Our founder, Father Michael J. McGivney, realized that if the Order was to survive, it would need a firm foundation in the form of a strong constitution, with laws and by-laws. The prudence of Father McGivney proves itself as much in the growth of the Order to nearly 1.6 million members since 1882 as in the fact that the laws of the society have served it well for over 115 years.

It should be recognized that, because of the very size of the Order, these laws are designed to cover any contingency that may arise. In actual fact, however, a goodly number of the regulations - especially as they pertain to expulsion and suspension - rarely, if ever, need be invoked. Our society is one of fraternity, and members generally conduct themselves as Catholic gentlemen and true Knights. However, it is the exception that requires the rule.

An informed Knight will secure a copy of the "Charter, Constitution, Laws" for his own reference. Included herein, however, is a sampling of pertinent regulations with which Knights should be familiar. These are introductory in nature; for specific conditions, the appropriate section of the "Charter, Constitution, Laws" should be consulted.

Qualifications for Membership

Sec. 101. Only practical Catholics in union with the Holy See shall be eligible to and entitled to continue membership in the Order. An applicant for membership shall not be less than 18 years of age on his last birthday.

Approval of Insurance Membership

Sec. 102. No person shall be admitted as an insurance member of the Order unless his application shall have been approved by the Supreme Physician.

To Whom Presented

Sec. 106. Every application for membership shall be presented to the Grand Knight of the council applied to, who shall forthwith file the same with the Financial Secretary, and the latter shall thereupon immediately notify the insurance agent of said council of said application and the contents of the same.

Admission Committee

Sec. 108. The Grand Knight shall appoint an Admission Committee of seven members. Within five days after the presentation to him of the application, the Grand Knight shall refer the application to the Admission Committee and thereupon said Committee shall notify the applicant to appear before it for examination as to his qualifications for membership. If five members of the Committee shall file a written report withholding endorsement because the applicant is not a practical Catholic, said application shall be deemed rejected. Otherwise the recommendations of the Admission Committee shall be evidenced by the certificate of the Chairman of the committee on a form to be prescribed by the Board of Directors. In the event of the failure or neglect of the Admission Committee to make report within ten days after an application has been referred to it, the Grand Knight shall discharge the said Committee and shall forthwith present said application to the council for action.

Disposition of Application

Sec. 109. 1. Unless the application is rejected for the reason stated in Section 108, it shall be read by the Grand Knight at the first meeting following the time allowed for the report of the Admission Committee. . .

Application - Where Made

Sec. 111. Application for membership in the Order shall be made to a council located within the jurisdiction and which is nearest or most accessible to the place of residence of the applicant.... Where there are two or more councils within the same city or town, application can be made to either of such councils.

Inspection of Ballot

Sec. 112. The Grand Knight and Deputy Grand Knight shall in turn privately inspect the ballot box, both before and after the ballot, and the former shall announce the result. If the number of negative ballots cast does not exceed one-half of the members present, the applicant shall be declared elected, otherwise rejected. The exact number of negative ballots shall not be stated....

Amount of Fees

Sec. 118. (a) The initiation fee shall be fixed by the council, provided however, no initiation fee shall be required of any priest or member of a religious community who applies for membership. For members entering under 26 years of age, the initiation fee shall not exceed $10. Before initiation, each applicant shall pay his initiation fee and the council dues for the month of his entrance and any later months in the quarter of his entrance and each applicant for insurance membership shall pay such initial amount of contribution as shall be prescribed by the Board of Directors upon the certificate to be issued. .

Limited Vote of Associate Members

Sec. 120. Associate members shall not debate or vote upon insurance questions, except in the election of applicants to membership.

Transfers to Insurance - Additional Insurance

Sec. 121. Associate members desiring to transfer to the insurance class and insurance members desiring to obtain additional insurance shall make application for insurance or for such additional insurance upon forms provided by law, and pay such initial amount of contributions as shall be prescribed by the Board of Directors. . .

Council Funds

Sec. 122. (a) All moneys obtained from any source, by or through any person or persons, acting for or in the name of any council or under its direction or authority, shall be considered council funds and shall be forthwith delivered to the Financial Secretary, who shall give his official receipt therefor and who shall report at the close of each meeting the amounts so received and from what source.

Meeting

Sec. 124. Each subordinate council shall hold at least two regular meetings each month, not less than one of which meetings each month shall be designated as a regular business meeting....

Officers

Sec. 126. The officers of each subordinate council shall be: Grand Knight, Chaplain, Deputy Grand Knight, Chancellor, Recorder, Financial Secretary, Treasurer, Lecturer, Advocate, Warden, Inside Guard, Outside Guard and Board of Trustees; except that councils may provide by by-law for the election of two outside guards to alternate in their duties as such.

