Daughters of Rebekah. Lodge No. 161 Minutes, 1907-1957

Biography/History

The Rebekah Lodge was nationally established in 1851 as The Daughters of Rebekah. Later, the name was changed to the International Association of Rebekah Assemblies. The Rebekahs are an auxiliary organization of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.). Membership is open to any woman, at least eighteen years of age, who is a relative of an Odd Fellow, believes in a supreme being, and is of good moral character. It is possible for a male to join the Rebekahs, but a female cannot become an Odd Fellow. The Rebekahs (and Odd Fellows) reached their height of popularity in 1915 and, since then, have been on the decline.

The local chapters are called Lodges. Rebekah Lodge No. 161 of Grantsburg, Wisconsin seems to have been established shortly before 1907 and seems to have folded shortly after 1957. They met every other week from 1907 to 1957. The Rebekahs created their own community service projects in addition to those created in conjunction with the Odd Fellows, such as collecting money for polio funds.