History of SA Assembly No. 3

A HISTORY OF SAN ANTONIO ASSEMBLY NO. 3
INTERNATIONAL ORDER OF RAINBOW FOR GIRLS
     On Saturday evening November 4, 1922, San Antonio Assembly No. 3 Order of Rainbow was instituted, sponsored by San Antonio Commandery No. 7 Knights Templar. The Assembly began its life with 142 Charter Members. An Honor Guard for the entrance of the class of 142 girls entered the room between the lines formed by 50 Knights Templar. Thus began a tradition which has continued to the present day of the Sponsoring Body of Knights Templar forming an escort for the Rainbow Girls on special occasions including their Tri-Annual Installations of Officers. "Then the Officers who served at the instituting entered in a very sweet and simple march which culminated in the forming of a Rainbow." "At the close of the initiation of the Rainbow Girls,, the guest of honor Rev. W. Mark Sexson, Founder of the Order and writer of the Ritual of the Order for Rainbow for Girls, Grand Orator of the [Masonic] Grand Lodge of Oklahoma and a 33rd degree [Scottish Rite Mason] gave many beautiful thoughts." The Founder would become a Past Grand Master of Masons in Oklahoma and a Past Grand Patron of the Order of the Eastern Star in Oklahoma.

     The Assembly was instituted in the old Scottish Rite Cathedral on North St. Mary’s Street in downtown San Antonio, Texas. On November 9, 1923, the Assembly moved to the Masonic Temple at 201 Losoya Street in downtown San Antonio where its sponsoring body, San Antonio Commandery No. 7 Knights Templar, met. On November 1, 1973, the Assembly and the Commandery both moved to the Scottish Rite Cathedral at the corner of Avenue E and Fourth Street and met there from November 1973 to 1981 and from June 1996 to the present. From 1981 to May 31, 1996, the Assembly met in the Hall of Charles W. Anderson Masonic Lodge on the northeast side of San Antonio outside Loop 410.

     The Charter of San Antonio Assembly No. 3 is signed by William P. Freeman, Supreme Worthy Advisor, and W. Mark Sexson, Supreme Recorder of the Supreme Assembly. Letters Temporary were issued May 13, 1922 and a permanent Charter was issued June 2, 1923.

     San Antonio Assembly No. 3 is the oldest active Assembly in Texas, being organized before the Grand Assembly of Texas which was organized on August 20 - 21, 1924, in San Antonio in the old Scottish Rite Cathedral. It is the only Assembly sponsored by the Knights Templar and was the only Assembly in San Antonio until 1944 when Blue Star Assembly No. 132 was instituted.

     Mrs. Daisie Carr Cushing, wife of Dr. Daniel Nash Cushing, was the instituting Worthy Advisor, and the Chairman of the Organizing Committee. She was a Past Worthy Matron of San Antonio Chapter No. 3 Order of the Eastern Star serving in 1921 - 1922. The instituting officers were all women members of the Eastern Star, a number whose husbands were Knights Templar in San Antonio Commandery No. 7 and are as follows:

OFFICE AS STYLED NOVEMBER 4, 1922 INSTITUTING OFFICERS ON NOVEMBER 4, 1922

Worthy Advisor Mrs. Daisie Carr (Daniel Nash) Cushing

Associate Worthy Advisor Mrs. Laura (H. P.) Stinson

Charity Mrs. Georgia (O.P.) Carr

Hope Mrs. Minnie (Forrest S.) Reed

Faith Mrs. Laura (W. M.) Simpson

Treasurer Mrs. Laura (Sam G.) Livingston

Secretary [Recorder] Mrs. C. R. Roemer

Chaplain Mrs. Ella (Otto J. ) Solcher

Drill Leader Mrs. Lottie (Earl) Garvin

Organist [Musician] Mrs. Verna (R. G.) Whiteside

Red [Love] Mrs. Ethel (Charles) Albrecht

Orange [Religion] Mrs. Ethel (R. T.) Goodwin

Yellow [Nature] Mrs. Zoe (W. E.) Mitchell

Blue [Fidelity] Mrs. Lillian C. Mitchell Pierce

Indigo [Patriotism] Mrs. Madeline (Lewis) Lacy

Violet [Service] Mrs. Lillian Masters

Green [Immortality] Mrs. Fred A. Mitchell

Confidential Observer Mrs. Katie (Grover C.) Crandall

Outer Observer Mrs. Lillian (Ernest T.) Green

Mother Advisor Mrs. Annie (J. F.) Carl

Eminent Commander Mr. Thomas Adam Doxey

     At the institution, Miss Cecile Arnold represented the class of 142 girls in the initiation.