Election

Sec. 128. All officers, except the Financial Secretary, Lecturer and Chaplain, shall be elected annually, by ballot, at a regular business meeting held between the fifteenth day of May to and including the fifteenth day of June each year, and with the exception of the Trustees shall serve for terms not to exceed three years as provided by Section 145, said officers shall hold their offices for the term of one year from the first of July following, and until their successors are elected and qualified. Provided, however, that elective officers of councils identified with colleges and universities may be elected at a regular business meeting held between the first day of March to and including the first day of June in each year after written notice is given to the members of the date selected.

The Grand Knight, Deputy Grand Knight and Board of Trustees may annually select a priest to act as Chaplain, but such selection must be made in accordance with any rules established by the bishop of the diocese in which the council is located.

The Grand Knight shall select annually a Lecturer.

The Financial Secretary shall be appointed by the Supreme Knight. He shall hold office at the will of the Supreme Knight. He shall be compensated in a manner approved by the Board of Directors

Misconduct and Nonfeasance of Members and Officers

Sec. 162. Any member of the Order who after trial, excepting where it is provided that no trial shall be had, shall be found guilty of the conduct specified in the subdivisions following shall be fined, suspended or expelled as set forth therein, to wit: (The reader is referred to the "Charter, Constitution, Laws" for the specific misconducts specified by Sec. 162.)

Ipso Facto Forfeiture - Members

Sec. 168. Any member of this Order shall, ipso facto, forfeit his membership in the Order

1. Who shall fail to remain a practical Catholic in union with the Holy See.

Failure to Pay Contributions or Assessments

2. Who fails to pay any per capita or special assessment levied by the Supreme Council or Board of Directors within thirty days from the date of mailing or transmitting the notice for such assessment by the Financial Secretary of his council.

Failure to Pay Dues

3. Who shall fail to pay his dues to his council within three months after the same are levied and payable (other than assessments levied by the Supreme Council, Board of Directors or for death benefit assessments or contributions); or

1. Who is convicted of a felony by a court of competent authority.

Special Consideration Granted

1. When an insurance membership of two or more years standing shall be forfeited on any account, except failure to make all payments required in connection therewith, the former insurance member or his designated beneficiary shall have a right within six months thereafter to ask special consideration of the case by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is empowered to refer all such cases for decision and final action by a committee consisting of the Supreme Knight (or his Deputy), the Supreme Advocate and the Supreme Secretary. The advice of the Supreme Physician or the actuary shall be obtained whenever apparently desirable.

1. In all cases specified by the laws and rules of the Order, as laid down for the government of councils and members where it is or shall be decreed that for any act done or omitted to be done by a member he shall ipso facto forfeit his membership.
2. In all cases, as by law provided, where members may be summarily suspended by the Board of Directors, Supreme Knight, or state, district or territorial deputies.

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1. Reinstatement. An associate member or a former insurance member who has no equity in a life or annuity insurance certificate, and whose recorded suspension has been for a period of less than three months may make application for reinstatement to his council upon payment of all dues and charges which he owed at the time of his suspension and such dues as he would have been liable for had he remained a member in good standing. No action by the council shall be necessary....
2. Readmission. An associate member or a former insurance member who has no equity in a life or annuity certificate and whose recorded suspension has been for a period of more than three months and less than seven years at the date of application, may make application for readmission to any council in the Order under like conditions as a new member upon payment of a fee not to exceed $7.50. Said applicant shall not be required to pay an initiation fee or to again take the degrees previously conferred on him. Said application shall be read by the Grand Knight at the first meeting following the date said application is received and the council shall proceed forthwith to ballot for the readmission of such applicant after said reading; and if a majority of those present and voting approve and accept the application, it shall be sent to the Supreme Secretary, otherwise said application shall be deemed denied and no further consideration shall be given the same for a period of six months. If readmission is made to applicant's former council and his arrearages are less than $7.50, he shall be readmitted for the actual amount of the arrearages . .
3. Reapplication. An associate member or a former insurance member who has no equity in a life or annuity certificate and whose recorded suspension has been for a period of more than seven years at the time of his application, may make application to any council in the Order under like conditions as a new member upon payment to the council to which application is made of a fee not to exceed $7.50 which shall be retained by said council.

 

Said application shall be read by the Grand Knight at the first meeting following the date said application is received and the council shall proceed forthwith to ballot for the reapplication of such applicant after said reading and if the majority of those present and voting approve and accept the application, it shall be sent to the Admission Committee of the council and processed in the usual manner thereafter. The Admission Committee in this situation shall certify as to applicant's former membership with the assistance of the Supreme Secretary. Said applicant, after approval by the council and clearance by the Admission Committee, shall not be required to pay an initiation fee or to again take the degrees previously conferred on him.

