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Job's Daughters International

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Job's Daughters International is a Masonic-directly related parental or family member youth organization for girls and young women aged 10 to 20. The organization is commonly referred to as simply Job's Daughters, and sometimes abbreviated as JDI (or IOJD, referring to its longtime former name, International Order of Job's Daughters). Job's Daughters welcomes many religions and cultures. They are praised for their memory work and delivery. They are not a secret society, as stereotyped by their relation to Freemasonry.

Membership

In order to apply for membership in Job's Daughters, one must be a girl between the ages of 10 and 20. The original age for membership was 13-18, as stated in "The Official History of the International Order of Job's Daughters",[1] but has been changed several times over the years. Until August 2015, the girl must be related to a Master Mason or Majority Member. Now, she must be sponsored by one of the above if no relation is found.

Members are not required to practice any particular religion, but they must believe in a Supreme being.

If a daughter reaches the age of 20 or marries, she is considered a majority member. Majority members are not allowed to hold an office or vote on Bethel affairs; however, they are encouraged to remain active in their respective Bethel. They also are eligible to join the Order of Eastern Star or Order of Amaranth.

History

The organization was founded as The Order of Job's Daughters by Ethel T. Wead Mick in Omaha, Nebraska, on October 20, 1920.[1] [2] The purpose of the organization is to band together young girls and strives to build character through moral and spiritual development. Goals include a greater reverence for God and the Holy Scriptures, as stated in the Job's Daughters Constitution, loyalty to one's country and that country's flag; and respect for parents, guardians, and elderly.

"Mother Mick" was fond of the Book of Job, and took the name of the organization as a reference to the three daughters of Job.[3] The Book of Job, 42nd chapter, 15th verse says, "In all the land were no women found so fair as the Daughters of Job, and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren". She founded the Order with the assistance of her husband, Dr. William H. Mick, and several Freemasons and members of Eastern Star of Nebraska.[4] She dedicated the organization to the memory of her mother, Elizabeth D. Wead.

By June 1923 the Job's Daughters had been endorsed by the Grand Chapters of the Order of the Eastern Star in Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington, DC. The order spread rapidly in the early 1920s. At the third annual meeting of the "Supreme Guardian Council" in Chicago on Oct. 12, 1923, delegates were present from twenty-three states, the Territory of Alaska and Manitoba.[5]

In 1931 the name was changed to the International Order of Job's Daughters after a Bethel was instituted in Vancouver, British Columbia.[6]

Later, the name was changed from the International Order of Job's Daughters to Job's Daughters International.

The ritual of the Order was drawn up by Le Roy T. Wilcox, a scholar of Masonic law, and the group came "under the general management of the Masonic order".[7]

Levels of Jurisdiction

  • The individual chapter is called a Bethel[7] (as is the meeting location), and each is numbered sequentially (i.e. Bethel No. 157 Newport Beach, CA) according to when and where they were instituted in their jurisdiction. They usually meet at a Masonic Lodge building, but may meet at a church hall, or other fraternal hall. A Bethel is similar to a troop in Girl or Boy Scouts.
  • The next highest level is the Grand level. This comprises all the Bethels in their respective states (or country in the cases of the Philippines and Brazil). This level has an annual convention located somewhere in that jurisdiction, typically at a convention center (to hold that many people) and lasts a few days each time.
  • The highest level in the Order is the Supreme level. This point is incredibly similar to the Grand level, except on an international scale.

Each level above the local Bethel has a different philanthropic project. The Supreme project is the H.I.K.E Fund, or Hearing Impaired Kids Endowment Foundation. The Grand jurisdiction varies by area, and typically changes every year.

Today, Bethels and Grand Bethels are active in Australia, Brazil, Canada, the Philippines and the United States. Within the United States, there are currently Bethels in 31 states.[8] Most states and provinces have a Grand Guardian Council but a few are under the direct supervision of the Supreme Guardian Council.

Bethel Overview

The presiding officer of the Bethel is the Honored Queen or in Canada & Australia "Honoured Queen" and in Brazil "Honorável Rainha", elected by the members of her Bethel. This position is roughly analogous to Worshipful Master in a Masonic Lodge, and to the President of an association of any kind. The Honored Queen is assisted in her duties by a Senior Princess and a Junior Princess. The Senior Princess is usually considered to be next in line as Honored Queen. Girls who finish a term as Honored Queen use the title Past Honored Queen (abbreviated PHQ) within Job's Daughters, and usually receive a pin commemorating their service. The elected officers are referred to as the "line officers", or in some Bethels the "Elect Five" or "Top Five", of the Bethel, meaning that in general, a Daughter is elected sequentially from the lowest position (Marshal) to the highest position (Honored Queen).

