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Knights of Columbus 4th Degree Assembly celebrates 50th anniversary

| 29 Apr 2015 | 01:50
    On Saturday evening, April 25, the Warwick Valley Fourth Degree Assembly of the Knights of Columbus celebrated its 50th anniversary in this community with a gala dinner/dance at the Clearview Winery on Route 94.
    On Saturday evening, April 25, the Warwick Valley Fourth Degree Assembly of the Knights of Columbus celebrated its 50th anniversary in this community with a gala dinner/dance at the Clearview Winery on Route 94.
    Photos by Roger Gavan The newest members of the Warwick Assembly who had received their Fourth Degree at an exemplification ceremony held the previous week pose with the head of the Warwick Assembly, Faithful Navigator Frank Graessle and Trustee and Past Faithful Navigator Tom Faherty. Kneeling from left, Faithful Navigator Frank Graessle and Robert Van Duzer. Standing from left, Robert Long, Ernest Nitschke, John Rzeznik, Trustee Thomas Faherty, Lloyd Van Duzer and Peter Morris. Not present for the photograph: Robert Kunkel, Mat Rough, Douglas Van Duzer and Timothy Van Horn.
    Photos by Roger Gavan The newest members of the Warwick Assembly who had received their Fourth Degree at an exemplification ceremony held the previous week pose with the head of the Warwick Assembly, Faithful Navigator Frank Graessle and Trustee and Past Faithful Navigator Tom Faherty. Kneeling from left, Faithful Navigator Frank Graessle and Robert Van Duzer. Standing from left, Robert Long, Ernest Nitschke, John Rzeznik, Trustee Thomas Faherty, Lloyd Van Duzer and Peter Morris. Not present for the photograph: Robert Kunkel, Mat Rough, Douglas Van Duzer and Timothy Van Horn.

WARWICK — The Fourth Degree is the highest Degree a member can achieve in the Knights of Columbus.

On Saturday evening, April 25, the Warwick Valley Fourth Degree Assembly of the Knights of Columbus celebrated its 50th anniversary in this community with a gala dinner/dance at the Clearview Winery on Route 94.

The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic Men's Fraternal Benefit Society founded in 1882, which now has more than 1.8 million members located in over 14,000 Councils throughout the world.

As stated on its Website, the Knights was formed to render financial aid to members and their families. Mutual aid and assistance are offered to sick, disabled and needy members and their families. Social and intellectual fellowship is promoted among members and their families through educational, charitable, religious, social welfare, war relief and public relief works.

Chartered in April of 1960, the Warwick Valley Knights of Columbus Council is comprised of more than 245 members; approximately 200 of whom live in or around the Town of Warwick. There are 72 members of the Warwick Council's Fourth Degree Assembly 0776, which was formed 50 years ago.

The four degrees within the Knights of Columbus, Charity, Unity, Fraternity and Patriotism, reflect the Order's core virtues.

During the evening Jack Ellis, Grand Knight/ President of the Warwick Valley Knights of Columbus Council 4952, told the history of how the addition of patriotism to the Knights' principals lead to the first Fourth Degree exemplification in 1900.

Ellis also introduced the newest members of the Warwick Assembly who had received their Fourth Degree at an exemplification ceremony held the previous week in Fishkill, New York.

It was also interesting that at that celebration and installation, three generations of the Van Duzer family: Grandfather Robert Van Duzer, his son Lloyd and his son Douglas each received their Fourth Degree. All are lifetime Warwick residents.

- Roger Gavan