My Freemasonry | Freemason Information and Discussion Forum

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

FAQ: What is the Eastern Star?

  • Thread starter Larry the Mason from Holbrook
  • Start date
L

Larry the Mason from Holbrook

Guest
The Freemasonry FAQ

Version 1.0
August 2006

This Frequently Asked Question comes from the weekly USENET MASONRY FAQ, posted to alt.freemasonry every Friday at 08:00 Pacific. Please refer to the weekly FAQ for other resource and contact information.

05
What is the Eastern Star?

The Order of the Eastern Star is an adoptive rite of Freemasonry with
teachings based on the Bible and objectives that are charitable and
benevolent. The founder of OES was Dr. Robert Morris, a lawyer and
educator from Boston, Massachusetts, who was a Master Mason and Past
Grand Master of Kentucky. Dr. Morris intended his creation to become a
female branch of Freemasonry, but he failed to overcome the great
opposition this idea engendered. After his first published ritual in
1849-50, he became associated with Robert Macoy who wrote and
published a ritual based on Morris's in 1867. The first Grand Chapter
was organized in Michigan in the same year. (There is evidence of an
organization of the same name founded variously in 1788 or 1793, but
this group was defunct by 1867.) Subordinate (local) chapters operate
under charter from state level grand chapters which are responsible to
the General Grand Chapter at the International Eastern Star Temple in
Washington, D.C.

Members must be eighteen years or older and either Master Masons in
good standing or properly related to a Master Mason in good standing:
wives; widows; sisters; daughters; mothers; granddaughters;
stepmothers; stepdaughters; stepsisters; and half-sisters. Recently
this was expanded to include nieces, daughters-in-law, and
grandmothers, and further expanded to include Rainbow Girls (see
question 6.b in this section) 18 and older and majority members.

Each chapter has eighteen officers, some elected and others appointed.
Two offices are specifically male (Patron and Associate Patron) while
nine offices are specifically female (including Matron and Associate
Matron). While the Worthy Matron is considered to be the presiding
officer of the chapter, the degrees cannot be conferred without a
presiding brother in good standing (hence the Patron and Associate
Patron).

Each chapter retains the right to decide who shall be a member of the
organization. Election to the degrees must be unanimous, without
debate, and secret. The successful candidate must profess a belief in
a Supreme Being and is initiated in five degrees, which are conferred
in one ceremony. (When Eastern Star was created, it was intended to be
the first of a three degree series. The second and third degrees were
Queen of the South and the Order of the Amaranth, respectively.)

Interestingly enough, OES requires only the belief in a Supreme Being
even though the degrees are based in both the Old and New Testaments.
While non-Christians are not specifically barred from membership, it
would seem to be difficult to be other than Christian and belong to
the Order. (Thanks to Joy Leavy for this section)
 
Top