Stations (Offices) of the Bethel and their respective duties

Elected:

  • Honored Queen - leads meetings, initiations, installations, events, etc. Presides over Third Epoch of initiation.
  • Senior Princess - assists the Honored Queen in her duties. Presides over Second Epoch of initiation.
  • Junior Princess - assists the Honored Queen in her duties. Presides over First Epoch of initiation.
  • Guide - guides pilgrims through initiation and guests through escorts and introductions.
  • Marshal - assists the Guide in her duties, in charge of paraphernalia and escorts National Emblem during meetings.

*typically, one gets elected Marshal and will work her way up to Honored Queen in the above order. Note that in rare occurrences this may not be the case. Any daughter can run for any elected station.

Appointed:

  • Senior Custodian - assists the Marshal with paraphernalia, assists the Senior Princess during initiation, and performs any duties given by the Honored Queen.
  • Junior Custodian - assists the Marshal with paraphernalia, assists the Junior Princess during initiation, and performs any duties given by the Honored Queen.
  • Recorder - record notes during meetings, receive bethel funds, and turn them over to the Treasurer.
  • Librarian - gives a report on literature, the arts, and/or sciences at each meeting, prompts daughters with their memorization work.
  • Chaplain - leads prayers during meetings.
  • Treasurer - receive bethel funds, keep an accurate record, and turn them over to the Guardian Treasurer, reports about current funds at each meeting.
  • First Messenger - assists the Junior Princess during initiation.
  • Second Messenger - assists the Junior Princess during initiation.
  • Third Messenger - assists the Senior Princess during initiation.
  • Fourth Messenger - assists the Senior Princess during initiation.
  • Fifth Messenger - assists the Honored Queen during initiation.
  • Inner Guard - responds to Outer Guard's warnings from outside and gives the Honored Queen's instructions to the Outer Guard.
  • Outer Guard - prevents interruptions during meetings.
  • Musician - leads songs and music, usually plays organ or piano
  • Bethel Choir - no specific responsibility, can consist of unlimited number of girls, purely sings Bethel songs during meetings.

Bethel Guardian Council

  • Bethel Guardian* **
  • Associate Bethel Guardian* ***
  • Guardian Secretary*
  • Guardian Treasurer*
  • Guardian Director of Epochs*
  • Director of Music*
  • Director of Promotion
  • Promoter of Sociability
  • Director of Hospitality
  • Promoter of Good Will
  • Promoter of Production
  • Promoter of Fraternal Relations
  • Custodian of Paraphernalia

*Executive council members; one must be present at each Bethel meeting

**Must be related to a Master Mason

***Must be a Master Mason

Degree of Royal Purple

The Degree of Royal Purple is awarded as the highest honor in recognition of outstanding, continuous and dedicated service of a Majority Member to the International Order of Job’s Daughters. It is intended to recognize a Majority Member who has given to the Order in the capacity above and beyond the call of duty.

Famous Job's Daughters

Include:


References

  1. ^ a b "Youth Order Trains Girls". Los Angeles Times. April 24, 1938. ...the Order of Job's Daughters was founded by Mrs. Ethel T. Wead Mick in the city of Omaha on October 20, 1920.... Constant supervision of all Bethel activities is a strict duty of the Bethel Guardian Council.... A petitioner must have reached her thirteenth birthday...
  2. ^ S. Brent Morris (2006). The Complete Idiot's Guide to Freemasonry. Alpha Books. p. 146. ISBN 978-1-59257-490-2.
  3. ^ Alvin J. Schmidt; Nicholas Babchuk (1980). Fraternal organizations. Greenwood Press. p. 170. ISBN 978-0-313-21436-3.
  4. ^ Mark A. Tabbert (2005). American Freemasons: Three Centuries of Building Communities. National Heritage Museum. p. 186. ISBN 978-0-8147-8292-7.
  5. ^ Preuss, Arthur A Dictionary of Secret and other Societies St. Louis: B. Herder Book Co. 1924; republished Detroit: Gale Reference Company 1966; p.206
  6. ^ "Tour the Mick Memorial Room". Papillion, Nebraska: International Center for Job's Daughters. Retrieved 2009-08-26.
  7. ^ a b Preuss p.206
  8. ^ "United States Bethel Locator". Job's Daughters International. Retrieved 2012-04-18.
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