MARS — For young girls, a white dress often marks a first Holy Communion. For older girls, the dress means a wedding.

But some girls whose ages span both possibilities wear a white gown to twice-monthly meetings.

The girls belong to the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls, a service club affiliated with The Order of the Eastern Star, a fraternal group linked to the Freemasons.

Although Rainbow chapters exist throughout Pennsylvania, the reinstatement of Mars Assembly 124 last week marked the group's return to Butler County after a 10-year absence.

"The fact that we are rechartering Mars assembly is a very big deal," said Sue Morris of Mars, a member of the group's advisory board.

"It is very uncommon for a charter to be issued anymore."

Morris, a charter member of the original Mars group, recalls a time when hundreds of girls might belong to one Rainbow assembly.

"Like so many fraternal organizations, the numbers have really dwindled," she said. "Across the state right now there are about 600 Rainbow girls."

Despite that decline, Morris has spend the last two years helping to revive the group, citing its ability to shape character and confidence in young women.

"It emphasizes leadership development. It gives them such enormous poise and self- confidence," she said.

Marcia Holland, the new group's mother adviser, agrees.

"It helps teach the girls some social graces and it gives them an opportunity to express their Christian faith in another group in addition to their church," Holland said.

Holland's role as mother adviser includes reviewing meeting ritual work and helping to plan activities and projects.

In addition to those activities, public speaking is also cultivated: The girls, ranging from 11 to 21 years old, rotate through an array of offices culminating with that of worthy adviser, the person who presides over meetings and plans events.

Among the offices are seven "bow" stations, whose colors correspond to virtues the members strive to emulate.

Those stations includered for love, orange for religious faith, yellow for nature, green for immortality, blue for fidelity, indigo for patriotism and violet for service.

The meetings incorporate colored streamers that represent each virtue. Combined with the white gowns, they help to create an atmosphere of importance and beauty — contributing to the group's allure.

"It's usually a thrill to get to wear a long white gown — even some girls who are tomboys enjoy doing that once in awhile," Holland said.

To help offset the cost of gowns and to recycle those that are quickly outgrown, the new group has amassed a cupboard of dresses available for new members.

"If a girl wants to join and she doesn't have the money to wear a white gown, no big deal," Morris said.

Holland's 18-year-old daughter Julie previously belonged to a Wexford assembly, transferring to the new group upon learning it was forming. Julie is among a few existing members who joined with newcomers to make up the 12 members required to form a new group.

A seven-year member, Julie said marching in formalwear and practicing public speaking have both contributed to her growth.

"It teaches you a lot of things that most girls don't learn," she said.

"When we go to a prom walk at the high school, you can tell the girls who have never walked in heels before.

"It teaches you the grace that most people expect (from) a young woman: how to carry yourself so that people know that you're not afraid to talk to them. Even if you are shy, it gives the impression that you're not."

Lily Watson, a student at Seneca Valley High School, is one of the newly installed Rainbow members.

Like many of the new recruits, Lily, 14, learned about Rainbow through a member of Eastern Star.

Although the rechartering ceremony was held in late April, Lily said she already was familiar with the kinds of service projects the group will do since they began meeting well in advance of the ceremony.

"We baked pumpkin bread," she said, adding the goods were later delivered to a senior community.

"We served the Masons after their meetings — we made them dinner," she added.

Between the service activities, Lily said she looks forward to social events held jointly with other assemblies.

"We'll learn about friendship ... and how to be a better person," she said.

"It's really a lot of fun, and you learn a lot."

For more information about the group, which meets twice a month at the John E. Maier Masonic Hall on Railroad Street, call Holland at 724-625-2597 or Morris at 724-625-1930.