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Our Catholic Heritage in Texas
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during World War II to have been as great as that rendered during World War I. Tl,e Fourth Degree of tke Order. In the beginning, as already men- tioned, there were three Orders in the ritual of the Society. Several addi- tional Degrees were contemplated for a while, but all, except the Fourth, were abandoned when in 1899 the tentative ceremonial for additi"onal de- gree work was rejected by Bishop Harkins of Providence, R. I. To this day, the Fourth Degree remains the highest within the Order, and forms a Commandery or Uniform Rank. It is the regalia of this Degree that has become well known to all those who have watched the uniformed Knights in processions, parades, and Church services. displaying the colorful emblem of the Order and their ceremonial swords. The ceremonial of this Degree, written by a committee of four, which received the approval of the Supreme Board of Directors and, when sub- mitted to the Apostolic Delegate in Washington, Archbishop Martinelli, later Cardinal, was likewise approved by him in January, 1900, stresses primarily patriotism and love of country. The first exemplification took place that year on February 22, Washington's birthday. Twelve hundred candidates were admitted to the new Degree that day in New York City. The necessary regulations having been adopted, the Supreme Assembly of the Fourth Degree of the Knights of Columbus appointed the first Supreme Master. The choice fell on John H. Reddin, of Denver, who two years later was to have the distinction of instituting the first Council of the Third Degree in El Paso. Any Knight in the Order who has received the Third Degree, is in good standing, and has been a good and devoted Catholic, upon being recommended by his fellow members, may be admitted to this, the highest Degree of the Order. The Fourth Degree was established in Texas in 1906, when in May of that year, William G. Crush, Michael Coerver, Hugh J. Blackeney, and Michael Murphy journeyed to Denver to receive the honors of the degree. The Mass was said by Father Kirwin, better remembered as Monsignor Kirwin of Galveston, and Father J. P. Lynch, later made Bishop of Dallas, who became rightly known as the silver-tongue orator of the Church in Texas, preached an eloquent sermon on the occasion. The Most Reverend Nicholas C. Matz, Bishop of Denver, presided at the imposing ceremony. As a result of the exemplification, a new jurisdiction was created, consisting of the States of Oklahoma, Arizona, Louisiana, and Texas. Sir Knight William G. Crush of Texas was appointed the first Master of the Fourth Degree in the new jurisdiction just created.
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