The Mons Rebecca Lodge 203 Arnprior takes its name from the Battle of the Mons fought in 1914. The first meeting was held on February 23 1920 in the Town Hall. Since that time the sisters met in the Oddfellow Lodge rooms on the third floor of Robertson’s Furniture Store on John Street. Eventually, the Lodge purchased a Temple building on Daniel Street, formerly the James Grierson home near the corner of Elgin Street. In 2001, the Lodge moved to a new hall located in the Town Hall which was named in honour of the late Oris Mather. Mrs. Goldie Miller (immediate past secretary) gave a speech about the Lodge’s 80 year history in February 2000 on the occasion of the Lodge's 80th anniversary. It was published in the September - December 2000 issue of “The Tabloid” and is included with the records.
The order of procedure for meetings was as follows: Prayer, Roll Call, Minutes, Treasurer's Report, Collection, Correspondence, Business, Discussion, Place of Next Meeting, Mispah Benediction, Social Evening.
According to A Code of General Laws of the I.O.O.F. 1915, "the Objects and Purposes of the Rebekah Lodges are declared to be:
First. To visit and care for the sick; to relieve the distressed; to assist subordinate and sister Rebekah lodges in kindly ministrations to the families of Odd Fellows when in trouble, sickness or want.
Second. To aid in the establishment and maintenance of Homes for the aged and indigent Odd Fellows and their wives, 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.
Third. To cultivate and extend the social and fraternal relations of life among lodges and the families of Odd Fellows. The Rebekah Creed reads:
I am a REBEKAH
I believe in the Fatherhood of God, the Brotherhood of man and the sisterhood of woman.
I believe in the watch-words of our Order-Friendship, Love and Truth.
Friendship - is like a golden chain that ties our hearts together
Love - is one of our most precious gifts, the more you give, the more you recieve
Truth - is the standard that which we value people. It is the foundation of our society. I believe that my main concern should be my God, my family and my friends. Then I should reach out to my community and the world. For in God's eyes we are all brothers and sisters.
I AM A REBEKAH!
The Lodge was disbanded by June 2012.
Acquisition Source
Minutes donated by Audrey J. Taylor and Mrs. Goldie Miller in October 2000.
In June 2012, Thelma Macham donated a number of other items including photographs, as the Lodge had disbanded.
Scope and Content
The fonds consists of minute books, financial records, guest books, news clippings, administrative records, photographs and photograph albums which record the activities and events of the Mons Rebekah Lodge No 203.
Box 1
Minute Books H11.2
1) March 22, 1920 - May 15, 1922
2) May 22, 1922 - June 1, 1925
3) June 8, 1925 - February 11, 1929
4) February 21, 1929 - March 28, 1932
5) April 4, 1932 - June 21, 1935
6) June 8, 1935 - June 12, 1939
7) June 26, 1939 - April 12, 1943
8) April 26, 1943 - June 3, 1946
9) March 19, 1945 - Dec. 1962
10) June 10, 1946 - Oct. 27, 1947
11) Nov. 3, 1947 - April 30, 1951
12) Sept. 10, 1951 - Sept. 7, 1953
13) Sept. 14, 1953 - Feb. 13, 1956
14) Feb. 20, 1956 - Feb. 9, 1959
15) Feb. 23, 1959 - Feb. 12, 1962
16) Feb. 26, 1962 - Jan. 25, 1965
17) Jan. 1963 - Jan. 3 1977
18) File Folder containing Miscellaneous Administrative records circa 1950 - 2002
Box 2
Minute Books H11.3
1) Feb. 19, 1970 - April 12, 1971
2) June 1971 - May 13, 1974
3) May 1974 - May 1977
4) Oct. 1977 - Sept. 1979
5) Feb. 7 1977 - Dec. 5 1994
6) Oct. 1979 - Feb. 1983
7) Feb. 1983 - Sept. 1986
8) Oct. 1986 - Feb. 1990
9) March 1990 - Feb 1994
10) March 1992 - Dec. 1994
11) File Folder (rough drafts and Minutes) April 1994 - March 1995
12) Oct. 1995 - Jan. 1999
13) Jan 31 2000 - May 12 2000
Attendance Registers:
Oct. 10 1988 - June 28 1999
Sept. 2007 - Nov. 2007
Treasurer’s Records : Ledger 1920 - 1931 and Ledger 1920 - 1933
Box 3 H11.4
1) File Folder containing copy of hand written History of Mons Rebekah Lodge #203 1920 -2000 by Goldie Miller, 72 year member May 6 2000.
2) File Folder containing several b&w and colour photographs of Lodge Members on special occassions - some identified
3) File Folder containing newsclippings concerning Mons Rebekah Lodge members and activities including several related to member Goldie Miller.
4) File Folder containing various certificates of achievement and appreciation.
5) File Folder containing Anniversary programs (1995, 2000) and memorabilia as well as the 1966 By-Laws of Mons Rebekah Lodge No. 203.
6) Green Folder containing promotional material about the International Order of Odd Fellows and Rebekah Assembly of Ontario etc.
7) Photograph Album:1953 - 1978 contains b&w photographs and news clippings, one certificate for sister Edith Lyon.
8) Photograph Album: 1979 - 1986 contains b&w and colour photographs and news clippings.
10) Book of Memory containing obituaries and dates of death of members from 1986 to 2012
11) Guest Book (with torn cover) - mostly undated entries of guests from various Oddfellow Lodge members including Renfrew, Ottawa and Arnprior. One page contains date of April 21 1945 for visit by Alfred Hanson (sp?) of Pembroke.
12) Guest Book dated April 17 1947 recording 139 visitors from various Lodges.
13) Guest Book for 50th Anniversary event (1920 - 1970) held on February 21 1970. Book also contains a dedication and history written by Sister Mabel Storie.
14) Book - Code of General Laws of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Adopted by The Sovereign Grand Lodge, September 23 1915. Book is dated April 2nd 1923.
15) Minute Book of the Past Noble Grands Club 1995 - 2004
16) Minute Book January 1999 - March 2002
17) Minute Book March 2002 - April 2006
18) Membership Register circa 1973 - 2012 recording dues paid, degree attained, date of withdrawal etc. At front is a list of all Noble Grands since 1920 starting with W. Munro and ending with Sandra Sproule 2010-2012