The Reverend W. Mark Sexson had been asked to make an address before South McAlester Chapter #149. As the Order of DeMolay had come under his close study and observation during his Masonic activities', he became more and more conscious of the fact that an Order for girls setting forth some of the truths of Freemasonry would be necessary. He asked the regular officers of South McAlester Chapter No. 148, O.E.S., to exemplify the work. The first class of girls that was initiated into the Order consisted of a class of 171 girls, on April 6, 1922, in the auditorium of the Scottish Rite Temple, McAlester, Oklahoma.
The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls has assemblies in 46 states in the United States in addition to assemblies in 8 other countries. Current states which do not have assemblies are: South Dakota, Delaware, Utah, and Wyoming. The countries outside the United States which have assemblies are: Australia (both Queensland and New South Wales), Brazil, Canada, Germany, Japan, Panama, and the Philippines. Italy is in the early stages of starting Assemblies.