The Grand Knight
The Grand Knight (GK) is the top ranking officer of the Council. He oversees all
Council's activities and is elected by the members of the Council. Some of his duties
include presiding over meetings, countersigning orders and checks, reading vouchers
and notices relative to the Fourth Degree. His jewel is an Anchor which is suspended
from a purple ribbon. The Anchor is indicative of Admiral Christopher Columbus and
has also been a variant form of the Cross for centuries. The Grand Knight's ceremonial
officer robe is royal purple. He wears a white cincture with silver fringe and a purple
mantle with white roll collar.
The Deputy Grand Knight
The Deputy Grand Knight (DGK) is second ranking officer of the Council and is
elected by the members of the Council. He shall preside in the absence or inability of
the Grand Knight. His jewel is the Compass, also known as the Compass of Virtue,
suspended from a purple ribbon, with the four main points representing Charity, Unity,
Fraternity and Patriotism. The 32 points around the outside of the compass represent
the virtues which a man can possess. The compass is an important tool in navigation.
The Deputy Grand Knight's ceremonial officer robe is royal purple. He wears a white
cincture with silver fringe.
The Chancellor
The Chancellor is the third highest ranking officer and is elected by the Council. The
Chancellor shall assist the Grand Knight and Deputy Grand Knight in the performance
of their duties and shall take charge during the incapacity or extended absence of
both. He shall exercise a special interest in new members and members who are sick
or in distress. His jewel is the Skull and Crossed Bones on the Isabella Cross,
suspended from a black over white ribbon. The Crossed Bones remind us of our
immortality. The Chancellor's ceremonial robe is black robe trimmed with white. He
wears a white cincture with silver fringe and black mantle with white roll collar.
The Recorder
The Recorder keeps the minutes of the meeting and the historical records for the
Council. He is elected by the Council members. In the absence of the Grand Knight,
Deputy Grand Knight, and Chancellor the Recorder will run the meeting. Also, he is
responsible for the correspondence of the Council as directed by the Grand Knight.
The Recorder's jewel is Crossed Quill Pens suspended from a white over yellow
ribbon. The Quill pens are symbolic of his record keeping functions of the Scribe. The
Recorder's ceremonial officer robe is black, trimmed in white.
The Financial Secretary
The Financial Secretary handles of the financial transaction record keeping. This
includes issuing and collecting bills, issuing membership cards, etc. The Financial
Secretary is appointed by the Supreme Knight and is compensated in a manner
approved by the Board of Directors. His jewel is the Quill Pen (record-keeper) and the
Key (money, safe-keeping, and secrecy) crossed and is suspended from a white over
yellow ribbon. This symbolizes his record keeping functions of the financial matters of
the Council. The Financial Secretary's ceremonial officer robe is black, trimmed with
black. He wears a white cincture with silver fringe.
The Treasurer
The Treasurer is responsible for the funds of the Council as is elected by the members
of the Council. His duties include such functions as maintaining bank accounts and
issuing checks based on receipts turned in by the Financial Secretary. His jewel is
Crossed Keys, which represents responsibility for the safe keeping of the funds,
suspended from a blue ribbon. The Treasurer's ceremonial officer robe is black,
trimmed with black. He wears a white cincture with silver fringe.
The Lecturer
The Lecturer is responsible for the entertainment at the Knights of Columbus meetings
and functions. He is selected by the Grand Knight on an annual basis. His jewel
consists of the Scroll over the Lyre suspended from a white over blue ribbon. The
Scroll and Lyre represent Literature and Music. The Lecturer's ceremonial officer robe
is black, trimmed with national blue. He wears a blue cincture with silver fringe.
The Advocate
The Advocate is the Chief Legal Officer for the Council as is elected by the members
of the Council. His jewel consists of a Scroll and Sword suspended from a yellow
ribbon. The Scroll represents the legal literature and law and the Sword represents his
authority to enforce those Laws. The Advocate's ceremonial officer robe is black,
trimmed with golden yellow. He wears a yellow cincture with silver fringe.
The Warden
The Warden assures that all members at meetings possess the current membership
card and is elected by the members of the council. He is custodian of all Council
property except funds and is in charge of properly setting up the Council Chamber. He
directs the activities of the Inside and Outside Guards. His jewel consists of Axe bound
by Fasces and is suspended from a red over black ribbon. Guards or protectors of
Roman Magistrates generally carried the Axe and Fasces as a sign of Authority. The
Warden's ceremonial officer robe is black, trimmed with scarlet. He wears a scarlet
cincture with silver fringe.
The Inside and Outside Guards
The Inside and Outside Guards each have the same symbol for their jewel. They are in
charge of security at the meetings and are to assist the Warden as needed. The jewel
for the Guards consists of an Crossed Axes and Key, representing their authority as
sentries at the door, is suspended from a white ribbon. The Guard's ceremonial officer
robe is gray with a yoke, trimmed with black. He wears a black cincture with silver
fringe.
There are three Trustees
There are three Trustees in each Council, title as 1 Year Trustee, 2 Year Trustee, and 3
Year Trustee. They oversee the financial transactions of the Council, review all bills and
financial reports and audit the Council's financial records semi-annually. Their jewel is
the Crossed Key and Sword, which represents their financial authority, is suspended
from a green ribbon. The Advocate's ceremonial officer robe is black, trimmed with
green. He wears a green cincture with silver fringe.
