Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-09-16
The Rebekah Degree.

An eHOrC was mauo Dy l.. ~. V1lilam-
son, the Past Grand Commander of the
Grand Lodge of the United States, to in
stitute ladies' degree. but according to
his own statement it was not success.
In the year 1873 several papers of wide
circulation attributed this degree and the
authorship of its ritual to Mr.. William
son. In letter to James L. Ridgely he
explains that it was probably this early
effort which caused the rumor to start.
The real author and originator OF the
Rebekah degree was no less person than
Schuyler Colfax. The ex-Vfce-President
gives the following account OF the
matter in letter to the Editor of Heart
and Hand in 1874: At a session of the
Grand Lodge of the United States in 1850
l was appointed chairman of committee
to prepare degree to be conferred on
the wives of Odd Fellows, and was in
structed to report it at the next session,
1851. l wrote the lectures of the degree
in July and August, 1851, exactly as they
appear now in the charge book, and
without consultation with anyone or
suggestions from any quarter.
In regard to the working Of the degree,
l received valuable suggestions from a
Past Grand in Maryland, who 1 think
has since deceased. A few OF these sug-
gestions 1 adopted in modified form.
The duty was assigned me by the Grand
Lodge of the United States, and per-
formed it as 1 have all other duties, to
the best of my ability; and am glad to
state that, despite the fears expressed
while its adoption was pending, it is to-
day the best kept secret OF Odd Fellow
ship.
The degree was adopted at the session
of the Grand Lodge in 1851, but for two
years it had been discussed and strongly
urged upon the attention of the Grand
Lodge by,State jurisdictions. The Grand
Lodge and Grand Encampment of In
diana urged it very strongly through
their representatives, in accordance with
instructions which they had received.
On the committee which was appointed
to consider the propriety of adopting
such degree were Past Grand Sire Ken
pedy, of New York, and Judge Larne, OF
New York, and Schuyler Colfax. The
first two members made majority re-
port unfavorable to the project. They
were men of considerable influence in
the Order, and their opposition
made the prospects of the enterprise
look gloomy. A minority report was
submitted by Representative Colfax
steadfastly upholding the scheme. There
was much discussion on these reports,
and able advocates joined Colfax, whose
report was finally adopted.
Schuyler Colfax was made chairman
of the committee to prepare the degree,
and was required to report it at the ncEt
session, that it might be acted upon. In
September the degree was reported, and
was adopted by vote of AZ to 81.
The ritual Of this degree is OF singular
beauty and power, and is considered a
valuable addition to the literature OF Odd
Fellowship and an honor to its composer.
One Of the periodicals published at the
time says of it: can Odd Fellow who,
after hearing the degree, refuses to assent
to it's beauties and to the grand and just
rank it assigns to woman, shows that he
has yet to learn the true value Of
woman's affections, the devotion and dis
interestedness natural to her."
1t is likely that the author of this
degree gave it the name of Rebekah be-
cause the practical workings Of the order
are 30 much like the tender and consid-
crate Rebekah's action when she gave
drink to Eleazer and his camels at the
we'll of Major.
There have been but few changes in
the ritual of this degree since it was
founded. Even at the late sessions OF
the Sovereign Grand Lodge when the
subordinate lodge degrees were SO radi-
cally changed and improved, the Re.
bekah degree stands as it did except
that the field is enlarged and the material
increased. Now the members of Re-
bekah lodges are not confined to the
wives Of members of the highest degree of
the subordinate lodge, but the widows OF
deceased Odd Fellows who had not OBJ
tanned the highest degree and the daugh-
ters and sisters of those who have ad-
vanced to the Fourth Degree may also
become members. They may also be
instructed by the Noble Grand OF a Lodge
into the mysteries of the degree or may
become members of a Chartered Rebe-
kah Degree Lodge, if properly proposed
and elected to membership.
fol