The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls (IORG) is a Masonic youth service organization that teaches leadership training through community service. Young women learn about the value of charity and service through their work and involvement with their annual local and Grand (state or country) service projects.
History
The order came into existence in 1922, when the Reverend W. Mark Sexson, a Freemason, was asked to make an address before South McAlester Chapter #149, Order of the Eastern Star, in McAlester, Oklahoma. As the Order of DeMolay had come under his close study during his Masonic activities, he suggested that a similar order for young women would be beneficial. The first Initiation consisted of a class of 171 young women on April 6, 1922, in the auditorium of the Scottish Rite Temple in McAlester, Oklahoma. The original name was "Order of the Rainbow for Girls".
Officers
Members can hold many different offices (also called Stations) in the local Assembly. Each requires some memory work and all but two serve for one term (four or six months out of the year, depending on Assembly bylaws). Some offices are elected by the other members in the assembly. These offices normally include Faith, Hope, Charity, Worthy Associate Advisor, and Worthy Advisor. There are also two offices that are elected in January but serve a full year which are Treasurer and Recorder. The other offices are appointed by the Worthy Advisor (President) and Mother Advisor. All offices include: Worthy Advisor (WA) – presides at meetings and plans activities for her term like a president: the highest office in an assembly Worthy Associate Advisor (WAA) – duties similar to a vice president; presides over a meeting in the absence of the worthy advisor Charity teaches about charitable deeds Hope teaches that hope is always there for us Faith teaches that faith is our constant companion. She is the officer who guides new candidates throughout an initiation ceremony. Recorder records minutes and handles correspondence Treasurer handles money and bills and compiles reports about the balances of the assembly's various money accounts Chaplain leads in prayers Drill Leader leads the officers in their floor work and leads guests around the assembly room Seven Bow Stations teach lessons about the colors of the rainbow and their corresponding virtues: Love (red) in all its forms Religion (orange) the importance of religion in all its forms (based on love and forgiveness) Nature (yellow) its importance in your daily life Immortality (green) the understanding of death is a part of life Fidelity (blue) emphasis on being honest and reliable Patriotism (indigo) encouraging citizenship to your country Service (violet) service to others which bind all the colors together Confidential Observer guards the inner doors of the assembly room Outer Observers guards the outer doors of the assembly room Musician and Choir Director provide music for the meetings
Some Assemblies and Grand Assemblies have other officers not specified in the ritual, such as Historian, Editor, Assistant Grand Editor, Circulation Manager, Orator (or Lecturer), Bible Bearer, Goodwill Ambassador, American Flag Bearer, State Flag Bearer, Christian Flag Bearer, Rainbow Flag Bearer, and Assembly Banner Bearer.
It is an unwritten law that each of the line officers (Faith, Hope, Charity, and Worthy Associate Advisor) advances to the next highest office, culminating in her term as Worthy Advisor. However, this is not a guarantee.
Advisors
The local assembly is governed by an advisory board of seven to fifteen adults consisting of master masons, members of Order of the Eastern Star, members of the Order of Amaranth, majority members, and family members of active members. Some advisory boards are appointed by a sponsoring body, while others are a "club" style and are not sponsored. Elected offices of an advisory board are Chairperson, Mother Advisor, Secretary, and Treasurer. The mother advisor is the liaison between the members and the advisory board. Almost all of the assembly work should be done by the members, with the advisors in support roles only. A district deputy is appointed by the supreme inspector/deputy as an aide to the local assemblies. The authority of the district deputy is limited to inspecting the ceremonial work of the assembly and providing guidance at the request of the advisory board or supreme inspector/deputy. The district deputy is not a member of the advisory board but is a resource and a reference as well as the first person the mother advisor and board chair would go to for help and questions.