- Arlington meets at the Arlington Masonic Temple. Their sponsoring body is Arlington Chapter No. 249 OES.
- The Worthy Advisor decides upon colors, a theme, Scriptures, symbol, motto, and
flowers for her term. The term length is four months. Installations are in June, October and February.
- Usually we have Installations on Saturday. The Worthy Advisor chooses if she wants to have it in the afternoon
or evening. Usually have nice refreshments afterwards. Sometimes the Worthy Advisor will have a dance afterwards.
- Carry-ins. Sometimes the girls will carry in a flower. The bow officers will have a flower the color of the
station that they are serving with the other officers holding the flower that the Worthy Advisor has chosen for the
term.
- Special events at Installation. This past Installation the Worthy Advisor-elect had a ceremony about the
colors of the Rainbow. Sometimes the flag is presented by the local Masons.
- Passed-down items. Arlington Assembly has a traveling Worthy Advisor's jewel and a Traveling Mother Advisor's
jewel. Also, a traveling bracelet for best work at Initiation; there is one for PWAs and one for other members.
- If the Worthy Advisor chooses to do so she may dedicate her term to someone special. One of our recent
PWA's had dedicated her term to a Mason who had recently passed away with cancer and Sarah thought that he was
a special person. He did things for Rainbow because he wanted to and enjoyed doing it. He was a Master of the
Grand Cross of Color (his medallion was buried with him - he had the Grand Cross for just about 1 year and was
really proud that he had been nominated for it.)
- Presentations and awards at Installation. Service bars, Merit bar and Pot of Gold are given at the
Installation to the girls just after they are earned. Grand Jurisdiction Participation certificates; Girl of the
Term award. We present the awards 3 times a year. At each Installation Faith gets her Bible and Hope gets her
gavel.
- Farewell. The outgoing WA gets her Past Worthy Advisor's pin. Just recently we had a girl reach her
majority (she had served as GWAA) and she was given a quilt made of material of the 7 colors.
- Each Worthy Advisor is free to make up her own marching drills if she wants to.
- At all installations we have a Rainbow Mom and Dad every term, the Worthy Advisor appoints them.
- Hope's parents give her a gavel at the installation. Hope has "Pinky the Pig", which she passes down to the
next girl to be elected Hope.
- Each Worthy Advisor chooses for her term colors, a flower, a symbol, a theme, a motto,and a song. If it is
her first term as Worthy Advisor, she gives her officers and her installing officers gifts. If it is more than once
then she just gives a gift to her installing officers.
- Our Installations are usually on Saturday evenings, sometimes we do go out to eat afterwards.
- For Installatins, officers carry flowers when they walk in the room.
- We just started the tradition of having the Masons present the flag at the beginning of the Installations.
- Merit awards and station pins are awarded at every Installation, in addition to any other awards we have at
that time.
- Desoto Lodge is very involved with our Assembly. We even get involved with the Mason's installations at
times.
- Fort Worth meets at the Masonic Temple on Henderson Street in Fort Worth. They are sponsored by the
local Eastern Star chapters.
- For her term, the Worthy Advisor chooses a flower, symbol, theme, scripture, motto, service project,
and type of social event. Installations are usually on the weekend, with the Worthy Advisor having a social
dance afterwards. Dress code for Installations are white formals.
- The Worthy Advisor gives each of her officers a "carry-in" gift.
- The traveling Worthy Advisor Jewel is passed from outgoing WA to incoming WA at Installation.
- There is no one "Rainbow Dad" for the term -- all dads are Rainbow Dads.
- Farewell. A little program is usually given to the WA at her last meeting... usually something fun
reflecting on her time in the East.
- Opening & Closing march is a drill selected by the WA.
- Our assembly meets at the Richardson Masonic Lodge. We are sponsored by a Rainbow Council made up of Masons,
Eastern Star and Majority Rainbow members.
- The Worthy Advisor selects her theme, symbol, colors, flower, scripture, song, honor station(s) and
sometimes who her term is dedicated to or in memory of. Term length used to be four months, but due to lower
membership, it is temporarily being switched to six months.
- Little Girl as "Mascot" - We are going to have a "Rainbow Princess" that will be a little girl who is not
old enough to join Rainbow yet. In the future, once we get a Pledge Group started, the girls will select one of
the Pledge Girls as their "Rainbow Princess".
- Installation. The incoming Worthy Advisor decides on the day she would like to have her Installation.
Then she contacts the WM of the lodge and asks if the lodge will be available that day. She may decide to
have her Installation on the same night as a meeting or some other day. It's all up to her. If the Worthy
Advisor-elect decides to have an activity after the Installation she can do so. We have had formal receptions,
swim parties, dances, bowling parties. It's all up to the new Worthy Advisor.
- More Installation. Most of the time the WA-elect will have her officers carry a bouquet of her flowers.
