Bethsaida, on the Sea of Galilee, is said to be the place where Jesus walked on water. There he fed the multitudes and healed the eyes of the blind man. And there were born at least three of Jesus’ apostles: Simon, whom Jesus called Peter, Philip, and Andrew, brother of Simon [Matthew 4:18].
All his life, even after Jesus was crucified, the faithful Andrew brought people to Jesus. His mission took him through Asia Minor, Greece and, some say, parts of today’s Russia and Poland. He was martyred in Patras, Greece, at the order of Aegeas, whose wife and brother had both converted to the "foreign" religion Andrew espoused. Tradition holds that he asked not to be crucified on a cross made like the one on which Jesus died - in the shape of a “T” - but rather one in the shape of an "X," a saltire cross.
Thus condemned and tied head down to the cross, the apostle continued to speak to the crowed gathered there for three days and three nights. He rejoiced on the fourth day that he would soon be with his Master for eternity, and then he died.
Hundreds of years later and hundreds of miles away, King Angus found his Pictish and Scottish army surrounded by Northumbrian foes. Praying for relief, he next day sighted a white cloud in the shape of St. Andrew’s cross against the blue sky above the field, and won the battle. Afterward, he pronounced Andrew to be the patron saint of Scotland, an edict further enforced in the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320. The saltire was officially declared the national flag of Scotland in 1385, making it one of, if not THE, oldest national flag.
Saint Andrew is also the patron saint of Russia, fishermen, fishmongers, gout, spinsters, Greece, singers, and sore throats, among dozens of other places and things.
It was in his name that the Saint Andrew’s Society of Tidewater held its second annual St. Andrew’s Day Dinner on November 20th at Broad Bay Country Club in Virginia Beach, attended by sixty-one hungry Scots, including adopted Scots Virginia Beach Mayor Meyera Oberndorf and her husband Roger. Madam Mayor honored those attending with a few words complimenting the Scots as being a particularly enlightened people for educating women, as did the Jews, because the women have always taught the children.
The main speaker of the evening was the Reverend Sel Harris, pastor of King’s Grant Presbyterian Church, who spoke of having attended St. Andrew’s University in Scotland, and what an honor it was for him, as a Presbyterian and an American, to study there. He was accompanied to the dinner, as he was to St. Andrew’s University, by his wife Liz.
Both speakers were graciously introduced by our President, Joe Hood.
Our first outing at Broad Bay was a delight. The food was good, and no one (at least no one admits to it) got lost on the way, a tribute to the map on the invitation. That may help ameliorate the fact that the invitations were sent out so late! There were some non-members we were honored to have dining with us, and we invite them to join the Society.
Many diners lingered afterwards to visit and enjoy a drink with friends.
Randy Bruce
On Saturday, 6 November, Saint Andrew’s Society of Tidewater members Robert Lockwood and Joseph Hood were invested as Knights into the Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem. The Knighting Ceremony was performed at the Edenton Street United Methodist Church in Raleigh, North Carolina. Robert Lockwood, an exceptional piper in the Tidewater area, currently serves as Secretary of the Saint Andrew’s Society, while Joseph Hood serves as the current President. Both were invited to join the "Knights Templars" because of their past record of leadership, volunteerism, and support of worthwhile charities and causes. Chevalier Rob and Lady Janet and Chevalier Joe and Lady Mary will be members of the Priory of Saint Thomas á Becket, with headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina.