4. Reactivation - Inactive Insurance Member. An inactive insurance member who has been suspended for nonpayment of dues or council charges but who holds a benefit certificate in force, may be reinstated for good standing by payment of all dues and other council charges (but not to exceed $5.00) which were owed at the time of the recorded suspension. Application shall be made to the Financial Secretary of the council where applicant's membership is recorded . . .

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Starting Out Right

The road to Knighthood is one of ongoing preparation and constant study. Subjects of this study are the truths of the Catholic faith and a knowledge of the Order. Our principles of charity, unity, fraternity, patriotism and defense of the priesthood are derived from the truths of religion and undergird our every activity.

This book offers a basic course in all a Knight needs to know to become a proud, informed member. It is fitting then that it also should contain a recapitulation of basic truths of that Faith so dear to all Knights. Thus it will serve a twofold purpose: of explaining to members and prospective members what the Order is and does; of providing a "refresher course," a tool of evangelization, for the practical Catholic.

1.) The Apostles' Creed

2.) The Commandments of God are 10:

3.) The Commandments of God may be restated in simpler form: the "Greatest Commandment." The "Greatest Commandment" is: You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, your whole soul, your whole mind and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.

4.) It is difficult for an unaided human being to live up to the Commandments of God. To assist us in this regard Jesus has left us the Church and the sacraments. The sacraments are signs instituted by Christ to give grace. There are seven: Baptism, Penance, Holy Eucharist, Confirmation, Matrimony, Holy Orders and the Anointing of the Sick. Baptism Confirmation and Holy Orders can be received only once because these sacraments leave an indelible mark on the soul of the recipient.

Penance, Eucharist, Matrimony and the Anointing of the Sick can be received more than once.

5.) There are two kinds of grace. Sanctifying grace makes us holy and pleasing to God. Actual grace helps us to do good and avoid evil.

6.) The precepts of the Church are:

7) To join in the missionary spirit and apostolate of the Church. (Note: The first six are traditionally considered to be the precepts of the Church.)

7.) The ordinary minister of the sacrament of Baptism is a bishop, priest or deacon. In case of emergency anyone can validly baptize. Water is poured on the forehead of the person to be baptized, and the words "I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" are said while water is flowing.

8.) Pentecost is known as the "Birthday of the Church." On that day the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles, giving them the graces they needed to go forth and teach the Gospel to all nations. This is one meaning of the word "Catholic": the Church is found in every land, therefore it is "universal," "worldwide."

9.) The seven capital sins are: pride, covetousness, lust, anger, gluttony, envy and sloth.

10.) The gifts of the Holy Spirit are: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord.

11.) The rosary is a form of mental and vocal prayer centered on mysteries or events in the lives of Jesus and Mary. The mysteries are as follows:

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St. James the Apostle said: "Faith without works is dead." Today the saying is: "Practice what you preach" or "put your money where your mouth is."

All three versions stress that unless a person is willing to back up his belief with concrete action he is on the wrong side of a credibility gap.

The Knights of Columbus practice their belief that "faith without works is dead." This is evident from the approbation for the Order expressed by Pope Paul VI. Speaking extemporaneously to the supreme officers and directors at a special audience in the Vatican in 1973, the pontiff said: "Tell your sons, your nephews, your grandsons; tell the people that the pope loves the Knights of Columbus. "

Earlier the pope had remarked: "Indeed you have been brothers to the poor, to the sick, to the young, to the aged and to the underprivileged. In the name of all those whom you have helped by your brotherly compassion, we thank you from our heart."

But the Holy Father did not stop there. "The glory of the Knights of Columbus," he continued, "is not based on humanitarian works alone. Even more admirable have been your insistence upon the supremacy of God and your fidelity to the vicar of Christ. In truth you can call yourselves "brothers" because you call God your Father and have declared yourselves ready to do His will and serve His cause."

In April 1978, at an audience granted to the Board of Directors then meeting in Rome, Pope Paul VI called the Knights "an immense force for good."

"We rely on you," - he continued, "on each of you, on all of you, on the association itself, the Knights of Columbus - to bring holiness to the world, to live the Gospel values in your families, to transmit them to your children with the infectious conviction of joyful faith. Christ needs you to bring fraternal concern to your neighborhoods, to exemplify justice in your communities, to spread peace and truth in the world."

In his brief but glorious pontificate, Pope John Paul I paid tribute to the Order in these words:" I give my blessing to all Knights of Columbus: their families and all the work they do."

At the private audience granted to the officers and directors in Washington, D.C., in October 1979, Pope John Paul II was told that, when family members are counted, the Knights of Columbus involves five or six million people.

"Why, that's a nation," His Holiness exclaimed with a smile. "The nation of Columbus! You should have representation at the United Nations!"

More seriously, however, he continued:

"It gives me great pleasure to be with you on the occasion of my pastoral visit to the United States. I thank you most sincerely for the respect and love which you have manifested toward me as Successor of Peter, Bishop of Rome and Pastor of the Universal Church.

