Ladies of the Orient

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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The Ladies of the Oracle (L.O.T.O. or LOTO) is a women's fraternal organization in the United States and Canada which had its origins with the Rebekahs.

The first unit, Pioneer Zuanna No. 1 was founded in Syracuse, New York in March 4, 1916 by Rebekah Emma M. 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.[2] In 2024, the order was reestablished as the "Supreme Royal Zuanna of the Mystic Degrees of Persecution and Purification, Ladies of the Oracle."

While it has a close relationship with 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] It is not an appendant body to Rebekahs, Odd Fellows, or AMOS.

Local units of LOTO are referred to as "zuannas" and are presided over by a "Great Ashayhi."[5] The basic regalia is a white fez with a red triangle with a golden yellow crescent with points upward and the letter “Z” in royal purple. [6]

As with AMOS, the group has a particular charitable focus on Cognitive disabilities.[7]

  1. ^ National Royal Zuanna Built by Vision of Syracuse Women Syracuse Herald Syracuse: August 13, 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: August 8, 1983, p 1.
  4. ^ Order of Samaritans, ‘Ladies of the Orient’ Open Annual Convention Schenectady Gazette Schenectady: August 4, 1931, p 13.
  5. ^ Orient Women to Meet in City Schenectady Gazette Schenectady: August 11, 1936, p 20.
  6. ^ Ladies of the Orient (LOTO) fezmuseum.com
  7. ^ State School Gets Dryers Reading Eagle Reading: February 6, 1974, p 40.