Dear Brethren of the Valley of Columbus,

The Valley continues to move forward thanks to the membership of this Valley. In the next few months, we have some traditionally scheduled events like the Feast of Tishri, a possible fall reunion, and several fundraising events that are aimed at supporting the Valley and Rite Care.

Our next meeting, September 16, will be the Feast of Tishri. We are honored to have the Deputy Grand Master Michael A. Kessler as our honored guest and speaker for the evening.

On September 17, the Valley will be sponsoring a Dove Shoot to raise funds to help us support our Rite Care partner, The Autism Learning Center. We can use your support in several ways. If you are a sportsman and would like to be a part of the shoot you can register at https://checkout.square.site/merchant/MLMRRR321EPMY/checkout/FVEYU6ES7CY5STV42IW32XB6?src=webqr. We also can use your help as a volunteer at the event. We need people with trucks to haul materials to the event on Friday, Saturday, and help bring it back Sunday. We need people to help move tables and chair to the event and work the event. Any amount of your time dedicated to this event is greatly appreciated and earns Double Eagle points. We also need volunteers to work at the Dove Shoot. This has been a wildly successful event for the Valley and helps us to support Children with communication needs. If you can help, please contact Phil Harris at 706-527-7126.

The Valley is also raffling off a Benelli M-2 Field shotgun at Model #11147 at the dove shoot. This shotgun is a 12 Gauge with Gore Optifade Timber finish and includes a case and 5 CRIO Choke Tubes. Tickets are $10 a piece or can be bought in packages of 6 Tickets for $50 or 12 Tickets for $100. The MSRP on this shot gun is $1599 or you can get a credit at Barrow’s Gun Shop of $1170. You do not have to be present to win. If you would like to buy tickets online please use the following link: https://checkout.square.site/merchant/MLMRRR321EPMY/checkout/2H7QA5NBMMCD7S6U4KRPU6PX

When we receive your order online, we will contact you via email to see how you would like to receive your tickets.

In December, the Valley will be hosting two fundraisers. The first will be a Christmas play led by Illustrious Brother Dan Dawson. If you are interested in being a part of this production in any way, please reach out to us. We have also been able to secure a Fire Works stand for New Years. This is another great opportunity for the Valley to raise funds to support our work. Several other Lodges and Masonic Organizations are already participating in the firework sale, so it is incredibly important that we ask for your help to man and run the Scottish Rite stand. This fundraiser has been very beneficial for the lodges and organizations that sell these fireworks and has allowed them to fund projects they would not have been able to afford without it. Additionally, the funds raised are not from just our organization but from the communities we live in. The fire work sale generally takes place immediately after Christmas. Please consider volunteering for any of these upcoming events. We are working to make a bigger impact within our community, and you can be a part of this humble effort

Thank you to all the members and families of the Valley of Columbus.

Dear Knights & Brethren,

Prince Charles Edward Stuart was the last Grand Master of the Order of Heredom in Scotland, and exercised his powers in France. By establishing a Chapter of Rose Croix at Arras, and by other acts. And when the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite was finally organized, by those in possession of the Degrees of the Rites of Heredom and Perfection, and other Rites and detached Degrees that had been from time to time established in Scotland, France, Germany and elsewhere, the Order of Grand Scottish Knights of Saint Andrew became the 29th of the new Rite, formed by selecting, from different Rites and Observances, seven degrees in addition to the twenty-five of Perfection; and creating the 33rd, as the Supreme and last Degree, to rule the world.

Every cross of Knighthood is a symbol of the nine qualities of a Knight of St. Andrew of Scotland; for every order of chivalry required of its votaries the same virtues and the same excellencies. Humility, Patience, and Self-denial are the three essential qualities of a Knight of St. Andrew of Scotland. The Cross, sanctified by the blood of the holy ones who have died upon it; the Cross, which Jesus of Nazareth bore, fainting, along the streets of Jerusalem and up to Calvary, upon which He cried, “Not My will, O Father! but Thine be done,” is an unmistakable and eloquent symbol of these three virtues. He suffered upon it, because He consorted with and taught the poor and lowly, and found His disciples among the fishermen of Galilee and the despised publicans. His life was one of Humility, Patience, and Self-denial.

This knighthood was for following those same values and qualities. As a Knight of St Andrew, our obligations and oaths taken throughout each degree, that oath taken on that yonder book is reemphasized as a responsibility as to be the example to our fellow masons. That our contributions are never done with expectation of reward or recognition.

About Saint Andrew: It is said to have been martyred by crucifixion at the city of Patras (Patræ) in Achaea, in AD 60. Early texts, such as the Acts of Andrew known to Gregory of Tours, describe Andrew as bound, not nailed, to a Latin cross of the kind on which Jesus is said to have been crucified; yet a tradition developed that Andrew had been crucified on a cross of the form called crux decussata (X-shaped cross, or "saltire"), now commonly known as a "Saint Andrew's Cross" — supposedly at his own request, as he deemed himself unworthy to be crucified on the same type of cross as Jesus had been. The iconography of the martyrdom of Andrew — showing him bound to an X-shaped cross — does not appear to have been standardized until the later Middle Ages. This explains the Saltire cross in our seal. He was an agile and hardy Galilean fisherman whose name means “strong” and who also had good social skills? He brought the first foreigners to meet Jesus and shamed a large crowd of people into sharing their food with the people beside them. Today we might describe him as the Patron Saint of Social Networking! Thus, explaining the importance of our attendance and provide time; not monetary contribution, to support the goals and events of the valley.

Did you know that the first Freemason in America was a Scot from Aberdeen, John Skene was born in Newtyle, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. In 1659 he was admitted as a burgess in Aberdeen. He was a Quaker and he left Scotland and settled in West New Jersey where he purchased a 500-acre plantation which he called Peachfield. John Skene was a member of Aberdeen Lodge No. 1.

Did you know that the order is designed to provide service to your valley? In early 1993 the late, Ill. Weldon Good, 33rd of the Tulsa Valley in Oklahoma saw a need for assistance during reunions. He also noticed that Masons were joining the Scottish Rite but not returning to help and participate in subsequent reunions. To rectify this he developed the organization now known as the KNIGHTS OF ST. ANDREW as a service group for the valley.

After the chartering of the first three Chapters in Oklahoma thirty years ago the Knights of St. Andrew grown across both, the Southern Jurisdiction & Northern Jurisdiction, and from coast to coast. Having over 150+ Charters including our Valley of Columbus Knights of St Andrews Chapter Chartered on 16 July 2016.

How much does it mean to have this knighthood? “Knighthood” is more than just a title; more than a class status; more than just a chapter; when mentioning of a knight, the word “Service” is within its scope when knighted. Its by recommendation in how a member becomes a Knight, not just by petition.

Sources:

• Morals and Dogma of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry (1871)

• Michael T.R.B. Turnbull – A History of St Andrew - Saint Andrew: Myth, Legend and Reality

• Gnostic Warrior – Grand Scottish Knight of St. Andrew | Chapter 29

• Knights of ST Andrew - History of the Knights of St. Andrew [https://www.knightsofstandrew.info/]