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John International is a Roman Catholic men’s fraternal organization that stands for Roman Catholic Virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity under a banner of Fraternity. The Knights of St. John were incorporated in New York State in1886 under patron Saint John the Baptist. The organization continued to grow inside the United States for many years and in 1992 with the addition of Commanderies outside of the United States, the Knights of St. John added International to its name and continues to grow. Today, the Knights of St. John International are represented in eighteen countries, including United States, Canada, Western Africa, Trinidad, Tobago, England and Germany.
The Knights of St. John International is a semi-military, Roman Catholic, Fraternal Order for Catholic gentlemen from the ages of sixteen and fifty five years (or older where application is for social or honorary members) and is a practicing Catholic. Members can opt to be a part of the Uniform or the Non Uniform Rank.
The Uniform rank is established at the Local Commandery level, and, depending on the number of military members, is led by a Commander and one or two Vice Commanders. These officers are elected and only members of the military rank can elect and hold offices. The civil offices of the Commandery, with an elected President, Vice President, Secretary, etc, are separate enitites and elected to office by the entire Commandery, uniformed and non-uniformed alike.
The Commander of the local Commandery has the authority to promote any and all of his “enlisted rank” members ( Private 1st Class, Corporal, Sargent up to Sargent Major). These ranks can be identified by their specific military sleeve designations, as well as the uniform itself which is trimmed in white with silver buttons. Their plumed chapeaus will be adorned in white ostrich feathers.
Commissioned officers military ranking can be found on their shoulder boards, the uniforms are trimmed in gold, with gold buttons and their plumed chapeaus will be adorned with black ostrich feathers.
As the military member seeks office in levels above the Local Commandery, he is able to rise to greater military rank as an officer at the District, Grand and Supreme level, from 2nd Lieutenant as far as a four star General.
The military member also has a choice of two uniforms. The original”Full Dress” Military Uniform is styled after the 1880 Union Army uniform in existence when the Order was formed. The option is the 1998 Blue Marching Uniform. Both are acceptable and recognized as our military uniform.