The Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire (IODE) is a women's charitable organization based in Canada. The club was originally titled the "Federation of Daughters of the British Empire", which was founded by Margaret Clark Murray in 1900. Initially wanting to expand nationally but with failed attempts, in 1901 the group opted to stay in Canada and the Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire was formed.
It was founded in 1900 during the Second Boer War in patriotic support of the British Empire. It currently provides scholarships, bursaries, book prizes, and awards, as well as pursuing other philanthropic and educational projects in various communities across the nation. The club was originally formed to strengthen Canada’s National ties. During the Second World War the IODE had 50 000 members and participated in war effort relief drives, such as sock drives and scrap drives.
The first chapter in New Brunswick was founded by Mrs. John Black in Fredericton. Fredericton was also the location of the first club meeting, on January 15, 1900.
The clubs first president was Edith Nordheimer in 1901.
The clubs motto was "One Flag, One Throne, One Empire". The IODE ran a magazine called "Echoes".
The US counterpart is DBE Society (Daughters of the British Empire).
Famous quotes containing the words imperial, order, daughters and/or empire:
“Their bodies are buried in peace; but their name liveth for evermore.”
—Apocrypha. Ecclesiasticus, 44:14.
The line “their name liveth for evermore” was chosen by Rudyard Kipling on behalf of the Imperial War Graves Commission as an epitaph to be used in Commonwealth War Cemeteries. Kipling had himself lost a son in the fighting.
“I knew I had to do it. It was an order from the coach.”
—Charlotte Smith (b. 1974)
“He was high and mighty. But the kindest creature to his slaves—and the unfortunate results of his bad ways were not sold, had not to jump over ice blocks. They were kept in full view and provided for handsomely in his will. His wife and daughters in the might of their purity and innocence are supposed never to dream of what is as plain before their eyes as the sunlight, and they play their parts of unsuspecting angels to the letter.”
—Anonymous Antebellum Confederate Women. Previously quoted by Mary Boykin Chesnut in Mary Chesnut’s Civil War, edited by C. Vann Woodward (1981)
“It is an immense misfortune to the empire to have a king of such a disposition at such a time. We are told and every thing proves it true that he is the bitterest enemy we have.... To undo his empire he has but one truth more to learn, that after colonies have drawn the sword there is but one step more they can take.”
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)