100 Years Of Jobs Daughters and The Gavel - “ Honor your past for a brighter future.”

by Midnight Freemason Guest Contributor

Michael Laidlaw, 32°

This year marks the 100th anniversary of Jobs Daughters. Founded in 1920 by Mrs. Ethel T. Wead Mick in Omaha, Nebraska. They take their teaching from the story of Job and his trials. And in particular to a reference in the 42nd Chapter that says, "And in all the land were no women found so fair as the Daughters of Job." I had the pleasure of serving as the Master of Ceremonies for my Daughter as she took the Chair of Honored Queen. With that comes a speech, and it is a custom to acquire a gavel. Sending out a few requests, one Brother stepped up and had a gavel made. Here is the expert from the speech.

"We have an extra special gift prepared for you, and this gift also has a story, a story of Brotherhood and obligation. I had contacted a few Brothers and ask them if they knew anybody who could make a gavel for my Daughter, who is preparing to become Honored Queen. Without hesitation and on the other side of the country, Brother Brandon Hale stepped up and said, "I will take care of it." He asked what type of gavel I had in mind. Although I left it entirely up to him for style, I did request he incorporate some nuances of Jobs Daughters. Brother Brandon lives in Virginia, and he has a message for you regarding the gavel:

"There is a maker's mark on the gavel from the Brother who made it. It's for Job's Daughters. The JD print is his mark. It just hit me that it was meant for him to make it. His name is Joseph DiPietro. He has a heart of gold, and I love him like family. "

Brother Brandon had this gavel made, especially for you. The man who made it, Joseph DiPietro, is a Mason; the man handing it to you, Brother Brandon, is also a mason. A story of obligation, for three men who have never met in person, could come together and produce a gavel for their Masonic daughter. Never look at the Jobs Daughters as "just a club" or say, "it's just a ceremony." This act proves there is a much deeper meaning to our Masonic family than just a club. Just as every Mason is my Brother. Every Jobs Daughter is your sister. "

Just a few years prior, my Daughter was embarking on a journey, walking in the same steps as her great Aunt before her. Luckily our Aunt with us the day she was made a Jobs Daughter. But sadly, she never did get to see her great-niece take the gavel in her hands, but, her Spirit lives on. Through my daughter's theme, "Honor your past for a brighter future," and through the Spirit of Freemasonry. The legacy of not only Craft, jobs daughters, but sisterhood and Brotherhood will forever live in the hearts and minds of those who attended that event. And the gavel will forever be a testament to Brother Love, Relief and Truth

- A Jobie Dad, ML

Michael Laidlaw was raised to the Sublime degree in 2011 and is a plural Member of South Pasadena 290 and Southern California Research Lodge where he is Junior Warden and Pop Culture editor for The Fraternal Review Magazine. He is also serving as Senior Steward for Arcadia 278. Michael is an active council member for Jobs Daughters Bethel 210 Arcadia (where his daughter is serving as Honored Queen) and serves on the Grand Lodge of California Youth Orders Committee. He is a 32° Scottish Rite Mason from the Valley Of Pasadena Orient of California where he has completed all three Master Craftsman Courses. Michael is also a member of San Gabriel Valley Chapter No. 100 RAM, Alhambra Council No. 25 CM, and Foothill Commandery No. 63 KT. He also holds Membership in Cinema Grotto and Order of Eastern Star.

I Know No Way of Judging...

by Midnight Freemason Emeritus 

Judy Gordon

“I know no way of judging the future, but by the past.”

Patrick Henry

Job’s Daughters have a tradition. At the close of their installation, the Jr Past Honored Queen is escorted to the altar and she signs the Bethel bible. She is now a part of an elite group of ladies…Past Honored Queen. 

I was able to sign my Bethel bible as a Past Honored Queen. Just recently, I was honored to sign the bible again..this time as a Grand Guardian from my Bethel. Many names have come before me and this bible holds a lot of history.

