The Fourth Degree is the highest degree of the order. It is an extension of the third degree. Members of this degree are addressed as "Sir Knight". The primary purpose of the Fourth Degree is to foster the spirit of patriotism and to encourage active Catholic Citizenship. Fewer than 18% of Knights join the Fourth Degree, which is optional; of a total 1.8 Million Knights there are over 320,000 Fourth Degree Knights in over 3,000 Assemblies. A Knight is eligible to join the Fourth Degree after six months from the date of his First Degree, providing he has completed the 2nd and 3rd degrees beforehand.
Assemblies are distinct from councils, and are led by a separate set of elected officers. The Supreme Board of Directors appoints a Supreme Master, currently Dennis Stoddard of Florida, and twenty Vice Supreme Masters to govern the Fourth Degree. Each Vice Supreme Master oversees a Province, which is subdivided into Districts. The Supreme Master appoints District Masters to supervise several assemblies.
In New Jersey there are 2 Fourth Degree Districts. The New Jersey North District (New Jersey District 1) is made up of the Assemblies in the Archdiocese of Newark, the Diocese of Paterson and half of the Diocese of Metuchen (Warren County, Hunterdon County and Somerset County. The New Jersey District South (New Jersey District 2) is made up of half of Metuchen Diocese (Middlesex county), Trenton Diocese and Camden Diocese.
Each assembly is led by a Navigator. Other elected assembly officers include the Captain, Admiral, Pilot, Scribe, Purser, Comptroller, Sentinels and Trustees. A Friar and Color Corps Commander are appointed by the Navigator. Assembly officers are properly addressed by using the title "faithful" (e.g. Faithful Navigator). Assemblies are numbered in the order in which they chartered into the Order, and are named by the local membership.
There are 67 Fourth Degree Assemblies in New Jersey. There are 28 in District 1 and 38 in District 2. Each Assembly is assigned several Councils for which they coordinate call out activities. A Color Corps is maintained by each Assembly and all Fourth Degree Knights are eligible to join the Color Corps.