Job's Daughters International is a Masonic sponsored youth organization for girls and young women aged 10 to 20. The organization is commonly referred to as simply Job's Daughters, and sometimes abbreviated as JDI (or IOJD, referring to its longtime former name, International Order of Job's Daughters). Job's Daughters welcomes many religions and cultures. They are praised for their memory work and delivery. They are not a secret society, as stereotyped by their relation to Freemasonry.
Contents
Membership
In order to apply for membership in Job's Daughters, one must be a girl between the ages of 10 and 20. The original age for membership was 13-18, as stated in "The Official History of the International Order of Job's Daughters", but has been changed several times over the years. Until August 2015, the girl must be related to a Master Mason or Majority Member. Now, she may be sponsored by a Majority Member and Master Mason if no relation is found.
Members are not required to practice any particular religion, but they must believe in a Supreme being.
If a daughter reaches the age of 20 or marries, she is considered a majority member. Majority members are not allowed to hold an office or vote on Bethel affairs; however, they are encouraged to remain active in their respective Bethel. They also are eligible to join the Order of Eastern Star or Order of Amaranth.
History
The organization was founded as The Order of Job's Daughters by Ethel T. Wead Mick in Omaha, Nebraska, on October 20, 1920. The purpose of the organization is to band together young girls and strives to build character through moral and spiritual development. Goals include a greater reverence for God and the Holy Scriptures, as stated in the Job's Daughters Constitution, loyalty to one's country and that country's flag; and respect for parents, guardians, and elderly.
"Mother Mick" was fond of the Book of Job, and took the name of the organization as a reference to the three daughters of Job. The Book of Job, 42nd chapter, 15th verse says, "In all the land were no women found so fair as the Daughters of Job, and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren". She founded the Order with the assistance of her husband, Dr. William H. Mick, and several Freemasons and members of Eastern Star of Nebraska. She dedicated the organization to the memory of her mother, Elizabeth D. Wead.
By June 1923 the Job's Daughters had been endorsed by the Grand Chapters of the Order of the Eastern Star in Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington, DC. The order spread rapidly in the early 1920s. At the third annual meeting of the "Supreme Guardian Council" in Chicago on Oct. 12, 1923, delegates were present from twenty-three states, the Territory of Alaska and Manitoba.
In 1931 the name was changed to the International Order of Job's Daughters after a Bethel was instituted in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Later, the name was changed from the International Order of Job's Daughters to Job's Daughters International.
The ritual of the Order was drawn up by Le Roy T. Wilcox, a scholar of Masonic law, and the group came "under the general management of the Masonic order".
Levels of Jurisdiction
Each level above the local Bethel has a different philanthropic project. The Supreme project is the H.I.K.E Fund, or Hearing Impaired Kids Endowment Foundation. The Grand jurisdiction varies by area, and typically changes every year.
Today, Bethels and Grand Bethels are active in Australia, Brazil, Canada, the Philippines and the United States. Within the United States, there are currently Bethels in 31 states. Most states and provinces have a Grand Guardian Council but a few are under the direct supervision of the Supreme Guardian Council.
Bethel Overview
The presiding officer of the Bethel is the Honored Queen or in Canada & Australia "Honoured Queen" and in Brazil "Honorável Rainha", elected by the members of her Bethel. This position is roughly analogous to Worshipful Master in a Masonic Lodge, and to the President of an association of any kind. The Honored Queen is assisted in her duties by a Senior Princess and a Junior Princess. The Senior Princess is usually considered to be next in line as Honored Queen. Girls who finish a term as Honored Queen use the title Past Honored Queen (abbreviated PHQ) within Job's Daughters, and usually receive a pin commemorating their service. The elected officers are referred to as the "line officers", or in some Bethels the "Elect Five" or "Top Five", of the Bethel, meaning that in general, a Daughter is elected sequentially from the lowest position (Marshal) to the highest position (Honored Queen).
Stations (Offices) of the Bethel and their respective duties
Elected:
*typically, one gets elected Marshal and will work her way up to Honored Queen in the above order. Note that in rare occurrences this may not be the case. Any daughter can run for any elected station.
Appointed:
Bethel Guardian Council
*Executive council members; one must be present at each Bethel meeting
**Must be related to a Master Mason
***Must be a Master Mason
Degree of Royal Purple
The Degree of Royal Purple is awarded as the highest honor in recognition of outstanding, continuous and dedicated service of a Majority Member to the International Order of Job’s Daughters. It is intended to recognize a Majority Member who has given to the Order in the capacity above and beyond the call of duty.
Famous Job's Daughters
Meghan Cary, Kim Cattrall, Anita Sue Dennison, Jacquelynne Fontaine, Nancy Fleming, Judy Garland, Mary Ellen Gilbert, Christie Hageman, Jenilee Harrison, Nannette Hegerty, Josephine E. (Hix) Ladnier, Vicki Lawrence, Heather Moore, Linda Nieber, Jean Rabe, Debbie Reynolds, Debbie Rihn-Harvey, Lonna Seibert, Aimee Teegarden, Taila Gouge.