Ladies of the Orient

The Ladies of the Orient (L.O.T.O.) is a women's fraternal organization in the United States and Canada which had its origins as an appendant body to the Rebekahs. The first unit, Pioneer Zuanna #1 was founded in Syracuse, New York in 1915 by Emily Voorheis for the purpose of having a group dedicated to recreation and amusement as a pleasant diversion from the serious charitable work done by other groups to which the ladies already belonged.[1] It was first incorporated in New York in 1921 under the name "Supreme Royal Zuanna of the Mystic Degrees of Persecution and Purification Ladies of the Orient of United States and Canada".[2] While it has a close relationship with the Odd Fellows appendant body known as the Ancient Mystic Order of Samaritans,[3] it is not a true women’s auxiliary, but rather an independent organization founded entirely by women and requiring no affiliation with its men’s counterpart.[4] Local units of LOTO are referred to as "zuannas" and are presided over by a "Great Ashayhi."[5] The basic regalia of the group is a white fez with a "Z" inside a triangle and crescent bearing a yellow tassel, though there are more advanced fez and tassel colors for higher-ranked members, such as a white fez with a purple tassel for Past Ashayhis.[6] As with AMOS, the group has a particular charitable focus on Cognitive disabilities.[7]

This article is about the women's appendant body to the Rebekahs. For the similarly-named women's auxiliary associated with the Shriners, see Shriners § Women's auxiliaries.
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References
  1. National Royal Zuanna Built by Vision of Syracuse Women Syracuse Herald Syracuse: 13 Aug 1925, p 4.
  2. NYS Supreme Royal Zuanna NYS Department of State Division of Corporations Entity Information
  3. Samaritans Begin Rome Convention Rome News-Tribune Rome: 8 Aug 1983, p 1.
  4. Order of Samaritans, ‘Ladies of the Orient’ Open Annual Convention Schenectady Gazette Schenectady: 4 Aug 1931, p 13.
  5. Orient Women to Meet in City Schenectady Gazette Schenectady: 11 Aug 1936, p 20.
  6. Ladies of the Orient (LOTO) fezmuseum.com
  7. State School Gets Dryers Reading Eagle Reading: 6 Feb 1974, p 40.
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