     At a called meeting of the Assembly on December 22, 1922, the first Officers after Institution were installed and Mrs. Daisie Carr Cushing was designated as the first Mother Advisor. On December 27, 1922, a class of 52 girls was initiated, bringing the membership of the Assembly to 194 girls by the end of 1922. The Charter Officers of the Assembly are as follows:

OFFICE AS STYLED DECEMBER 22, 1922 CHARTER OFFICERS OF SAN ANTONIO ASSEMBLY NO. 3

Worthy Advisor Anna Mathis

Associate Worthy Advisor Winnie Carl

Charity Florence Vodrie

Hope Mildred Overton

Faith Florence Boyd

Treasurer Elizabeth Ellis

Secretary [Recorder] Vesta Kornrum

Chaplain Simona Wofford

Drill Leader Harriet Guilhiem

Organist [Musician] Mercedes Arnold

Choir Director Dorothy Leech

Red [Love] Dorothy McLean

Orange [Religion] Mabel Cooper

Yellow [Nature] Alice Edwards

Blue [Fidelity] Tomye Hazel Hall

Indigo [Patriotism] Cliftine Rockafellow

Violet [Service] Alice Weston

Green [Immortality] Margaret G. Seefeld

Confidential Observer Katherine Roberts

Outer Observer Catherine Patrick

Mother Advisor Mrs. Daisie Carr (Daniel Nash) Cushing

     In 1924, the Assembly entered its first float in the Battle of Flowers Parade during Fiesta Week which entries continued through 1948 when a dance was held in lieu of a float in the Battle of Flowers Parade. The Assembly won 1st Place in the Battle of Flowers Parade for its float in 1930, 1934, and 1937 and won 2nd Place in 1931, 1935, 1938 and 1941. The Assembly entered a float in the Texas Cavaliers King’s River Parade from 1958 through 1961 and won 2nd place in 1959 and a trophy in 1961. Beginning in 1938, the Assembly marched in the Pilgrimage to the Alamo during Fiesta Week which has continued until the present time. In the 1980’s, the Assembly marched as clowns with the DeMolays in the Fiesta Flambeau Night Parade. In 1985, the Assembly participated in the Alzafar Shrine Circus being clowns during the opening Grand March.

     In 1924, San Antonio Assembly "was hostess for the purpose of instruction to various assemblies throughout the state at an organizational meeting which was continued for the purpose of instruction." This was the Organizational Meeting of the Grand Assembly of Texas. An Executive Committee for the Order of Rainbow in Texas was announced on that occasion and included four people from San Antonio Assembly No. 3, including the Eminent Commander of San Antonio Commandery No. 7 Knights Templar, Dr. Fred A. Mitchell and the Mother Advisor, Mrs. Ella (O.J.) Solcher.

     Founder’s Day in honor of W. Mark Sexson began to be celebrated at Alzafar Shrine Temple’s Camp Alzafar in 1937 and continued at that location through 1972. The Minutes describe the Founder’s Day Picnic at Camp Alzafar in 1964 as, "it was a blast, a gasser; we crave that Camp!" In 1953, the Assembly held a memorial service for the Rev. W. Mark Sexson, Founder of the Rainbow Order for Girls who passed away on December 20, 1953.

     An Annual Mothers-Daughters Banquet was instituted in 1934 and continued through 1961. An Annual Dads-Daughters Banquet was instituted in 1939 with the first banquet honoring the Founder of Rainbow, W. Mark Sexson, and continued through 1951. Beginning in 1961 these banquets were converted into an Annual Mother-Father-Daughter Banquet and continued as an Annual Family Banquet through 1966.

