WHAT IS "THE DAUGHTERS OF THE KING"? 
 The Daughters of the King is a spiritual order for laywomen who are communicants of the Episcopal Church or of churches in communion with the Episcopal Church or of churches who are in the Historic Episcopate. (HB 2) (NOTE: HB refers to the 1988 Handbook for the Daughters of the King. 
   
WHAT IS AN ORDER? 
 An order is a group of people who are

united in some way, as by living under the

same religious rules or by loyalty to

common interests or obligations.

(Webster's Dictionary) 
  
WHAT IS A RELIGIOUS RULE? 
 A rule is a statement which governs the

manner of life of those belonging to a

religious order. It is a prescribed guide for

conduct or action, especially as regarding

one's life of prayer and fellowship with the

Order. (Westminster's Dictionary of

Christian Spirituality; Webster's Dictionary) 
  
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF

THE DAUGHTERS

OF THE KING? 
 The primary purpose of the Daughters of the King is the extension of Christ's Kingdom, especially among women and girls through prayer, service and evangelism. (HB 46, 2, 7) 
  
WHO CAN BECOME A MEMBER OF DAUGHTERS OF KING? 
 Upon recommendations or approval of the Rector or Priest-in-Charge, any woman communicant of a parish or mission of the Episcopal Church who accepts the two rules of the Orders shall be eligible for membership. (HB 47) 
  
HOW DOES AN ELIGIBLE WOMAN BECOME A MEMBER OF THE DAUGHTERS OF THE KING? 
 Having received the approval of her priest, she will enter a period of preparation for three months. This is a time of concentrated study, training, service and prayer. Six weeks prior to her formal admission into the Order, her registration fee and application for membership shall be sent to the national office. At the admission service she will take the vow of the Order and will receive the cross of the Order. (HB 33, 12) 

      These steps may be outlined as follows: 
             1. Ask any Daughter for permission to visit a meeting, prayer session or Assembly. 
             2. Be prepared to serve a three month period of preparation for membership which will be devoted to concentrated                        study training, service and prayer under the guidance of the Chapter. The beginning of this period of preparation                        should be marked by "A Service for the Beginning of a Three Month Preparation for Membership" (HB 33) 
             3. Pay registration fee and other dues as the Chapter Treasurer directs. 
             4. Be received into the Order at a "Service of Admission" (HB 37). 
 
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE THREE MONTH PERIOD OF PREPARATION?
 The period of preparation has the following purpose: 
       To enable the candidate to 
             1. become acquainted with the Order. 
             2. grow in her spiritual life. 
             3. undertake personal responsibility to work for the extension of Christ's Kingdom. 
             4. become responsive to the needs of the parish in prayer. 
             5. become responsive to the needs of the parish in service. 
 

During this period, the candidate should develop a written statement of her own daily rules of prayer and service, being sure to incorporate the special emphases of the Order. During the period of preparation the candidate should attend anv meetings of the Order ~ can and should be prepared to commit herself to regular participation in the life of her Chapter. 
 
It is recommended that one member of the Chapter stay in close contact with the candidate during the period of preparation, meeting with her apart from the Chapter meetings to help her learn about the Order. (1980 HB 17) 
  
WHAT STUDY IS RECOMMENDED FOR THE PERIOD OF PREPARATION? 
       Study of: 
            1. the Daughters of the King Handbook. 
            2. the Rules of the Order. 
            3. the purpose of the Order. 
            4. the Constitution and By-Laws of the Order. 
            5. the funds of the Order and the contributions these make to the life of the Church and of the Order. (1980 HB 17) 
 

A guide for this program of study is provided by the 'National Daughters of the King 12 Question Study Program". 
  
WHAT IS THE VOW MADE BY A DAUGHTER OF THE KING?  
       Do you promise faithfully to: 
            1. obey the two Rules of the Order, the Rule of Prayer and the Rule of Service?
            2. offer at all times your loyal aid to the priest and to the parish? 
            3. advance the cause of Christ? 
            4. wear habitually the cross of the Order? 
            5. work for the purposes of the Order as God may give you the opportunity? 
 

The response is: " I do so promise, as God is my helper. (HB 37) 
  
WHAT IS THE DAUGHTER OF THE KING RULE OF PRAYER? 
       Each member of the Order promises: 
            1. to seek to grow in a life of prayer. 
            2. to pray daily f or the spread of Christ's Kingdom, especially among women and girls. 
            3. to pray daily for God's blessing upon the members of the Order. 
            4. to pray daily for the spiritual growth of her parish. (HB 3) 
  
WHAT IS THE DAUGHTER OF THE KING RULE OF SERVICE? 
       Each member of the Order promises to: 
            1. take part regularly in the worship of the Church. 
            2. take part regularly in the study of the Church. 
            3. take part regularly in the work of the Church. 
            4. undertake a personal program of evangelism to bring others to Christ. 
            5. seek to bring others to membership in the Body of Christ through His Church.
            6. give aid to the Rector for the up-building of the parish. 
            7. minister to God's people wherever she is. (HB 4, 5, 7) 
  
WHAT IS EVANGELISM? 
 "To evangelize is so to present Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit that (others] come to put their faith in God through him, to accept him as their Savior and to serve him as their King in the fellowship of his Church."

