The Order of the Rainbow for Girls was founded in McAlester, Oklahoma in 1922 by the Reverend W. Mark Sexson, a Christian minister, Past Grand Master of Masons, and Past Grand Patron, Order of the Eastern Star in Oklahoma.
Our History
In 1922, Rainbow was created for young women whose fathers were members of the Masonic Lodge, and their friends. Although a Christian minister named W. Mark Sexson founded the organization, today the leaders of Rainbow Girls respect and welcome all girls from every religion.
This picture was taken at Cornell University in the 1950s during New York's state convention of Rainbow
On April 6, 1922, the first class of 171 girls, from both Masonic and non-Masonically affiliated families, were initiated into Rainbow in a ceremony performed by the members of South McAlester Chapter No 149, OES, in the auditorium of the Scottish Rite Cathedral in McAlester, Oklahoma. Rainbow quickly spread, with assemblies instituted in Arkansas, Texas, Mississippi, and Washington before the end of 1922.
In 1924, Rainbow began in New York State and can be found in 47 states and twelve countries including Aruba, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Romania, and the Philippines. Today, there are more than 850 assemblies across the world that have bimonthly meetings.