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What Is The
S. O. O. B.?
Social
Order of the Beauceant
The Social Order of the Beauceant was originally started at
the
suggestion of the Commandery in Denver, Colorado. Asked to host the
25th Triennial Conclave for the Grand Encampment of the Knights Templar
which was to be held in their city in August 1892, the Sir Knights felt
with only one Commandery and a membership of just over 300 they needed
help. Their wives agreed to supply the help.
At the first official
meeting which was
held in February 1890, the ladies adopted the name "Some of Our
Business Society" and a brief ritual. The S.O.O.B. was organized solely
for the purpose of providing aid and sociability for the Sir Knights
and ladies who would attend the Triennial. The ladies so enjoyed the
work that they never disbanded, but instead continued operating for the
purpose of “making life purer, better and sweeter for
others”.
The Society remained a
small, loyal,
local band of ladies, doing good, and assisting their Sir Knights until
the 1913 Triennial when they decided to take action to expand. It was
then that the first members from other cities were initiated. At that
same time, a decision was made to change their name to something more
appropriate to Templary while retaining the initials S.O.O.B.
Derived from a banner used by the ancient Templars, the
“Social
Order of the Beauceant” was the result. From that
small
start, the order expanded to over 15,000 members. We. now
have
about 5,500 with 95 Assemblies in thirty-five states.
Beautiful and impressive,
the
Beauceant's ritual contains many lessons which are exemplified by a
cadre of seventeen officers in the local Assemblies and nineteen
officers in the Supreme Assembly. Our emblem which is the Cross and
Crown and our crosses; The Passion, Patriarchal, and Salem; are the
same as those used by the Commandery. As our ritualistic robes may not
be worn outside the assembly hall, we adopted an informal dress for
public use. Look for our distinctive black skirt, white blouse, and red
jacket at the next Masonic function you attend. They will be worn by
the ones lending a helping hand.
As the wives, widows,
mothers, daughters , sistersand *grand-daughters of
Knights Templars, we are the only ladies' fraternal order whose
eligibility is determined by membership in the Commandery. A new
Assembly may be constituted wherever there is an active Commandery of
Knights Templar of sufficient size to warrant it, and there are several
interested eligible ladies.
One of the most basic
landmarks of the
order is the admonition to "cultivate the spirit of love for and
loyalty to each other, and the Order of Knights Templar, and the
reciprocal consideration due the order". With that in mind, the
Beauceant in 1957 adopted the Commandery's Knights Templar Eye
Foundation as their official charity. Since that time we have donated
over one and a half million dollars to the Eye Foundation.
Today's Beauceant is an
order with a
long history of support to the Commandery, one that has proven to be a
source of pleasure and benefit both to us and to the Sir Knights, It is
a history we are proud of and one we wish to maintain. Therefore, we
continue to cheerfully fulfill requests to assist with entertainment
and hospitality at any level of their organization.
*Change made at 2006 Supreme Assembly
California Assemblies
- 2009
Those in Blue have Email Links
Long Beach Assembly
#39
2nd and 4th
Wednesday 10:00 A.M.
(Dark July &
August)
3610 Locust
Ave.
Long Beach, CA.
(Mrs. O. Reed) Marge
Bollin
Worthy
President - 562-867-4758
(Mrs. John) Flora
Jansen
Recorder - 562-925-1944
Los Angeles Assembly
#42
1st and 3rd
Friday 12:30 P.M.
(Dark July &
August)
14750 Sherman
Way
Van Nuys, CA.
(Mrs. Fred ) Carole
Buxton
Worthy President -
661-254-1967
(Mrs. Donald) Gwen
Spencer
Recorder -818-885-0289
Santa Ana Assembly
#61
3rd
Saturday 10:00 A.M.
(Dark July &
August)
303 W. Lincoln
Ave. Anaheim
(Mrs. W. Joe) Katie
Ryland
Worthy President -
626-287-5881
(Mrs. Thomas) Lynda
Derby
Recorder - 949-829-6802
San Bernardino
Assembly #200
2nd
Monday 7:30 P.M.
(Dark July &
August)
2888 N. Arrowhead
Ave.
San Bernardino
(Mrs. Dennis) Regina
Burdo
Worthy
President - 951-203-6769
(Mrs. Enrico) Edith
Gnasso
Recorder
- 909-795-9251
Paradise Assembly
#250
3rd
Tuesday 1:00 P.M.
(Dark November &
December)
622 Main Street Red Bluff
(Mrs. William)
Elizabeth Wiard
Worthy
President - 530-533-8747
(Mrs. Harland) Micki
Forell
Recorder -
530-243-1613
(Mrs. Robert)
Saundra Coe
www.knightstemplar.org/soob
For Questions about
Organizing a NEW Assembly CONTACT:
(Mrs. Howard L.,)
Clare McClure
PSWP Steubenville
No. 57, OH
P.O. Box 187
Steubenville, OH
43948-0187
(740)733-7127
Grand Commandery
Knights Templar of California
Copyright © 2001- 2008
All rights reserved.
Last
Updated: 05/07/2008
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