The Rebekahs

A2021.010: Deborah Rebekah Lodge No. 13 charter, 1899.

The Deborah Rebekah Lodge #13, a fraternal order and service organization associated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF), was instituted in Rossland on April 12th, 1899. They had degrees and rituals, mostly based on the teachings of the Bible. The “executive” positions or “chairs” were Noble Grand, Vice Grand, Recording Secretary, and Treasurer.

Rebekah’s exhibit the true principles of Odd Fellowship which are Friendship, Love, and Truth and in this day and age are extended to rendering service to their communities.

Objects and Purposes of the Rebekah’s: 

To visit and care for the sick; to relieve the distressed; to bury the dead; and in every way to assist their own members, and to assist Odd Fellows and sister Rebekah lodges in kindly ministrations to the families of Odd Fellows when in trouble, sickness, or want. 

To aid in the establishment and maintenance of Homes for aged and indigent Odd Fellows and their wives, aged Rebekahs and for the widows of deceased Odd Fellows and Homes for the care, education, and support of orphans of deceased Odd Fellows and of deceased sisters of the Rebekah Degree. 

To cultivate and extend the social and fraternal relations of life among lodges and the families of Odd Fellows.

From the Meeting Minutes of April 12, 1899

The inaugural meeting of Lodge #13

From the history of the Deborah Rebekah Lodge #13, compiled by Sister Edith McCuaig:

On April 12th 1899, the Deborah Rebekah Lodge was instituted H.J. Raymer, Special Deputy in the chair and was assisted by Bro. Shirley and Mrs. Shirley of Hope Rebekah Lodge No. 38 Spokane, Washington. After the ceremony of instituting the Lodge was concluded, election of officers was held, with the following officers being installed:

Noble Grand: Sister Nona A. Martin

Vice Grand: Sister Edith Etough 

Recording Secretary: Brother F.S. French 

Treasurer:  Sister Shirley

Right Support of the Noble Grand (R.S.N.G.): Brother Shirley

Left Support of the Noble Grand (L.S.N.G): Sister Hutchins

Conductor: Sister Annie Moffat

Warden: Sister Maud Moffat

Banner Bearer: Sister Grace Watson 

Right Support of the Vice Grand (R.S.V.G.): Louise French

Left Support of the Vice Grand (L.S.V.G.): L. Campbell

Chaplain: Sister Sarah Day

Many applications for membership were balloted and duly initiated: 

Annie Embleton, Thomas Embleton, Jerry Kieghley, Mrs. Keighley, J.D. Blevins, Clara Blevins, J.Y. Brown, J.E. Miller, Finez McDonald, Joseph Craig, J.E. Cummings, Louise French, Frank French, A.L. Watson, Grace Watson, R.W. Hutchins, D. McDugal, Mrs. Campbell, Sarah Day, Annie Lee, Maud Moffat, Annie Moffat, Flossie Staff. Affiliated: Sister and Brother Staff.

Many new members were balloted on and elected to receive the degree of Rebekah:

Dr. D.E. Kerr, Arthur Pendry, Bessie Pendry, Clarence Edwards, W.T. Widner, M.A. Henderson, Mrs. Henderson, Albert Keighley, S.A. Campbell, A.L. Houston, Ida Bajsrt, John Gibbon.

Secretary bought books for $4.00. Charter cost $10.00.

A committee was on regalia, application cards and seal.

Dues were $3.00.

Regalia was purchased. Brother Etough and Shirley drew up the inscription for the seal. 

Sisters Henderson, Etough, and Embleton to buy badges. 

June 14, 1899 -- Sec. to inform Grand Master that we met on the ground floor on account of being burned out!

003.2.27 - Deborah Rebekah Officers in 1909.

The 1918 meeting minutes note that “Spanish flu invaded the city and lodge had to be cancelled.”

Meetings were originally held in the Masonic Hall and the order was called Deborah Rebekah Lodge No. 13 Daughters of Rebekah.  In September 1909, a Drill Team was sent to Seattle to compete with other teams. The Lodge worked hard that summer putting on teas, bake sales, and concerts to help defray the expenses of the Degree Staff. The Rossland team won Second Prize = $225.00. All members taking part had a most enjoyable time in Seattle as it was during the Alaska Yukon Pacific (A.Y.P.) Exposition. 

During World War I, lodge members worked at the Red Cross rooms and held regular meetings at the different homes where knitting was done for brothers and members who were in the Forces. This same procedure was carried out during World War II.