The WA gives a gift to all of her installing officers and to the members of her Assembly. Before the new dress
code came into effect, all the girls had to wear long white formals. Now that the dress code has changed (at
least in Texas), the girls can wear any color of dress except for black or very dark colors. The only ones who
still have to wear white are the Grand Officers.
- Special events for Installation. Whatever the Worthy Advisor-elect wants. Past choices include: the
Commandary presenting the colors, and the DeMolay acting as escorts. Sometimes there is a color presentation
just like they do in Eastern Star when they present the color points.
- Passed-down items. The Worthy Advisor and Mother Advisor pins. Usually the girl going in as Hope will be
presented her gavel, and then the Worthy Advisor-elect is presented with her Bible.
- The WA selects a song that is either special to her or fits in with her theme. It is usually played or
sung at her Installation (she might have someone special sing it for her). During her term, her song is usually
played at each meeting if there is someone at the meeting to play the piano.
- There is a basic drill that is done in the opening and at the closing of our meetings. If the WA so
chooses, she can design her own drills. The only problem with that, is when Drill Leader or Faith is
absent. Then we go back to the basic drill. After the closing drill, all the girls gather in the East and
sing "My Rainbow" [see Grand section for lyrics]. Then the WA & MA march to the west side of the altar,
facing the east. Then a pair of girls march toward them, bow, then each exit to her respective side of the
room.
- We get together for Grand Cross Dinner, and Grand Tour once a year. Grand Tour in Texas is when the
Grand Worthy Advisor travels about, she is usually in an area for several days visiting the Assemblies in that
area. The different Grand Officers travel with her and the Assemblies have different functions, meetings, etc.,
to honor the Grand Worthy Advisor. It can be said that the GWA "tours an area." Several states may have the same
thing for the Grand Worthy Advisor but call it by different names. This year (2001) the Grand Tour started in
the Fort Worth area as this is the area that the Grand Worthy Advisor is from.
- We have School of Instruction once a year under the direction of the Supreme Deputy.
- We have joint meetings, we also got involved with other Dallas area Assemblies for dances, and during the
summer we had the Grand Tour (that was fun). Also, there is the Grand Cross lunch every year. Schools of
Instruction, then after those we have a DeMolay dance.
- Sometimes we have joint meetings of all three Assemblies, usually to do an honor program, a mini -
School of Instruction.
- Usually all the Assemblies in the area (we are in the Dallas Area) have a School of Instruction in which
each Assembly is able to participate in. Usually each Assembly in our area will get to do two stations during
each part of a meeting (opening, introductions, balloting, initiation, closing).
- The first Assembly in Texas, Sherman No. 1, was Instituted July 10, 1922. The first Grand Assembly of Texas
was held in 1925, in Houston.
- Proficiency: The only proficiency exam we have is the secret work and questions. The girls have to say the
Secret Work to one of the examiners (part "B"), and the examiner asks her questions concerning Rainbow that are
taken from the Ritual, Gold Book, Statutes and the Texas Rainbow News (part "A"). If the girls pass both parts,
they are given certificates to present to another person who in turn will sell them an "A" and "B" button to put
on their brag rags. I think there are about 20 questions asked.
- Merit Bars. The Merit Pin is earned by saying the Secret Work. You get the Pot of Gold after attending for
one year with 6 excused absences (2 each term). A girl can earn her color bars several different ways:
To earn 3 service bars a girl must say the following: 1. 3 prayers; 2. be first line signer of one petition (awarded after Initiation); 3. Four color stations.
To earn the other 4 service bars a girl can choice any four of the following: 1. 3 color stations; 2. Worthy Advisor's lectures in Initiation; 3. Charity's lecture in Initiation; 4. Invite Mason, Eastern Star, and/or Amaranth Member for two meetings during each of three terms. These visitors should not include parents, guardians, or Advisory Board members. You may not have the same guest for more than two meetings; 5. Visit another Assembly once each term for a year; 6. Worthy Advisor's lectures in Opening and Closing ceremonies; 7. Be a first line signer of one petition (awarded after initiation); 8. Exceptional service to the Assembly (this is at the discretion of the Advisory Board); 9. Recite the Landmarks and also give the Procedure for Examining a Visitor including giving the Test Oath.
To earn the Wreath, a girl must be a member for 4 years and have the Merit Bar, all Color Bars, and the Pot of Gold with the addition of the following: 1. Reinstate five suspended members, or 2. Attend Rainbow Assembly meetings for two years after receiving the Merit Bar, Color Bars and Pot of Gold. Excused absences may not exceed two each term.
- Term length. Depending on the assembly, terms can be either 4 months or 6 months.
- In Texas, we sing "My Rainbow" which is the official song of the Grand Assembly of Texas. It goes:
-
God placed a Rainbow way up in the sky
A beautiful symbol so true
It's lovely colors of heavenly hue
Send showers of blessings anew.My Rainbow,
I cannot tell what you mean to me,
With your lessons of Faith, Hope and Charity.
