Who Are The KNIGHTS Of COLUMBUS And Who Do They Serve

 I wrote another hub on this from the standpoint of being a wife of one.  During my process of learning about doing hubs and other things throughout my journey of life, I decided to come from the professional view.  My hub A Knight's Wife has been taken down.  If you left a comment there, maybe you can make the same one here.  I am currently working on the Highest Order of a Brother Knight, which is the 4th Degree and it the Patriotic Division of the Knight's of Columbus Order.  I know that I promised it sooner, but it was difficult in finding the proper information about that Degree.

There is plenty of information here for those who are interested in learning about or taking their Degrees to become a Worth Brother Knight.  If, by chance, you are seeking more information then is provided here don't hesitate to contact me or leave it in the comments.  I will do everything that I can to assist you.

The Knight's Of Columbus is strictly for men who are 18 years old and are practising Catholic's. Sponsors are important to let the Council know more about the new candidate who is applying for membership. The Knight's Of Columbus is a charity that helps their own and other charities and non profit organizations. Just to mention a few of the organizations that it helps are

Catholic Charities, C-CAP, Loaves and Fishes, Raise funds for Unwed mother's through a Money-filled Baby Bottle Drive, The Handicapped and Mentally Disabled through Tootsie Roll Drives. Scholarships, Retirement Funds for retiring priests, local sports teams, they help raise money for those who are in financial or medical need, they also have FREE Throw and Soccer Contests. These start at the local level and progress to the District and then State levels. Awards are College Scholarships. Other things they do, at least in our area are Kite Flying Day and sell home-made Apple Butter at Fairs.

Within the organization and to help facilitate their organization at a Non-Profit level are Council Dinners and Dances, Church Lenten Suppers, Spaghetti Dinners, Cook Outs, Pancake breakfasts on Sunday's for the parishioners and having one for the celebration of First Communion, Fathers Day Events and various Bingo nights. They are very creative in how they bring money in for their operation and giving back to the community. There are many other awards given and \they will be discussed later.

If you ever see someone standing outside a Grocery Store giving out tootsie rolls, please give, it is for a good cause. You don't have to take the Tootsie roll.

One other thing that needs mentioning is the "Keep Christ In Christmas" Christmas Card fundraiser. It is every Christmas that these cards are sold. If you hear of this please go purchase a box of cards for your Christmas card giving.

On Oct. 2, 1881, a small group of men met in the basement of St. Mary’s Church on Hillhouse Avenue in New Haven, Connecticut. Called together by their 29-year-old parish priest, Father Michael J. McGivney, these men formed a fraternal society that would one day become the world’s largest Catholic family fraternal service organization.

They sought strength in solidarity, and security through unity of purpose and devotion to a holy cause: they vowed to be defenders of their country, their families and their faith.

These men were bound together by the ideal of Christopher Columbus, the discoverer of the Americas, the one whose hand brought Christianity to the New World. Their efforts came to fruition with the incorporation of the Knights of Columbus on March 29, 1882.

 They were Knights of Columbus.

Sometimes the Officers are installed at a Mass. They are lined up in the form of a cross in the following order. Listed are some of their responsibilities

The Guards; Inside and Outside: they are responsible for maintaining order and security of the counicl meetings.

Advocate Elect represents brothers in all fraternal legal affairs in which your council may be involved.

Trustees Elect (3): guardians of your council’s funds.

Lecturer Elect: His duty is to provide enjoyable, informative, and educational programs for your council.

Treasurer Elect: responsible for funds for the council providing a checks and balance for the financial portion of the council.

The Warden's function is to set up the chamber, keeps the council jewels in proper condition.and provides guidance to the candidates for membership in the council.

Recorder Elect is assigned the important task of maintaining a full and accurate account of all Council meetings and actions

Chansellor's duty is to be the wise advisor for the leaders in the council.

**Financial Secretary. This is an appointed position and will be discussed later.

Deputy Grand Knight's responsibility is to be the Grand Knight's Right Hand Man in all dealings with the council and it's functions. He is also expected to be available should the Grand Knight become unavailble.

Grand Knight is directly responsible for all business relating to the council and for it's success.

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The State Chairs are run the same as the Council chairs only they operate at the State Level. Those chairs are:

State Deputy, State Secretary, State Treasurer, State Advocate, State Warden, Immediate Past State Deputy (similar to the Trustee's role in the Council).

Beyond the Individual State Officers begins the Supreme Offices and Appointments. The Knight's Of Columbus are in many other countries besides the United States. They are in Mexico, Guam, The Philippines, The UK, Canada and many other jurisdictions.

There are Degrees that one takes to learn in steps to becoming a full fledged Knight. Each degree teaches him something within the church values and within himself. There is a ceremony (secret to anyone but those who work in the degree team. Even I am not allowed to know what goes on in them. These are put on by a Degree Team and must pass some sort of test to get to the next level of Degree.

The First Degree is put on by the Council's First Degree team and teaches Charity

The Second Degree is put on by a District Degree Team and teaches Unity.

The Third Degree, and the most functional of the degrees together, teaches Fraternity In order to be involved in the offices (Chairs) one needs to be Third Degree. The top chair is Grand Knight and the lowest is Guard. The State is in charge of The Third Degree Team.

***The Fourth Degree is a branch off of the Third Degree in that one has to be Third Degree for one full year before one can be a member of The 4th Degree. It is a separate entity of The Knight's Of Columbus which patriotism is it's main principal.

Each of these offices or chairs also have Awards Presentations.

Grand Knight Appoints

Elector whose function is to choose and puts on the programs for each of the meetings.

Program Director is in charge of the Church, Community, Famliy, Youth and Council committees. They report their program activites to him.

Supreme Appointments

Financial Secretary, a 4 year term

State Program Director is in charge of the Council Program Director and is responsible for distributing Awards.

District Deputies who are the main informational connection between the Councils in their district and the State Deputy.

Membership Director His job is to insure that each council keeps up with their quota in membership.

****Membership Director, at the council level is appointed by the Grand Knight and on the State level it is appointed by the State Deputy..

The State also has Insurance Representatives who sell Life Insurance Policies to the Knight's. If a Knight shoudl pass away, the widow is taken care of until she passes from this Earth. They care for their own.

Third Degree Exemplification is a very important and a day of celebration.  While the gentlemen go to the degree for the day the Lady's enjoy their own program.  The District Deputy and Grand Knight's wives sets up the program

Mid-Year State Meeting evaluates what has been done and what has to be done.

State Convention--Is the highlight of the year.  It is highly celebrated with Lady's programs, dinner and dance, Mass and awards given out for yearly achievements. State Officers are elected at this time for the coming Fraternity year.