The Royal Rangers has always sought quality programs, but there was a gap between high school and adult leadership. Many Rangers had lost interest, for one reason or another, through their college years. Chi Omega Rho, which was formed in 1973, was designed to fill this gap.
This is the history of Chi Omega Rho as told by Dave Hudson, the first regent of the Central Bible College chapter of Chi Omega Rho: During 1973, several concerned Royal Ranger people at CBC and Evangel began discussing the need of a regular, consistent system of information to the student body about Royal Rangers as well as providing a means for students to be involved in the Royal Rangers ministry while at college. These discussions resulted in the idea of a collegiate fraternity. During the 1973 fall session, plans for an initiation ceremony were made. A constitution and by-laws, an emblem and official letterhead were presented to the charter members following the initiation ceremony. There were 21 would-be members from CBC and about 23 candidates from Evangel that gathered at Fantastic Caverns, west of Springfield, for that first induction ceremony. Johnnie Barnes, Paul Feller and Steve Davidson were assisted by David Barnes, President of the Evangel chapter, and Dave Hudson, president of the CBC chapter, in the actual initiation ceremony. Enthusiasm was high as the ceremony ended and we all returned to campus determined to develop the Chi Omega Rho chapters into meaningful, worthwhile campus organizations.
In March of 1991 the national Royal Ranger office empowered Robb Hawks to run a pilot program to examine new ways of operating Chi Omega Rho. This experiment was in hopes of retooling a program that had been around for 20 years, but had only minor success.
Over the next three years Chi Omega Rho grew to become an exciting club with great fellowship. A Handbook was written and numerous events have been held.
In the process of creating an exciting program it was soon realized that family involvement was key to success. Unfortunately, this also moved our organization outside the parameters of Royal Ranger Executive Committee meeting in Springfield, Missouri it was made very clear that the Chi Omega Rho that was operating in Florida could not be adopted nationally. At this time, the National Office chose to conclude the pilot program in Florida.
The club was now faced with a disconcerting proposition. They could no longer operate as a Chi Omega Rho club. We had to either totally removed all ladies from the club, close down, or reorganize. The Council of Barons met and after lengthy discussion, it was unanimously decided to reorganize as an independent club. Much discussion followed as to the best way to effect this.
The Pen. Florida Royal Rangers have an independent, non-profit corporation called “Florida Rangers Inc.” Since Chi Omega Rho has been traditionally a Royal Ranger program and one of the primary functions has been to support Royal Rangers, Florida Rangers Inc. agreed to establish a department for them under the name “Crusaders of the Cross.”
Crusaders of the Cross is born!
February 12, 1994 was the birth date of Crusaders of the Cross. The coronation of the National leader of the organization, the Crown Prince of the Realm was held at Alcazar del Conde, (in Orlando, Florida). His Royal Majesty Prince William the Wise, was chosen by the Council of Barons to lead the Realm, and was enthroned during a very exciting Valentine’s Coronation Feast.
*The Chi Omega Rho History has been taken from “The Book of the Ordre of Chivalry or Knighthode The Chi Omega Rho Handbook revised 2nd edition written by Michael D. Harris”.
*The Crusaders of the Cross history has been taken from 1994 edition of the “Herald” (a publication of the Crusaders of the Cross).
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