The Grand Knight (GK) is the top ranking officer of the Council. He oversees all
Council's activities and is elected by the members of the Council. Some of his duties
include presiding over meetings, countersigning orders and checks, reading vouchers
and notices relative to the Fourth Degree. His jewel is an Anchor which is suspended
from a purple ribbon. The Anchor is indicative of Admiral Christopher Columbus and
has also been a variant form of the Cross for centuries. The Grand Knight's ceremonial
officer robe is royal purple. He wears a white cincture with silver fringe and a purple
mantle with white roll collar.
The Deputy Grand Knight
The Deputy Grand Knight (DGK) is second ranking officer of the Council and is
elected by the members of the Council. He shall preside in the absence or inability of
the Grand Knight. His jewel is the Compass, also known as the Compass of Virtue,
suspended from a purple ribbon, with the four main points representing Charity, Unity,
Fraternity and Patriotism. The 32 points around the outside of the compass represent
the virtues which a man can possess. The compass is an important tool in navigation.
The Deputy Grand Knight's ceremonial officer robe is royal purple. He wears a white
cincture with silver fringe.
The Chancellor
The Chancellor is the third highest ranking officer and is elected by the Council. The
Chancellor shall assist the Grand Knight and Deputy Grand Knight in the performance
of their duties and shall take charge during the incapacity or extended absence of
both. He shall exercise a special interest in new members and members who are sick
or in distress. His jewel is the Skull and Crossed Bones on the Isabella Cross,
suspended from a black over white ribbon. The Crossed Bones remind us of our
immortality. The Chancellor's ceremonial robe is black robe trimmed with white. He
wears a white cincture with silver fringe and black mantle with white roll collar.
The Recorder
The Recorder keeps the minutes of the meeting and the historical records for the
Council. He is elected by the Council members. In the absence of the Grand Knight,
Deputy Grand Knight, and Chancellor the Recorder will run the meeting. Also, he is
responsible for the correspondence of the Council as directed by the Grand Knight.
The Recorder's jewel is Crossed Quill Pens suspended from a white over yellow
ribbon. The Quill pens are symbolic of his record keeping functions of the Scribe. The
Recorder's ceremonial officer robe is black, trimmed in white.
The Financial Secretary
The Financial Secretary handles of the financial transaction record keeping. This
includes issuing and collecting bills, issuing membership cards, etc. The Financial
Secretary is appointed by the Supreme Knight and is compensated in a manner
approved by the Board of Directors. His jewel is the Quill Pen (record-keeper) and the
Key (money, safe-keeping, and secrecy) crossed and is suspended from a white over
yellow ribbon. This symbolizes his record keeping functions of the financial matters of
the Council. The Financial Secretary's ceremonial officer robe is black, trimmed with
black. He wears a white cincture with silver fringe.
The Treasurer
The Treasurer is responsible for the funds of the Council as is elected by the members
of the Council. His duties include such functions as maintaining bank accounts and
issuing checks based on receipts turned in by the Financial Secretary. His jewel is
Crossed Keys, which represents responsibility for the safe keeping of the funds,
suspended from a blue ribbon. The Treasurer's ceremonial officer robe is black,
trimmed with black. He wears a white cincture with silver fringe.
The Lecturer
The Lecturer is responsible for the entertainment at the Knights of Columbus meetings
and functions. He is selected by the Grand Knight on an annual basis. His jewel
consists of the Scroll over the Lyre suspended from a white over blue ribbon. The
Scroll and Lyre represent Literature and Music. The Lecturer's ceremonial officer robe
is black, trimmed with national blue. He wears a blue cincture with silver fringe.
The Advocate
The Advocate is the Chief Legal Officer for the Council as is elected by the members
of the Council. His jewel consists of a Scroll and Sword suspended from a yellow
ribbon. The Scroll represents the legal literature and law and the Sword represents his
authority to enforce those Laws. The Advocate's ceremonial officer robe is black,
trimmed with golden yellow. He wears a yellow cincture with silver fringe.
The Warden
The Warden assures that all members at meetings possess the current membership
card and is elected by the members of the council. He is custodian of all Council
property except funds and is in charge of properly setting up the Council Chamber. He
directs the activities of the Inside and Outside Guards. His jewel consists of Axe bound
by Fasces and is suspended from a red over black ribbon. Guards or protectors of
Roman Magistrates generally carried the Axe and Fasces as a sign of Authority. The
Warden's ceremonial officer robe is black, trimmed with scarlet. He wears a scarlet
cincture with silver fringe.
The Inside and Outside Guards
The Inside and Outside Guards each have the same symbol for their jewel. They are in
charge of security at the meetings and are to assist the Warden as needed. The jewel
for the Guards consists of an Crossed Axes and Key, representing their authority as
sentries at the door, is suspended from a white ribbon. The Guard's ceremonial officer
robe is gray with a yoke, trimmed with black. He wears a black cincture with silver
fringe.
There are three Trustees
There are three Trustees in each Council, title as 1 Year Trustee, 2 Year Trustee, and 3
Year Trustee. They oversee the financial transactions of the Council, review all bills and
financial reports and audit the Council's financial records semi-annually. Their jewel is
the Crossed Key and Sword, which represents their financial authority, is suspended
from a green ribbon. The Advocate's ceremonial officer robe is black, trimmed with
green. He wears a green cincture with silver fringe.
Officer Duties