Knights of Columbus with Four Degrees - Episode #7 - The Losses are staggering in the 4th Degree.
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- Опубликовано: 8 фев 2025
- Sir Knight Al Smith aka (The Gas Man) has created a new video series entitled "K of C with Four Degrees". It is a continuation of his two acclaimed video series called "Regalia Therapy" and "Regalia Rhetoric".
Al with his 30 plus years with the Knights will explore some of the challenges facing many of the members of the Knights of Columbus of the Fourth Degree. Whether it be the old uniform versus the new uniform; berets versus chapeaus; blazers versus capes, Al will explore both sides of this debate in the best way he knows possible. He will also talk about the upcoming changes to the degrees, councils and assemblies.
On this episode, Al will talk about the losses being experienced within the ranks of the fourth degree.
Losses in membership, losses to the community and losses of the traditions and principles of the order by its' members.
Al Smith was recently in New York City and was approached by a reporter looking for a few insights and to talk about these issues with him.
Enjoy.
JMJ
Thank you brother night. It is refreshing to hear you say that we need to get back to the core principals. This uniform and some behavior of certain members that I have seen that it shifting from patriotism to nationalism. This uniform that is not ugly is good for certain ceremonies but personally in a procession at church it takes away the mistery and rituals by a distraction of a "paramilitary look alike unit". You are right, our real patriotism is heaven, our mission. It seems in some members I noticed latelly nation is more important, questioning the clergy, the vatican, etc. Let's continue to pray so we go back to our real mission.
Despite the continuous push by the Supreme Council to gain membership, it is unfortunate that Supreme Council is willing to suspend and lose membership over the 4th Degree uniforms while the Supreme Council are more than willing to make councils and assemblies jump through hoops only to retain and not suspend or not lose members who do not pay and keep current on their dues.
If a member is asked to leave or "kicked out" as a result of this new regalia controversy and is an insured member, is Supreme suspending their participation in KofC Life insurance, annuities, or long term care contacts they own? It is interesting that non dues paying members or past members who no longer wish to be associated with the Knights are retained on the council rolls.
How I understand things is that a suspended member who holds insurance or investment products remains a member (Customer) of the order. The official status of the member changes from 'Active' to 'Inactive'.
@@AllanSmithandTheSchoolOfSheen Thanks. The inactive status is someone who no longer pays dues although the council is now required to pay his fee.
given a choice I would be more likely to get the new uniform that you are wearing than the old regalia. I always thought the regalia was a little ostentatious. with the new uniform I am seriouly think of going for the fourth degree. I would love to get my forth degree in new haven, but cannot.
Sir Knight Michael Mooney GK FS PGK PDGK PW PIG POG
Brothers,
I would be very careful about what you say on her about the regalia and the new degree. Someone in a high position in the order might see it and may cause issues for you, your council and assembly and even the Church. I did the four degrees of Our Order for 10 years. I was even a CO for the third degree. I enjoyed do degrees and the people I met through them. It is for those reasons why I am in favor of this new degree and one ceremonial. A lot of times I would really go out of my way for a degree. I would take time away from work and family many times and did a lot of traveling and spent some big bucks while doing it. However, after doing all this sacrificing it was not worth it in the end because of the lack of candidates. I also feel getting rid of secrets was a super great idea. I had one parish refuse to have a council formed there because of the secrets. I've had members go through the first degree and request withdraw the next day or even after the degree because they don't like secrets. For all these reasons I am in huge favor of one public ceremonial teaching Charity, Unity and Fraternity!
The old regalia was odd at best. The chapeau, was way out there and looked like something worn for Halloween if you wanted to be Admiral of the high seas. Now add the brightly colored plumes. Ok, so now lets add a cape. Again, Halloween time, fine for Dracula or Superman. Lets add to that a black formal tuxedo, basic, like something Ricky Ricardo would wear at the Club Babalu. Now we will add a sword and sash. Again, odd at best, but in my opinion, something worn at a PRIVATE closed doors ceremony, no problem, kind of like the Fraternal Eagles, or say, the Masons. But at Church or in public, it looked odd. At Church it almost seems as if the K of C are trying too hard to outshine the pastor and the Eucharist with the bright costumes and the paramilitary sword calls. The attitude seems to be "LOOK AT US" not "We are servants" I can see Law Enforcement, Firefighters or Military standing honor guard at funerals of their own in Uniform. But the K of C seems to want to be like that. Again, fine if done in a private ceremony, but odd at Church. Now the new Uniforms, toned down quite a bit, I am not sure about the berets, trying to hard to look military again. The Suit is a nice improvement, again, the medals are trying to hard to be military, and are those earned or bought? If you are in the military and at war and are wounded or KIA you earn the Purple Heart...Same thing with Police or Firefighter, you receive medals for saving lives in valor. "A past state deputy, former supreme director, former vicesupreme
master, former district master, and former district deputy, past grand
knight, or past faithful navigator is authorized to wear the miniature
medal of these previously held offices" You get a medal for appointing committees/holding office? That again is not valor. But it is essentially a fraternal organization.
I am fine with the paramilitary "look" but it you want to serve Jesus, go into the ghettos and the bad neighborhoods. Feed HIS poor, clothe them, hell, give the heroin addicts clean needles, go to homeless shelters and mop the floors, volunteer to help serve meals and clean the kitchens, go to shelters for women who suffer domestic violence and offer food, clothing, toiletries and take the children toys. You might not be able to do that and wear the tuxedo and the chapeau, you might need a simple polo shirt with the KoC symbol and an apron. VIVAT JESUS and AVE MARIA!
The Knights do a whole lot of good work. But I think they should go back to secrecy and not be so outlandish with the gear. You cannot be both.
If we have lost over 1000 due to suspensions, maybe the brotherhood should start admitting nonCatholics, women, open homosexuals and transgenders
Weak. Why did you change the regalia? National needs to be thrown out
@Sean Hardman No need to "get with the times" they were classic
Seems more like a cult!