Fourth Degree
Archbishop Alemany Assembly 76
San Mateo, California - Currently Meets at St. Mark's, Belmont
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Installation of Officers - September 14, 2008
The
Fourth Degree is the patriotic arm of the Knights of Columbus. Nearly
300,000 of the Knights 1.7 million members are Fourth Degree Knights.
They promote the virtue of patriotism through their programs and
provide honor guards for Church and civic functions.
The Fourth Degree was first established in New York on (Washington's Birthday) February 22,1900. Fourteen hundred members were chosen to witness this ceremony. It was expected that they would recruit from their local councils other Knights worthy of receiving the Orders highest degree. For this purpose, one year after becoming a Knight, a Third Degree member who is an exemplary Catholic and possessed of good, sound citizenship of his country, is eligible to join the Fourth Degree.
The Fourth Degree is frequently regarded as an honorary title with its regalia of tuxedos, capes, chapeaux, and swords, and should rather be thought of in terms of service to church and country. Since its establishment in 1900, the primary objective of this degree is to promote the ideals of Catholicism and Patriotism side by side.
Enrich your commitment to your country and the Order by joining the highest and most prestigious degree in the Knights of Columbus: The Fourth Degree.By joining the Fourth Degree, you are reaching your highest potential as a Knight of Columbus.
The exemplification of the Fourth Degree with its ritual added patriotism to the three original principles of the Order: charity, unity and fraternity. Any Third Degree member in good standing, one year after the anniversary of his First Degree, is eligible for membership in the Fourth Degree.
About the Fourth Degree & Past
Faithful Navigators
Fourth Degree Structure and History
The primary purpose of the Fourth Degree is to foster the spirit of patriotism by promoting responsible citizenship and a love of and loyalty to the Knights' respective countries through active membership in local Fourth Degree groups called assemblies. Fourth Degree members must retain their membership as Third Degree members in the local council to remain in good standing.
The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic family fraternal service organization. Today there are some 300,000 Fourth Degree Knights out of the total 1.8 million member Knights of Columbus.
Archbishop Alemany Assembly 76 was established and approved on August 14, 1961. It is named after the first Archbishop of San Francisco, Most Rev. Joseph Sadoc Alemany, OP, 1853-1884.
The Faithful Navigator is the presiding officer of the
Assembly. Past Faithful Navigators of Archbishop Alemany Assembly 76
include:
The Fourth Degree was initially started at a National
Council meeting in 1899, when it was determined that an additional
ceremonial degree was needed that would represent patriotism. The
initial Exemplification, as the degree 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. In 1910 a restructuring of the order
separated them and called the groups, Assemblies.
There are more than 1.8 million Knights of Columbus members in 14,000 councils. Fewer than 18% of Knights join the Fourth Degree, which is optional. Today there are more than 2,500 Assemblies.
Fourth Degree Structure - Starting at the Supreme level there is the Supreme Master and the Supreme Board of Directors. The next level of the structure is broken into provinces of which there are twenty. Each province is lead by a Vice-Supreme Master. The Vice-Supreme Master wears a light blue lined cape and chapeau. There are currently 15 provinces in the United States, 4 in Canada, 1 in Mexico and 1 in the Philippines. List Of Provinces The province is then broken up into districts. Assembly 76 is in the Junipero Serra Province. Most districts are either an entire State or a section of a larger State (i.e. California has three districts - North, Central and South).As of April 2010, there were thirty-five Northern
California District Assemblies with 4,000 members. The nineteen West
Assemblies have approximately 1,873 members while the sixteen East
Assemblies have approximately 2,217 members.
A Master is in charge of a District and wears gold lined cape and chapeau. Master's are responsible for overseeing the Installation of 4th Degree Assembly Officers, The Renewal of Obligations in January, and holding at least one 4th Degree Exemplification each year.
Also a Master usually has a District Marshall to assist him. The District Marshall wears a green lined cape and chapeau. Faithful Navigators wear a white cape and chapeau. The Jewel for the 4th degree officers are suspended from a red, white, and blue ribbon. Each contains the 4th Degree Emblem and title of the Officer's position.
Assemblies are similar to the council, and many are named after patriots, war heroes, etc. The Chair Officers are: the presiding officer called a Navigator, then a Captain, the Pilot, which is the Warden on a council level, and the Admiral, a Past Faithful Navigator. Below is a chart that shows the 4th Degree Assembly Officer's title and the 3rd Degree Council equivalent.
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4th Degree Officer Title |
3rd Degree Officer Title |
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Faithful Navigator
Faithful FriarFaithful Captain Faithful Admiral Faithful Pilot Faithful Scribe Faithful Comptroller Faithful Purser Faithful Inner Sentinel Faithful Outer Sentinel Faithful Trustee 3rd Year Faithful Trustee 2nd Year Faithful Trustee 1st Year |
Worthy Grand Knight
Worthy ChaplainWorthy Deputy Grand Knight Worthy Chancellor Worthy Warden Worthy Recorder Worthy Financial Secretary Worthy Treasurer Worthy Inside Guard Worthy Outside Guard Worthy Trustee 3rd Year Worthy Trustee 2nd Year Worthy Trustee 1st Year |
Color Corps/Honor Guards - Certain members of
the Fourth Degree serve as honor guards at civic and religious
functions, an activity which has brought worldwide recognition to the
Knights of Columbus organization. Fourth Degree members dress in the
recognizable regalia which includes sword and colorful capes and
chapeaux. The colors of capes and chapeau worn by the Fourth Degree
when in full regalia are as follows:
Vice Supreme Master - Light Blue
District Master - Gold
District Marshal - Green
Color Corps 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 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. By the way, former VSMs, DMs, and PFNs are all permitted to wear their respective capes and chapeaux when they finish their term of office.
To learn more about the Knights of Columbus visit the Supreme Council's home page. Knights of Columbus - Home
Considered under a religious aspect, we have the honor
and privilege of wearing on our sword and our lapels the sacred symbol
of the Most Blessed Trinity. This is to always remind us live a good
Christian life. By this, others may see our good works, through which
we will glorify our Holy Religion, our Honored Order and our Beloved
Country.
Fourth Degree Emblem
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The triad emblem of the Fourth Degree features the
Dove, the Cross, and the Globe.
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Our Honored Order cherishes as its patron Christopher Columbus.
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: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
A blue Globe with the lans 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 our Order originated; and are used to stress the
basic principle of the Fourth Degree . . . PATRIOTISM.
Principles to Live By
(From Past Faithful Navigator Elmer
Bergman)
Integrity--- Our hallmark; Determination and effort will not lead to success if not grounded in principles of honesty, ethics, and strength of character. (Integrity: Do the right thing not the easy thing.)
Forgiveness--- "Lord
how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? 'till
seven times? Jesus says to Peter, "I do not say unto you seven
times: but, until seventy times seven." It is easy to love
those who love us. It is difficult to like those who are critical
of us. Yet, it is crucial to forgive those who hurt us.
Forgiveness sets the forgiver free.
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The tone of our Assembly comes from the top where the standard of excellence is set. Those qualifications include talents, discretion, honesty, fairness and integrity.
The goal is to be thorough, meticulous, intelligent and resourceful with mature and responsible judgment. Decisions will always be in accordance with bylaws and the rules as enacted and not influenced by individual preferences or any personal predilection.
Accordingly, that standard of excellence is
contagious – that is the commitment to doing the right thing as well as
emphasis on first-rate work and fundamental decency.
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