     In 1938, the Assembly presented as a fundraiser a series of plays at Woodlawn Park and the Alamo Heights Auditorium, an operetta, and a Rainbow Circus was presented in the basement of the Municipal Auditorium. Other fundraisers have included a musical staged at the Scottish Rite Cathedral in 1936, a carnival in 1938, 1939 and 1940, plays presented in 1940 and 1943 with the latter preceding a "Coney Island Party", a game party at Dairyland in 1933, a bunco party and raffle in 1942, and the sale of tickets for 20% of the proceeds to Holiday on Ice in 1949. In later years, fundraisers consisted of dinners, car washes, and occasionally cake sales all of which were not nearly as exciting for the membership of the Assembly.

     The Assembly organized a drill team in March 15, 1926. For seventeen years it participated in competitive drills held at Grand Assembly, winning the Traveling Trophy several times including 1935 when Mr. Gus Meyer, who would later become Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Texas coached the drill team. The drill team won second place at the Grand Assembly in 1937 and in 1942. A second drill team was organized for the year 1938 because there were so many members. A Rainbow Orchestra was organized in 1937.

     The Assembly held its first obligatory church service at the Travis Park Methodist Church in downtown San Antonio in 1923. The Assembly now has joined the Knights Templar at their Festival of Easter Sunrise Service as the obligatory church service. The Assembly has participated as escorts in the Commandery of Knights Templar Annual Installation of Officers.

     Beginning in 1935, the Assembly began electing mascots of the Assemblies who were daughters of Majority Members. They are as follows:

YEAR MAJORITY MEMBER DAUGHTER

1935 Evelyn Hays LeLaurin Nana Janet LeLaurin James

1940 Dorothy Pierce Coleman Mary Lynn Coleman

1943 Mary Louise Fuller Preston Anita Louise Preston

1946 Virginia Berry Reitzer Carolyn Reitzer

1948 Erna Schiveppe Holmgreen Sharon Ann Holmgreen

1950 Patsy Welch Achilles Jackie Lynn Achilles

1952 Marilyn Gibson Jones Sharon June Jones

1953 Mary Ruth Ruckel Meyer Cynthia "Cindy Lou" Meyer

1954 Margaret Malone Stewart Judy Diane Stewart

1956 Billy Lynn Ziegler Bessellieu Beverly Lynn Bessellieu

1999 Barbara Garza Holbert Lenna Brianna Holbert

     Unfortunately, this practice ceased after 1956, but was resumed in 1999.

     During the year 1923, the first dance of the Order was held in the Ballroom of the Gunter Hotel. The Assembly held a Christmas Dance at the St. Anthony Hotel in 1923. The Christmas Dances continued through 1950 and were held at major downtown hotels in San Antonio including the Gunter, and the Menger in addition to the St. Anthony and also the Casino Club and the Officers Club. In later years these dances were held at the Scottish Rite Cathedral where the Assembly now meets in downtown San Antonio. From 1951 through 1953 the Assembly and Albert Pike Chapter No. 58 Order of DeMolay jointly sponsored the Annual Christmas Dance. Beginning in 1954 the Assembly attended the Annual Crystal Ball held by Albert Pike Chapter No. 58 for all DeMolay Chapters and Rainbow Assemblies in San Antonio, which dances have continued to the present day and the 53rd Edition is in 2006.

     In addition to the Christmas Dances, for many years the Assembly held a variety of well attended socials including hobo parties, sunrise breakfasts, hay rides, ice skating parties, roller skating parties, coke parties for graduating high school seniors, swim parties, cob-web social, St. Patrick’s Day theme party, picnics, garden parties, a tea for the wives of the Knights Templar, scavenger hunts, Halloween parties, and all sorts of dances including sock hops, very formal dances, leap year dance, Sport Prom and exhibition drill of the drill team, Spring Prom, and almost every conceivable type of party that could be imagined. From 1927 through 1950 annual dances were held for the Assembly by either Alzafar Shrine Temple, the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry or San Antonio Commandery No. 7 of Knights Templar or by all three Masonic Bodies or some combination of these three Masonic Bodies. Many of these parties and all of the dances were co-ed. Regrettably, the social life of the Assembly became less important and went from a co-ed format to a Rainbow Girls only format in the past 20 years and thus the social life of the Assembly deteriorated.