                                                                                                                           - William Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury 
 
Evangelism is "the presentation of Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit, in such ways that persons may be led to believe in him as Savior and follow him as Lord within the fellowship of his Church"

                                           - official definition of the Episcopal Church as adopted by the 64th General Convention in 1973 (HB 7) 
  
WHAT IS THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF EVANGELISM? 
             1. Bringing people into the knowledge of Christ as Savior. 
             2. Bringing people into the fellowship of his Church. 
             3. Bringing people to baptism and confirmation. 
             4. Bringing people to a knowledge of the significance of the Episcopal Church as a Christian fellowship. 
             5. Bringing people into the membership of this fellowship. (HB 7) 
  
WHO DO WE TRY TO REACH THROUGH EVANGELISM? 
            1. Fringe people of the parish (relatively inactive or partly inactive members). 
            2. New Episcopalians. 
            3. People in the community looking for a church home. 
            4. Permanent residents in the community looking for the fullness of the sacramental experience. 
            5. Sick in the hospital or home, and shut-ins. 
            6. Those in sorrow and those in personal trouble. (HB 7) 
  
WHAT ARE THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF A DAUGHTER OF THE KING? 
 A DOK will first love and pray to her King. In addition to faithful participation in the Eucharist, each member shall regard it as her privilege and duty to prepare for and attend, if possible, the corporate communion of the order on All Saints Day. (HB 47, 5) 
       Additionally, she will: 
            1. follow a daily Rule of Prayer carefully chosen and periodically reviewed and revised. 
            2. follow a daily Rule of Service, seeking to serve others For His Sake. 
            3. undertake a personal program of evangelism in both prayer and service. 
            4. be prompt in payment of dues. 
            5. participate in the offerings to the funds of the Order. (HB 6) 
  
WHAT ARE THE FUNDS OF THE ORDER? 
        The Self-Denial Fund: 
             1. A self-denial week is to observed each year. 
             2. The Self-Denial offering is presented at the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple                                (February 2). 
             3. The Self-Denial offering is to then sent to the Treasurer of the Assembly of the Diocese and remitted by her to the                      national office by March 15. 
             4. The purpose of the fund is to provide living expenses for our women missionaries. (HB 21) 

       The Master's Fund: 
             1. The Master's Fund offering Is presented on Pentecost. 
             2. This offering should be promptly forwarded to the Diocesan Treasurer by the Chapter Treasurer. 
             3. Originally the Master's Fund was intended to assist some Daughters or other young women to attend a church                            training school. Today a woman applicant for this assistance may attend any accredited college, university or                              graduate school. (HB 21) 

      The Endowment Fund:
             1. Gifts to this fund may be given at anytime as a gift, offering of thanksgiving or memorial. 
             2. Gifts are to he serif directly to the national office. 
             3. The purpose of the Endowment Fund is to further the work of the Order in the extension of Christ's Kingdom. (HB                        23) 
  
HOW ARE DUES PAID? 
 National dues are payable directly to National Office. (HB45) 
  
CAN THE DAUGHTERS RAISE MONEY BY OTHER MEANS? 
 Since the Daughters of the King is an Order, the chapters may not raise money in the name of the Order. (HB 49) 
  
HOW IS NEWS ABOUT THE ORDER PROVIDED TO MEMBERS? 
 The Royal Cross is the official magazine of the Order. It Is the media for the free exchange of views and a record of chapter and assembly work for the extension of Christ's Kingdom. It is sent to every member who has paid her national dues. (HB 24) 
  
DOES THE ORDER HAVE AN EMBLEM? 
 The emblem of the Order is a silver Greek Cross Fleury inscribed horizontally with Magnanimiter Crucem Sustine, the watchword of the Order, which means "With heart, mind and spirit uphold and bear the cross". At the base of the cross are the letters FHS, Initials which stand for the motto of the Order, FOR HIS SAKE. Only members may wear the cross of the Order, which remains the property of the Order. (HB 49, 2) 
  
MAY A WOMAN RESIGN FROM THE ORDER? 
      1. If a member finds that she cannot fulfill her vow, she may, after consultation with her priest, resign from the Order. 
      2. She or the secretary of her chapter must return her cross of the Order to the national office. 
      3. At the same time, she should ask that her name be removed from the membership list of the Order. (HB 48) 
  
MAY A WOMAN BE REINSTATED IN THE ORDER? 
      1. After resigning, a former member may be reinstated as a member of the Order with the approval of her priest. 
      2. This would involve a recommitment to the vow of the Order through "A Service of Rededication". (HB 39) 
      3. She would also have to pay her dues for the current year, but would receive the cross without further cost. (HB 49) 
  
       The chapter is to inform the Diocese of its activities by: 
             1. submitting an annual report to the Diocese by March 1 each year. 
             2. submitting a list of officers to the Diocese as soon as they are elected. 
             3. Informing the Diocese of a change of address for any chapter members. 
             4. Informing the Diocese immediately of any deceased members. (HB 45) 
  
WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP OF A CHAPTER TO THE ORDER NATIONALLY? 
 Each chapter is to be governed by the Constitution and By Laws of the Order as published in the Handbook. Additionally, each chapter is to send a delegate to the triennial national convention. (HB 55)