At the dawn of the 20th Century, Catholics in America were subject to intense persecution and hostility from groups that tried to paint them as immigrant

invaders and outsiders. Rabid anti-Catholic publications such as The Menace said Catholics were a “Romanist” threat to true patriotism. It was into such climate that the Knights of Columbus established its Fourth Degree, to focus on patriotism and show the world that love of God and country go hand in hand.

The first Sir Knights of the Fourth Degree took part in exemplification on Feb. 22, 1900, in New York City.

Drawn from the ranks of Third Degree Knights, the Fourth Degree fosters the spirit of patriotism and encourages active Catholic citizenship. There are more than 300,000 Sir Knights out of 1.78 million total  Knights of Columbus.

Fourth Degree Knights can participate in the color corps, whose members are distinctively attired in tuxedo, plumed chapeau, cape and sword. Color corps members participate in civic events like parades and wreath-laying ceremonies, and at ecclesial functions at Catholic churches. The Fourth Degree and the color corps are known as the “visible arm of the order.”

Racine Knights were involved with patriotic activities virtually from inception of Council 697 in 1902.

Racine Knights belonged to Fourth Degree assemblies in Milwaukee from 1911, but it wasn’t until fall 1947 that Racine established its own Fourth Degree assembly. In October 1952, the assembly was named in honor of Right Rev. Monsignor Anthony G. Weiler, first  faithful friar of the Racine assembly and a former chaplain of Council 697. He died in 1950.

The Monsignor Anthony G. Weiler General Assembly 1207 includes
Fourth Degree Knights from Council 697 in Racine and Monsignor Dreis Council 4831 in Sturtevant / Caledonia.

OFFICERS 2010-2011:

Faithful Navigator - Jim Sisak

Faithful Captain - Joe Hanneman

Faithful Admiral - Tom Goetz

Faithful Friar - Rev. Richard Molter

Faithful Pilot - John Murphy

Faithful Comptroller - Bill Frayer

Faithful Purser - Gary Brown

Faithful Scribe - John Shelby

Faithful Inner Sentinel - John Clark

Faithful Outer Sentinel - Frank Prevatt

Faithful One-Year Trustee - Don Nienhaus

Faithful Two-Year Trustee - Bill Wehnert   

Faithful Three-Year Trustee - Bill Pinnow

Over more than 60 years, many hundreds of men have belonged to and served Racine’s Fourth Degree Assembly. More than 50 men have served as Faithful Navigator.

Racine’s earliest Fourth Degree Sir Knights date to at least 1905. The first Fourth Degree Knights attended exemplification in Chicago or Milwaukee. Racine Assembly 697 (later changed to 1207) was chartered in 1947.

The plumed hat worn by Fourth Degree members of the Color Corps is called a chapeau. The chapeau resembles a mariner’s hat and hearkens to the days of Christopher Columbus. Color Corps regalia also includes a tuxedo, cape and sword.

Racine’s Fourth Degree Honor Guard in 1954. Msgr. Witkowiak is at center.