scabbard and the use of the 4th degree emblem.   The older swords were all made by Gleason and the new by either Lynch and Kelly or The English Company.  Genuine K of C swords only have the Eagle or Christopher Columbus on the pommel without any chains or hooks on the scabbard.  The scabbards will feature 3rd or 4th degree emblems only.

Color Corps around the country initially had their own unique uniformswhich included various chevrons on thechapeau and other medals and insignias on thecapes, with variation of  liningcolors as well.

Initially, regalia was essentially what Assemblies wanted and could afford which made for some very elaborate regalia in affluentassemblies and plain regalia in others. The interesting note is that the same was true in the Philippines where there was use of either a white tuxedo jacket, black tuxedo jacket, and the traditional formaldress shirt commonly used in those hot climates.  Colors of thevarious capes and chapeau's were eventually standardized to those used today.

 

(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