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Membership Information
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downloadable copy of the front of this flyer..
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downloadable copy of the back of this flyer..
WHO CAN BECOME A KNIGHT ..?
Membership in the Knights of Columbus
is open to practical Catholic men in union with the Holy See, who shall not
be less than 18 years of age on their last birthday. A practical Catholic is
one who lives up to the Commandments of God and the precepts of the Church.
Application blanks are available from any member of the Knights of Columbus.
Every knight is happy to propose eligible Catholic men for consideration as
members. Acceptance of the applicant depends upon a vote of the members
of the subordinate council in which he is making application. All
priests and religious brothers having duly made application for membership
and participated in the ceremonials become honorary life members of the Order
and are exempt from payment of dues.
How much time will be involved?
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here for the
answer.
Application for membership must be
made through the council in the community nearest the applicant's place of
residence. Interested prospects without a permanent domicile, such as men
temporarily away from home through duty in the armed forces, may make
application through their hometown council or at the nearest council on a
military base.
If favorably voted upon, the
applicant becomes a member by initiation known as the First Degree. He
subsequently is advanced through the Second Degree and the Third Degree.
There are modest initiation fees and
dues set by subordinate councils under regulations established by the Supreme
Council. The insurance privileges are available to all members who can
qualify, which represents an important advantage of membership. For men in
every walk of life the name Knights of Columbus engenders the image of a
united organization, efficiently going about it tasks of charity, unity,
fraternity, patriotism and defense of the priesthood. It is composed of men
who are giving unselfishly of their time and talents in service of God and
their country.
Membership in the Knights of Columbus
provides opportunity for wholesome association with congenial companions who
are, first of all, practical Catholic gentlemen. It offers the opportunity
for fellowship with those who are of the same belief, who recognize the same
duty to God, to family and to neighbor and who stand side by side in defense
of those beliefs. Programs are so organized as to appeal to the individual
interest of the members. Through many constructive activities of Christian
fraternity, members are enabled to render service to their Church, their
country and their fellowman. Through membership they develop a consciousness
of their ability to lead and to assist.
Organized Columbianism, united behind
the individual Knight of Columbus, provides the power of an intelligent,
alert body of Catholic men--a strength which the individual by himself cannot
achieve. Knights of Columbus
has a proud heritage. The qualified Catholic man can share in that heritage
and build an even greater future by affiliating himself with this forceful,
effective body.
The Patriotic Degree
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. Certain members of the
Fourth Degree serve as honor guards at civic and religious functions, an
activity which has brought worldwide recognition to the Knights of Columbus
organization.
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