     In the 1980’s and 1990’s, the Assembly de-emphasized social activities and focused on service projects and fundraisers. Service projects included collecting food and clothing for the Christian Assistance Ministries, baby-sitting for a foster parents’ banquet, made tray favors for Shriners’ Hospitals for Children, assisted with several Eastern Star installations, served refreshments for York Rite Bodies’ installations, collected toys for the Salvation Army at Christmas, provided refreshments for the Grand Masters’ Regional Conference, collected items for the Masonic Home and School and delivered them and assisted shut-ins with small projects which they could not complete and read to them from the Bible.

     Fund-raising projects in the 1980’s and 1990’s included selling B-craft items, Kathryn Blich candy, delivering flowers for five local florists on Easter and Mother’s Day weekend, coat checking at Shrine Dances, car washes, selling Statue of Liberty pins; putting together a cookbook of favorite recipes which were sold to raise money for Grand Assembly, holding a garage sale at a local flea market, and working a food and beverage concession stand at the Alamodome at concerts and Spurs basketball games. In the 2000’s, they participated in the City of San Antonio Water System’s low-flow toilet replacement project for its customers. For every toilet given away, the Assembly made $25.00!

     San Antonio Assembly No. 3 has a long history of activity with Albert Pike Chapter No. 58 Order of DeMolay as evidenced in 1925 with a joint weiner roast and swim party, the DeMolays as guests at a watermelon party in 1926, a Treasure Hunt in 1927, a cake sale held by the Assembly to raise funds for DeMolays uniforms lost in a fire in 1930, a dance sponsored by the Rainbows with the DeMolays as guests in 1934 held in the Scottish Rite Cathedral, a joint edited newspaper by Rainbow Girls and DeMolays styled The Rambler in 1934, an open house for the DeMolays in 1942, a box supper at Olmos Park in 1943, the DeMolays being guests of the Assembly and entertained after a meeting in 1946, Rainbow - DeMolay Dances in 1951, 1952, 1953, 1957, and a joint dinner in 1964. The DeMolays were escorts and/or ushers at many officer installations during the Assembly’s first 50 years and beginning again in 1996, and were escorts for the Rainbow float in the Battle of Flowers Parade on a number of occasions.

     The Rainbows had a Beau in the years 1961 through 1964 until it was discontinued by order of the Supreme Inspector and was resumed on October 18, 1997. The Rainbow Beaux include:

YEAR NAME

1961 Maunty Charles Collins, Past Master Councilor of Albert Pike Chapter No. 58

1962 Robert William Conrad, Past Master Councilor of Albert Pike Chapter No. 58

1963 John Rees Haley, Past Master Councilor of Albert Pike Chapter No. 58

1964 Richard Cromwell Davis, RD, KT, Albert Pike Chapter No. 58

1997 - 1998 Christopher Bryan Bishop, Master Councilor of Albert Pike Chapter No. 58

1999 - 2001 Douglas John Van Griner, Past Master Councilor of Albert Pike Chapter No. 58

2002 Charles Edward Maddox, Past Master Councilor of Albert Pike Chapter No. 58

2003 Justin Redmond Smith, Past Master Councilor of San Antonio Chapter No. 3591

2004 Zachary Nathaniel Rountree, Past Master Councilor of San Antonio Chapter No. 3591

2005 Paul Alexander Canales, Past Master Councilor of Albert Pike Chapter No. 58

2006 Jackson Ray Driggs, Master Councilor of Albert Pike Chapter No. 58

2007 Francis Mark Howe, Junior Councilor Elect of Albert Pike Chapter No. 58

     The Assembly has had 251 Installations of Worthy Advisors as of January 12, 2008 and there have been 224 Worthy Advisors, since 18 Rainbow Girls have served as Worthy Advisors more than once with Barbara Garza serving 5 terms, three of which were consecutive; Eugenia Marie Barnes serving 4 terms, the last two of which were consecutive; Larissa Starr Smith serving 3 consecutive terms, Athena G. Wood serving 3 terms, 2 or which were consecutive, and Dawn Tewalt and Shannon Marie Perry serving 3 terms; Laura Smith and Kathryn Ceatta Hampton serving two consecutive terms, and Janlen Vivian Trees, Sherri Madonna Hammell, Cynthia Lynn Bishop, Sheila Anne Martin, Kimberly Diane Martin, Katherine Ann Holzman, Tiffany Farrah Lynn Harrison, Jennifer Jane Waters, Patricia Susanne Brogan, and Kati Lynn Castillo serving two non-consecutive terms.

