The Method of Conducting a Circle Meeting The Chief squire shall promptly, at the appointed time, call a meeting to order. If he be absent, the Deputy Chief Squire shall preside, and in the event of the absence of both, the duty of presiding shall devolve upon the other officers in the order named in Paragraph 1 of Article VI of the Laws. All officers will assume their respective places. The call to order and opening shall be as follows: Chief Squire (One rap of the gavel): “Squires, the Circle will now be formed. All
persons not qualified shall retire from the Chamber. The Sentry shall close the portals, and only those duly qualified shall be admitted”. “Marshall, you will confer with the Bursar and advise if all present are
qualified to remain.” The qualification for admission and attendance at a circle meeting is that the member be in good standing and that his dues be paid for the current month. Unless the member appears so qualified from the records of the Bursar he shall not be permitted to sit in a Circle, unless for good reasons, approved by the Advisory Board, the requirement as to the payment of dues be waived. The Marshall then steps forward to center of the Circles, salutes the Chief Squire, proceeds to the station of the Bursar, and having conferred with him, requests such persons (if there be any) who are not qualified to retire from the Chamber. The Marshall then returns to the center of the Circle, salutes the Chief Squire and reports: “Chief Squire, all persons now present are Columbian Squires duly
qualified to form the Circle.” Marshall again salutes and return to his station. Then follows the opening ceremony, prayer and opening ode. (The Father Prior, if present, shall lead the opening and closing prayers. If he is not present, the Chief Squire shall call upon any visiting priest, and in the event that no priest is present the Chief Squire shall lead in the prayers)
After the opening ceremony, the Order of Business shall be in accordance with Paragraph 5 of Article IX of the Laws and shall be conducted as follows: Chief Squire: “The Notary Squire will call the roll of Officers” The Chief Squire will give the appropriate signal with the gavel, and the officers shall arise in their respective places. The Notary then calls the roll by title of Officers, and the Marshall responds. In the absence of any officers, the Chief Squire may appoint an officer pro tem, to fill his place for the meeting. The next order of business will be announced as follows:
Chief Squire: “Notary Squire, read to us the minutes of our previous
meeting” Upon the close of the reading of said minutes, the same will be approved with or without corrections. The Bursar and the Notary will then present, respectively, such matters as should come before the Circle in the form of bills or communications. These will be acted upon in accordance with the established practices of parliamentary law. “Robert Rules of Order” will be the authority followed. Then should follow the reports of different committees, the Visiting and Sick Committee making special report each meeting of the members who are sick or should for other reason be visited. Under the head of “Entertainment” the leader or chairman of the committee in charge of the entertainment for that meeting of the Circle shall be called upon. He shall then take charge of the meeting and present for the entertainment of the squires the program as prepared. The Chief squire may, however, terminate this order of Business at pleasure. When the regular business of the meeting has been concluded the Chief Squire shall close the meeting in the manner prescribed by the closing ceremony. The use of officers’ robes and /or jewel should be the practice at the monthly business meeting.
OPENING CEREMONY The meeting shall be formally opened and closed by the Chief Squire. When the meeting is about to open, the Chief Squire takes his station standing, gives proper signal, and the Squires stand each at his usual place. Chief Squire: “Columbian Squires, tell me the motto of our Order.” Squires: “ Esto Dignus, Be Worthy. Maging Karapat Dapat” Chief Squire: “What was the pledge you made when we admitted you into
his honored order of the Columbian Squires?” Squires: “We promised to pattern our lives on that of the Youth Christ.” Chief Squire:”Let us pray to our Heavenly Father and His Blessed Mother for
the grace faithfully to keep our pledge.” (Gives signal to kneel.)
All Squires, led by the Father Prior (If not present, by the Chief Squire): O
Heavenly Father, help us to imitate our model, the Youth Christ, and like Him to advance in wisdom and age and grace before God and man.” Father Prior: “O Mary, Queen of Virgins, preserve us from all stain of sin.” Squires: “Amen.”
Our Father. Hail Mary.
CLOSING CEREMONY Chief Squire gives proper signal for Squires to arise and stand at Attention. Chief Squire: “ Columbian Squires! The hour is at hands which parts us.
Before we go, let us unite in prayer to our Blessed Mother, and beg the blessing of the Youth Christ.” (Gives signal to kneel.) Father Prior: (If not present, then Chief Squire): “O Mary, conceived without
sin.” Squires: “Pray for us who have recourse to thee.” Father Prior: “O Divine Youth, Thou Who hast said I am the way and the
Truth and the Life, show us the way, make known to us the truth, and lead us that we may be worthy of everlasting Life with Thee in heaven.” Squires: “Amen.” Chief Squire: (Gives signal to arise and stand): “Squires, repeat our motto.” Squires: “Esto Dignus, Be Worthy, Maging Karapat Dapat” Chief Squire: “Keep the pledge until we meet again.”
“I now declare the meeting closed”
INTRODUCTION OF NEW MEMBERS AND VISITORS, AND RECEPTION OF VISITING OFFICERS The Social Committee shall at each meeting introduce any new members and visitors to all Squires present. In doing this the member being presented will be conducted about the Circle and introduced to every Squires present as Squire (naming him), and immediately the squire to whom he is being presented will announce his own name in reply. This must be done in all cases, as it serves to present embarrassment in case where the introducer may not know the name of the member. Upon announcement being made by the Sentry of any Grand Knight, Deputy Grand Knight, or other officer of higher rank of the Knights of Columbus, or of any Chief Squire or Deputy Chief Squire of another Circle, the Chief Squire shall immediately signal for all members to arise, and he shall appoint two members to meet and escort the visiting officer to the guest seat at his left. MEETING AND COMMITTEES
MEETINGS 1.
Number – There shall be four meetings every month from July to June, inclusive. At least one of these meetings should be held in the hall of the Knights of Columbus, and should be conducted according to the prescribed ceremony. The other meetings may be informal and will consist of a program organized by the divisional committee or by two committees working together with their projects.
2.
Object – Each meeting should have for its object, the balanced development of the boy, namely: religious, cultural, social, civic and physical.
3.
Form of Seating – The seats should be placed in a circle. The exact number of chairs shall be used each meeting so that absentees may be noticed. This is for the formal business meeting.
COMMITTEES 1. It shall be the duty of the Chief Squire at the first meeting after taking office to appoint the Chairmen of the following standing committees, which committees shall serve through three months or until their successors have been appointed: Spiritual Committee Service Committee Circle Committee Membership Committee
2. Each committee shall consist of at least three members, one of whom shall be chairman. 3. The Chief squires may appoint any other committee that may be necessary or directed by the Circle. 4. It is advisable that every three months members of each committee should be transferred to a new activity.
SIGNALS One rap of the gavel
–
come to attention.
Two rap of the gavel
– rise.
Three rap of the gavel – be seated. Four rap of the gavel - kneel.
SALUTES The salute is given by raising the right hand to the head until the tips of the fingers touch (about) the head just above the outside end of the eyebrow in semimilitary manner.