When I was out capturing my ‘Social Landscapes’ portfolio collection, I had found many interesting details in the leftover landscapes that I could not include in the collection since they did not meet the criteria for the feeling and overall theme that I wanted to create. Such as this curious glass lamp that was highlighting the beautiful but worn façade of the old building to which it was attached.
I had started to wonder who was Rebekah and what was significant about the number nineteen? A classmate recognized what it was almost immediately when I shared the picture with the class. It turns out that the three chains and the name represented an organization known as The Rebekahs, which was founded in 1819 (hence the number 19). The Rebekahs, also known as the International Association of Rebekah Assemblies (IARA), and originally the Daughters of Rebekah 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.
The general duties of the members of this unit are, “To live peaceably, do good unto all, as we have opportunity and especially to obey the Golden Rule, Whatsoever ye would that others should do unto you, do ye even so unto them.”
For more information, visit https://odd-fellows.org/
Here are some more BTS photos from this trip: