History of the Fourth Degree

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 commander 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 everything 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, 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!!