 All here this! All here this! Thursday's 2024 rendition of the annual Valley of Houston celebration of the Feast of Tishri comes with a one-time caveat. Not only will we break bread in honor of the great deliverance of the Hebrew people from wandering the desert in search of a new home, we will also celebrate the arrival of a new beginning for our Valley Knights of St Andrew. Thursday evening marks the unveiling of the Valley of Houston KStA’s new tartan colors. The Valley has made the decision to switch from its original Texas Bluebonnet Tartan to The ‘Earl of St Andrew’ tartan design. Read the details of this decision below as outlined by Sir Knight, Matt White. Houston Valley Scottish Rite Knights of St Andrew Earl of St Andrew Tartan and Dress Wear. At the chartering of the Houston Scottish Rite Knights of St Andrew Order, the Texas Bluebonnet tartan was selected as the official tartan of the order. The tartan is the official tartan of the State of Texas and was utilized by the KStA for neck ties which could be worn with khaki slacks, a navy blazer and a black glengarry as the uniform of a Houston Valley KStA ‘Sir Knight.’ With regard to tartan designs, there exist a worldwide organization which acknowledges and registers various tartan patterns submitted by their designers and creators. An individual may ‘copyright’ a tartan design. Many design managers – or the holders of the tartan copyrights – are easy to work with and the tartan is readily accessible for individuals, groups, and societies to utilize for large clothing and uniform items have not proven over the years to permit their design to be very accessible to the public. With the desire to move from neckties alone to larger uniform items displaying the KSA tartan pattern, the decision was made in 2023 to investigate a replacement tartan design for the Valley of Houston which would be readily accessible for kilts and other highland wear items. The search led to the recommendation to the Valley KSA to switch the official tartan over to the ‘Earl of St Andrew’ tartan design. The EOSA design is familiar to the Valley membership in the since that it is primarily a blue-dominated design and pays homage to the Patron Saint of the Scottish Rite 29th Degree and namesake of the Knights of Saint Andrew Order and Chapter. The tartan design was presented and approved by committee in early 2024. Officers of the Valley of Houston Knights of St Andrew oversaw the production and procurement as well as measuring and ordering the new kilts from a Texas-based kilt maker utilizing the new Earl of St Andrew tartan design. In addition to kilts, the Valley KStA officers met and agreed upon several adjunct highland wear uniform items such as sporrans, kilt pins, belt buckles, and hosiery – all reflecting masonic and Scottish heritage ideas and values. – Sir Knight Matt White
...matching regalia wear Associated items incorporated in the Valley of Houston Knights of St Andrew regalia are: sword and thistle, thistle sporran, and navy hose and flashes incorporated with the wearing of the tartan, jacket, kilt, vest and tie apparel.
Reunion 410 and Feast of TishriBusy time ahead in the month of October at the Valley of Houston Scottish Rite. Both the annual Feast of Tishri and Fall Reunion 419 are on tap for this month.
The Feast of Tishri, to be held on Thursday, October 24th, annually celebrates the Jewish holiday Sukkot - also known as the Feast of Tabernacles by the Jewish people. A time of celebration after 40 years of wandering in the dessert following their escape from Egypt and the gathering of the fall harvest. It is celebrated as the final of four feasts of the Scottish Rite Southern Jurisdiction during the calendar year. Reunion 419, which opened on September 21st, resumes on Saturday, October 19th with the conferral of Degrees 18 through 29 and closes out on Saturday, the 26th, with Terminal Degrees 4, 14, 18, 30, an 32 as well as Degree 31. There is still time to turn in Reunion Petitions and pay Degree Fees for those blue lodge Master Masons wishing to become full-fledged 32nd Degree members of the Scottish Rite. Use the links below to download Petitions and prepay Degree Fees. Otherwise, fees may be paid at the door by cash, check, or credit card. Note article below on the Forgotten Gateway: Coming to America Through Galveston Island and remember to participate in your home lodge's efforts to gather items for the Valley of Houston Toy Drive benefiting Scottish Rite Hospitals in Dallas. All lodge's will get these toys and money donations to the Valley in late November. Valley members are invited to join in the caravan headed to Dallas to transfer the gifts in person to hospital personnel. More on how to participate in that effort later. The Board of Trustees will meet in the Board Room prior to the Feast at 6 p.m. 6 p.m. Board