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Recommended:
Rebekah District Deputy 2010-2011
Recommended District Deputy President of District Number 3
Current Treasurer of Rebekah Assembly of CA
Mary Lou Lang
11220 Monterey Court
Cupertino CA 95014
(408) 252-3954
email:
marlang@msn.com
Member of Philotesian Rebekah Lodge #145 Cupertino, CA
Secretary of Rebekah Assembly
Margareut Oleson
PO Box 637
Gilroy, CA 95021-0637
(408) 842-2842
e-mail: rebekah@garlic.com
Florin Rebekah Lodge #20 - Sacramento, CA
Background:
The degree of Rebekah was accepted in 1851 as written by Schuyler Colfax.
The degree was originally written for Brothers to confer on their wives and daughters and was considered an "Honorary Degree". The degree could only be conferred at a special meeting and Brothers could also receive the degree, much the same as today.
Later the Sisters were allowed to confer the degree on other Sisters, a ritual was adopted with the Sisters taking the parts. Rebekah Lodges were instituted and have continued to flourish.
This ritual has changed very little since 1851. It includes lessons from the biblical stories in the Old Testament of the women of the Bible.
We use emblems teaching lessons that are invaluable to be a Rebekah. The beehive, representing associated industry and the result of united effort. The moon and seven stars which teaches us the value of regularity in all our work. The dove, the beautiful emblem of peace. The white lily, a symbol of purity.
The Rebekah Degree
The Degree of Rebekah was founded in 1851. The real author and founder of the Rebekah Degree stands out so prominently and with such undying fame, that whenever the word "Rebekah" is mentioned to an Old Fellow, his mind at once associates with the word the name of our beloved brother Schuyler Colfax.
COLFAX, Schuyler, 1823-1885
Painting by Freeman Thorp, 1911, Collection of U.S. House of Representatives
COLFAX, Schuyler, a Representative from Indiana and a Vice President of the United States; born in New York City March 23, 1823; attended the common schools; in 1836 moved with his parents to New Carlisle, Ind.; appointed deputy auditor of Joseph County 1841; became a legislative correspondent for the Indiana State Journal; purchased an interest in the South Bend Free Press and changed its name in 1845 to the St. Joseph Valley Register, the Whig organ of northern Indiana; member of the State constitutional convention in 1850; elected as a Republican to the Thirty-fourth and to the six succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1855-March 3, 1869); was not a candidate for re-nomination in 1868, having become the Republican nominee for Vice President; Speaker of the House of Representatives (Thirty-eighth, Thirty-ninth, and Fortieth Congresses); elected Vice President of the United States on the Republican ticket headed by Gen. Ulysses Grant in 1868, was inaugurated March 4, 1869, and served until March 3, 1873; unsuccessful candidate for re-nomination in 1872, lecturer; died in Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn., January 13, 1885; interment in City Cemetery, South Bend, Ind.
Smith, Willard Harvey. The Life and Times of Hon. Schuyler Colfax. Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Bureau, 1952.
Odd Fellowship became the 1st national fraternity to include both men and women when it adopted the beautiful Rebekah Degree on September 20, 1851. This degree is based on the teachings found in the Holy Bible, and was written by the Honorable Schuyler Colfax who was Vice President of the United States during the period 1868-1873.
Grand
Sire Robert Griffin appointed Colfax of Indiana, Martin of Mississippi and
Steele of Tennessee to prepare a ritual pertaining to the Rebekah Degree and
report at the next session. Selection of Schuyler Colfax as Chairman of this
Committee proved to be a wise choice indeed. His adaptation to the work at hand
was peculiarly fitting in every respect. He possessed a firm will to carry out
his purposes and convictions when once established in his mind. He seemed to
have been the one to launch forth on the sea of humanity the culmination of the
hopes and desires to add the fairest pillar which adorns and supports the Temple
of Odd Fellowship.
Want to Join?
A man or woman of good
character, who is loyal to his or her country and believes in a Supreme Being,
the creator and preserver of the Universe, is eligible for membership. Odd
Fellowship strictly forbids any interference with one's religious beliefs or
political opinions. For the adult lodge to be 18 years old. Junior Lodges
and Theta Rho clubs accept members 8 to 18 years old.
Lodges charge an initiation fee and annual dues. The amount of dues is set by
each lodge.
How to Join
A candidate must be sponsored by a current member, so the first step towards joining is to find someone who is a current member.
Margareut Oleson
PO Box 637
Gilroy, CA 95021-0637
(408) 842-2842
e-mail:
rebekah@garlic.com
When the lodge has received your application, they will appoint an interviewing committee of three members. These members will call on you, both to ask questions and to answer any questions you may have concerning the lodge. One purpose of the interviewing committee is to give a candidate at least three familiar faces in the lodge. At the next meeting, the interviewing committee will report back to the lodge. The lodge will ballot to accept you as a member. The lodge will then send you a letter announcing your election to membership and the date and time for initiation.
Initiation:
Every member gets to be initiated by the conferring of the very same beautiful
Initiation Ceremony, that dates back to the time of the very first Rebekah
Lodge. The conferring of the Rebekah Degree is both beautiful and instructive.
In other countries the Ceremony is divided into 4 parts or degrees. In the United Sates and Canada the Ceremony is always performed in the same manner and often times with the presentation of tableaux, robes, dramatic action and pantomime to illustrate the characters.
After you are initiated you may take part in the conferring of the Rebekah Degree to other new members.