About The Order

CELEBRATING OVER 130 YEARS OF
PRAYER, SERVICE, AND EVANGELISM

Vision Statement

Empowered by the Holy Spirit, our vision as Daughters of the King® is to know Jesus Christ, to make Him known to others, and to become reflections of God’s love throughout the world.

Who We Are

The Order of the Daughters of the King® (DOK) is a spiritual sisterhood of women dedicated to a life of Prayer, Service and Evangelism. We have made a commitment to Jesus as our Savior, and we follow Him as Lord of our lives. Today our membership includes women in the Anglican, Episcopal, Lutheran (ELCA) and Roman Catholic churches.

 An Order, not an Organization

An Order is a community under a religious rule; especially one requiring members to take solemn vows. We don’t just enroll as members and attend meetings; we take life-long vows to follow the Rule of Prayer and Rule of Service.

What is a Rule?

A Rule is a prescribed guide for conduct or action by laws or regulations prescribed by the founder of a religious order for observance by its members.

Financial Support of the Order

The primary way that the financial needs of the Order are met is through annual dues paid by each Daughter. Chapter presidents are asked to check each year the annual chapter listing sent by the National Office to verify that all chapter members are paid for the year. This money is used to support the work of the Order at the national, provincial and diocesan levels and includes a subscription to The Royal Cross, our national quarterly publication. In addition many provinces and dioceses have newsletters for members. Dues Financial Assistance is available for those who occasionally need financial help. This is one way Daughters truly love and support each other.

History

The Order of the Daughters of the King® was founded in 1885 by Margaret J. Franklin at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in New York City. Members of the Order undertake a Rule of Life, incorporating the Rule of Prayer and Service. By reaffirmation of the promises made at Baptism and Confirmation, a Daughter pledges herself to a life-long program of prayer, service and evangelism, dedicated to the spread of Christ’s Kingdom and the strengthening of the spiritual life of her parish.

The Emblem of the Order

The emblem of the Order is in the form of a modified Greek fleury cross inscribed in Latin, “Magnanimiter Crucem Sustine,” the watchword of the Order, meaning “With heart, mind and spirit uphold and bear the cross.” At the base of the cross are the letters “FHS”, initials that stand for the Motto of the Order: “For His Sake”.

The emblem, never wavering from the original design, has been trademarked for the exclusive use of the Order. The cross is worn at all times. It is customarily worn on the left side over the heart or it may be worn on a silver chain around the neck, but it is never to be worn simply as an ornament. Only a member in good standing may wear the cross of the Order, which remains the property of the Order. When a Daughter dies, her cross may be buried with her or incorporated into her memorial; otherwise, it must be returned to the National Office.

The Daughter's Rule of Life:

The Rule of Prayer

In the Christian life nothing can be substituted for prayer. It is a Daughter’s daily recourse to the source of life and strength. Every member must have a rule of daily prayer. Communication with God must be a growing, deepening relationship with Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Each Daughter’s Rule of Prayer should be carefully considered and guarded. It should be prayerfully chosen, reviewed regularly and revised periodically.

Part of the Rule of Prayer is to pray daily:

• For the unity of Christ’s Church.

• For the spread of Christ’s Kingdom, especially among women and girls.

• For God's blessing upon the members of the Order.

• For the spiritual growth of the parish and for the clergy of the parish to which the chapter owes allegiance.

• For the grace to follow our Rule and for our own needs.

The Rules of Service and Evangelism
Through her Rule of Service, a Daughter daily seeks to do the will of God where she is, remembering Jesus’ words, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these... you did it for me.” Matthew 25:40 (NIV). The Rule of Service is the application of one’s baptismal vow, reaffirmed by Confirmation:

• To be Christ’s faithful servant in the extension of His Kingdom

• To regularly take part in the worship, study and work of the Church.

• To render at all times aid to the clergy as deemed necessary for the spiritual up-building of the parish.