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Structure of the Knights of Columbus
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- The Hierarchy of the Knight of Columbus leadership starts
at the Supreme Council, and moves to States, Districts
and Local Councils. All members must belong to a Local
Council. For those that have completed the 4th degree,
there are Assemblies which are grouped by Districts,
Provinces, and finally governed at the National level. If
you are a Grand Knight or Past Grand Knight (PGK)
you may belong to a Chapter.
- Squire Circles are for the Catholic male youth, ages 12
to 18. Circles must be sponsored by a Council or Assembly.
Below is a listing of the Officer Titles for each part of
the organization with a basic explanation of their
functions.
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- The Supreme Council consists of the State Deputy and the
last living Past State Deputy of the various state
Councils; the Past Supreme Knights; Supreme Officers as ex
officio members (Supreme Knight, Supreme Chaplain,
Deputy Supreme Knight, Supreme Secretary, Supreme
Treasurer, Supreme Advocate, Supreme Physician and
Supreme Warden); the Supreme Directors, jewel pictured
right, (24 insurance members elected for three-year
terms by the Supreme Council at its annual meeting); and
such delegates as are duly chosen by the state Councils. (Section 4 of the Charter, Constitution,
Laws)
- The State Council includes the following officers and
directors: State Deputy, State Chaplain, State Secretary,
State Treasurer, State Advocate, State Warden, Program
Director, Membership Director, and Operations Director.
The State Council also includes the last living past
State Deputy, the Grand Knight, and Past Grand Knight
from each Local Council. The State Deputy's Jewel, pictured
left, consist of the Sextant and the State's Seal for
the Knights of Columbus. (Section 11
of the Charter, Constitution, Laws)
- The District level includes a District Deputy. Districts
are composed of serveral councils in the same geographic
region. The District Deputy has general charge of the
councils, is responsible for overseeing the
Exemplification of the Second Degree, and installs
Council Officers. The District Deputy's jewel is a
Sextant and Feather with the words "District Deputy"
laid acrossed them and suspended from a red ribbon. These
symbolizes his role in helping to guide the Councils in
his district. (Sections 60-62 of the
Charter, Constitution, Laws)
- At the Council level there are 17 Officers, of whom 12
are elected. Below is a listing of the Council Officers,
a picture of the Jewel they wear, a brief explanation of
their functions, and a description of the Ceremonial Robe.
Explanations of the jewels are taken from the "Official Knights of Columbus Emblems
and Council Jewels" booklet.
- The Chaplain provides spirtual guidance and direction to
the Council. The Chaplain is selected by the Grand
Knight, Deputry Grand Knight and the three Trustees on an
annual basis in accordance with the rules of the Bishop
of the diocese. His jewel is the Isabella Cross in silver
and blue suspended from a black ribbon. The Chaplain's
Ceremonial Office Robe is black with black trimming and a
yoke with white projecting collar. The cincture is black
with silver fringe. (Duties taken
from section 128 of the Charter, Constitution, Laws)
- The Grand Knight is the top ranking officer of the
Council. He oversees all of the Council's activities and
is elected by the members of the Council. Some of his
duties include presiding over meetings, countersigning
orders and checks, reading vouchers and notices relative
to the Fourth Degee. His jewel is an Anchor which is
suspended from a purple ribbon. The Anchor is indicative
of Admiral Christopher Columbus and has also been a
variant form of the Cross for centuries. The Grand
Knight's ceremonial officer robe is royal purple. He
wears a white cincture with silver fringe and a purple
mantle with white roll collar. (Duties
taken from section 135 of the Charter, Constitution, Laws)
 The Deputy Grand Knight is
second ranking officer of the Council and is elected by
the members of the Council. He shall preside in the
absence or inability of the Grand Knight. His jewel is
the Compass, also known as the Compass of Virtue,
suspended from a purple ribbon, with the four main points
representing Charity, Unity, Fraternity and Patriotism.
