The morning call., 1894-11-11
The New Rebelsah Law.

NO legislation of the Supreme Lodge for years
mas evoked 50 much discussion as the recent
enactment permitting any unmarried white
woman over the age of ! s years 10 be eligible
10 membership In the Rebekan lodges, us here
totore the privilege of Joining these lodges
mas been confined exclusively TO lady memb- rs
OF The families of Dad Fellows. No eX2mtBa.
ton Of the question and IN fact no allusion 10
IL whatever had been maze thr oueh the press
OF The order, nor had any consideration of il
ever been before the subordinate or grand
lodges of the country. But at the Chattanooga
session OF The Sovereign Grand Lodge last
- ptym Past Grand Sire Nicholson into
duced The measure. spoke in its favor and II
was almost unanimously adopted by that body.
Coming IS ii thuS did. uneX pectedly and with
OUT any anticipation, II startled The entire
Rebekah branch of thu order. to say naught of
III subordinate lodges, ana the resn.t has been
That strong criticisms have been made upon the
legislation referred to.
Many of the Rebek abs hold that il is aIadical
deual tuie from lie foundation principles upon
which the degree Is based and that said degree
was intended only as a safeguard and protec-
ton and advantage TO the families OF ODD Eel.
lows, or ~ Other words a privilege and addi-
tOnal Incentive for The wives. mothers, sisters
ana daughters 10 lend their Influence 10 keep
Their relatives In standing and thus prevent The
increase of susj ensIuns, and ihat 10 give the
privileges OF inns degree 10 Others takes away
the eXciusiVeGe>> ana makes common what was
esteemed ali honor.
On the other hand, those who favor The law
hold thai If ii is beneficial 10 the young man to
have him belong 10 the order, ana that they
a ben III 10 h fraternity, and, as they are
cordially ana Willingly zee, wed and 10 ques-
ton OF being relatives 10 an ODD Fellow Is
raised, that it is equally sensible and consist
hi and valuable 10 extend the pflYlrg es OF
the grea order TO young women, who much
mole than young men desire and require an
association of this character, where friends,
Couuselors and projectors may be found. Ii is
also held that barring any one out from the
mInlStIatlOns Of Odd Fellowship is anIag-
ouIslic o the principles OF The order and TO the
broad humanitarian platform OF truly Amefi-
can ms iJuJiOn, and uartakes too much of a
class charaet to rntitle ii 10 the claim of
universal Another on given by lis ad
heTents is that hire are many localities where
there are not enough lady members OF Odd
Fellow families 10 form and maiutain a Re-
bekah lodge, where, If worthy young ladies'
could be admitted, a lodge could be formed
and suStained and thereby the progress of The
oruer benefited.
These are The leading points in the discus
sion. AS p rule the most str nuOuS opponents
are the Rebekahs themselves, or rather the
lady members of tn lodges, while the male
members generally favor the new law. In
some Rebekah lodges 1t has met with storm
CT denunCiali ion, ana TO present at his time an
application of "a petitioner OF the kind cGutem-
plated by the legislation would be equivalent 10
4 election, not on account OF any personal Ob-
ieclIOuS to The applicant, but OF hostility 10 the
law. The grand master ana grand secretary of
be for ultimate good. Many ref cling mem
bers take this same view, and when the sudden
ness of the legislation ana shock caused by its
uneXpectedne>S has passed away II i believed
that it. value 10 the order and lis increase Will
b admitted.