If I could pattern my life, on your great service and love,
The Pot of Gold I'm sure to find above,My Rainbow,
symbol of promises ever true,
Inspire me to live just as you. - Bow songs sung during Initiation: Love-Love Divine All Loves Excelling; Religion-I Love to Tell the Story;
Nature-This is My Father's World; Immortality-He Leadeth Me; Fidelity-God will Take Care of You; Patriotism-America
the Beautiful; Service-Help Somebody Today.
- Opening March. If there are enough girls to have a choir, they sing "Onward Christian Soldiers". Most of the
time, the girls just "clunk" along, though they are supposed to march with their arms at their sides. You will get
some girls that just glide over the floor and others that drag their feet or stomp as they are marching, as if there
is no set way for them to march. Depends on what kind of shoes they are wearing as to how normal they walk. Girls
that wear dress shoes that they are not used to are interesting to watch. The Grand Floor Officers at Grand Assembly
do a kind of shuffle as they walk. It looks very nice when they do it.
- Closing March. There is nothing special done during a closing march. If there is a musician, she will usually
play a song whether it be a marching type song or something else. Some Assemblies (such as Arlington #96 and Ft.
Worth #15) form an "arch" for the WA to go through at the end of a meeting.
- (from Arlington) Closing March. Drill Leader and Faith will go around room to pick up other officers and
form a bow between the east and the altar. We sing My Rainbow, WA and MA go to west side of Altar face East and
the other officers come to altar, bow and then go to entrance door to form line for WA and MA to exit room.
- The official state publication is a magazine called "The Texas Rainbow News". It is published 4 times a year.
- In Texas, Rainbow crowns are not allowed to be worn.
- The Grand Jurisdiction of Texas does not allow mascots.
- Texas does have Pledge Groups throughout the state. We use the standard pledge ritual.
- We have Schools of Instruction in each area -- Dallas, North Houston, South Houston, Fort Worth, Amarillo,
Austin, San Antonio, etc., where the local Assemblies perform the ritualistic work and the Supreme Deputy goes
through a very detailed explanation of the instructions.
- Texas has a Masonic Youth Weekend in April, where all DeMolay, Jobs' Daughters, and Rainbow Girls meet at a
camp for the weekend; sponsored by the Grand Lodge of Texas.
- Dress code. Since the new dress code went into effect, any color of formal is allowed except black and very
dark colors. The Grand Officers still have to wear long white formals. Regular members can wear a floor length or
tea length formal. In Texas we are allowed to follow the dress code handed down from Supreme Assembly except for
the following rules:
Business meetings, and other fraternal and civic events-Line officers in all Assemblies, and Mother Advisors, will wear dress, or skirt and blouse. Girl and Adult Grand Officers will wear short white dresses or Texas Uniform (denim logo shirt and khaki skirt). Initiations & Installations-Girl and Adult Grand Officers will wear floor length white formals. Straps should be wide enough to cover bra straps (no strapless or "spaghetti-strap" formals). Hoopskirts are not worn. [Nothing public has ever been said about them though, from what one person has said.] Service projects, practices, socials, public relation events, fund raising, traveling, etc.-Matching Assembly shirts and Texas Uniform are encouraged.
- In Texas, the Grand Line is Elected at Faith. She then proceeds up the Line (Hope, Charity, WAA, WA), or
goes as far as she can until she reaches her Majority. Anyone behind them in the Grand Line skips up to fill the
vacancies. About one in four get to be GWA. The entire line, Recorder, and Treasurer are elected; other Grandies
are appointed. You are not allowed to campaign that you even remotely want to be elected; if you are caught doing
so, you will be disqualified.
- The Grand Worthy Advisor gets a bible at the end of her Grand Year.
- The GWA, GWAA, Grand Charity and Grand Hope have gavels passed down each year that date back to 1948, as well
as traveling jewels.
- The Grand Cross of Color Team are considered Grand Officers but the rank is as follows: Grand Floor, Grand
Committees, Grand Representatives, then Grand Cross Team members. Most of them are Past Grand Worthy Advisors and
Majority members and are introduced as Past GWA/Past Grand Office and member of Grand Cross of Color Team. Their
function is to do the Grand Cross of Color degree at Grand Assembly. They are not required to attend 3 meetings
a month but Members of the Grand Cross Team should attend meetings or activities each month, or send cards to
encourage girls. Reports are also required in order to retain the appointment (June - May), and should be mailed
no later than the last day of each month.
