St. James Episcopal Church

The Order of the Daughters of the King is a spiritual sisterhood of women dedicated to a life of Prayer, Service and Evangelism. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, our vision is to know Jesus Christ, to make Him known and to become reflections of God's love throughout the world. We are for women who are communicants of the Episcopal Church, and those churches with the Historic Episcopate. Today our membership includes women in the Anglican, Episcopal, Lutheran (ELCA) and Roman Catholic Churches.

We are an Order, not an Organization. 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, before the altar of God, 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 sign of our discipline is the emblem of the Order, 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." We wear the Cross daily as a visible witness of a life committed to showing forth the love of Christ to all people. It is never worn simply as an ornament.

We are not a spiritually elite group of women. We are a group of women who find this Order to be a source of enlightenment and courage as we walk the paths of our Christian Journey. If you are called to become a Daughter, please visit one of our meetings. The St. Mary’s Chapter of St. James Episcopal Church meets the first Monday of each month, unless a Holiday, then we meet the second Monday. Or, talk to a Daughter, remember, you will know her by the Cross she wears. We will be happy to answer any of your questions or concerns.

For more information on the St. James Order, contact Patsy Abshire at patcabshier@sbcglobal.net. For more information on the National Organization, visit http://www.dok-national.org.

The Motto of the Order

For His Sake…
I am but one, but I am one.
I cannot do everything, but I can do something.
What I can do, I ought to do.
What I ought to do, by the grace of God I will do.
Lord, what will you have me do?