The next time I will sign a bible will be at our Grand Guardian Council installation and I will sign the bible, adding my name to those from the Past. I too, will join an elite group of people…Past Grand Guardians of Illinois.

In Eastern Star, we sign the bible the night we are installed. I am not sure if Masonic Lodges have this tradition. I know in our local lodge, they do not sign the bible. Does your lodge have this tradition? If you do not, why  not?

~JG

H.I.K.E.

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Judy A. Gordon

This is an article by Judy A Gordon originally printed in The Working Tools magazine. 

Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.

~ Bro. Mark Twain

If you hear me say…”go take a H.I.K.E”.…do not be insulted. In the Job’s Daughters word, H.I.K.E has a new meaning. Here is a brief history of H.I.K.E.;

The HIKE Fund, Inc. (Hearing Impaired Kids Endowment Fund) collects funds to award to children who are in need of hearing aids or other assistive listening devices whose parents or guardians are unable to meet this specific need.

The HIKE Fund, Inc. was created in 1985 by Emma Tedrick and Charles Terrill, the international leaders for Job's Daughters International (JDI). The Fund was developed as the philanthropic project of the JDI, a Masonic youth organization for girls, to give the members of that organization a specific and unique charity to which they were able to devote their energies.

The first years of existence of The HIKE Fund, Inc. was focused on establishment and it’s stability. Articles of Incorporation were filed in the State of Nebraska in 1985, and HIKE was temporarily set up as a 501(c)(3) organization with the Internal Revenue Service of the United States. During the first year of operation, approximately $20,000 had been donated to the fund and awards were granted to seven children in the Philippines. Soon after, a $10,000 base endowment was placed in a certificate of deposit. In 1990, a review of the fund's records brought a final ruling from the IRS for The HIKE Fund, Inc. to be considered a tax-exempt charity.

Since those early years, several things have occurred to increase the reputation and responsibility of the organization.

With increased donations and awards has come increased community awareness. Each year the number of applicants increases dramatically. Fortunately, the revenue of The HIKE Fund has increased such that all worthy applicants are provided funding, although there is a waiting list of up to six months for many applicants.

The price of hearing devices continues to inflate. The HIKE Fund, Inc. awards funds to all children and adolescents from birth to the age of 20 years that have demonstrated both a medical and financial need. Recipients can reapply for an additional award after four years. There is no limit on the number of awards given per family.

As the work of The HIKE Fund, Inc. grew, the organizational structure was modified and the size of the board of directors was increased to better serve the purposes of HIKE. Additional board members have been added and responsibilities have been modified to increase the effectiveness of HIKE.

There continue to be no paid solicitors or paid board members. All members of the Board of Directors and all helpers and members of Job's Daughters who collect the funds are unpaid volunteers and the percentage of donations distributed to needy children approaches 95% of all funds collected.

Many challenges, both structural and financial, continue to challenge the work of The HIKE Fund, Inc. Today though, the fund continues to prosper and has reached over $3,000,000.00 in awards to children with hearing loss in the United States and the Philippines.

The structure of The HIKE Fund, Inc. is such that it allows for the organization of 36 states from Alaska to Texas and from Hawaii to Delaware into a cohesive unit, working towards a common goal.

There is also, a H.I.K.E. Fund Canada, Ltd. which serves similar needs in that country In the near future; there may be the establishment of a HIKE Fund Brazil as the JDI organization in that country has been giving serious consideration in establishing their own branch.” (www.thehikefund.org)

This past weekend, I was able to witness a 12 year old young lady become a recipient of the H.I.K.E. Fund. She received an $1800 check for her communication needs.
On September 21, 2013, Illinois and Missouri had a joint event called the Lincoln/Truman H.I.K.E. The two states had a friendly competition as to which state raised the most money for H.I.K.E. They met at Cahokia Mounds; (IL) went on a hike, ate lunch (proceeds of lunch to H.I.K.E) and gave out awards to the top Job’s Daughter for the most funds collected. Donations raised that day were Missouri $2397.43/Illinois $2471.00/Lunch $455-total for the day $5323.43!!! 

