In 1911, the Golden Potlatch committee of Seattle, while attending the Portland Rose Festival with their decorated float, invited the Portland Commercial Club, which later merged with the Chamber of Commerce, to be represented at the Seattle Potlatch celebration in June of that year.  The Commercial Club appointed a committee of which William J. Hofmann was chairman.  The committee was able to create enough interest so that a special train made the trip to attend the ceremony of the Potlatch celebration.  By reason of being chairman of the committee, Hofmann was dubbed “Duke of Portland” and as such was royally entertained by the King of the Potlatch.

 

The enthusiastic visitors promised to return in 1912, and bring “Rex Oregonus” and some active members with them.  Realizing that other cities had their marching bodies and uniformed entertainment organizations, and believing that Portland should respond to the challenge and play her part in extending hospitality to her neighboring cities, the matter was discussed on the train returning home by W.J. Hofmann, C.C. Craig, Fred Larsen and others.  It was decided to form an organization which would represent Portland, especially during the Rose Festival week.

 

A few days later Hofmann, Craig and Larsen presented the matter to Julius Meier, who invited them to lunch to continue the discussion.  It was decided that an organization consisting of one hundred business and professional men should be formed and that the membership be selected from the roster of several clubs.  At a later date the committee of four selected the names of the men to be invited.  It was decided to ask George Hutchin, Manager of the Portland Rose Festival Association, to issue a command to attend a meeting for the purpose of forming an organization for the object stated above.  The request was granted and the following proclamation was issued.  Following this command, seventy of the summoned guests assembled at the appointed time and the objects of the command were discussed with much enthusiasm and a unanimous approval.  The organization was tentatively consummated, and at a later meeting officers were elected.   

 

 

“The Medieval and Modern History of England are divided from one another by the Wars of the Roses.  No period in England’s history is richer in romantic incident.  A struggle between the House of York, wearing the white rose, and the House of Lancaster, wearing the red rose, lasted thirty years, deluged England with blood, cost the loss of a hundred thousand lives, lessened the prestige of the old nobility, and utterly destroyed the House of Plantagenet.  The Battle of Bosworth Field terminated the fierce contest between the Roses, elevated Henry the Seventh to the Throne, and ushered in the glories of the Tudor Reign.  It is this period of England’s history that we Royal Rosarians commemorate - the passing from the Dark Ages of Tyranny and oppression to the enlightenment of modern free thought and equality before the law.”

 

“Since 1912 the Royal Rosarians of the City of Portland have dedicated themselves to public service, in promotion of our annual Rose Festival and developing a more beautiful and hospitable city as ambassadors of good will for the realm of Rosaria.  As official greeters for the City of Portland, we welcome distinguished visitors and invite them to remain with us to fully enjoy the beauty and friendly spirit of our City of Roses.”                       

 

The first official Knighting Ceremony was held in 1921 at the old Pacific States Building located at 11^th and Alder streets.  The original ceremony was written by Rosarian Nelson Pike.  In 1924 the event was first held at Washington Park. It has been held at several locations since that year, including the Masonic Temple, Civic Auditorium, South Park Blocks, Multnomah (Civic) Stadium, Holladay Park Festival Center, and is now held at the Washington Park Amphitheater (with an exception in 1980 when Mt. St. Helens dusted the park with fine ash).  The beauty of the natural setting, the white uniforms of the Rosarians, and the event’s impressive ritual and effective pageantry makes the ceremony one long to be remembered.  In 1975 a new sculpture, designed by Lee Kelly, was dedicated in a ceremony on the same day.  It features a reflecting pool and benches for the enjoyment of the public, in the upper garden. 

 

For many years the Knighting Ceremony was held in conjunction with the Annual Portland Rose Show.  In 1962 the ceremony was combined with the Queen’s Plaque Ceremony.  In 1982 a luncheon was held for the honorees aboard the yacht “Friendship” of newly-knighted Honorary Knight Arthur Riedel.  The following year a brand new Queen’s Reception at the Japanese Garden Pavilion was held and since that time the Queen’s Reception Luncheon has paid tribute to the Queen, her court, and the new Honorary Sir Knights and Dames.                    

 

It was also in 1962 that the newly-conceived metal medallions, with rose facing, were placed around the neck of each honorary new member in recognition of his or her office.