Job’s Daughters First 100 Years

Missouri Job’s Daughters Today’s Leaders, Tomorrow’s Future

Celebrating 100 Years!

By Olivia Van Tine, Grand Bethel Honored Queen, Paula Howard, Grand Guardian Jerry Arruda, Associate Grand Guardian In 1920, a woman named Ethel Theresa Wead Mick had an idea of creating an organization for young women where they could vote on their own matters and have a voice. Her family often learned about the Book of Job, and Mick’s personal motto was the 15th verse of the 42nd Chapter: “In all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job, and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren.” She used this passage as the founding passage for her organization. On October 20th, 1920, and with the sponsorship of Most Worshipful Grand Master of Nebraska, J.B. Fradenburg; the Worthy Grand Matron of Nebraska, Anna J. Davis; and the Worthy Grand Patron of Nebraska, James E. Bednar; the Order of Job’s Daughters was created and Bethel #1 of Omaha, Nebraska was chartered on December 31st, 1921.

One hundred years later, we are now officially known as Job’s Daughters International and can be found in thirty of the fifty United States, Canada, Australia, Philippines, and Brazil. We have over eight thousand active members across the globe who are working to be “true Daughters of Job.” The Order has helped countless young women with their public speaking skills, leadership abilities, self-confidence, and love of charitable work.

This year we are also celebrating thirty-five years of our philanthropic charity, The Hearing Improvement Kids Endowment (HIKE) Fund, Inc. The purpose of the Fund is to provide hearing devices for children with hearing losses between the ages of newborn and twenty years whose parents are unable to meet this special need financially. An estimated 100 children are provided with hearing devices each year and over »

» $6,000,000 has been raised by our members to date. While COVID-19 unfortunately prevented our annual International Session and Centennial Celebration, it has not hampered the love and sisterhood experienced! We held our first ever Virtual Supreme Session in August, and there were staggering numbers of members, from all five countries, who participated in the ritual competitions. Missouri, which will celebrate 100 years of Job’s Daughters in 2023, has felt the impact of COVID-19 as well. From March to September, all in-person activities were suspended including our annual Grand Session in June. As this suspension was just recently lifted and compliance with local regulations is still required, many Bethels have been slowly getting back into their groove with several initiations of new members already happening and several more happening soon!

Through thick and thin, Missouri Job’s Daughters would not be anywhere without the consistent support of the “Freemasons who give us our heritage”. Thank you so very much to our Missouri Freemasons for making the Youth Assessment permanent. This money you contribute helps our members directly

with projects and activities across the state so we can continue to grow and promote!

One of Job’s Daughters’ primary teachings is to be patient and faithful, no matter what adversities are thrown our way. While this year may feel like one long adversity, we remain faithful that both Missouri Job’s Daughters and Missouri Freemasons will come out stronger than ever. Be steadfast, and we hope to see you soon.