December 19, 1901 the Delphos Rebekah Lodge met in the I.O.O.F. Hall at Benton for the purpose of instituting and installing a Rebekah Lodge and its officers to be known as the Benton Rebekah Lodge No. 523 with twnety-one charter members which are: John SCHLAPIA, Laura Mae SCHLAPIA, Nancy A. GROVES, Lettie DAVIS, Mary NICHOLSON, J.A. SELLARDS, J.L. HELMS, Sarah HALL, Cora HELMS, R.W. CLAYTON, D.A. VAUGHN, Parthena SCHLAPIA, G.R. DAVIS, C.T. GUNTER, Hattie GUNTER, W. G. BARKER, T.O. GROVES, O.D. NICHOLSON, Lettie SELLARDS, Ida B. GUNTER and F.E. KEITH.

The following officers were installed:

Ia GUNTER, Noble Grand; Lettie SELLARDS, Vice Grand, Mary NICHOLSON, Secretary; Nancy GROVES, Treasurer; Laura Mae SCHLAPIA, Warden; Cora HLMS, Conductor; D.A. VAUGH, Chaplain; C.T. GUNTER, R.S. to the N.G.; Parthena SHCLAPIA, L.S. to the N.G.; Sarah HALL, R.S. to the V.G.; Hattie GUNTER, L.S. to the V.G.; O.D. NICHOLSON, Inside Guardian; and R.W. CLAYTON, Outside Guardian.

The dues at this time were $1.00 a year and were later raised to $5.00 and now are $8.00 a year.

S. S. HALL was to have been a charter member, but because of illness couldn't attend so was initiated by the Benton Lodge at the first meeting.

On May 12, 1931 our hall was destroyed by fire and was rebuilt that year. The first meeting in the new hall was held November 9, 1931.

On June 16, 1959 a Past Noble Grand Club was started with Doris WALLACE as the first president.

We placed grave markers on all of our deceased members of the Lodge on May 26, 1969, and in 1980 we bought Rebekah flags. Each year we visit the graves.

In 1983 we had new steps placed inside of the building to the Lodge Hall.

In 1984 Joan STRINGHAM was chosed to represent our Lodge as Rebekah of the year.

The members now are: Dorotha HALEY, Linabelle TRIDLE, Ann BARKER, Helen OSHEL, Beverly STRAIGHT, Joan STRINGHAM, Iona GROVES, Rose ANDREWS, Bernice FLETCHALL, Mary SWANK, Marjorie KNUTSON, Vi NICKLES, Lois MACKEY, and Linda BARBER.

SOURCE: 1887 - Benton, Iowa Centennial - 1987. p. 132. Courtesy of Mount Ayr Public Library, Mount Ayr IA

Transcriptions and notes by Sharon R. Becker, October of 2012

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