- In order for a girl to be considered for a Grand Officer (Grand Reps included), they must be a PWA at the time
of Grand Assembly, and not Majority by age or marriage. Must go to school or work in the state. Texas girls are
recommended by the Advisory board of the Assembly. The form that we have to follow ask how long the girl has been in
Rainbow; how many petitions she has secured in the past 2 years; how many projects, socials and meetings she has
attended. Here Grand Cross is not a requirement for Gr. Appt. There is no limit as to how many times you can be a
Grand Officer. The age limit applies here.
- Grand Representatives are considered Grand Officers. Grand Reps from other jurisdictions are also
called Grand Representatives to (whatever State they represent) from (their home State).
- Each Assembly can submit up to two girls from their Assembly to be considered for a Grand Appointment. It used to be you could have as many Grand Officers in an Assembly as you wanted. Then they changed it to where you can only have one per Assembly. Now I think they changed it again - no more then 2 grand officers in an Assembly, unless they were elected to a Line office.
- The Supreme Deputy and Grand Executive Committee choose what offices the nominated girls will hold. Besides the
Grand Floor and the Grand Representatives, we also have girls selected to be on Grand Committees. These committees
are: Jr. Member Grand Executive Committee, Jr. Member Grand Finance Committe and Jr. Member Grand Music Committee.
- Grand Officers' Duties. A Grand Officer is required to attend a minimum of 3 meetings a month. The Grand
Officers are also required to send in reports each month describing the events they attended along with dates, and
mileage. Reports are also required in order to retain the appointment (June - May), and should be mailed no later
than the last day of each month.
- Grand Worthy Advisor's Duties. She travels to all 65 Assemblies; going to out-of-state functions is optional.
She is encouraged to spend her time with our Assemblies. She makes a bible presentation to the Worthy Grand Matron
each year at Texas Grand Chapter.
- Grand Officer's dresses. The only requirement for all Grand Officers is that their formals be long whites.
They do not have to match. During the business sessions, the Grand Officers must wear short white dresses. Grandies
do not wear hairpieces in Texas.
- Grand Choir in Texas is volunteer. There is no limit on how many of the girls from an Assembly can join.
Sometimes the Mother Advisor submits the names of two girls for Grand Choir.
- The Grand Pages come from the Host Assemblies of the area that is having Grand Assembly. The girls volunteer
for this job, or their Mother Advisor chooses them. Their duty is to be an escort to the Grand Officers, Reps, Jr.
Committee members and Adult Grand Officers for presentation at the begenning of the Grand Assembly Session. The Pages
also collect the ballots for elections. A couple of girls are selected as personal pages for the GWA and the Supreme
Deputy. They also run any errands that are needed during the sessions.
- In Texas we have Grand Guards. The Guards are girls, ladies and men that volunteer for the job. The men are
usually outside the assembly room doors and the girls and ladies are inside the room. The duty is to see that those
coming in have the proper credentials to come into the meeting.
- Grand Assembly. On the first and second days of Grand, there is Ritualistic Competition and the examining
room is open for girls wanting to say their secret work. Most of the first and second days are filled with
practices, registrations, and informational booths. There is a fun event planned on the first night of Grand.
The official opening is the second night which is usually followed by the Grand Cavalcade of Flags. The Memorial
Service, Initiation and Majority Service are usually done on the second night of Grand. During the second business
session, the Grand Appointments are announced with the installation that night.
- Grand Officers' Drill. We have a traditional drill of the Grand floor at Grand Assembly, it is "something
all girls dream to do," same music all these years, basically same drill. Lasts about ten minutes. They prance on
the balls of their feet, taking tiny steps.
- Dress for Grand Assembly. If Grand Officer either long white or short white dress. Other girls and ladies
wear street length dress to day sessions and may wear formal length to the evening sessions. The men wear either
dress slacks nice shirt or suit and tie.
- Special honors and awards. We may on occasion have an Emeritus but that would be an adult that has spent
many years working with Rainbow. We have Miss Service, also Mother Advisor of the year which is sent in by the
girls from the assemblies.
- Texas has a Past Grand Officers Association. They award a scholarship to a worthy girl.
- Grand Cross - Announcement and Degree. The new designates for the Grand Cross of Color receive official
notification at their home from Supreme usually in Feb. or March. They must report to the Grand Cross of Color
booth to pick up their badge. The degree is usually conferred before the first evening session of Grand Assembly.
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Listed below are details about the Grand Assembly of Texas.
Texas
updated on 08-29-01
Local (Assembly) Level:
Arlington Assembly No. 96, Arlington: (Instituted March 28, 1932)
De Soto Assembly No. 352, De Soto: (instituted March 16, 1970)
Fort Worth Assembly No. 15, Fort Worth:
Richardson Assembly No. 291, Richardson: (Instituted in 1956)
Area (District) Level:
Arlington, Hillsboro, Fort Worth, Weatherford, Alvarado, W. Mark Sexson, Burleson:
De Soto
Farmer's Branch, Plano, Richardson:
State (Grand) Level:
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