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What is the Order of the Eastern Star?

Blake Bowden

Administrator
Staff Member
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.
 

dhouseholder

Registered User
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.

I don't find it very difficult.

I see the OES as the bride of Freemasonry. Where Blue Lodge is the bastion of reason and Enlightenment ideals, the Order is based on emotionalism and Romanticism, yet the two complement each other allowing you to see the Light through both lenses. The work is beautiful, the allegories rich, and the lessons valuable. Support you local Chapter brothers. Our Chapter is particularly helpful to the Lodge and will help us out at various occasions, i.e. our Scholarship BBQ.
 

Bro. Stewart P.M.

Lead Moderator Emeritus
Staff Member
I don't find it very difficult.

I see the OES as the bride of Freemasonry. Where Blue Lodge is the bastion of reason and Enlightenment ideals, the Order is based on emotionalism and Romanticism, yet the two complement each other allowing you to see the Light through both lenses. The work is beautiful, the allegories rich, and the lessons valuable. Support you local Chapter brothers. Our Chapter is particularly helpful to the Lodge and will help us out at various occasions, i.e. our Scholarship BBQ.

I could not agree more!
 

jwardl

Registered User
What happens when when the wife of a MM, who is a sister in the OES, becomes divorced or widowed?
 

Beathard

Premium Member
There is no impact to an OES member after a divorce, death or any other change in relationship. Once a member, always a member...
 

Cblack

Registered User
I happen to have a copy of the Constellation, Mosaic, and Bro Pikes version of OES

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