Q: What is the Order of the Eastern Star?
A: The Order of The Eastern Star is the largest Fraternal Organization in
the world to which both women and men can belong.
Q: Can any woman or man belong?
A. No. Men who are Master Masons are eligible. A petitioner female or male
must be of good moral character, and believe in a Supreme Being, have attained
the age of 18. Believe in the laws of the Grand and subordinate Chapter, be
willing to assume the obligation of the Order, be able to participate in the
Ceremony of Initiation, be free from disqualifying mental illness, preferable be
a resident of their community or State, and not be convicted of a felony (or
adjudged an habitual criminal) under the law of any community, or State they
reside in.
Q. What Masonic affiliation is required for a
woman to become a member?
A. None in the the Modern Free Jurisdiction.
Q. When was the Order of the Eastern Star
formed?
A. Dr. Rob Morris, the poet laureate of Masonry, conceived the Order of the
Eastern Star in 1850.
Q. What is the basis of the Order of Eastern
Star?
A. Dr. Morris created the Degrees of the Eastern Star around the lives of
five Biblical women. They were Adah, Ruth, Esther, Martha, and Electa. The
reason was that each of these Biblical examples stands for one of the tenets of
the Order. They are Fidelity, Constancy, Loyalty, Faith and Love.
Q. Is the Order of the Eastern Star
a religion?
A. No. Our members do come from all denominations. The Order of the Eastern
Star is not a religion, even though we are religious in character. It does not
pretend to take the place of a religion, or serve as a substitute for the
religious beliefs of its members.
MEANING OF MEMBERSHIP
The membership is admonished to aid, comfort and protect each other by
sharing the joys and sorrows of life. The rewards are many as members work and
play together in love and charity and become life long friends, sisters and
brothers. We endeavor on a daily basis to administer aid to the poor and needy
in our society and not to exclude the sick, distressed and disabled among us.
Our mission is to seek out those who need our aid and assistance.
We are proud of our Organization and the membership who work hard continuously
to keep it a viable vehicle that will remain strong in our community as well as
in the world. Faith, Tolerance and Patience are essential requirements in our
Order as well as in our personal lives. These essentials are not practiced any
where as extensively as it is done in the Order of Eastern Star.
The Order of the Eastern Star is benevolent and charitable in its actions, Local
Eastern Star Chapters select their own charities and places of service in their
own communities. They may include general scholarships for youth, and supporting
a home for aged members. Each year special charities are selected for that
year's emphasis. The Order of the Eastern Star is also a social organization
with frequent formal events and ceremonies.
As a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, you will join dedicated men and
women who sincerely reflect the spirit of fraternal love and the desire to work
together on the many projects that benefit mankind throughout the world.
The Eastern Star Chapters meet at least ten times a year and their meetings are
interesting and important. Activities of the Chapters are fun! We have social
hours and lots of fund raising events. We enjoy fun trips out of state and every
year we travel to Columbus Georgia to celebrate Modern Free Day. Like every
state in our organization we have Grand Session/Conclave. The State of Illinois
celebrates their Grand Session/Conclave in April. By all this, we meet new
people constantly. We are proud of our Order's heritage.
Thousands of our members have contributed their time, energy and wisdom in
unselfish service to our Order and for the good of the world. It is through this
fraternal service to humanity that together we build a better life for all.
Being a member is a wonderful and a fulfilling way of life. Please ask an
Eastern Star Member to tell you more about it!