The Rebecca Lodges grew out
of the interest of women in participating in the IOOF activities. The name Rebecca
is derived from the Old Testament where Rebecca draws water from the well for man and animal. She is considered to be the
protectress of the indispensable water and by that symbolically of life. She is the symbol of readiness to help and decisiveness.
The Conklin lodge, Constancy
Rebecca Lodge #328, started with ten charter members January 31, 1899. Helen McWilliams served as the first Noble Grand. The other officers were: Mary Knipper, Vice Grand; Olive Harrison,
Secretary; and Cora Benton, Treasurer. Appointed to various functions and
duties were: Ella Cazier, Addie Batson, Ida McWilliams, Addie Hoogstraat, Fannie
Moe, and Alveretta Coats.
Officiating in the installation
of the new Lodge were: Ida M Davis of the Grand Lodge of Michigan, Mary Nostrant
of the Evening Start Lodge of Ravenna, and Mary Gillet of the Easter Lilly Lodge of Berlin (Marne).
The Lodge met on a regular
basis until November 14, 1913. After that meeting, no minutes were recorded until
January 27, 1923. The minutes of that meeting state:
“Sister
Etta M. Smith and Sister McClymont, also members from Violet Rebecca Lodge of Grand Rapids, arrived at Conklin to Resuscitate Constancy
Rebecca Lodge.
Etta Harris, Segrid Bean, Ella Cazier, Mrs. S.
M. Wright, Omer Devenport, and Myrtle Devenport appeared as petitioners for return of Charter.”
The newly resuscitated Lodge
received a new number, being known as Constancy Rebecca Lodge #480. Members elected
the following officers: Segrid Bean, Noble Grand; Etta Harris, Vice Grand; Myrtle
Devenport, Recording Secretary; Ella Cazier, Financial Secretary; and Omer Devenport, Treasurer.
The family of Helen McWilliams,
the first Noble Grand, had her funeral held in the I.O.O.F. hall. This was the
only funeral ever held there.
The Odd Fellow Hall, as it
was called, was used for many community events over the years. Dances, particularly
square dances, were held there on a regular basis during the summer months. As
their membership aged and their numbers decreased, the IOOF Lodge and the Rebecca Lodge found it increasingly difficult to
pay for the expenses of the Hall and the Michigan Assembly dues. The Constancy
Rebecca Lodge disbanded in November 1980. The building was later sold to a private
party. The building now stands empty.
