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International Association of Rebekah Assemblies

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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 . As the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Rebekahs began as an all-white organization, typical at the time, that purported to promote reciprocity and charity , and drew inspiration from Judeo-Christian ethics.

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31-499: The Independent Order of Odd Fellows originally limited membership to white men only, as was typical at the time; the Rebekahs began as the female auxiliary of the IOOF. Initially, only relatives such as wives or daughters of IOOF members were admitted as members. Currently, both the IOOF and the Rebekahs admit both female and male members. Women today need not be related to an Odd Fellow to be

62-580: 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

93-523: 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. 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.” In 1850, Schuyler Colfax

124-467: A papal diplomatic representative of the second class, corresponding to Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary as a title for diplomatic representatives of states (cf. Article 14, par. 2 of the Vienna Convention). Before 1829, Internuncio was the title applied to the ad interim head of a mission when one nuncio had left office and his replacement had not yet assumed it. A legate a latere

155-503: Is a temporary papal representative or a representative for a special purpose. Historically, the most important type of apocrisiary (a title also applying to representatives exchanged by a high prelate with a patriarch) was the equivalent of a nuncio, sent by the pope to the Byzantine Empire ; during the fifth and sixth centuries, when much of Italy remained under Byzantine control, several popes were former apocrisiaries. Pro-nuncio

186-577: Is taken from the Biblical character of Rebekah . The early Daughters of Rebekah had no lodge system of their own, operating informally and locally. 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 initiation fees, collect dues, and undertake charitable and benevolent activities. The name

217-563: Is the equivalent of an embassy . The Holy See is legally distinct from the Vatican City or the Catholic Church . In modern times, a nuncio is usually an archbishop . An apostolic nuncio is generally equivalent in rank to that of ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary , although in Catholic countries the nuncio often ranks above ambassadors in diplomatic protocol. A nuncio performs

248-536: The Holy See as such and not to the State of Vatican City , the term "nuncio" (versus "ambassador") emphasizes the unique nature of the diplomatic mission. The 1983 Code of Canon Law claims the "innate right" to send and receive delegates independent from interference of non-ecclesiastical civil power. Canon law only recognizes international law limitations on this right. Formerly, the title Apostolic Internuncio denoted

279-575: The Household of Ruth . On January 1, 1898 there were 297,691 members of the Rebekah Degree. By 1923 it had grown to 1,021,297 members. In 1977 there were 331,844 members of the Rebekahs Assemblies, as well as 34,337 Odd Fellows who belonged to both orders. Odd Fellow and Rebekah lodges allow female and male members, but while both females and males may hold an Odd Fellow office, only females may hold

310-523: The deanship of that country's diplomatic corps to the nuncio regardless of seniority. The representative of the Holy See in some situations is called a Delegate or, in the case of the United Nations, Permanent Observer. In the Holy See hierarchy, these usually rank equally to a nuncio, but they do not have formal diplomatic status, though in some countries they have some diplomatic privileges. In addition,

341-510: The Church in 1894 (including the Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and Sons of Temperance) could be granted individually under certain conditions, viz. that the person in question had joined the group in good faith before the condemnation, that leaving the group would cause financial hardship due to the loss of sick benefits and insurance, that if permission was granted dues would only be paid by mail,

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372-514: The Holy See's de facto diplomatic representative to the United States and the United Kingdom , until both major Anglo-Saxon states with a predominantly Protestant tradition established full-fledged relations with the Holy See in the late twentieth century, allowing for the appointment of a papal nuncio (see the list of British ambassadors to the Holy See ). Archbishop Pio Laghi , for example,

403-619: The Holy See. Article 16 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations provides: In accordance with this article, many states (even not predominantly Catholic ones such as Germany and Switzerland and including the great majority in central and western Europe and in the Americas) give precedence to the nuncio over other diplomatic representatives, according him the position of Dean of the Diplomatic Corps reserved in other countries for

434-693: The Odd Fellows. Currently, membership represent various religious denominations from Catholics, Protestants, Muslims and others. Rebekah Lodges are still active in the United States despite the fact that the Odd Fellows Lodges in the United States and Canada now accept women as full members. In Europe and Latin America, however, the Rebekah Lodges are exclusively for women because the women choose to preserve

465-566: The Rebekahs and the Theta Rhos. Membership was 14,150 in 1969 and 13,577 in 1970. 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

496-527: The World Apostolic Delegate An apostolic nuncio ( Latin : nuntius apostolicus ; also known as a papal nuncio or simply as a nuncio ) is an ecclesiastical diplomat , serving as an envoy or a permanent diplomatic representative of the Holy See to a state or to an international organization. A nuncio is appointed by and represents the Holy See, and is the head of the diplomatic mission , called an apostolic nunciature , which

527-428: 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. The Rebekah Degree ceremony is illustrated by distinctive symbols employed in the work of the degree, each having a significance and an appropriate application: "I am

