- The quest of girlhood on the journey of life.
- A hidden gate between reality and enchantment.
- An ideal made real by enchantment.
What does Rainbow teach?
- A belief in the existence of a Supreme Being.
- The great truths of the Holy Bible.
- To seek dignity of character.
- A conception of the higher things of life.
- Effective leadership.
- Church membership.
- Patriotism.
- Co-operation with equals.
- Love of Home.
- Service.
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This lengthy text file is transcribed from the front of my Rainbow Bible. I have heard this text by Rev. W. Mark Sexson dates back to 1929 (and I ask that you keep that in mind while reading this text); however, I find no sign of a copyright in this book, so I am unsure of the exact date, and I am assuming it's okay to publish it here. If I am in error I would kindly appreciate notification.
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History and Purpose of Rainbow
also
Scriptural Quotations and Allusions
in the
Rainbow Ritual
prepared by
Rev. W. Mark Sexson
Author of the Ritual and Founder of
The Order of Rainbow for Girls
The Pathway of Initiation
"I do set my bow in the cloud, and it
shall be for a token of a covenant between
me and the earth." -- Genesis 9:13.
What is Rainbow?
On some of the oldest Masonic charts it is one of the symbols used in connection with fraternal life. Its symbolism and colors have never been used as a basis for a ritual and the traditional journey to its end never entered as the pathway of initiation. We use it because it represents the first visible sign that God gave to His creatures. Its presence in the heavens was a natural consequence as a result of the laws God had established and because it was a natural picture, or Symbol, on the heavens after the storm-cloud, it was used to reveal His presence and suggest the words of His covenant. "And the Bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth."
Why Rainbow
The Order of the Rainbow selects the girlhood of a country as a medium through which God fulfills His promise. Among the first promises made which related to the expansion, development, and dominion of the world was to woman. Against the sorrow, suffering and sacrifice which has always been her lot, the Rainbow with its color and beauty, becomes a natural symbol for an Order that has in it girls of the "teen" age. They are God's promise, and wrapped up in them is the fulfillment of His covenant. One who is familiar with their life may see every color in the Rainbow manifested in thought and in action. While it may seem to the passerby a strange mixture of color and misappropriation of beauty, if one is given vision enough to behold the completed task, especially that of womanhood in its fullest development, one will see all these colors of youth merged into a scheme of harmony and out of that harmony will come the White Light of wisdom and revelation: -- THEREFORE, Rainbow!
The Order of the Rainbow for Girls is an international organization for girls of Masonic and Eastern Star homes and their girl friends. The Mother Assembly and national headquarters of the Supreme Assembly are located in McAlester, Oklahoma. It was here that the first Assembly was formed under the sponsorship of South McAlester Chapter No. 149, Order of the Eastern Star with a Charter membership of 171 girls. History and Purpose of Rainbow
The Rainbow age embraces the "teen" years of the girl and furnishes the membership of the Order of the Eastern Star and the Masonic Fraternity an opportunity to direct the activities of their own children during the impressionable period of their lives and thus lay a foundation for a future fraternal and social life.
The ritual of the Order was prepared by Rev. W. Mark Sexson, a 33rd degree Mason, then Grand Chaplain of the Grand Lodge of Oklahoma. (He is now Past Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Oklahoma and Past Grand Patron, Order of the Eastern Star of the Oklahoma Grand jurisdiction.)
Immediately after the formation of the Mother Assembly, Rainbow received the official endorsement of the Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star and a few months later the endorsement and recommendation of the Grand Lodge, A.F.&A.M. of Oklahoma. As a result of its official recommendation in the state in which it originated, it was gladly received by other states to the extent that the Order is now represented in practically every part of the United States. It has also been recognised by the Grand Chapter of Ontario, Canada, and Assemblies are being organized in that Grand Jurisdiction. The widespread interest and the rapid growth of the Order is but evidence of the fact that it fills a need in the life of girlhood that had not been supplied by any fraternal organization. It was but yesterday that we turned our attention to the boy and girl program. Most all of the activities in the youth program have been born within the memory of the present generation. We cannot boast much nowadays of the seriousness of any undertaking unless we consider the great army of youth, waiting and ready to take our places. Until very recently our fraternities had provided no junior work for the girls of their homes.
Girls love ritualism, they want to be identified with a secret organization that is part of their life, and the Order of the Rainbow supplies that demand and groups the girls together under proper leadership. It teaches them organization and give them an opportunity to direct the affairs of an organization that is their own and impresses them with the real needs of leadership.
It is not the intention of Rainbow to burden their members with unnecessary work, neither do we wish to duplicate in our program the work they are required to do in school, or to detract from their church activities, but we do believe that a little part of their time should be devoted to a study of the fraternal life of America as reflected in the organizations from which we seek sponsorship. What millions of men and women are doing in the fraternal world certainly ought to become a part of the education of their own children; therefore, Rainbow was not created in order to multiply junior organizations, but to serve a real purpose in the future growth and development of the girlhood of America from a fraternal viewpoint.
