Faithful Father Friar: Reverend Charles Tuttle
Faithful Navigator: Rich Koerkenmeier
Faithful Captain: Dan Ribbing
Faithful Pilot: Scott Albers
Faithful Comptroller: Pete Schumacher
Faithful Scribe:
Faithful Purser: Donald Deiters
Faithful Inner Sentinel: Dave Overmann
Faithful Outer Sentinel: Robert Schleper
Faithful Admiral: Dale Gall
Faithful Commander: David Lanctot
Faithful Trustee: John Wieter
Faithful Trustee: Jim Scatigna
Faithful Trustee: David Lanctot
Contact information for the Faithful Navigator:
Rich Koerkenmeier Phone: 618-974-1910 E-mail: rkoerk@yahoo.comContact information for the Faithful Comptroller:
Pete Schumacher, 439 E 3rd St, Trenton, IL 62293 Home Phone: 618-224-9347The Emblem of the Order
The Triad Emblem of the Fourth Degree features the Dove, the Cross and the Globe.
The Dove – classic symbol of the Holy Spirit and Peace is shown hovering over the orb of the earth (Globe). Both which are mounted on a variation of the Crusader’s Cross – that which was found on the tunics and capes of the Crusading Knights, who battled to regain the Holy Land from the pagans.
The Orb or Globe – God the Father, Creator of the Universe
The Cross – God the Son, Redeemer of Mankind
The Dove – God the Holy Spirit, Sanctifier
The colors of the symbols are:
The blue globe with the lands of the Western Hemisphere in white
A red cross with gold borders, and golf knobs at the ends of the arms of the Cross (also known as the Isabella Cross)
A white dove
Red, white and blue are the colors of the Flag of our county in which our order originated; and are used to stress the basic principle of the Fourth Degree …. PATRIOTISM.
Our Honored Order cherishes as its patron Christopher Columbus. Christopher (Christ Bearer) Columbus (Dove of Peace), symbolizing the Paraclete spiritually; the sacred symbols on the emblem typify the Union of the Three Divine Persons in one God – the most Blessed Trinity.
Our Assembly’s Namesake
Most Reverend Henry J. Althoff, for whom our assembly was named, was born in Aviston, Illinois, on August 28, 1873. He was ordained a priest on July 26, 1902. He was ordained the second Bishop of Belleville Diocese on February 24. 1914, and remained in that position until his death on July 3, 1947. Bishop Althoff’s home town of Aviston, is located within the assembly’s jurisdiction.
Our Assembly’s History
During April of 1953, 27 Brother Knights of Carlyle Council #1382, Breese Council #2869, Trenton Council #2932 attended a special meeting initiated by the then-Master of the Southern District Robert Meissner to discuss the formation of a new assembly for the Clinton County Area. On May 7, 1953, the Bishop Henry J. Althoff Assembly was officially instituted.
Other councils that were started since 1953 within the North-central Deanery of Belleville Diocese that also have members that are members of this assembly, namely Bartelso Council #4745 on 1959, Albers-Damiansville Council #9768 in 1988, New Baden Council #10311 in 1990, Aviston Council #11110 in 1993, Sandoval Council # 11758 in 1996, and most recently, Okawville Council #12799 in October of 2000.
Robert Meissner, who was the Charter Grand Knight of Breese Council in 1943, served as Master of the Southern District of the Marquette Province ( Belleville, Springfield and Peoria Dioceses) from 1952 through 1972. Former Master Meissner died January 31, 1982.
Color Guard
Many members of the 4th Degree are members of the Color Guard. Members of the Color Guard are required to wear the official regalia for that post. The regalia consists of a Black Chapeau with a particular colored plume, Black Cape with a particular colored lining, white gloves and a sword on a baldric (all in a design designated by the Supreme Master), over a black tuxedo, white shirt, black tie with black shoes and socks. Baldrics in the United States are Red, White and Blue. A miniature American Flag pin and 4th Degree Emblem are to be worn on the left lapel.
The color of the chapeau plume and cape lining designate the office of that member.
Vice Supreme Master: Blue Chapeau and Cape lining
District Master: Gold Plume and Cape lining
District Marshall: Green Plume and Cape lining
Assembly Faithful Navigator: White Plume and Cape lining
Assembly Commander (Color Guard director): Purple Plume and Cape lining
Assembly Color Guard member: White Plume and Red Cape lining.
Miniature jewels of a former office are permitted to be worn on the left tuxedo pocket. Permitted jewels are as follows: Past State Deputy, Former District Deputy, Past Grand Knight, Past Faithful Navigator, Former District Master, Former Vice Supreme Master.
Membership of the 4th Degree
Members of the 4th are all 3rd Degree members of a particular Council. A 4th Degree member has been accepted by the Assembly Membership into this honored order and has undergone a particular initiation for that degree. A candidate for the 4th Degree must have been a 3rd Degree Member for at least 1 Year. The District Master may allow a member with only 6 Months of membership in the 3rd Degree to be admitted.
Past Faithful Navigators of the Bishop Althoff Assembly
(Terms of office are from July 1 through June 30)
1953-55 Norman Rehm
1955-57 Edward Maue
1957-58 Joseph Du Four
1958-60 Bernard Koopers
1960-62 August Huelsmann
1962-63 Larry Huber
1963-65 Leonard Kampwerth
1965-66 Ferd Foppe
1966-68 Clarence Husmann
1968-70 Theodore Warnecke
1970-72 Edwin Gebke
1972-75 William Spaeth
1975-77 Albert Niemann
1977-79 Richard Sherman
1979-81 Bernard Deimeke
1981-83 Ralph Langhauser
1983-85 Anthony Hollenkamp
1985-87 Paul Meyer
1987-89 Reinhold Kleiboeker
1989-91 John Hempen
1991-93 Richard Crocker
1993-95 James Norrenberns
1995-97 Peter Schumacher
1997-99 Michael Nettemeier
1999-2001 Paul Kreher
2001-03 Elmer Horstmann
2003-05 Donald Deiters
2005-07 Jerome Rakers
2007-09 Joe Langhauser
2009-11 Steve Kleiboeker
2011- 13 Dale Gall
2013- John Wieter
2020-21 Tom Sabo
2021-22 David Lanctot
2022-24 Jim Scatigna
2024- Rich Koerkenmeier