of Trustees 7 p.m. Feast of Tishri Feast of Tishri Reunion 419 Continues in October FIfteen candidates participated in the September 21st opening day of Reunion 419. There is still time to notify members of your blue lodges that they can sign up and participate in the Reunion during the final two Saturdays; October 19th and 26th. Second and third Reunion dates are listed below. Each session's activities complete around 9:30 p.m. Breakfast and Registration begin each morning from 7 - 8 a.m. Breakfast, lunch, and snacks are available to candidates and participating Valley members. Degrees 18 through 29 are scheduled for the October 19th session. Those members who joined in the Spring Session of 2024 are encouraged to come out and see any Degrees they missed during the Spring. Terminal Degrees 4, 14,18, 30, and 32 as well as Degree 31 will be conferred on the final day of the Reunion, October 26th. This gives any new members coming into the Valley a chance to receive all Terminal Degrees on the 26th. Fees of the Reunion are set at $275 and can be paid via PayPal or Credit Card on internet site via link below or by contacting the Valley via telephone at 713-432-1980 prior to the event. Credit Card, check, or cash are acceptable at the door. Please download a copy of the Petition on link below. A link for the Petition is also listed below. Remember, if you are not active in Reunions to this point, you are encouraged to join one of the many committees responsible for Reunion activities. Come out, observe, and get involved. There's always a place to help. Candidates can look forward to more in depth knowledge, comrodarity, and opportunities to serve the general public through the many Scottish Rite charity organizations by getting involved now. 419th Reunion Schedule Saturday, October 19, 2024 7:00 – 8:00 a.m. Breakfast 2:15 – 2:30 p.m. Classroom 8:00 - 8:15 a.m. Classroom 2:30 – 3:15 p.m. 24° Conferred 8:15 – 9:30 a.m. 18° Conferred 3:15 – 3:30 p.m. Break 9:30 – 9:45 a.m. Classroom 3:30 – 4:00 p.m. 25° Conferred 9:45 – 10:15 a.m. 19° Conferred 4:00 – 4:15 p.m. Classroom 10:15 – 10:30 a.m. Break 4:15 – 4:45 p.m. 26° Conferred 10:30 – 11:15 a.m. 20° Conferred 4:45 – 5:00 p.m. Classroom 11:15 – 11:30 a.m. Classroom 5:00 – 5:45 p.m. 27° Conferred 11:30 – 12:15 a.m. 21° Conferred 5:45 – 6:00 p.m. Break 12:15 – 1:00 p.m. Lunch 6:00 – 6:45 p.m. 28° Conferred 1:00 – 1:30 p.m. 22° Conferred 6:45 – 7:00 p.m. Classroom 1:30 – 1:45 p.m. Classroom 7:00 – 7:30 p.m. 29° Conferred 1:45 – 2:15 p.m. 23° Conferred Saturday, October 26, 2024 7:00 – 8:00 a.m. Registration / Breakfast 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Lunch & Portraits 8:00 - 8:45 a.m. Classroom 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. 30° Conferred 8:45 – 9:00 a.m. Reunion Prologue 3:00 – 3:30 p.m. Classroom 9:00 – 9:45 a.m. 4° Conferred 3:30 – 4:15 p.m. 31° Conferred 9:45 – 10:15 a.m. Classroom 4:15 – 4:45 p.m. Classroom 10:15 – 11:15 a.m. 14° Conferred 4:45 – 6:15 p.m. 32° Conferred 11:15 – 11:45 a.m. Classroom 6:15 – 6:45 p.m. Cap Presentation 11:45 – 1:00 p.m. 18° Conferred Fellowship and Refreshments in Double Eagle Lounge following Reunion Reunion 419 Petition Reunion 419 Degree Fees 2025 Dues Galveston - Forgotten GatewayThe Library and Museum of the Houston Scottish Rite Forgotten Gateway: Coming to America Through Galveston Island exhibit is underway. The exhibition is available to the public through October 24, 2024. For more information about viewing hours, or to arrange group visits, contact the Valley of Houston Scottish Rite at 713-432-1980. School of Instruction The Valley of Houston School of Instruction next meets Saturday, October 12, 2024 at 10 a.m. in the Valley Board Room. Fresh Coffee will be available for all participants. Twice-monthly practices are held on second and fourth Saturday mornings of each month - when the building is not otherwise scheduled - to go over Blue Lodge esoteric work including: esoteric studies of Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, and Master Mason as well as lodge openings and closing of all four lodges, conferral of degrees, and the reception of Grand Lodge Officers. UpComing Events Please note you can also subscribe to our calendar HERE!! October 19, 2024 REUNION 419 (18th – 29th Degree Conferrals) October 24, 2024 Feast of Tishri – Executive Committee – KStA Stated Meeting October 26, 2024 REUNION 419 (Terminal Degree 4th, 14th, 18th, 30th, 32nd – Plus 31th - Conferrals) November 21, 2024 Stated Meeting – Board of Trustees December 19, 2024 Election / Installation of Officers – Executive Committee Valley of Houston • Orient of Texas 2401 W Bellfort Avenue, Houston, TX 77225-0788 Phone: 713-432-1980 Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.houstonscottishrite.org |
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