Eastern Star

[robert leachman]

No. Wife want no part of it, based on bad experiences...I'll leave it at that.

 

[Benton]

Well, my obligation includes, not to join any mason-like organizations. As it is neither an upper degree system, nor a masonic side degree or order, and it allows men in women in, it is a very very grey area of masonic law, in my eyes.

Very interesting.

The way it was originally set up here, a Master Mason had to be present for them to start their meetings. I don't know if that's any longer the case. But in the US, it was organized and created by US Masons for Masons and their wives, so there has never been anything shady about it. (To my knowledge. I'm not a member, so don't take me as an authority.)

I could see how it could cause problems in other jurisdictions, though. Good to hear your perspective.

 

[Beathard]

The Worthy Patron invites the ladies into the lodge to start OES meetings. Therefore a mason is required to be in the meeting. The women run it though.

 

[Benton]

The women run it though.

I think that was the most important part of that statement. Kind of a deeper truth in general, anyway.

 

[tom268]

The way it was originally set up here, a Master Mason had to be present for them to start their meetings. I don't know if that's any longer the case. But in the US, it was organized and created by US Masons for Masons and their wives, so there has never been anything shady about it.

Well, I know, that it is a perfectly normal part of the masonic environment in the USA and in some other countries as well. But, especially the crossover does seem problematic for me. Not that a freemason must be present, but that he ist present as a freemason.
Every brother can be part of non-masonic organizations, chivalric orders, brotherhoods, social clubs, and, and, and. But he is always part as a member of that organization. Even if that org. requires him of being a mason, like the Shrine, Tall Cedars, or masonic groups, that can not confer degrees, all members are there, just because they are members, not "as masons".

I'm not sure, if I can express the difference, I want to point out here. Put it on my account, that English is a foreign language to me.

If the OES would be a "mixed-gender organization for masons and their wifes", and otherwise has nothing to do with the lodge, I would abstain from it by personal taste (no interest, lodge as it is, is enough for me), but would have less problems with its status.

 

[Beathard]

The OES is a mixed-gender organization fir masons, their wives, widows, mothers, sisters and daughters. Sons are not allowed unless they are masons themselves.

 

[KSigMason]

I'm Associate Patron of my Chapter. I joined a few years back with my at the time girlfriend (we're still friends). A Past Matron asked me to move up with her this last January and I accepted. My Matron is old enough to be my grandmother, but she is entertaining to sit next to and she has a lot of knowledge.

 

[Ashlar]

I was in , Past Worthy Patron many times over , but I am demitting out of everything but the Craft Lodge and the YR .