“The first Rebekah Degrees were honorary awards only, conferred on wives and daughters of Odd Fellows at special Lodge meetings, and recipients were known as “Daughters of Rebekah”. The name is taken from the Biblical character of Rebekah.

The Daughters of Rebekah, also known as the Rebekahs and the International Association of Rebekah Assemblies, is an international service-oriented organization and a branch of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. It was initially designed as the female auxiliary of the IOOF, but now allows both female and male members.

It is one of the units of the IOOF, but women need not be related to an Odd Fellow to be a member of the Rebekahs. As long as she meets the moral, ethical and age requirement for admission, any woman may join. In most jurisdictions, women aged 16 or 18 years old and above can join a Rebekah Lodge.” —-Wikipedia

“There are seven thriving and prosperous Rebekah Lodges in the County: Marion, Creal Springs, Carterville, Crab Orchard, Herrin, Stonefort and Johnston City, with a membership of over 400.” —-1904 from the 1905 Souvenir History

So far, not a lot has been uncovered about this Marion organization or its original members. However, it is a safe bet that most of the members were the wives of I.O.O.F. Lodge 392 members and that the club folded when the local I.O.O.F. Lodge was officially disbanded on July 20, 1940. More information will be added to this post as it is accrued.

(Data from Wikipedia and the 1905 Souvenir History, WCHS; compiled by Sam Lattuca on 05/12/2013)