The 32 points around the outside of the compass represent
the virtues which a man can possess. The compass is an
important tool in navigation. The Deputy Grand Knight's
ceremonial officer robe is royal purple. He wears a white
cincture with silver fringe. (Duties
taken from section 136 of the Charter, Constitution, Laws)
 The Chancelor is the third highest ranking
officer of the Council and is elected by the members of
the Council. The Chancelor shall assist the Grand Knight
and Deputy Grand Knight in the performance of their
duties and shall take charge during the incapacity or
extended abscense of both. He shall exercise a special
interest in new members and members who are sick or in
distress. His jewel is the Skull and Crossed Bones on the
Isabella Cross and is suspended from a black over white
ribbon. The Crossed Bones remind us of our immortality.
The Chancelor's ceremonial officer robe is black robe
trimmed with white. He wears a white cincture with silver
fringe and a black mantle with white roll collar. (Duties taken from section 137 of the
Charter, Constitution, Laws)
 The Recorder keeps the minutes of the
meeting and the historical records for the Council. He is
elected by the Council members. In the absence of the
Grand Knight, Deputy Grand Knight, and Chancelor the
Recorder will run the meeting. Also, he is responsible
for the correspondence of the Council as directed by the
Grand Knight. The Recorder's jewel is Crossed Quill Pens
suspended from a white over yellow ribbon. The Quill pens
are symbolic of his record keeping functions of the
Scribe. The Recorder's ceremonial officer robe is black,
trimmed with black. He wears a white cincture with silver
fringe. (Duties taken from section
138 of the Charter, Constitution, Laws)
 The Financial Secretary handles
of the financial transaction record keeping. This
includes issuing and collecting bills, issuing membership
cards, etc. The Fiancial Secretary is appointed by the
Supreme Knight and is compensated in a manner approved by
the Board of Directors. His jewel is the Quill Pen (record-keeper)
and the Key (money, safe-keeping, and secrecy) crossed
and is suspended from a white over yellow ribbon. This
symbolizes his record keeping functions of the financial
matters of the Council. The Financial Secretary's
ceremonial officer robe is black, trimmed with black. He
wears a white cincture with silver fringe. (Duties
taken from section 139 of the Charter, Constitution, Laws)
 The Treasurer is responsible for the funds
of the Council as is elected by the members of the
Council. His duties include such functions as maintaining
bank accounts and issuing checks based on receipts turned
in by the Financial Secretary. His jewel is Crossed Keys,
which represents responsibility for the safe keeping of
the funds, suspended from a blue ribbon. The Tresurer's
ceremonial officer robe is black, trimmed with black. He
wears a white cincture with silver fringe. (Duties
taken from section 140 of the Charter, Constitution, Laws)
 The Lecturer is responsible for the
entertainment at the Knights of Columbus meetings and
functions. He is selected by the Grand Knight on an
annual basis. His jewel consists of the Scroll over the
Lyre suspended from a white over blue ribbon. The Scroll
and Lyre respresent Literature and Music. The Lecutrer's
ceremonial officer robe is black, trimmed with national
blue. He wears a blue cincture with silver fringe. (Duties taken from section 141 of the
Charter, Constitution, Laws)
 The Advocate is the Chief Legal Officer for
the Council as is elected by the members of the Council.
His jewel consists of a Scroll and Sword suspended from a
yellow ribbon. The Scroll represents the legal literature
and law and the Sword represents his authority to enfore
those Laws. The Advocate's ceremonial officer robe is
black, trimmed with golden yellow. He wears a yellow
cincture with silver fringe. (Duties
taken from section 142 of the Charter, Constitution, Laws)
 The Warden assures that all members at
meetings possess the current membership card and is
elected by the members of the council. He is custodian of
all Council property except funds and is in charge of
properly setting up the Council Chamber. He directs the
activities of the Inside and Outside Guards. His jewel
consists of Axe bound by Fasces and is suspended from a
red over black ribbon. Guards or protectors of Roman
Magistrates generally caried the Axe and Fasces as a sign
of Authority. The Warden's ceremonial officer robe is
black, trimmed with scarlet. He wears a scarlet cincture
with silver fringe. (Duties taken
from section 143 of the Charter, Constitution, Laws)
 The Inside & Outside Guards each have the
same symbol for their jewel. They are in charge of
security at the meetings and are to assist the Warden as
needed. The jewel for the Guards consists of an Crossed
Axes and Key, representing their authority as sentries at
the door, is suspended from a white ribbon. The Guard's
ceremonial officer robe is grey with a yoke, trimmed with
black. He wears a black cincture with silver fringe and .
