History

Not many years after the Knights of Columbus was organized in 1882, many of the members began
to urge the foundation of a higher degree. The Supreme Board of Directors approved the formation
of the Fourth Degree in 1899. The first exemplification of the Fourth Degree was held at the Aster Hotel
in New York on February 22, 1900 with a class of 1400 candidates.

The degree expanded swiftly, and a separate board of governors was set up for the new degree in 1910.
The chief executive officer of the Fourth Degree is the Supreme Master. The Fourth Degree is divided in
to geographical units known as provinces, of which there are fifteen.