In Illinois, we have an Honorary State Honored Queen and her project is the H.I.K.E. fund. She is selling purple can cozies that say “kids helping kids “ on the front and “HIKE” on the back ($5). Also, the chairman of grand representatives project for the year is H.I.K.E. as well; and she is selling ear buds, which are in a case ($10). Both young ladies are working very hard to collect funds. For more information on H.I.K.E., please contact: Kaitlyn S kaitiebugg14@gmail.com Chairman of Grand Representative or Annaliza H glassman93@yahoo.com Honorary State Honored Queen.

If you know of a child that is in need of a communication device, go take a H.I.K.E., you will be amazed at the results.

~JAG

Judy Gordon is very active in Job's Daughters. She's the Past Honored Queen, and Past Bethel Guardian of Bethel No. 55, Pekin (IL). She received the Cryptic Masons Masonic Youth Leadership Award along with her husband, Ray Gordon in July 2007. She's also Past Matron of the Morton Chapter No. 974 (IL) of the Order of the Eastern Star and Historian of the Emblem Club No. 424 of Pekin (IL). Judy is the recipient of the Degree of Royal Purple (2012) and elected to the Grand Line Illinois Job's Daughters (2015-16). Boaz joined the family in September 2013 and grandmother of 3 wonderful grandsons.

Brotherly Love

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Judy A. Gordon

“Above all things let us never forget that mankind constitutes one great brotherhood; all born to encounter suffering and sorrow, and therefore bound to sympathize with each other.”

~Bro. Albert Pike

The air is still; the sky is dark green in color. It’s a very warm, humid Sunday morning. Large hail starts to fall, and in the distance there is seen a low-lying rotating cloud. Its path turns dangerous as the sirens go off, indicating to take cover. A roar, similar to a freight train signals a warning to all, an EF5 tornado has arrived. The funnel moves along, destroying almost everything in its path.

On 11/17/13, this powerful tornado traveled quickly through Tazewell County. Pekin, East Peoria, and Washington, Illinois, received the most damage. Over a thousand homes were totally swept away in seconds. True Masons, are taught at the beginning of their values to look after their Masonic Brothers and Widows.

As soon as it was the calm after the storm, the Master of Empire Lodge called his members to see if everyone was safe. We were safe, but a few members of Empire Lodge were not so lucky. The Master of the lodge immediately went to my parent’s home and boarded up a window that was broken, and helped another member just a few houses away. A couple of brothers lost their homes as well.

Within days, the Masonic brothers of the great state of Illinois banded together and gathered clothes, water, non perishable food, and supplies, then headed south to Tazewell County. The first stop was Taylor Lodge #98 in Washington, Illinois, the most damaged area. The lodge opened up their doors for the drop off center.

The Most Worshipful Grand Master of Illinois, Barry Weer came to Taylor Lodge and presented checks to six Masonic families who lost their homes. The semi truck dropped off supplies, which were then distributed. The next day, another semi came and dropped off supplies at Empire Lodge #126 in Pekin, Illinois. Brothers, Sisters, Job’s Daughters, DeMolay, and Rainbow all banded together to help one another.

It will take years before these cities are back to normal, but men of character from every walk of life are all working together to rebuild a better world for those whose lives were shattered on that warm tragic day in November 2013; a day that Tazewell County citizens will never forget.




~JAG

Judy Gordon is very active in Job's Daughters. She's the Past Honored Queen, and Past Bethel Guardian of Bethel No. 55, Pekin (IL). She received the Cryptic Masons Masonic Youth Leadership Award along with her husband, Ray Gordon in July 2007. She's also Past Matron of the Morton Chapter No. 974 (IL) of the Order of the Eastern Star and Historian of the Emblem Club No. 424 of Pekin (IL). Judy is the recipient of the Degree of Royal Purple (2012) and elected to the Grand Line Illinois Job's Daughters (2015-16). Boaz joined the family in September 2013 and grandmother of 3 wonderful grandsons.

