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The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls (IORG) is a Masonic youth service organization which teaches leadership training through community service. Girls (ages 11-20/21) learn about the value of charity and service through their work and involvement with their annual local and Grand (state or country) service projects.

Contents 1 History 2 Officers 3 Advisors 4 High honors 4.1 Supreme Assembly 5 Other honors 6 Locations 7 Membership 8 Famous members 9 Excommunication 10 References 11 External links

The order was created in 1922 when the Reverend W. Mark Sexson 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 and observation during his Masonic activities, he decided that another Order for girls, setting forth some of the principles of Freemasonry, would be necessary. The first Initiation consisted of a class of 171 girls on April 6, 1922 in the auditorium of the Scottish Rite Temple in McAlester. The original name was "Order of the Rainbow for Girls".^[1]

Girls can hold many different offices in the local Assembly. Each requires some memory work and all but 2 serve for 1 term (4 to 6 months out of the year). Officers include: ^[2]

• Worthy Advisor (WA) Presides at meetings and plans activities for her term like a President: highest office. (elected by Assembly)
• Worthy Associate Advisor (WAA) Duties similar to a Vice President: moves up to WA. (elected)
• Charity Teaches about charitable deeds: moves up to WAA. (elected)
• Hope Teaches that hope is always there: moves up to Charity (elected)
• Faith Teaches that faith is our companion: moves up to Hope (elected)
• Recorder Records minutes and handles correspondence: serves for 1 year and may be either elected or appointed depending on the jurisdiction
• Treasurer Handles monies: serves for 1 year and may be either elected or appointed depending on the jurisdiction
• Chaplain Leads in prayers (appointed by WA)
• Drill Leader Leads in floor work (appointed)
• Seven Bow Stations Teach about their color and its corresponding virtue (appointed)
  • Love (red)
  • Religion (orange)
  • Nature (yellow)
  • Immortality (green)
  • Fidelity (blue)
  • Patriotism (indigo)
  • Service (violet)
• Confidential and Outer Observers Guard the inner and outer doors, respectively (appointed)
• Musician and Choir Director Provide music for the meetings (appointed)

Some Assemblies and Grand Assemblies have other officers not specified in the ritual, such as Historian, Bible Bearer, American Flag Bearer, and State Flag Bearer.^[3]

The Mother Advisor sits next to the Worthy Advisor during meetings and is the primary adult working with the girls. Members of the sponsoring orders, parents, and Majority Members (alumnae) make up an Advisory Board that also oversees and aids the girls. Almost all of the Assembly work is done by the girls, with the advisors in support roles only.

Once a girl has been WA, she may be elected or appointed an officer in Grand Assembly, the highest level in her jurisdiction. Grand Officers serve for one year. Besides the offices listed above, other Grand Appointments include Grand Representatives, who correspond with the representatives from other jurisdictions and may travel to other jurisdictions to represent their own, Grand Choir members, and other specialized positions desired by the jurisdiction. Requirements for these other appointments vary.

Majority Membership is reached upon the 20th birthday of a member, but serving officers are typically allowed to finish their term before receiving their Majority.

The Grand Cross of Color is the highest award given to a member or adult leader for outstanding service. Recipients of the award are expected to meet once per year for a special service. ^[4]

The governing body of Rainbow is the House of Gold. New members are elected by current members. The House of Gold consists of the Supreme Officers (paralleling a local Assembly), Supreme Inspectors (chief advisor for a jurisdiction), and several others making up a total of 50^[2].

A Rainbow Beau is usually a DeMolay or a male friend of the Worthy Advisor, who has been elected by the Rainbow assembly to escort the Worthy Advisor, assist in their service endeavors and represent the assembly to their own respective chapter to facilitate cooperation between the organizations.

Adults who are not Masonically affiliated, but have worked with Rainbow for years, may receive the Service to Rainbow award.^[4]

The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls has Assemblies in 47 states in the United States as well as in several other countries. The states which do not currently have Assemblies are: Delaware, Utah, and Wyoming. (South Dakota instituted its first assembly in 2006.) The countries outside the United States which have assemblies are: Aruba, Australia (in Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia), Bolivia, Brazil (in both Parana and São Paulo), Canada (in both Ontario and New Brunswick), the Philippines, and Guam. Rainbow has had assemblies in the past in the following countries, mostly due to American military presence: Cuba, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Panama and Vietnam.^[5]

Being related to a Master Mason is not a requirement in order to join Rainbow. In 2000, the rules for Eastern Star were changed so that majority members of Rainbow were eligible for membership in that order.^[6] For girls between ages 8 and 11, some jurisdictions have a "Pledge" program for prospective members, so that they can become familiar with Rainbow ceremonies and activities.^[7]

United States Senator Olympia Snowe has stated:

“

I am proud to be a Rainbow Girl. This group instilled in me the values of service, honesty, and leadership, among others. I have carried these ideals with me throughout the years. Being a member of the International Order of Rainbow for Girls reflects well on a young women's character and integrity and will benefit today's Rainbow Girls throughout their lifetime.[8]

”

Other famous members include U. S. Supreme Court justice Sandra Day O'Connor, actress Lee Meriwether, inspirational speaker Jill Kinmont, and actress Dawn Wells.^[9]

In 1996, Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz of the Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska issued, under certain conditions, an automatic interdict, which escalates after one month to an automatic excommunication, to members of several organizations in his diocese, including Rainbow Girls.^[10] This was at least partially in violation of Canon 1323, which states that "No one is liable to a penalty who, when violating a law or precept... has not completed the sixteenth year of age".^[11]

• International Order of the Rainbow for Girls website
• W. Mark Sexson on Find-a-Grave