"In the person of the Supreme Knight and the Members of the Supreme Board, I greet all the Knights of Columbus, the more than one million three hundred thousand Catholic laymen all over the world, who display a spirit of profound attachment to their Christian faith and of loyalty to the Apostolic See.

"Many times in the past, and again today, you have given expression to your solidarity with the mission of the Pope. I see in your support a further proof - if further proof were ever necessary - of your awareness that the Knights of Columbus highly value their vocation to be part of the evangelization effort of the Church....

"I am aware of the many efforts you make to promote the use of mass media for the spreading of the Gospel and for the wider diffusion of my own messages. May the Lord reward you, and through your efforts bring forth abundant fruits of evangelization in the Church. May your dedicated activity in turn help you to realize in yourselves those interior attitudes without which no one can truly evangelize: trust in the power of the Holy Spirit, true holiness of life, deep concern for truth, and an ever increasing love for all God's children.

"May the Lord's blessing be upon you, upon your families and upon all the Knights of Columbus."

Pope John Paul II has spoken many times since then to and about the Knights of Columbus. At an audience granted to the board of directors during his 1987 visit to the United States, he said: "The Knights are loyal to the Pope."

For us, "These Men They Call Knights," this says it all.

ADDITIONAL MEMBER BENEFITS OF THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

Columbia 12 free issues annually of the world's largest Catholic family magazine. Catholic family evangelization at its best!

Rosary Program A free Knights of Columbus rosary is given to new and readmitted members.

Daily Mass Remembrance Mass offered daily for deceased members at the Knights' Altar, St. Mary's Church, New Haven, Conn.

Insurance Program Offers member, spouse and children the opportunity to provide for their security and well-being. Rated AAA (Superior) by Standard & Poor's and A++ by A.M. Best.

Annuity Program Enables member and spouse to provide for retirement and build an estate through tax-deferred savings.

Member/Spouse Fraternal Benefit Accidental death coverage for member and spouse at no cost.

Orphan Benefit $80 monthly allotment for orphans of eligible families; up to $7,000 in college scholarships available.

Family Fraternal Benefit For eligible families: a) Pays $1,500 for the child who dies before the age of 61 days; b) Pays $750 for the child who is stillborn at least 20 weeks after conception; c) Offers guaranteed-issue insurance up to $5,000 to any child under age 18.

New Member Plan Offers a one-time low-cost whole life policy to new members and their spouses upon joining the Order.

Widow Benefits a) Continues to be covered under the Member/Spouse Fraternal Benefit; b) May purchase insurance or annuities up to 90 days after insured member's death; c) Receives a free Lifetime subscription to Columbia; d) Eligible with her children for scholarships, student loans, etc.

Scholarships/Fellowships Six different college scholarship programs for members and their families; three different graduate fellowship programs; and scholarship programs for seminarians.

Matthews and Swift Educational Trust Fund Provides full scholarships (tuition, Board, expenses) to Catholic colleges for children of member killed or permanently and totally disabled from military service in armed conflict, or from criminal violence while performing duties as full-time law enforcement officer or full-time fireman.

Student Loans Available to member, spouse and children, as well as to all pursuing a religious vocation.

Leadership Development Opportunity to build personal leadership skills through active involvement in the Order's unique structure, supported by Knightline/Program Supplement: fraternal newsletters mailed to state and local council officers and chairmen.

Fourth Degree Eligibility of Third Degree members to join the "Patriotic Degree" at least 12 months following their initiation into the Order.

Honorary Life Membership at Age 70 After 25 years of continuous service, member merits this distinction and no longer need pay dues.

Catholic Information Service Opportunity for member and family to avail themselves of a variety of literature on Catholic faith and spirituality.

Membership Card Entitles participation in all Catholic, fraternal and social activities in member's council and also in the 11,000 councils throughout the world.

Family/Activities Eligibility for recognition in Orderwide "Family of the Month/Year" program and participation in wide variety of local family events, such as family breakfasts.

Athletic Programs Participate in annual council, state and international golf, bowling and softball tournaments; many councils sponsor teams in a variety of sports.

Youth Programs Opportunities for your children to participate in a variety of youth-oriented programs such as the Columbian Squires, a leadership training program for young men under council sponsorship.

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I truly believe that as dedicated Knights of Columbus we are doing the work of God on earth. Simply by following the many programs that have been developed for our councils we are providing for the spiritual and cultural enrichment of our members. We help mold the character of the young. We help carry the cross for the poor, people with physical disabilities and persons with mental retardation. We try to heal the wounds of the suffering, the aged, the disadvantaged. Through our Catholic Advertising Program we spread the Good News of the Lord. We visit the sick; we help bury the dead. We lend a helping hand to widows and orphans. This is a program of which any Knight can be proud.

Virgil C. Dechant