     The Assembly has had five Grand Worthy Advisors. In 1925, the then Worthy Advisor Kate H. Green was elected Grand Faith at the Grand Assembly in Houston, Texas. Two years later, in 1927, she would be elected Grand Worthy Advisor of the Grand Assembly of Texas. Shortly thereafter in 1927, the Assembly entertained with a dance at Woodlawn Lake in San Antonio honoring Kate H. Green as Grand Worthy Advisor and Ruth Fentiman, who had been appointed Grand Love.

     Past Worthy Advisor Evelyn Hays was elected Grand Charity in 1931, then Grand Worthy Associate Advisor in 1932, and Grand Worthy Advisor for the term 1933 - 1934. Her daughter Nana Janet was named Mascot of the Assembly in 1935. Mrs. LeLaurin served many years as Deputy U.S. District Clerk for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. Interestingly, it was not until 1951 that the song "My Rainbow" was sung at San Antonio Assembly No. 3, even though the song had been written in honor of Evelyn Hays LeLaurin, Past Worthy Advisor, when she was Grand Worthy Advisor of the Grand Assembly of Texas in 1933 - 1934.

     It was sixty-one years before the Assembly was honored with another Grand Worthy Advisor with the election of Past Worthy Advisor (twice) Tiffany Farrah Lynn Harrison who served in 1995 - 1996 and became the only Assembly member to serve as an Acting Supreme Officer when she attended the Supreme Assembly in 1996. On the occasion of her installation as Grand Worthy Advisor in 1995, Tiffany was installed by Evelyn Hays LeLaurin, Past Grand Worthy Advisor in 1933 - 34. Tiffany previously served as Grand Fidelity (1991 - 1992), Grand Treasurer (1992 - 1993), Grand Charity (1993 - 1994), and as Grand Worthy Associate Advisor (1994 - 1995), holding five Grand Offices in total. Her Paternal Great Aunt Tomye Hazel Hall was the Charter "Blue" Color Station of the Assembly (1922), and her mother Judith Karen Scott Harrison is a Majority Member and Past Chairman of the Advisory Board, and her maternal grandmother Juanita Tucke is a Past Mother Advisor of the Assembly. Her sister Judith Karen Scott Harrison, Jr. is a Past Worthy Advisor of the Assembly

     Past Worthy Advisor Kathryn Ceatta Hampton, Past State Sweetheart of Texas DeMolay and Past Chapter Sweetheart of Albert Pike Chapter No. 58 Order of DeMolay. She is the fourth Rainbow Girl from San Antonio Assembly No. 3 to become Grand Worthy Advisor of Texas Rainbow for Girls. She previously served as Grand Worthy Associate Advisor of Texas Rainbow for Girls in 2002 - 2003. Past Worthy Advisor of Huisache Assembly No. 267 and affiliated member of San Antonio Assembly No. 3 Kailee Anne Ribbans, Past Chapter Sweetheart of Albert Pike Chapter No. 58 Order of DeMolay, and Past Honored Queen of San Antonio Bethel No. 1 International Order of Job's Daughters is a Past Grand Worthy Advisor of the Grand Assembly of Texas Order of Rainbow for Girls. She is the fifth Rainbow Girl from San Antonio Assembly No. 3 to become Grand Worthy Advisor of Texas Rainbow for Girls. She previously served as Grand Worthy Associate Advisor of Texas Rainbow for Girls in 2003 - 2004. This is the first time in the Order's history that two Grand Worthy Advisors have succeded each other form the same Asembly in Texas.

     The only other Grand Worthy Advisor from an Assembly in San Antonio was Sondra Pearlene Wyatt Gray in 1958 - 1959, Past Worthy Advisor of Blue Star Assembly No. 132, thirty-four years before Tiffany Farrah Lynn Harrison was elected in 1995. They met each other in March 1996 at the Grand Assembly of Maryland.

     The Assembly has been honored with having three Grand Worthy Associate Advisors in addition to the three others who advanced to Grand Worthy Advisor. Those who served as Grand Worthy Associate Advisor include Bernice Smith in 1947 - 1948, Joyce Meyer in 1949 - 1950 and Kailee Anne Ribbans who served in 2003 - 2004. Bernice Smith previously served as Grand Faith in 1946 - 1947 and Joyce Meyer previously served as Grand Hope in 1948 - 1949, as well as Grand Drill Leader in 1947 - 1948, which was the same time that Bernice Smith was Grand Worthy Associate Advisor.