As the Rainbow is s symbol of promise the following Bible references may be used as study periods on the promises of God: Promise
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And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. Genesis 9:16. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. II Peter 3:9.
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise. Ephesians 1:13.
Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise. Ephesians 6:2.
Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. Hebrew 4:1.
Blessed be the Lord, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant. I Kings 8:56.
And, being assembled together, with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. The Acts 1:4.
For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. The Acts 2:39.
And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers. The Acts 26:6. Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises. Romans 9:4.
Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promises. Galatians 4:28.
For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. II Corinthians 1:20.
For bodily exercise profiteth little; but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. I Timothy 4:8.
That ye not be slothful but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Hebrews 6:12.
And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. Hebrews 9:15.
For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. Hebrews 9:15.
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. II Peter 1:4.
Never has the question been more universally discussed. It is international in its scope, England, France, America, Germany, and the more distant lands of the North and South have turned the searchlight upon youth. They do not condemn it nor criticize it but they study it and its possibilities. Does the secret to endurance lie hidden here and is it possible to mix youth and age together in making a new building material for a larger civilization? The Youth Movement
We call for leaders, men and women who are big enough to lead in international contests. Few respond to our call for few there be who are qualified. We can not shut ourselves up in a closet for God "Made of one blood all nations of men to dwell upon the face of the earth." If the age demands men and women of such type we must grow them. It is less than half a century since youth made its advent into the trades and professions; it met with adverse currents, but in time it lifted itself above these and flowed into harbors with a full tide. Specialization, speed, proficiency, practical application and a number of direct meaning words came to the shores with the new influx.
But the youth movement of today strikes a little deeper. It bids for the boy and the girl just as soon as they begin to leave the shelter of home. They are a bundle of action and enthusiasm and men of action and enthusiasm want to keep the spirit. Youth is essentially a part of the very life we live and the support of the business we build. If you would have new admirers, new customers, new clients, do not overlook the fact that you can grow them in eight or ten years. The success that you dreamed of when you were a boy is wrapped up in the boy and the girl just outside. To state it negatively the great Teacher said: "But whoso shall offend one of these little ones, which believe in Me, it were better for him that a mill stone were hanged about his neck and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea."
Youth neglected invites decay.
Youth discovered and trained is the cement and steel in a new structure.
As the period of Rainbow embraces the "teen" age the Rainbow girl should be familiar with the following quotations: Youth
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Remember now thy Creator in the days of they youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them. Ecclesiastes 12:1. Rejoice, O young man, in they youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. Ecclesiastes 11:9.
Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O Lord. Psalms 25:7.
For thou art my hope, O Lord God; thou art my trust from my youth. Psalms 71:5.
O God, thou hast taught me from my youth; and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. Psalms 71:17.
I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up; while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted. Psalms 88:15.
Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. Psalms 103:5.
Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God. Proverbs 2:17.
Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me, My father, thou art the guide of my youth? Jeremiah 3:4.
For shame hath devoured the labour of our fathers from our youth; their flocks and their
herds, their sons and their daughters. We lie down in our shame, and our confusion covereth us; for we have sinned against the Lord our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even unto this day, and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God. Jeremiah 3:24 and 25.
It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. Lamentations 3:27.
And in all thine abominations and thy whoredoms thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, when thou wast naked and bare, and was polluted in thy blood. Ezekiel 16:22.
And I will give her her vineyard from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope; and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt. Hosea 2:15.
The young man saith unto him. All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? St. Matthew 19:20.
And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. St. Mark 10:20.
And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. St. Luke 18:21.
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. I Timothy 4:12.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall. Isaiah 40:30.
As the Ritual of the Order is grouped around the color stations, the following passages are suggested as additional references for ritualistic study: Ritual
LOVE Return to top of page
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. St. John 3:16. I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. Psalms 18:1.
Ye that love the Lord, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he
delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked. Psalms 97:10. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. Psalms 122:6.
The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee. Jeremiah 31:3.
RELIGION
Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. The Acts 26:5. For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God and wasted it. Galatians 1:13.
If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. James 1:26 and 27.
NATURE
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. Psalms 19:1 and 2.
And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Revelation 22:1 and 2. Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? St. Matthew 6:26.
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock. St. Matthew 7:24, 25.
IMMORTALITY
To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life. Romans 2:7. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality, I Corinthians 15:53.
Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the
light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen. I Timothy 6:16. But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. II Timothy 1:10.
FIDELITY Return to top of page
And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the Lord, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands. Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the Lord's, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering. Judges 11:30 and 31.
And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of the Lord, faithfully, and with a perfect heart. II Chronicles 19:9.
The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to
the wheat? saith the Lord. Jeremiah 23:28. And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. St. Luke 19:17.
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulations ten days; be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. Revelation 2:10.
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. I John 5:4.
