Finally, all other members of the Color Corps wear a Red Cape and White Chapeau.Īs members of the Color Corps, we are the visible part of the Order. The Navigator of an Assembly wears a White Cape and Chapeau while his Color Corps Commander wears a Purple Cape and Chapeau.

The Master wears a Gold Cape and Chapeau while his District Marshal wears a green cape and chapeau. Honor Guards have mastered the 'Manual of the Sword'. A Master is in charge of a District and usually has a District Marshal to assist him.Ĭertain members of the Fourth Degree serve as Color Guards and Honor Guards at civic and religious functions, an activity which has brought worldwide recognition to the Knights of Columbus organization. The province is then broken up into districts each of which contains a number of local Assemblies lead by a Navigator. Each province is led by a Vice-Supreme Master. The next level of the structure is broken into provinces of which there are twenty. Starting at the Supreme level there is the Supreme Master and the Supreme Board of Directors. 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. The focus of the Fourth Degree is on this principle - an abiding love for and devotion to one's country.

To the three original principles of the Order: charity, unity and fraternity, the ritual added patriotism. On February 22, 1900, the first exemplification of the Fourth Degree was held in New York City. History of the Fourth Degree The Patriotic Degree

Knights of columbus 4th degree