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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 - 2010
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
(Mrs. Walter R.) Imogene Spradlin
Worthy President - 562-421-9637
(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
(Mrs. Vincent) Luciann Bell
Worthy President - 818-248-2949
(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. Roger) Lynn Ross
Worthy President -714-635-3367
(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. Thomas) Lynda Derby
Worthy President -949-829-6802
(Mrs. Enrico)
Edith Gnasso
Recorder - 909-795-9251
For
Questions about Organizing a NEW Assembly
CONTACT:
Organizer
(Mrs.
Howard L.,) Clara McClure
PSWP Steubenville
No. 57, OH
P.O. Box 187
Steubenville, OH 43948-0187
(740)733-7127
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Grand Commandery
Knights Templar of California
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rights reserved.
Last Updated:
01/31/2010
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