St. John's Day

June 24 is the day we celebrate the memory of our patron saint, St. John the Baptizer.

When the Order of St. John was begun, it was not known by that name.  It was only until the Pope of that day assigned that patron saint to the work of the order that it became know as such.

On this day, festivals are held, dinner parties, get togethers and in many other ways to remember our heritage.

This year, the date falls in the middle of the week and will be celebrated by many knights and dames in their homes. 

Prayers for the work of St. John the Baptizer, that  it was he who called out into the by-ways to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah.

This Messiah, was Jesus Christ, son of Mary and Jospeh of Nazareth.

It was John the Baptizer who baptised Jesus in the River Jordan.

On a sweet note, my grandson, William, was baptized on June 13, 2010.  Some two centuries after John the Batizer.  When we were in the Holy Land several years ago, my husband took a water bottle and filled it with water from where the River Jordan enters Israel.  I had kept that bottle in the refrigerator for all these years. On this trip we were accompanied by our fellow HOSJ members, Dr. John and Mrs. Jane Hemmer and Mr. Garland and Mrs. Bonnie Reynolds. We were re-baptised in the river and re-newed our vows to believe in God, the Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit.

Our priest, Rev. Don Harrison has charge  of that water now.

May your day be blessed.

May you remember St. John.

May your visions be clear and revealing.

may your days be filled with joy and peace.

In Christ,

Mary Caroline Mixon, DH
Pilgrimmaster


The photo is from a card sent to us by the Prelate of the West , Dr. Russell, Fritz, PH.
Thought you would enjoy this old image.

INVESTITURE-HOSJ Greenville, SC

THE VIGIL
Friday May 21, 2010 began the weekend vigil of the Order of St. John-Knights Hospitaller, USA.
The prayer vigil began at dusk and ended with the blessing of the events of the dawn.

Saturday May 22, the Grand Priory of the USA met and conducted its business for the year. 
We are sad to say that our brother,Wade Hammer, the Grand Prior of the USA, was ill and could not be with us.  We pray for his speedy recovery.

THE INVESTITURE

In our midst, the Grand Master, HE Baillif Dame Sandra Brown,GMH, who lives in Canada, was with us to celebrate the events and bring us good news from the other priories.

In his stead, Lt. Grand Prior David P. Hanson and HE Bailiff Dr. William Harris, Grand Councillor, conducted the affairs of the Order for this investiture.At 3 PM  all assembled at St. Timothy United Methodist Church of Greenville. SC where all practice for the event began; preceding the hour of  5:30 PM for investing new Jurats, Companions, Dames and Knights.

An organ prelude followed by a processional of the Insignia, spurs, sword and flags of the USA and Canada, being represented, were placed on the altar. 
The Prefect for the event was K/C David Hanson, Grand Marshall 
Services were conducted by Rev. Dr. Maj. Russell R. Fritz, PH Grand Prelate of the West.
The investiture was for the purpose of admitting the following to their new positions in the order:

Bonnie Reynolds, Jurat
Garland Reynolds, Jurat
Dan Tappmeyer-Jurat
Ronald D. Weir. Jurat
Kathleen Brink.    Companion
Jane Reynolds, Dame
Dr. John Hemmer, Knight
Jack Young, Knight

Presentation of the candidates to the Grand Master and her special words to each was begun my adorning each with the mantle by K/C Peter Ryan, HE Bailiff Rebecca Stern DH; followed presentation of insignia for the office along with brevet of the advancement by HE Bailiff Dr. Wm. Harris,  Gr. Chancellor Janice Ryan,DH.

KH Dr. Thomas Harvey, K/C of The Carolinas, who coordinated all the events of the weekend assisted in presentation of insignias.

The past Grand Master, Dr. Joe Rude' served as the Crucifer.
HE Bailiff Dr. Frank Faunce,DDS,KH,  presented the sword.  The  American flag was carried by Chev. John. D. Hartness, DDS,KH, theCanada flag was presented by Col. Robert Izlar, KH; the  Order flag presented by HE Bailiff Dr. Thom Buttler,DDS,KH,
The Insignias were born by D/C Mary Caroline Mixon, DH, The spurs, presented by
The Flag of the Grand master was born by K/C Dr. J. D. Mixon, DDS,K/H, Atlanta Commandery, The aid de camp of the Grand Master was HE Bailiff Bill Stiefel, Sovereign Council
Dr. William Harris presented awards:
       The Grand Prior Award to HE Bailiff  Duke Stern ,KH, and HE Bailiff  Bill Stiefel, DDS,KH.

      The Oscar Stroh Award for Leadership was presented to K/C David Hanson, KH , and in abstentia to the Editor K/C Stephen A. Cox, KH.

The banquet was held at the POINSETT CLUB, a very old and  distinguished club in Greenville, SC.  The dinner was seated and presented very well.  HE Bailiff  Rebecca Stern decorated the tables with red, black and white arches with the Maltese cross in open air as a mobile for each table.

