Social Order of the Beauceant
Welcome to the Worth No. 264 Assembly of the Social Order of the Beauceant! We are proud to support Worth Commandery No. 19. Our meetings are at 1st Thursday 7:00PM
The 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 them and to the Sir Knights. It is a history they are proud of and one they wish to maintain.
The Social Order of the Beauceant is an organization of Christian women whose membership was limited to the wives and widows of Knights Templar. It was founded as the SOOB Society in Denver, Colorado, on February 20th, 1890. These letters stood for "Some of Our Business."
When the Grand Encampment met in Denver in 1913, it officially became the Social Order of the Beauceant, retaining the letters "SOOB". Several ladies from other cities were initiated into the Order. These members promoted the Order in many areas and several Assemblies were formed. Then in November, 1920, representatives from cities in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Colorado met in Denver to organize the Supreme Assembly.
The name "Social Order of the Beauceant" is derived form the ancient Knights Templar banner. It is the only ladies fraternal Order whose eligibility to membership depends strictly upon the Sir Knights membership in good standing in the Commandery. One of the landmarks of the Order is to "cultivate the spirit of love for loyalty to each other, and the Order of Knights Templar, and recognition of the reciprocal consideration due to that Order."
Since 1957, at the invitation of the Grand Encampment, Beauceant members have assisted the Knights Templar Eye Foundation, through donations, memorials and bequest. Including an additional trust fund, Beauceant sisters have contributed over ONE MILLION DOLLARS to the Eye Foundation. A General Chairman and 12 Area Chairmen assist the Assemblies in this project. Members of each Assembly also work for charities of their choice in each local area.
The lessons taught in our Ritual are beautiful, impressive, and helpful in everyday living, using a theme "Faith, Loyalty, and Love for God, the Order of Knights Templar and each other." The purpose of the Order is to promote loyal friendships among the members, provide recreation and understanding, show acts of loving kindness and assist with entertainment at Grand Commandery and this has proved to be a source of pleasure and benefit to its members, with goodwill, encouragement and moral support from the Sir Knights.
Each Beauceant Assembly has seventeen (17) officers who exemplify the work. Templary and Beauceant have a common bond, illustrated by the symbolism of the Cross and Crown used in the emblems of both Orders. The form of the Maltese Cross is also used in the Beauceant Work.
In 2003, mothers, daughters and sisters became eligible to be members, if they qualified. In 2006, grandaughters became eligible, if they qualified. In 2013, mothers, sisters, daughters, granddaughters of members became eligible, if they qualified.
There are Assemblies located throughout the United States. Members may hold Dual Membership in one other Assembly.
There are three (3) red crosses used in the Beauceant.
- The Passion Cross - (one bar) is worn on the ritualistic robes used by the officers of a Chartered Assembly
- The Patriarchal Cross - (two bar) is worn on the robes of Supreme Officers at the Supreme Assembly and other special meetings.
- The Honor of wearing the Salem Cross (three bar) on their robes is given to the Supreme Worthy President and all Past Supreme Worthy Presidents.
An Assembly may be constituted wherever there is an active Commandery of Knights Templar of sufficient size to warrant it. When several qualified ladies are interested, they can secure further information and a petition to Charter from an organizer of the Supreme Assembly. The petition requires the signatures of twenty-five (25) to forty (40) interested women, with no more than five (5) joining by Affiliation and three (3) by Dual membership. Members in good standing may affiliate with the Assembly or request Dual Membership after the Assembly is constituted.
The fee for the Petition to Charter is thirty-five ($35) dollars. Petitioners should be assessed a fee of at least ten ($10) dollars and, in addition, pay their annual dues, which are determined by the petitioners.
President
Carla Coleman - 972-837-6558 - [email protected]
Recorder
Jackie Hagood - 817-584-4447
Our Location and Mailing Address
Physical Address:
Fort Worth Masonic Temple
1100 Henderson Street
Fort Worth, TX 76102
Mailing Address:
Fort Worth Masonic Temple
1100 Henderson Street
Fort Worth, TX 76102
If you have a membership question, contact the recorder of this assembly.
Carla Coleman - 972-837-6558 - [email protected]
Recorder
Jackie Hagood - 817-584-4447
Our Location and Mailing Address
Physical Address:
Fort Worth Masonic Temple
1100 Henderson Street
Fort Worth, TX 76102
Mailing Address:
Fort Worth Masonic Temple
1100 Henderson Street
Fort Worth, TX 76102
If you have a membership question, contact the recorder of this assembly.