     Kristi Marie Castillo served as Grand Charity in 2006 - 2007 and her sister Kati Lynn Castillo served as Grand Charity in 2007 - 2008 . Mary Louise Fuller served as Grand Faith in 1936 - 1937 and as Grand Charity in 1937 - 1938 in addition to the three others mentioned above who advanced further. Juddie Mae Davis served as Grand Faith in 1930 - 1931 in addition to the other four mentioned above who advanced to a higher office. Doris Ballard served as Grand Recorder in 1934 - 1935 and Janell McDermand served as Grand Recorder in 1962 - 1963 and Lenora Ann Thompson served as Grand Treasurer in 1940 - 1941.

     The Assembly has had fourteen Rainbow Girls elected to Grand Office, of which eight (Kate H. Green Owens, Evelyn Hays LeLaurin, Mary Louise Fuller, Bernice Smith, Joyce Meyer, Tiffany Farrah Lynn Harrison, Kathryn Ceatta Hampton, and Kailee Anne Ribbans) were elected more than once, and twenty-one Rainbow Girls appointed to Grand Office in the Grand Assembly of Texas, which includes three (Joyce Meyer, Tiffany Farrah Lynn Harrison, and Kathryn Ceatta Hampton) who later held Grand Elective Office. Past Worthy Advisor in San Antonio Assembly No. 3 Kailee Anne Ribbans was appointed Grand Religion in 2002 - 2003 as a member of Huisache Assembly No. 267, was elected Grand Worthy Associate Advisor in 2003 - 2004 and Grand Worthy Advisor in 2004 - 2005 as an affiliated member of San Antonio Assembly No. 3.

     The Assembly has had thirty-five Rainbow Girls appointed as Grand Representatives from the Grand Assembly of Texas, which includes three (Bernice Smith, Sheila Anne Martin and Eugenia Marie Barnes) who held Grand Office in later years.

     The Assembly has had twelve Rainbow Girls appointed as Junior Members of Committees of the Grand Assembly of Texas, including one (Kathryn Ceatta Hampton) who was earlier a Grand Appointive Officer, then Grand Worthy Advisor; (Sheila Anne Martin) who was earlier a Grand Representative, then a Grand Appointive Officer, and subsequently a Grand Assembly Committee Member; one (Eugenia Marie Barnes) who served as a Grand Appointive Officer, then a Grand Representative, and subsequently a Grand Assembly Committee Member; one (Janlen Vivian Trees) who was earlier Grand Representative, and one (Shannon Marie Perry) who was a Grand Representative concurrently with being a Grand Assembly Committee Member.

     Thus, the Assembly has had 63 Rainbow Girls hold 100 official positions in Grand Assembly.

     Past Worthy Advisor Tiffany Farrah Lynn Harrison, Past Grand Worthy Advisor served as Acting Supreme Musician of the Supreme Assembly in Seattle, Washington in 1996. Mrs. Eunice (L.B.) Connell, Past Mother Advisor in 1952 served as Supreme Mother Advisor for the Supreme Assembly in 1956 when it met in San Antonio.

     Five Past Mother Advisors have served as Grand Visitor of the Grand Assembly of Texas including Mrs. Agnes (Harry P.) Morris, Mrs. Edna (Jim G.) Lawty, Mrs. Bebe (Dennis F.) Hillmer, Mrs. Nelda (Warren V.) Hastings, and Mrs. Janell (Jerry) McDermand Trees.

     Mrs. Daisie Carr Cushing, the Instituting Worthy Advisor, the first Mother Advisor, the first Supreme Deputy in Texas (April 1923) and the first Supreme Inspector for Rainbow in Texas (June 2, 1923 - September 5, 1941), passed away September 5, 1941 and the Assembly attended the dedication of the monument given by the Rainbow Girls of Texas in honor of Mrs. Cushing at the Mission Cemetery on the south side of San Antonio. She held the station of Supreme Love from November 9, 1927 to her death. A portrait of Mrs. Daisie Carr Cushing was given by Mr. H. Loren Thompson to the Assembly in 1957. A portrait of Dr. Daniel Nash Cushing, Past Grand Commander of Knights Templar in Texas and Past Department Commander of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the U.S.A., was given to Assembly by Col. Albert D. Bivens in 1962. Both Mr. Thompson and Col. Bivens are Past Eminent Commanders of San Antonio Commandery No. 7 Knights Templar.

