final thoughts

Commentary

            Most of the work I did on The Knights of Columbus went smoothly. They have a very helpful website that has information on almost every aspect of the group. I had only a few problems with my study. The first was not being able to attend any meetings. The meetings are “secretive” and for Knights members only so I was not allowed to observe. The other problem I found was distinguishing members of The Knights of Columbus from regular people in KC halls. They are open to the public. It was a little awkward walking around asking older men if they were members. Everything else ran smoothly and all members I talked to were very helpful and polite.

the lapel pin emblem

Father Michael Mcgiveney

Comments

           Most of the work I did on The Knights of Columbus went smoothly. They have a very helpful website that has information on almost every aspect of the group. I had only a few problems with my study. The first was not being able to attend any meetings. The meetings are “secretive” and for Knights members only so I was not allowed to observe. The other problem I found was distinguishing members of The Knights of Columbus from regular people in KC halls. They are open to the public. It was a little awkward walking around asking older men if they were members. Everything else ran smoothly and all members I talked to were very helpful and polite.

thoughts!

When I began this research study, I chose the Knights of Columbus with no other reason then that it was the first thing that came to mind. I previously had no knowledge of exactly what this group was about. I had no other thoughts on them other then they are “nice.” Even though I was raised as a Catholic, I found my beginning research to be uninteresting and boring. They just seemed to be a group of older men that hang out at KC Halls drinking with buddies and I was not going to have much in common with them. After learning just how “nice” these guys are, I realized that I would like to be more like them. To be less selfish, and do things that benefits others.       

dress

full regalia

When you see the Knights of Columbus dressed up in their full regalia they indeed look rather “odd” with their capes and sword and feathered hats. The Knights wear these outfits for special occasions such as first communions, confirmations, Easter, and Christmas masses, and parades. At these events the honor guards are required to wear a black tuxedo, cummerbund or vest, black bow tie, black socks, black polished shoes,

pleated white shirt with color, black studs and cufflinks, official lapel pin,  a service baldric and sword, cape of the appropriate color, chapeaux, and white gloves. Color guards carry flags. Being unfamiliar with some of these terms I had to ask what a service baldric and chapeaux are. “The service baldric is a strap the fourth degree honor guards wear to hold their swords… The chapeaux is the hat with the fourth degree emblem and white feathers the knights wear.” (Hood)

The Knights are only required to wear their full regalia for certain, special occasions. For social dress, such as catering weddings at their hall, they wear the same apparel excluding the chapeaux, flag, sword and social baldric and add on a name tag and any military award pins.  For business meetings they can wear a suit and tie or dress business casual. When just hanging out in the KC Halls there is no dress code regulations and can dress however they like.

Structure

The Knights of Columbus has a complex hierarchy of power. They have a Supreme Council which is the governing body of the entire organization. This council elects seven members to the Supreme Board of Directors for three-year terms. The board has twenty-one members and they are responsible for electing the senior operating officials and the Supreme Knight, from its members. “Each state, the District of Columbia, every province in Canada, and many other jurisdictions have State Councils.” (“Knights of Columbus”) These councils are ran by State Deputies. District Deputies are appointed by the Supreme Knight, with recommendation from the State Deputy. These District Deputies oversee a variety of local councils; each being ran by a Grand Knight. The Grand Knight is responsible for his KC Hall and members of the council. “In each hall there are elected council officers with Grand Knight (being the head), the Deputy Grand Knight, Chancellor, Warden, Recorder, Treasurer, Advocate, Guards, and Trustees.” (“Knights of Columbus”) Lastly would be the members which are ranked by four degrees. First degree is the new members who have joined the order. Each degree focuses on a virtue of the four core principles: Charity, Unity, Fraternity, and Patriotism. When reaching the third degree a member is considered a full member. The fourth degree is optional and is the highest degree of this order. “Only about 18% of members reach this degree.” (Curran) Each member of the Knights of Columbus receives an Emblem representing their membership. Fourth degree members have a separate emblem to represent their rank.