Odd Fellows/Rebekah's Parade Float in 1925.

• By 1920, there were 110 members

• By the 1940s, there were around 30 members in regular attendance

• Today, there are 12 Deborah Rebekah members

Over its 100+ years, Deborah Rebekah Lodge #13 was an active contributor to the well-being of Rossland. They hosted and catered teas, dances, bridge, whist, dinners, weddings, and all manner of fundraisers for local, provincial, national, and international causes.

Jean Gresley-Jones who joined the Lodge in 1957 remembers that the Lodge did a lot of good things for the community and made many donations. She had joined the lodge because her mother was a member.

Nancy Bowie, whose mother Kathleen “Kay” Blackwell had joined in 1971, remembers that her mother joined the Lodge because many of her friends did! The social aspect, fellowship, and contribution to the community were the reason many people joined the Lodge. She noted that men could join the Deborah Rebekah’s, but women could not join the IOOF. 

The IOOF and Deborah Rebekahs shared a hall which faced onto Queen Street. Originally, it had a long staircase and path from Queen Street to the main door. The entrance was later changed to enable access off of an alley off Queen Street. There, the Rebekahs hosted many dances, events, and weddings - the ladies would often cater for events/banquets/weddings.

Rossland Miner - Rebekahs Feb 13th, 1958.

After the masonic hall burnt down, the IOOF/Rebekahs shared their hall with the Masons. In the late 1960s, the IOOF/Rebekah Lodge purchased the seats from the recently closed Capitol Theatre, saving them from being destroyed by a future roof collapse. The Hall was sold in 2008 and torn down quite quickly after the sale.

The Lodge sent money to the Oddfellows Home Fund, they cared for their struggling members, they sent funds to the Fernie disaster relief fund after their devastating fire in 1908. They helped set up Lodges in Greenwood and Phoenix. They attended funerals and cared for the graves of their members, they cared for members who were veterans and their families. They supported the swimming pool, the hospital, the cancer society, the ambulance society, helped the blind, sent money to Trail for flood relief in 1948, and they set up a scholarship for students.

“Rebekah’s spirits shine through rain” describes the celebrations of the Deborah Rebekah Lodge #13 100th Anniversary celebrations. Written by Sister Edith McCuaig - from the 1999 Trail Times.

Rebekah Rhythms - the “Granny Band”

Compiled by Maureen Brown

The “Rebekah Rhythms” (also known as the Granny Band) was formed in the late 1970s by longtime resident and Rebekah member Edith McCuaig. Edith was a talented pianist and had played in bands for many years, as well as performing solo. By the late 1970s, she had been playing solo quite a bit at the local senior’s facilities and decided she would like to perform in a band again. 

The members of the Rebekah Lodge enjoyed music - every meeting began and ended with a song (Opening and Closing Odes). Edith decided to encourage the members of the Lodge to form a band, and it didn’t take too much persuading before ten members volunteered!

They formed a band in the washboard band style. A washboard band uses old time washboards for rhythm and creates other instruments out of found materials. The Rebekah Rhythms created horns out of funnels, a guitar out of a bedpan, and even featured a cycle horn in one of their numbers. The only instrument that wasn’t created was the piano - Edith led the tunes on the piano, and the others backed her up.

The members decided to dress in costume, so they made granny hats and aprons, which is how they came to be known as the Granny Band. They played often - at least once a month - at the local senior’s residences (Poplar Ridge, Kiro Manor, Columbia View Lodge), at teas, Christmas parties, weddings, parades, and for several years they participated in the Children’s Development Centre Telethon that was broadcast out of the Rossland Secondary School. They played (and sang) popular old time songs that most people knew and could sing along to, such as “Let’s All Sing Like the Birdies Sing,” “Easter Bonnet,” “On Top of Old Smokey,” and “You Are My Sunshine.” To get people up and dancing, they’d play the “Chicken Dance.”

Unfortunately, the Rebekah Rhythm band played their last concert together around 2010, meaning they performed together for about thirty years. They were greatly appreciated by all who heard them, and they brought smiles and laughter to so many.

2018 Golden City Days - Rebekah’s Display with Rebekah & Rhythm Instruments: L-R Joyce Tait, Margaret Mack, Annie Waite and Betty Laface

2018 Golden City Days - Rebekah’s Video Presentation

Contribute your own memories/experiences of/with the Deborah Rebekahs:

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