7 Patriarchs from Barnes Encampment experienced the Royal Purple Degree at the Three Links Camp on June 27 and June 28. With help from Grand Patriarch Wendell Watson, Grand Master Rita Cooper, Deputy Grand Master Carlos Juarez, and Patriarch Tom Silva, Chief Patriarch Debra LaVergne and Barnes Encampment conferred the Royal Purple Degree on 5 Patriarchs on Friday afternoon. On Saturday morning, those newly raised to Royal Purple assisted to confer the Royal Purple degree on two more Patriarchs who had not been able to get there in time on Friday.
The natural terrain in the glade around Monkey Rock provided the necessary props for the degree. All the candidates were blindfolded and carefully led by the Guide (Wendell Watson on Friday and Debbie Wolf on Saturday) through the route for presentation to the High Priest (Rita Cooper on Friday and Katrina Hazen on Saturday).
Hiking to Monkey Rock had been a tradition of Theta Rho and Junior Odd Fellows during Three Links Camp work week, and was often used as an activity during the campership weeks as well. The modern world is completely invisible, and the highway is only rarely audible, but cell phone reception is better there.
— By Debra LaVergne