About Us

The Visible Arm of Order

On February 22, 1900, the first exemplification of the Fourth Degree was held in New York City. To the three original principles of the Order: charity, unity and fraternity, the ritual added patriotism. The focus of the Fourth Degree is on this principle - an abiding love for and devotion to one's country. 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.

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 led by a Vice-Supreme Master. The province is then broken up into districts each of which contains a number of local Assemblies lead by a Navigator. A Master is in charge of a District and usually has a District Marshal to assist him.

Certain 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. Honor Guards have mastered the "Manual of the Sword". The Master wears a gold baldric and badge while his District Marshal wears a green baldric and badge. The Navigator of an Assembly wears a white baldric while his Color Corps Commander wears a purple baldric. Finally, all other members of the Color Corps wear a red and white Baldric.

As members of the Color Corps, we are the visible part of the Order. When the public sees us in parades, they see the visible arm of "The Knights of Columbus". When we attend wakes and/or funerals of our deceased brothers all see the visible "Knights of Columbus". In the many parishes in which we serve, our fellow Catholics see "the Knights of Columbus".
Eligibility for Membership in the Fourth Degree
To be eligible to become a Fourth Degree member, you must be a Third Degree member in good standing, and you must be sponsored by a Sir Knight. Exemplifications are usually held throughout the year and in different places in the state.

If you are interested in becoming a Fourth Degree Sir Knight, see our "Join Us" page and we'll contact you shortly, or see your Grand Knight for a Form-4 Application and have a Sir Knight sponsor you and submit your Application to his Assembly. Fourth Degree members must retain their membership as Third Degree members in the local council to remain in good standing. Come Grow with Us! There is a place for you among the over 1.8 million Knights of Columbus family members who already "Celebrate Faith, Family and Fraternity" as a member in our order. Make your family a part of ours, join today!

Our Story

We are the Patriot, and Fourth Degree of our Knights of Columbus order. We have seven Assemblies, of which twenty-nine parish Councils are aligned-- five on Oahu, one on Maui, and one on the the Big Island of Hawaii.

Fourth Degree Sir Knights, in the Patriot Degree uniform, 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.

However, we have many civic and religious activities and events that do not require, wear of the uniform. We espouse these sacred words of our US Constitution, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

Life include the unborn and the elderly; Liberty include our ability to worship and proclaim the Gospel; Happiness is not found in the downtrodden, the struggling, the homeless, and our brothers and sisters in need. Let the inspiration of our patriarch, Father Michael J. McGivney, prompt us to greater confidence in your love so that we may continue his work of caring for the needy and the outcast