Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-21
Mrs. Martha L. McNiel, Chairman.

Mrs. Martha L. McNiel, Chairman.
and Mrs. E. c. Curl. past noble grand.
participated in the ceremonial work Of
the evening. The program embraced
the following numbers: Opening cho-
rus. America" by the assembly; reel
talon. Mrs. NJ. K. Campbell: violin solo.
''Traumerei." Master Edward Weber. ac-
companied by William Weber; vocal solo.
Miss NJ. r. Emerson; piano solo. "Old
Folks at Home" with variations), Will
lam Weber; tenor solo, "Du bst vie cine
recitation, "Hagar." Miss Sue H. Murray;
soprano solo, Miss Pearl Grigsby; piano
duet. Miss Mae Rea and Warren Creepy;
Gle sing chorus by the assembly. Aud
Lang Syne."
Address of the Evening.
/, The anniversary address, the feature of
7 tlI. evening, was delivered by Miss Eta
b. Russ. 1t was a scholarly effort and
was listened to with wrapt attention.
Frequently during the address salient
features were applauded.
The following are Mrs. Russ remarks
in part;
p and controlled by women. our Rebekah de-
gree lodges have reached their high plane
of success and good work only after years
of struggle against strong prejudice and
opposition. Could that broad-mnded states
man ana O0O tellOW, schuyler COIIdA, INC
father OF our degree visit eart,t today, how
great would be his amazement and JOY in
beholding what his abiding faith in woman
had accomplished for Odd Fellowship.
Development Of Degree.
The history 70 the development OF our
degree is most interesting as study. and
looking back from this era Of freedom and
equality for woman we may well smile
when picture to ourselves the consterna-
ton of those grand old Odd Fellows Of
fifty-five years ago, when they were
brought face to face with the proposition to
bring woman into closer touch with their
beloved lodges They were banded together
to work for the widow. to give her every
assistance in her hour of need; but woman
should be satisfied with that; and when 1t
came to the question Of establishing de-
gree for wives and daughters the roots of
= their prejudice took a firmer grip In the
soil of their minds and Brother Colfax
: found himself confronted with a wall of
opposition when in September, 1850. he Of
fered resolution before the Right Worthy
Grand Lodge las II was then termed). pro
viding for the appointment OF committee
OF three to prepare an honorary degree to
DC conferred upon the wives and daughters
OF members of the scarlet degree.
I'm spite Of resistance, however, his
eloquence prevailed and the first rung in
our Rebekah degree ladder may be dated
September ~. 1881, when the report of this
committee OF three-Colfax of Indiana.
nessee, was adopted. and authority given
for comforting the female degree on wives
and daughters Of members of the scarlet
degree. We have from time to time been
permitted to add rungs to the ladder until
tonight Odd Fellows the world over bless
the Rebekah lodges for the good work ac-
complIshed and the great assistance they
are giving them in their own work
This development Is. as / have said,
history of struggle against the old-time
prejudice of man to the work or woman
f,nfu VA Hf n.
ing the benefits of that struggle. Note
the difference between September 20. 1851,
and September 20 1908.
Conferred Fifty-fdve Years Ago.
"Fffty-fve years ago the Rebekah degree
was conferred by a subordinate lodge at
stated meetings, the nights so set aside
being called Rebekah degree nights; and
the wives and daughters after receiving
the degree, while permitted to attend these
meetings were not allowed to take any
part whatever in them. being merely toier-
ated as honorary members.
Until 1858 all offices were filled by male
members and the sisters were even re-
fused permission to attend the installation
of these officers. In 1868 little more au-
thority was given, in that, with the excep-
ton of noble grand, warden and inside and
outside guardians. al olnces might ID. pe
let down and all offices could be occupied
by them. u,,..,.
Prior to 1888 number OF 1urlsulctiohs
refused absolutely to recognize as part
OF the order a Rebekah degree. but In that
year. by legislation Of the Sovereign Grand
Lodge. our degree became by ODD feilow
law an integral part of Odd Fellowship.
During all these years OF subordination
those good women gave their assistance
freely and gladly in relieving the dis
tressed. burying the dead and caring for
the widow and orphan.
What Has Been Accomplished.
1.-THE growing recognition and apprecia-
ton of their work are plainly evidenced by
the radical changes made from year to year
by Sovereign Grand Lodge legislation; and
this September 20, 1908, we hold our own
meetings In our own halls. We elect and
! install women to every ONCE in the gift Of
| the lodge. In jurisdictions of five or more
J lodges an assembly may be formed having
| the same relationship to our Rebekah
lodges that the grand lodge holds to the
subordinate. Rebskahs hold membership