What are Rainbow Girls?
The International Order of
the Rainbow for Girls is an organization for girls between the ages of 11 and
20, and is founded on the belief in God and the value of the lessons taught in
the Holy Bible. The order was founded in 1921 by Rev. W. Mark Sexson, a Master
Mason who was Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Oklahoma and a Past Grand
Patron of the Order of the Eastern Star.
Eligibility
To become a Rainbow Girl you
must be between the ages of 11 and 18 years old. You can be the daughter or granddaughter
of a Mason, Eastern Star, Amaranth Member, the daughter of a Majority member,
or a friend of a Rainbow Girl. Most importantly you must be of good moral character
and profess an abiding faith in God.
The Teachings of Rainbow
Rainbow teaches the importance
of a belief in God and the importance of the lessons taught in the Holy Bible.
Rainbow teaches leadership skills, patriotism, and service to others. These lessons
are taught in a ritual of ceremonies which is said from memory by the members.
Activities
Rainbow Girls have fund raising,
socials, visitations to other assemblies, and charity events. Another activity
is Grand Assembly, which is held in a selected city in Texas in June, in which
girls can attend to learn more about the ritualistic work.
Opportunities
for Leadership
Any member who wishes to accept
responsibility may serve as an officer. The leader of the assembly is the Worthy
Advisor, and she is elected to a 4- or 6-month term in which she presides over
the assembly, plans activities, and organizes the service projects. There are
also Grand Officers who lead all of the Rainbow Girls in that jurisdiction.
Achievement
and Reward
Rainbow Girls have
many opportunities to excel. Members can earn service bars for attendance, ritualistic
work, fundraising, membership recruitment, visitation, and many other activities.
What Do Rainbow Girls Do?
Members
of Rainbow are active in their churches, schools and communities. They raise
money for various charities through bake sales, dinners and car washes, and
they extend themselves in service to their communities, churches and their sponsoring
organizations. Rainbow Girls have many fun activities and opportunities to make
lifelong friendships.
Members
learn many important skills, such as extemporaneous speaking, parliamentary
procedure, proper etiquette, and posture.
Members
earn awards for their activities they participate in, and scholarships are available
for those seeking higher education. Membership in Rainbow gives girls all kinds
of opportunities and experiences. Many girls go on to become leaders in all
fields of employment, such as doctors, lawyers, teachers, Supreme court justices,
judges, Miss Americas, actresses, nurses, and engineers, just to name a few.
How
Often Are The Meetings?
Most
Rainbow Assemblies meet twice a month. In addition to the semi-monthly meetings
at her local Assembly, she will have the opportunity to visit other statewide
or International Rainbow Assemblies, where she will meet other girls her own
age who are members of the same organization.
Who
Can Attend A Rainbow Meeting?
Rainbow Members in good standing, as well as any Mason, Eastern
Star or Amaranth in good standing, any Majority Member of Rainbow, and any parent
or legal guardian of a Rainbow Girl is eligible to attend a meeting of the International
Order of Rainbow for Girls
Is
Rainbow A Religious Organization?
No.
The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls is a service organization.
Rainbow does, however, encourage each member to be an active participant in
the church of her choice. When you participate in the many activities Rainbow
offers, you will have lots of fun and learn to be a better person.
Ritual
Of The Order
The
Ritual for the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls is a book of ceremonies
used primarily for the Opening, Closing and Initiation of a Rainbow Assembly.
Members of the Order recite, from memory, the ceremonies contained in the Rainbow
Ritual.
The
Seven Colors of the Rainbow are represented by seven stations, strategically
placed in the shape of a bow. Each station is represented by a color, and each
color teaches one of the seven lessons of Rainbow. The stations and lessons
of the Rainbow are as follows:
- Red
is the first color station and represents Love. It
emphasizes the importance of love of home and family.
- Orange
is the second color station and represents Religion.
It emphasizes the importance of membership and active participation in the
church of your choice.
- Yellow
is the third color station and represents Nature.
It emphasizes the importance of spending time in the out-of-doors.
- Green
is the fourth color station and represents Immortality.
It emphasizes that even though our body dies, our souls live on forever.
- Blue
is the fifth color station and represents Fidelity. It emphasizes the importance
of loyalty to the Order and to the Rainbow Girl's family and friends.
- Indigo
is the sixth color station and represents Patriotism,
It emphasizes the importance of respecting the laws of our country and its
flag.
- Violet
is the seventh and final color station and represents Service. Service is
the foundation of Rainbow and emphasizes the importance of providing unselfish
acts of service to our home, community and sponsoring orders of Rainbow.
The
leadership structure of Rainbow begins with the local Assembly and extends to
the State and International Assemblies. Each local Assembly is made up of five
line officers (Rainbow Girls who lead the Assembly under the direction of a
Mother Advisor and Advisory Board) and fifteen appointed officers. The adult
governing body of each Rainbow Assembly is known as the Advisory Board and is
comprised of seven to fifteen adults from various Masonic organizations.
Why
Become a Rainbow?
Because:
- The teachings
of Rainbow will make
you a live asset to your country, church, community, school and home.
-
Rainbow teaches, not only the beautiful lessons contained in it's ritual,
but also develops in a girl a feeling of responsibility and the ability to
speak and express her ideas before an audience.
- Your
membership is a sound investment and will pay real dividends in the development
of personality and character.
- You
will have the advantage of associating with other girls your own age, and
you will make friends which will last a lifetime.
-
It teaches you self value.