The entertainment was from the Greenville Fine Arts School.  There were three young women who did solo and combined talent musical gifts for our ears.  They were all high school students and one already on her way to Oberland College.  We had gospel, opera and modern arrangements of familiar music.
All loved the evening and at the conclusion were bused  to the Hampton Inn, our host hotel, to bid adieu' to each until the next time we gather

Official photograph of the event to be included when available.

Remember St. John's Day and pray for one another on June 23, 2010.
Pray for Brother Wade Hammer.
In the comment section add others we should pray for.
Your sister in Christ,

Mary Caroline Mixon
Pilgrimmaster

Past Pilgrimmaster

To all our members:
I think it would be worthy of a pilgrim shell to come to an investiture, do you? We also have the Holy sites that are worthy but, of course, the more challenge a journey, the higher the rank of shell.
If you are not familiar with this process, I have a brochure I can send you that will be on the blog shortly.  The brochure suggests what you do at the site and makes your pilgrimmage so much more meaningful.
There are certain Holy sites that are worthy of a bronze, silver or gold shell.  You wear only one at a time and the highest honor that you have received.
If you have been in receipt of a bronze, silver or gold shell for visit to pilgrim sites, please send me your name, the site and we will try to get a complete list.  I received a letter from our past Pilgrimmaster and was a delight to hear from him.
Send to caroline.mixon@gmail.com

Recent letter from past Pilgrimmaster:

Dear Mary:

Since you are now the Pilgrimmaster for our Order I wonder if you could give you some ancient history for your files. As it happens I was the first designated Pilgrimmaster for the Order by then Grand Master Robert Formhauls. By the time we had decided to have shells and designed the Gold, Silver and Bronze shells I appointed only ten pilgrims for the shell. Then I was elevated in rank again and passed the title of Pilgrimmaster to someone else. I have a letter in my files to Dr. K.W. Greaves, Director General of Insignia in Hamilton, Ontario. Here is a list of the first ten people to be awarded shells:



# l. Michael Newton Gold l0-3l-93

#2. Jay Bennett Gold ll-8-93

#3. John Bennett Bronze ll-8-93

#4. Richard Kozal Gold ll-9-93

#5 Madeleine Houze Gold ll-l0-93

#6 Paul Eleazer Bronze 3-2-94

#7 Kathryn Newton Gold 3-3-94

#8 Peggy Newton Gold 3-3-94

#9 Robert Shankle Bronze 3-l0-94

#l0 Hazel Bennett Gold 4-4-94

Best Regards,
Michael Newton, Ph.D. (retired Lt. Grand Master).
_______________________________________________________
I loved receiving his email and that fills in some gaps.

Have a blessed day

MCM

My elevator speech

This is the first of our communiques from the Pilgrimmaster of the Hospitaller Order of St. John-USA.  We are developing this blog to put in some history,  information, and items of interest to members and to those whom you think might like to know more about our order.

There is a new buzz phrase that business folks are adding to their repertoire. It is called  "elevator speech".
 If you are asked, what do you do, you have got to put it into words that will last the time it takes to go an elevator's floor's distance.
For instance, if a passer-by gets into the elevator with you and says "Hi", you say "Hi", then they say "what do you do?"; you have got the rest of that elevator ride distance to get it out or say nothing.

Maybe simply handing them your business card will do.

We members of the Order of St. John have always had a difficult time, summarizing what we do and who we are in a simple set of sentences.
So, here is  a sugestion.


My elevator speech:
It takes an organized mind to say in less than a minute what HOSJ is all about. It is frustrating to try to get it all out and not loose the inquiring person's interest. When the pin is worn in the lapel, or someone knows of your interests, and they ask; this is my response.

What does that pin mean? or What is this Order that you are in?

My answer:

1) It is the chivalric Order of St. John.

2) It is an honorary organization that has its roots in the 11th century AD

3) The first members of the Order set up a hospital in Jerusalem for the purpose of ministering to the health needs of the Christians and their entourage who were on pilgrimage to the Holy sites.

4) Today, it is still a Christian, non-denominational, order spanning the globe. In the United States and
Canada, we are focused on each member doing "good works" wherever they are.

5) As an Order, we support various charitable organizations at home and abroad.

6) We study the past to understand the present. The history and heritage of the Order are almost
spellbinding. Tradition matters to us, especially in our ceremonies of chivalry and knighthood.
 
Now, that takes about two floors of elevator time.
You can tell by the third sentence if they are spellbound!
If they want to know more, then give them the blog email address ( on the back of your business card, of course) and that link will have all that history stuff that we get bogged down in.
 
Hope this is helpful to you and will help you organize your thoughts about who you are!

MCMixon,DC
Pilgrimmaster