Should the Order of the Eastern Star Accept...

Being a member of OES I think we should as long as there is a MM who agrees that the candidate should be a member. Lets be honest. It would be effective to have the same membership requirements for OES as they do for Masonry. Having these requirements the same would allow for OES to bring in new women with no affiliation that then could introduce masonry to there husbands. Its a win win for both organizations. Unfortunately though this was voted down and General Grand Chapter this year in Fort Worth. In order for the organization to continue on OES will need to start exploring other avenues of obtaining new and younger membership.

 

I agree 100% with your sentiment, the requirements should be similar to those required to enter Masonry. This would increase the ranks quickly with well qualified women.

 

wow, even tied poll right now. i think it could be changed to just the recommendation of a mason rather than related to one. like was said above, would you rather tweak the requirements or go down with the ship?

 

I think it's a good idea to have the same requirement as masonry too. OES is pretty much done in my area, with one operating lodge in a town with 12,000 people. And from what I've been told the age majority is 50 to 65+

 

I'm not a member but I see good work go on in our local OES group. It would be much, much better were there a span of age groups involved. However, whether that means adopting the aforementioned guidelines or not is, of course, up to the OES. I wish the members well in their endeavors to increase interest and participation.

 

My wife and I just petitioned the Grapevine OES Chapter. I understand when membership was swelling in masonry that you wanted to keep OES only to wives of masons, but it clearly needs to be updated to include qualified non-Masonic affilliated women.

That being said...I wonder what the traditional OES spouses of Masons that had to deal with their husbands out at Masonic events four times a week that is around others in the same boat would think. That's really the poll I want to see!

 

I was looking at the pictures of Worthy Matrons on our lodge fellowship hall wall. It was simple: grandmother, grandmother, grandmother, grandmother... grandmother, grandmother, ... grandmother, grandmother, hot flapper girl, grandmother, grandmother, ... grandmother grandmother, grandmother, grandmother--HOT FLAPPER GIRL??????? There she was, flanked by grandmothers going back and forward decades, a beauty who could have been penned by Fitzgerald, himself.

 

Interesting....I had this discussion with a couple of ladies and a mason yesterday during a study session for an initiation we were doing. The issue comes down to the generation gap between people my age (Early 30s ) and the average age of a normal member (>45 years old). I am working on this for my PhD dissertation about the affect changes have made to OES as a civic organization. The issue really comes down to the morals and traditions of the order. Its a beautiful ritual and teaches some amazing lessons. However, because of the generation I grew up in, the lessons the order teaches me are different than how older members see those lessons. So there is a gap. I hope that as my generation ages that they will become more conservative in their way of thinking but still remain open and accepting to all which will bring them into OES. My fear is being a PM of the order and being in it for 13 years, that I will not be able to get my 50 year membership pin because the order will be gone. I have posted before and still believe, the issue does not resolve itself by allowing women to be accepted into the masonic lodge, but having the confidence to make changes to their own organization to make it successful in the future.

 

IMHO, the Order of Eastern Star is fully capable of governing itself.

 

I think it could absolutely benefit Freemasonry as a whole to accept ladies into the OES. Conceptually I think it's a good idea and it would provide another way to share the principles of masonry- especially to the youth of our society.

 

That's a very healthy chapter to have an average age that low. Most are much older.

Last year I met a PHA OES sister who had just graduated from college. By decades the youngest OES sister I've met. We're seeing increased petitions in our lodges so crossing my fingers that happens in chapters as well.

 

OES Chapter at our lodge seems to be dwindling.

 

Can't former Rainbow Girls join OES without masonic affiliation? I think they can in CT. Other than that its the same thing here with they have to have lineage or espousal to a Master Mason

 

In today's age where divorce is common And most women are independent, I think it makes sense for OES to admit women who don't have a Mason in their family. I work with a lot of great women. If one asks me "Can I be a Mason?" It would be nice to be able to say, "We have a place for you in OES"


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MWPHA of DC is doing a membership for the first time this year for non masonic women. It cost a lot of money to discourage those who just want the star and not do the work. There is a large amount of women who choose to join. Hopefully this makes the numbers increase and can do this periodically to help our widows and orphans.


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