New Life

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Judy Gordon

"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.” Will Rogers

Reggie

He was my constant companion, my friend, and listener. He stole food from the table, was a counter surfer, and ate a stick of butter— once. During obedience school, he knew his left from his right…I didn’t. He licked tears off my face and lay in my lap when I was sick. He thought we bought a king size bed just for him. He would visit patients at nursing homes and hospitals and knew when the patient was “failing.” He loved going for walks, to the dog park, the root beer stand, and riding in the jeep. He also loved singing-if you call it that, (in my opinion it was howling). Even up to his dying day, he had to visit grandma in the nursing home. 

In the short nine years that we had Sir Reggie, he brought joy to this family. He was a loving important part of the family and a unique cocker spaniel. It sure was a sad day in the Gordon household when we had to say good bye. I told him we would meet him one day at the Rainbow Bridge, run free and have fun with Heidi, Punky and Jezebel.

It would be eight weeks before another cocker spaniel puppy would join our household. We couldn’t stand the quiet house. Yes, the new puppy is here! The agreement was, I pick the dog and Ray picks his name. Would it be Mason, Solomon, or Tyler? Oh he does have a name and only a Master Mason would understand …Boaz….

Stay tuned for further adventures of Boaz...

Boaz

~JAG

Judy Gordon is very active in Job's Daughters. She's the Past Honored Queen, and Past Bethel Guardian of Bethel No. 55, Pekin (IL). She received the Cryptic Masons Masonic Youth Leadership Award along with her husband, Ray Gordon in July 2007. She's also Past Matron of the Morton Chapter No. 974 (IL) of the Order of the Eastern Star and Historian of the Emblem Club No. 424 of Pekin (IL). Judy is the recipient of the Degree of Royal Purple (2012) and elected to the Grand Line Illinois Job's Daughters (2015-16). Boaz joined the family in September 2013 and grandmother of 3 wonderful grandsons.

Enthusiasm!

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Judy Gordon

The real secret of success is enthusiasm. - Walter Chrysler

I have written several stories about my involvement with Job’s Daughters. You see, I have been involved with this great organization since I have been three years old. I was my aunt’s flower girl for her Honored Queen’s installation. In my mind, I was the best flower girl EVER! But if you should talk to her, I am sure she would give you a different story.

Just recently our Bethel (#55 Pekin) had a prospective party (inviting young ladies to learn about our organization). We invited another bethel (#111 Elmwood) to join us and they brought prospective members as well. This was also a Halloween party so a prerequisite was a costume. If not, a donation to H.I.K.E. would be made. The Master of Empire lodge #126 was the judge for the costume party and he was impressed that both Bethel's worked together and were enthused with what they doing.

Of the six prospects that came to the party, two have been initiated already (#55); and one girl that has been initiated has a petition filled out and she hasn’t even been to her first meeting after initiation!!! She was so impressed with our bethel that she asked a friend to join us. Now that is what I call enthusiasm!!!

Enthusiasm comes from the top and works its way down. As I see local bethels grow, the girls notice the enthusiasm from their Bethel Guardian and the council members. If they have enthusiasm, the girls will catch it and you will see the bethel grow.


As you can see these young ladies are so enthusiastic, I wish I could bottle and sell it!!
Get excited, show your enthusiasm, be proud, I am!!!!

~JAG

Judy Gordon is very active in Job's Daughters. She's the Past Honored Queen, and Past Bethel Guardian of Bethel No. 55, Pekin (IL). She received the Cryptic Masons Masonic Youth Leadership Award along with her husband, Ray Gordon in July 2007. She's also Past Matron of the Morton Chapter No. 974 (IL) of the Order of the Eastern Star and Historian of the Emblem Club No. 424 of Pekin (IL). Judy is the recipient of the Degree of Royal Purple (2012) and elected to the Grand Line Illinois Job's Daughters (2015-16). Boaz joined the family in September 2013 and grandmother of 3 wonderful grandsons.