| Creator/Compiler | Evangeline Rebekah Lodge #7 |
| Repository | Dyer Library Archives & Special Collections |
| Inclusive Dates | 1874-1962 |
| Bulk Dates | 1927-1961 |
| Collection Size | 1.5 linear feet |
| Bio/Hist. Notes | Originally
organized in 1870, the Rebekah’s is the women’s division of
an organization known as the Odd Fellows. The name Rebekah was taken
from a character out of the Bible, who exemplified kindness and
hospitality. This Rebekah Lodge, officially called “Evangeline
Lodge No. 7, Degree of Rebekah” was instituted at Biddeford,
Maine on December 19, 1874 [1. The three words in which these two
organizations stand for are friendship, love and truth. The structure
of the organization is a Grand Noble (who serves as president), a
warden, several guardians and a lodge secretary. Although extremely
prominent during the 1900’s, the organization is slowly weakening
as the pursuit of younger members is coming up empty handed. In 1950,
the number of Rebekah lodges statewide was 146, compared to the survey
done in 2000, which showed the number of lodges statewide down to 59.
However, the Odd Fellows and Rebekah Lodges continue to work this day
establishing scholarship funds for students, involving themselves in
social programs, education, and medical research support such as the
Arthritis Foundation. The principles practiced by the Odd Fellows and
Rebekahs are visiting the sick, relieving the distressed, burying the
dead, and educating the orphan. Sticking to the same principles as the
Odd Fellows, most of the money raised by the organization goes directly
to help those in need. The Rebekahs contribute annually to Maine
nursing homes and also support an annual scholarship to Maine nursing
students. Along with the donations given to the nursing fields, the Rebekahs also donate annually to the Wilmer Eye Institute. |
| Scope/Content Notes | This collection has a very small scope and content including membership dues, financial accounts and miscellaneous notes that were taken during the monthly meetings of the organization. |
| Provenance | Unknown. No accession or deed of gift records were found. |
| Restrictions | Unrestricted |
| Series Descriptions | Series 1. Minutes. The
series consists of two bound volumes of minutes and a large number of
unbound pages of minute notes. The date range is 1874-1961 with gaps
between 1882-1926, 1940-1948 and no minutes after 1961. Series 2. Membership Records. This series consists of two subseries: 2A: List of Members dating from 1874 - 1953 and 1956 -1961. Included in the volume dated 1874-1953 were a number of “Certificate of Merit” for those members who correctly performed the “Ritualistic Work of the Rebekah Degree.” 2B are Membership Dues dating between 1911-1931 and 1934-1965. Series 3. Financial Records. The Evangeline Rebekah Lodge was involved in a number of project and had special funds to serve them. This series consists of their financial reports, their general fund reports and special fund reports. The earliest records date back to 1888 with their last financial records ending in 1962. Series 4. Social Service Programs. This ledger documents members of the Evangeline Rebekah Lodge services to the sick or ill. The duties of a “Watcher” were to: 1) offer consolation, intercession and prayer; 2) to report to the powers that be any confessions or declarations that the dying person makes and report this to the clerics as well as town officials (i.e. infidelities and/or child out of wedlock), and 3) a “Watcher” served those who were facing impending health hazards such as the birth of a child as many did dye during childbirth. It is said that at the moment of the greatest pain, an unwed mother or married women would confess the true identify of the child’s father. As you can see, many of the people who the “Watcher’s” consoled were either poor or the underclass. “Watchers” were required to ask before “you face God” anything you want to clear. Therefore, a “Watcher” was like a cleric for those to confess. A “Watcher” was aid for these duties. Sometimes $1 or $2. (Kitty Chadbourne, Historian, 2005). Series 5. Visitors’ Register. The Rebekah Lodge had many visitors from other I.O.O.F. lodges. Visitors came from Maine as well as Nova Scotia and Massachusetts. |
| Organizaton of Series | Series 1. Minutes {1882-1961] Series 2. Memberships Records [1874-1961]
Subseries 3A. Financial Secr etary’s Report
Series 4. Social Programs [1881-1903]Subseries 3B. Evangeline Special Fund Subseries 3C. Evangeline General Fund Series 5. Visitor’s Register [1913-1949] |
for Evangeline Rebekah Lodge #7 Finding Aid