     Three Past Mother Advisors, Mrs. Lucille (Charles) Dufner (1943), Mrs. Eunice (L.B.) Connell (1952) and Dr. Effie Mae (Jeff) Davis (1968) are Past Grand Matrons of the Grand Chapter of Texas Order of the Eastern Star.

     The Assembly has been honored to have the Grand Cross of Color granted to 363 people associated with the Assembly as either Rainbow Girls or Advisors. Many of the recipients include Mother Advisors and Past Commanders of San Antonio Commandery No. 7 Knights Templar.

     The records of the Assembly indicate that the Mother Advisor was the Advisory Board Chairman prior to 1946. From 1946 through 1990 only women served as Advisory Board Chairman, except in 1975, 1976, 1978, and 1988 when a man served as Advisory Board Chairman. Beginning in 1991, the Eminent Commander of San Antonio Commandery No. 7 Knights Templar, the Sponsoring Body, has served as Chairman of the Advisory Board.

     The daughters of a number of Past Worthy Advisors have also served as Worthy Advisors. They are as follows:

Mother Term Daughter Term

Ellen Nickens Ferguson 1941 Barbara Louise Ferguson 1965

Janell McDermand Trees 1959 Janlen Vivian Trees 1985,1987

Ann Craig Holzmann 1962 Katherine Ann Holzmann 1988,1991

Mary Anne Davis Brogan 1966 Patricia Susanne Brogan 1994, 1996

Susan Davis Guinn 1971 Katherine Suzanne Cermin 1994

     The DeMolay Order of the Carnation was originated in 1947 by Texas DeMolay and is conferred only upon the five elective line officers or Past Worthy Advisors of a Rainbow Assembly who have not reached their majority. The Order of the Carnation was conferred on Sarah Jo Houston, then Worthy Advisor, on August 13, 1955. It would be more than forty years later, on December 30, 1995, when the Order of the Carnation was conferred upon Past Worthy Advisor Tiffany Farrah Lynn Harrison, then Grand Worthy Advisor of the Grand Assembly of Texas.

     The Assembly celebrated its 25th or Silver Anniversary in 1947 with a banquet at the well known Milam Cafeteria in downtown San Antonio and a reunion at the USO Building across the street from the Central Fire Station in downtown San Antonio.

     The 50th or Golden Anniversary was celebrated in the Masonic Temple in downtown San Antonio on Losoya Street with a banquet and an initiation. Rebecca Allmon, the State Sweetheart of Texas DeMolay and Sweetheart of San Antonio Chapter No. 3591 Order of DeMolay was the only candidate initiated on the occasion of the Golden Anniversary.

     The 75th or Diamond Anniversary was held on October 18, 1997 with a Brunch for recipients of the Grand Cross of Color at Veladi Ranch Steak House on Loop 410, followed by an initiation and by an Anniversary Dance in the evening, both at Alzafar Shrine Temple.

     The 80th Anniversary was observed on November 30, 2002, with an initiation of five new members, a luncheon for all in attendance, and an 80 Year History program of the Assembly at the Scottish Rite Cathedral. Past Grand Worthy Advisor Tiffany Farrah Lynn Harrison and present Grand Worthy Associate Advisor Kathryn Ceatta Hampton, both past Worthy Advisors of San Antonio Assembly, were present. Alexis Nichole Work presided as Worthy Advisor and was recognized as Miss Texas Job's Daughter for 2002 - 2003. The Right Worshipful Grand Senior Warden (now Past Grand Master of Masons in Texas) of the Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas, Reese L. Harrison, Jr., Past Chairman of the Assembly Advisory Board, presented the 80 Year History program.

     The foregoing information is taken from a synopsis for the years 1922 to 1949 written by Erna Schiveppe Holmgreen and from a synopsis for the years 1950 to 1972 written by Nelda Wiemers Hastings and edited by Past Chairman of the Advisory Board Dr. Reese L. Harrison Jr. who researched the years 1973 to 1997. Data is now entered per term to this WebSite.

Current as of February 25, 2008.
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