558-497: The church and state politics. In 1907 the Apostolic Delegate to the United States, Diomede Falconio , in reply to a query from Novatus Benzing , OFM , of Phoenix, Arizona, determined that the Daughters of Rebekah, as well as the female auxiliaries of other condemned secret societies, fell under the same category of condemnation. However, permission for "passive membership" in female groups affiliated with societies condemned by

589-513: The community, and behavioral health care services to children and families living in Santa Clara, Monterey and Santa Cruz counties. Secular organizations were not widely acceptable at the time when the Rebekahs started. Because the Rebekahs was open to anyone regardless of religious affiliations, it met opposition from the clergy specially the Roman Catholic church which opposed the separation of

620-958: The heritage while the Odd Fellow Lodges remain for men. In 2012, there were 77,468 active members belonging to 1,849 Rebekah Lodges located in the United States, Canada, Cuba, Chile, Hawaii, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, Venezuela, and in Europe such as Estonia, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Norway, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. Together with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Rebekahs undertake various community and charitable projects which include: Auxiliary (fraternal orders) Fraternal orders often have "side degrees", auxiliaries or appendant (as opposed to primary). Some of these are created as female "sister organizations", youth organizations or side degrees proper which are organizations associated with or within

651-541: The highest Rebekah offices Local units are called "lodges", of which there were 6,700 in 1979 in the United States and Canada. Theta Rho girls Clubs are the junior order of the Rebekahs and are open to females ages 8–18 depending on jurisdiction. The clubs functions under the supervision of the Sovereign Grand Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows , who are superior in organizational authority to both

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682-574: The larger organization. The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association or AHEPA, has three auxiliaries The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks banned auxiliaries and side degrees in 1907, but unofficial female and youth auxiliaries have still been founded at the local level. Furthermore, female auxiliaries are recognized by the Elks of Canada and the African-American Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of

713-444: The nuncio serves as the liaison between the Holy See and the Church in that particular nation, supervising the diocesan episcopate (usually a national or multinational conference of bishops which has its own chairman, elected by its members). The nuncio has an important role in the selection of bishops. The name "nuncio" derived from the ancient Latin word nuntius , meaning "envoy" or "messenger". Since such envoys are accredited to

744-627: The parishioner would not attend any lodge meetings, and the society would not have anything to do with the person's funeral. Since 1975, however, several Catholic priests have become members of the Odd Fellows. One of them was Titian Anthos Miani who joined Scio Lodge No.102 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in Linden, California. As soon as the controversy declined and religious leaders began to accept secular organizations, numerous pastors, priests, bishops and rabbis from different religious sects have become members and some even held leadership positions in

775-401: The same functions as an ambassador and has the same diplomatic privileges. Under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations , to which the Holy See is a party, a nuncio is an ambassador like those from any other country. The Vienna Convention allows the host state to grant seniority of precedence to the nuncio over others of ambassadorial rank accredited to the same country, and may grant

806-523: The senior member of the corps. In countries with whom the Holy See does not have diplomatic ties, an apostolic delegate may be sent to act as a liaison with the Roman Catholic Church in that country, though not accredited to its government. Apostolic delegates have the same ecclesiastical rank as nuncios, but have no formal diplomatic status, though in some countries they have some diplomatic privileges. For example, an apostolic delegate served as

837-754: The world. For in God's eyes we are all brothers and sisters. I am a Rebekah! Originally membership was open to wives and daughter of Odd Fellows who had obtained the Scarlett Degree, as well as Odd Fellows of that degree themselves. In 1894, membership in the United States opened to white women, typical at that time, over 18, as well as wives, widows and daughters of Odd Fellows, although non-whites were able to join in other countries such as in Latin America and Australia. The African-American, Grand United Order of Odd Fellows in America , also have their own women's branch called

868-414: Was a term used from 1965 to 1991 for a papal diplomatic representative of full ambassadorial rank accredited to a country that did not accord him precedence over other ambassadors and de jure deanship of the diplomatic corps. In those countries, the papal representative's precedence within the corps is no different from that of the other members of ambassadorial rank, so that he becomes dean only on becoming

899-515: Was asked to write a Degree for women. 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 Odd Fellow Schuyler Colfax , U.S. Vice President from 1869 to 1873. 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". The name

930-472: Was changed to "Degree of Rebekah" in 1874. 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 was thought the best portrayal of the nobility and character of women. There are also other notable women of Biblical history whose characters and virtues form

961-685: Was first apostolic delegate, then pro-nuncio, to the United States during the Jimmy Carter , Ronald Reagan , and George H. W. Bush presidencies. Apostolic delegates are also sent to regions such as the West Indies and the islands of the Pacific . These delegates are also appointed nuncio to at least some of the many states covered by their delegation, but the area entrusted to them also contains one or more territories that either are not independent states or are states that do not have diplomatic relations with

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