IMPERIAL COURT DAUGHTERS OF ISIS
AUXILIARY OF THE A.E.A.O.N.M.S.
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Dt. Merdie Woodson #17 Imperial Deputy of The Desert |
THE IMPERIAL COURT DAUGHTERS OF ISIS, IS AN AUXILIARY OF FEMALE FAMILY MEMBERS OF PRINCE HALL SHRINERS AND FORMALLY ORGANIZED AT THE ANNUAL SESSION OF THE ANCIENT EGYPTIAN ARABIC ORDER NOBLES OF THE MYSTIC SHRINE, HELD IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN ON AUGUST 24, 1910.
THE IMPERIAL COURT WAS THE RESULT OF A MEETING HELD IN 1909, WHEN WOMEN FROM THE STATES OF MARYLAND, RHODE ISLAND AND WASHINGTON, D.C. MET WITH A COMMITTEE OF PRINCE HALL SHRINERS AND REQUESTED THE ORGANIZING AND RECOGNITION OF AN ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN. THERE WERE ALREADY GROUPS OF WOMEN IN SEVERAL CITIES WHERE SHRINE TEMPLES WERE LOCATED, THAT HAD FORMED AUXILIARIES FOR THE FEMALE RELATIVES OF THE MALE MEMBERS. THE CRITERIA FOR MEMBERSHIP IS DAUGHTER, MOTHER SISTER, WIDOW OR WIFE OF A PRINCE HALL MASON. HOWEVER NOTHING WAS DONE FORMALLY TO ORGANIZE THEM UNTIL THE MEETING IN DETROIT.
THE PURPOSE OF THE IMPERIAL COURT, DAUGHTERS OF ISIS IS BASIC. THE UNITING OF THE RELATIVES OF ALL MEMBERS INTO ONE COMMON BOND OF FRIENDSHIP , TO PRACTICE CHARITY AND BENEVOLENCE, AND TO INCULCATE HONOR AND INTEGRITY AS SYMBOLIZED IN THE LEGEND OF THE EGYPTIAN QUEEN, THE GODDESS OF ISIS.
IN THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA, THERE ARE FIVE COURTS:
SAHARA COURT #9 PITTSBURGH, PA, ORGANIZED IN 1910
PYRAMID COURT # 17 PHILADELPHIA PA, ORGANIZED IN 1911
HIMYAR COURT #97 HARRISBURG, PA, ORGANIZED IN 1946
MINARET COURT #154 CHESTER PA, ORGANIZED 1970
PHARAOH COURT #196 PHARAOH PA, ORGANIZED 1983
THE CITIES WHERE THE COURTS ARE LOCATED ARE CALLED OASIS, AND MUST HAVE A TEMPLE. (A.E.A.O.N.M.S.).
EACH COURT HAS IT'S OWN OFFICERS. THE LEADER IS CALLED THE ILLUSTRIOUS COMMANDRESS. SHE IS THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE COURT. EACH COURT HAS A DEPUTY OF THE OASIS. SHE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE LAWS OF OUR IMPERIAL COURTS ARE BEING FOLLOWED IN OUR LOCAL COURTS.
EACH STATE HAS AN IMPERIAL DEPUTY OF THE DESERT. SHE IS THE DIRECT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE IMPERIAL COMMANDRESS, IN HER STATE, AND IS THE TOP RANKING OFFICER THE DEPUTY OF THE DESERT IS THE OVERSEER OF ALL COURTS IN HER STATE AND WORKS DIRECTLY WITH THE DEPUTIES OF THE OASIS TO MAKE SURE THAT HER STATE IS IN ORDER AND FOLLOWING THE PROGRAMS AND LAWS OF THE IMPERIAL COURT.
THE IMPERIAL COMMANDRESS IS ELECTED EVERY TWO YEARS AT OUR ANNUAL SESSION. OUR ANNUAL SESSIONS ARE HELD THROUGHOUT THE US, THE THIRD WEEK OF THE MONTH OF AUGUST (THIRD MONDAY OPEN) AND SHE MAY LIVE ANYWHERE WITHIN THE UNITED STATES. HER RESPONSIBILITIES ARE TO SET PROGRAMS FOR THE IMPERIAL COURT, AND TO CARRY OUT THE LAWS OF THE IMPERIAL COURT, THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, EUROPE, AND THE BAHAMAS. DEPUTIES OF THE OASIS AND DESERTS ARE APPOINTED BY THE IMPERIAL COMMANDRESS SERVING AND SHE APPOINTS ALL OTHER IMPERIAL OFFICERS THAT ARE NOT ELECTED ACCORDING TO OUR LAWS.