Richard Makinster of Marion has been appointed as Master of the Iowa District of the Father Padilla Province Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree, for a term effective September 1, 2006 and concluding August 31, 2008. The Fourth Degree of the Knights of Columbus was formed in 1899 as the patriotic degree of the Order. The degree was intended to tell those Protestants, who believed that Catholics first allegiance was to the pope in Rome and not to their American citizenship, that such a belief was totally false. Thus Fourth Degree members participated in patriotic activities, and marched in public parades in their uniforms of formal Prince Albert suits, top hats, a scabbard sword held in place with a baldric emblazoned with red and blue stripes on white background to demonstrate publicly, their primary allegiance to this country. The sword symbolized allegiance. |
The first Iowa assembly to be instituted was Loras Assembly located in Davenport, Iowa in November 1902. Presently there are a total of 29 assemblies in the Father Padilla Province, Iowa District, under the leadership of State Master Henry W. Fullick of Clinton, Iowa, who is the executive officer and representative of Supreme Master Nestor Barber. The Fourth Degree is the highest and most prestigious degree within the Knights of Columbus. It is a group of outstanding Knights who are dedicated to the service of their Church, their country and our Order. These men are unified in the Fourth Degree to support religious, civic and charitable causes. Membership in the Fourth Degree may be made to any Assembly provided the applicant is over eighteen years of age. A practical Catholic in union with the Holy See and Third Degree member in good standing in his council and who was initiated in the Admission (First) Degree at least six months prior to his initiation in the Fourth Degree. Normally an applicant would have to be initiated in the First Degree for twelve months prior to his initiation in the Fourth Degree, but Supreme Master Nestor Barber extending the six-month wavier rule to be effective January 1, 2004 through December 31, 2004.
As a Fourth Degree Knight you have the opportunity to become part of our color corps. As a color corps member, you will be recognized widely by the distinctive attire of tuxedo, feathered chapeau, cape and sword. Color corps members regularly take part in civic events such as parades and wreath-laying ceremonies, and in ecclesial functions at Catholic churches.