(Duties taken from section 144 of
the Charter, Constitution, Laws)
 There are three Trustees in each Council,
title as 1 Year Trustee, 2 Year Trustee, and 3 Year
Trustee. They oversee the financial transactions of the
Council, review all bills and financial reports and audit
the Council's financial records semi-annually. Their
jewel is the Crossed Key and Sword, which represents
their financial authority, is suspended from a green
ribbon. The Trustee's ceremonial officer robe is black,
trimmed with green. He wears a green cincture with silver
fringe. (Duties taken from section
145 of the Charter, Constitution, Laws)
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- Another degree open to members of the Knights of Columbus
is that of the Fourth (or Patriotic) Degree. On February
22, 1900, the first exemplification of that degree was
held in New York City. The 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. The primary
purpose of the Fourth Degree is to foster the spirit of
partiotism 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.
- 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. The province is then broken up into districts
each of which should contain no more than eight
assemblies. A Master is in charge of a District and wears
gold lined cape and chapeau. 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 positon. The
Assembly is structured in much the same manner as a
Council. Below is a chart that shows the 4th Degree
Assembly Officer's title and the 3rd Degree Council
eqivalent.
| 4th
Degree Officer Title |
3rd
Degree Officer Title |
Faithful Navigator
Faithful Friar
Faithful Captain
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 Chaplain
Worthy Deputy Grand Knight
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 |
- 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 Guardsmen
have mastered the "Manual of the Swordsmen".
The District Commander of the Color Corps wears a green
line cape and chapeau. The Color Corp Commander wears a
purple line cape and chapeau. Finally, all other members
of the Color Corp wear red lined capes and white chapeaus.
 |
 |
 |
Vice-Supreme
Master |
Master
|
District
Marshall
District Commander |
 |
 |
 |
Faithful
Navigator |
Color
Corp
Commander |
Color
Corp
Member |
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- Chapters are made up of the Grand Knights and Past Grand
Knights from several councils in the same geographic area.
The Officers include a Chaplain, President, Vice-President,
Secretary, Treasurer, Marshall, and Advocate.
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- In 1923 Christian Brother Barnabas McDonald, a noted
expert in the field of social welfare work with young
people, created an official youth organization for the
Knights of Columbus. What Brother Barnabas devised was
the Columbian Squires.
- Brother Barnabas called for the formation of the Squires
as an elite group of boy leaders. The first Circle,
Duluth Circle 1 in Duluth, Minnesota, was instituted in
August 1925.
- The Hierarchy of a Columbian Squire Circle is Chief
Squire, Deputy Chief Squire, Notary Squire, Bursur
Squire, Marshall Squire, and Sentry Squire. There are two
primary adult positions to provide guidance to the youth,
Chief Counsellor and Father Prior.
- Their jewels all contain a shield mounted on sword with
the Office listed across the top and symbol of the office
on the shield. The Circle Officer's Jewel is suspended
from a blue ribbon. The State Officer's Jewels is
suspended from a Gold Ribbon.
- Approximately 26,000 Squires belong to more than 1,000
Circles. The Squires are active throughout the United
States, Canada, the Philippines, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and
Guam. In 1995, Circles donated more than $302,000 in
charitable contributions and volunteered 461,400 hours of
community service to such causes.
Special Thanks to the Monsignor Hunt Council #3312 for providing this information.
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