PATRIOTISM
And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God. Ruth 1:16. But Paul said, I am a man which am a
Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people. The Acts 21:39. The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah concerning the dearth. Jeremiah 14:1.
SERVICE
The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers. And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the Lord? I Chronicles 29:5. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. John 16:2.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1.
With good will doing service, as to the Lord,
and not to men. Ephesians 6:7. Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me. Phillipians 2:30.
But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children. Psalms 103:17.
Who unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; that useth his neighbour's service without wages, and giveth him not for his work. Jeremiah 22:13.
INITIATION
Reference from the Holy Scripture Used in Rainbow Ritual
As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake. Ezekiel 1:28. And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the
temple of it. Revelation 21:22. And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about. Ezekiel 1:27.
Each Rainbow girl should open her Bible at the 9th Chapter of Genesis every night before she retires and leave it lying open in her room all night as a symbol of the thought that she is asking that its "White Light shall penetrate her heart," and that God shall watch over her while she sleeps. She should close the Bible as soon as she rises. The Open Bible
The field white unto the harvest
Say not, ye, There are yet
four months, and then cometh
harvest? behold, I say unto you
Lift up your eyes, and look on
the fields; for they are white
already to harvest. John 4:35
The "teen" age is recognized as the impressionable period of life. It is a room in which we store away and keep in reserve the materials we need when the responsibilities and demands of adult life come upon us. The knowledge stored away unconsciously during this period becomes useable on demand and can be easily worked into one's own life. The wealth and poverty of life can very easily be determined by scanning the years covered by the "teen" age. The most important service that any organization can render to the community in which it operates is its responsibility to youth and its willingness to shoulder that responsibility and meet the issue squarely. In this particular instance, we are thinking of the relationship that exists between your adult organization, Lodge or Chapter, and that of the young girls of your community upon whom you will have to depend for the future development of your own work. Every girl is a miniature life that must be enlarged and developed and your responsibilities toward her and an interest in her development cannot and must not be denied. Future interest in adult organizations will depend to a very large extent upon what they are able to do for youth.
The Church Life
Members of the Order of the Rainbow for Girls are taught to identify themselves with some church.
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. St. Matthew 16:18. Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. The Acts 2:47.
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. The Acts 20:28.
Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Ephesians 5:24. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it. Ephesians 5:25.
And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the pre-eminence. Colossians 1:18. Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church. Colossians 1:24.
John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne. Revelation 1:4.
I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. Revelation 22:16.
Every Assembly of the Order of the Rainbow shall observe, on the Sunday nearest April 6th, of each calendar year, its anniversary. That day shall be recognized by attendance upon a divine Service, at some Church, agreed upon by the Assembly, with a request from the Assembly to the Minister that he deliver a sermon to the girls on God's promises as symbolized by His bow in the clouds. No member of the Assembly will be excused from this meeting except in case of sickness or absence from the city. Rainbow's Birthday
Worthy Advisor: From the Memorial Service
So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body and there is a spiritual body. I Corinthians 15:42, 43, 44.
"We saw not the lift of the curtain,
Worthy Associate Advisor:
Nor heard the invisible door,
As they passed where God's problems uncertain
Will follow and vex them no more."
"These sisters have traveled the pathway before them,
Hope:
Have passed through the rainbow and maze.
They have labored their last in Assembly
They have heard the clear call of the Master,
Their journey on earth is now done.
Come higher, enter my kingdom,
For these, life and joy have begun."
"When Hope comes and with whisper sweet
Faith:
Tells of that land far away,
Where the sun shall never set,
In the land of eternal day."
"Our sisters' barque silently slipped away
Love:
Across that shadowy, unknown sea.
The mists have hidden their snow white sails,
From the sight of their loved ones -- you and me --
Their ships will never be seen again
Nor lie at anchor near this fair shore.
We have no charts of their late voyage,
We know but this -- they will come no more.
We will watch and wait a little while
Till the harbor master sets us free.
Then with our freight of hope and faith
We, too, will sail o'er the unknown sea."
"There is no death! The stars go down
Religion:
To rise upon some fairer shore,
And bright in heaven's golden crown,
They shine forever more."
"There is NO death! The dust we tread,
Nature:
Shall change beneath the summer showers
To golden grain or mellowed fruit
Or rainbow tinted flowers."
"There is no death! The leaves may fall
Immortality:
And flowers may fade and pass away,
They only wait through wintry hours
The coming of the May."
"There-is-no-death! An Angel form
Fidelity:
Walks o'er the earth, with silent tread;
He bears our best loved ones away,
And then WE call them 'dead'."
"And ever near us tho' unseen,
Patriotism:
The dear immortal spirits tread --
For all the boundless universe
IS LIFE -- There IS no dead."
"Some call it death, this slipping of earthly moorings,
Service:
And drifting with the ebbing tide away,
But it is only the passing through the shadows
Into a life of endless day."
"They shall all bloom in fields of light,
Transplanted by God's care.
And saints upon their garments white
These sacred blossoms wear."
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