| Daughters of Rebekah | |
|---|---|
| Founded | September 20, 1851 U.S.A. |
| Type | Fraternal and Service Organization |
| Scope | International |
| Symbol | Three Link Chain, dove, lily, moon and seven stars |
| Headquarters | Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA |
| Homepage | http://www.ioof.org |
The Daughters of Rebekah, also known as the Rebekahs and the International Association of Rebekah Assemblies, is an international service-oriented organization and a branch of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. It was initially designed as the female auxiliary of the IOOF,[1] but now allows both female and male members.[2]
It is one of the units of the IOOF, but women need not be related to an Odd Fellow to be a member of the Rebekahs. As long as she meets the moral, ethical and age requirement for admission, any woman may join. In most jurisdictions, women aged 16 or 18 years old and above can join a Rebekah Lodge.[3]
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The general duties of the members of this unit are, “To live peaceably, do good unto all, as we have opportunity and especially to obey the Golden Rule, Whatsoever ye would that others should do unto you, do ye even so unto them.”[3]
Together with the Odd Fellows, the Rebekahs:
Becoming a Rebekah offers many opportunities to:
The Rebekah Lodges were founded on 20 September 1851, when, after considerable debate, the Sovereign Grand Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows voted to adopt the Rebekah Degree, largely due to the efforts of an Odd Fellow named Schuyler Colfax. The first Rebekah Degrees were honorary awards only, conferred on wives and daughters of Odd Fellows at special Lodge meetings, and recipients were known as "Daughters of Rebekah".[5] The name is taken from the Biblical character of Rebekah.
These early Daughters of Rebekah had no lodge system of their own, and operated in an informal and local manner. On September 25, 1868, the IOOF voted to establish Degree Lodges of the Daughters of Rebekah, mirroring the existing arrangements for their male counterparts. The Daughters were given the right to elect their own officers, charge for initiation fees, collect dues and undertake charitable and benevolent activities. The name was changed to "Degree of Rebekah" in 1874.[6]
The Rebekah Degree was designed especially for women, and its ceremony and lectures are based upon the characters of notable women in Biblical history. It is named for that woman of early Hebrew history whose kindness and hospitality to a humble and unknown stranger best portrayed the nobility and character of women. There are also other notable women of Biblical history whose characters and virtues form the basis for the Rebekah Degree and lessons of life to be followed by the Rebekahs. They were famous for their loyalty, patriotism, for civic and national services, for humanitarianism, and for devotion to God and the cause of righteousness among mankind.[7]
The Rebekah Degree ceremony is illustrated by distinctive symbols employed in the work of the degree, each having a beautiful significance and an appropriate application:
I am a REBEKAH. I believe in the Fatherhood of God, the brotherhood of man and the sisterhood of women. I believe in the watch-words of our Order - Friendship, Love, and Truth. Friendship - is like a golden chain that ties our hearts together. Love - is one of our most precious gifts, the more you give, the more you receive. Truth - is the standard by which we value people. It is the foundation of our Society. I believe that my main concern should be my God, my family and my friends. Then I should reach out to my community and the world. For in God's eyes we are all brothers and sisters. I AM A REBEKAH!
Rebekah Lodges are still active in the United States despite the fact that the IOOF now accepts women as full members in the United States. There are male and female Rebekah members. There are also Rebekah Lodges in Europe, Canada, Australasia and South America.
In the U.S., girls too young for membership in the Rebekahs may join the Theta Rho Girls' Clubs, just as boys can join Junior IOOF Lodges. Rebekahs observe the IOOF creed of "Friendship, Love and Truth", and are engaged in many social and charitable activities worldwide. Rebekahs manage or support various facilities for children.
Rebekah Children's Services is a public benefit corporation founded in 1897 by the California Rebekah Lodge as an orphanage. They now provide foster care placement and support services, parent support, prevention and early specific needs of the child and family whenever categorical services do not work. Their services include outpatient therapy, education to the community, and behavioral health care services to children living in the Gilroy Unified School district.[12]