Richard C. Delsi, 33°
Santa Rosa Scottish Rite Masonic Center
600 Acacia Lane, Santa Rosa, California 95402-3402

The Order of Knights of Saint Andrew involves new membership
and can serve any Valley in many ways.

The average Master Mason who joins the Scottish Rite in the Orient of California must ask himself, "Now what? I've reached the 32° Degree. I've been welcomed into the Fraternity. I'm interested in further light in Masonry. But what do I do?" This question has always plagued the Fraternity. We say, "Get the new member involved." The reaction, however, may be somewhat negative: "Who did this before I arrived on the scene? I'm a new member; have they been waiting for someone to join to fill this vacancy?" A good response to the new member who aspires to be active is "Enter the Order of the Knights of Saint Andrew!" Other Orients have similar Orders, e.g., the Order of the Thistle in Texas.

The Scottish Rite of Freemasonry needs an enthusiastic, active group of men to help promote the principles of the Fraternity, to increase its membership-particularly among the 30-50 generation-and to further the cause of friendship and male bonding. The Knights of Saint Andrew are elite and exclusive to the extent that they may not, when they are initiated, be Knights Commander of the Court of Honour or hold the 33° Degree. When they achieve one of these honors, they are "mustered out" of the Order.

In the Orient of California, the Order of the Knights of Saint Andrew was promoted by the late Ill. Joseph E. Witzerman, Jr., 33°, who carried out the mandate of the Orient S.G.I.G., Ill. H. Douglas Lemons, 33°, to address the need to attract new members. In each Valley in the Orient, the Personal Representative or an Installation Team charters a Chapter of the Order. As part of an impressive ceremony, each member is "dubbed" in the traditional manner and pledges fealty to the principles of Freemasonry as exemplified in the Scottish Rite and the Order of the Knights of Saint Andrew. In our Valley, Santa Rosa, the name of each Knight is inscribed in bold, colorful script on the copy of the Charter, which he receives at his initiation. The copy is suitable for framing.

Ill. Richard C. Delsi, 33°, Personal Representative, Valley of Santa Rosa, California, presents Bro. Jerry J. Shultz, 32°, his sword upon being knighted and installed into the Order of Knights of Saint Andrew in the Valley of Santa Rosa. Bro. Shultz is the Master of Kadosh of the Santa Rosa Valley Scottish Rite Consistory and a Captain in the Santa Rosa Fire Department. Photo: Jette K. Shultz

The purpose of the Order is service-to the local Valley, to Scottish Rite Masonry, to the community, and to Masonry in general. Service, however, should not be construed as servility. In our Orient, the Knights do not wait on tables, nor do they park cars or clean up after a function. If they perform any of these tasks, they do so in another capacity, not as Knights of Saint Andrew. In the Valley of Santa Rosa, they escort dignitaries, serve as public relations representatives for both internal and external Valley functions, are members of the Speakers' Bureau, and assist in Americanism programs. In short, they do for the Scottish Rite whatever is dignified and likely to reflect honor on the Fraternity, in public or in private.

In some Valleys in California, the Knights confer one or more of the Degrees. Their duty is to attract, by their behavior, new members to the Fraternity. It is the responsibility of the Personal Representative of the Valley to ensure that whatever they do, whatever task they undertake, enhances the image of the Fraternity. The Knights are gentlemen who desire the company and friendship of gentlemen like themselves.

All current and ancient Orders of Knighthood have or had a Creed. In the Orient of California it is: "This above all, I stand by my great Scottish Rite Fraternity of Masonry, I stand as a Knight to help in the growth of the Fraternity I love, I stand committed to protecting the longevity of our Fraternity, I stand with firm dedication and will promote the work of Scottish Rite Freemasonry."

A Chapter of the Order of Saint Andrew could benefit any Valley. If one does not now exist, the Personal Representative can certainly assist in bringing it into being. The special regalia of the Order is derived from Scottish Highland dress and should be worn properly, as the occasion demands. Again, the Personal Representative has information available and should be consulted. It is vital to the future of our Fraternity that, once the Order has been established, it be used and be visible as frequently as possible. The Order can make a mediocre event into a brilliant affair just by virtue of its presence!

Richard C. Delsi is the Personal Representative of the Valley of Santa Rosa, California, and a Past Master of Mount Jackson Masonic Lodge No. 295, Guerneville, California. He is a Past Charter Venerable Master, American Military Scottish Rite Valley, Frankfurt, Germany; Past President of the European Shrine Club; Founder and Director of the Board for the Santa Rosa Scottish Rite Children Language and Learning Center; and Vice President of the California Scottish Rite Foundation.