The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic family fraternal service
organization with 1.6 million members. It provides members and their families with
volunteer opportunities in service to the Catholic Church, their communities, families and
young people.
As a member of the Knights of Columbus you and your family enjoy many benefits, including
12 free issues annually of the Columbia magazine, the world's largest Catholic
family magazine, eligibility to join the Knights of Columbus top-ranked life insurance
program, and many more family and personal benefits.
In addition to these nationwide benefits, members of St. Clement's Council are able to
participate in a range of activities at St. Clement's Church
and in broader Calhoun and Gordon County. Monthly meetings provide an opportunity
not just for fellowship, but also to plan and organize charitable activities, fundraisers,
social events, and spiritual and material support for St. Clement's parish.
Our Council, though small, is a
proud and very robust council that has provided yeoman service out of
proportion to its size. We welcome and sincerely ask for your
membership and participation!
Membership in the Knights of Columbus is open to practicing Catholic men in union with the
Holy See, who are at least 18 years old. A practicing Catholic is one who lives up to the
Commandments of God and the precepts of the Church. Applications are available from
any member of the Knights of Columbus. Upon acceptance of your
application an interview will be held with the Membership committee
Any prospective Knight is invited to contact the Membership,
Retention and Recruiting Committee Chairman Joe McKenzie. Please feel
free to call him at 770-548-6420. Please leave a message if Joe is
unavailable.
Membership in the Knights of Columbus encompasses 4 levels. Entry
level begins with the 1st Degree Exemplification and
continues upwards into the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th
Degrees. Each Degree encapsulates one of the four cornerstones of the
Knights of Columbus: Charity, Unity, Fraternity, and
Patriotism.
When one receives his 1st Degree level,
he is welcomed into any 3rd Degree meeting of the council.
Additionally, he is assigned to a committee and asked to begin work
immediately. Committees in need of membership include, but are not
limited to, Pro-Life, Social, Youth, Squires, and Charity Committees.
Every member is asked to contribute a portion of his free time to
participate in a committee and attend the business meetings.
With the attainment of the 3rd Degree, the member is
knighted and recognized as a Catholic Knight in the Order.
 
Any Third Degree member in good
standing, one year after the anniversary of his First Degree, is eligible for membership
in the Fourth Degree. The primary purpose of the Fourth Degree is to foster the spirit of
patriotism by promoting responsible citizenship and a love of and loyalty to the Knights'
respective countries through active membership in local Fourth Degree groups (called
"assemblies"). Certain members of the Fourth Degree serve as honor guards at
civic and religious functions, an activity that has brought worldwide recognition to the
Knights of Columbus.
Many Fourth Degree members of the St. Clement's
Council are also members of Assembly # 2239 in Dalton, a part of Georgia's Fourth Degree DeSoto Province.
They also participate regularly in a wide variety of ceremonial functions at St.
Clement's Church, providing a visible reminder of the Knights of Columbus presence in our
parish and community. |
