History of the Order of the Eastern Star

History of Eastern Star

The Order of the Eastern Star is, according to its own literature, '...the largest fraternal organization in the world (it is American, but there are chapters in Italy, Saudi Arabia, Romania, Germany, Australia, Brazil, China, and the Philippines) to which both men and women belong.

General History of Eastern Star

The Order of the Eastern Star is an adoptive rite of Freemasonry with teachings based on the Bible and objectives that are officially charitable and benevolent but, in reality, serve the evil purpose of the Illuminati. The founder of OES was Dr. Robert Morris, a high-degree Freemason, a lawyer, and an 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 significant opposition this idea engendered. After his first published ritual in 1849-50, he became associated with Robert Macoy, who wrote and printed a ritual based on Morris' in 1867.

The first Grand Chapter was organized in Michigan in the same year. (There is evidence for 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 branches, which are responsible to the General Grand Chapter at the International Eastern Star Temple in Washington, D.C.

Members must be eighteen or older and either Master Masons in good standing or properly related to a Master Mason in a good place. The latter category includes wives, widows, sisters, daughters, mothers, granddaughters, step-mothers, stepdaughters, step-sister, and half-sisters. In 1994, this was expanded to include nieces, daughters-in-law, and grandmothers.

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 the presiding officer of the chapter, the degrees can only be conferred with 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, 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 on the Old and New Testaments. While non-Christians are not explicitly barred from membership, it is challenging to be other than Christian and belong to the Order.

Origin and History of the Adoptive Rite Among Black Women

Researched, compiled, and written by
Past Grand Worthy Matron Jessie Mae Ayers

Past Grand Worthy Matron Jessie M. Ayers is a member of Miriam Chapter No. 4, Order of the Eastern Star, Georgiana Thomas Grand Chapter, Jurisdiction of the District of Columbia. She served as Grand Worthy matron in 1989 as Grand Historian of the Georgiana Thomas Grand Chapter from 1971-1991.

On August 10, 1874, Thornton Andrew Jackson received several degrees of the Rite of Adoption of the Order of the Eastern Star from Brother C.B. Case, a Deputy, and agent of Illustrious Robert Macoy 33, Supreme Patron of the Rite of Adoption of the World.

In addition, Thornton Jackson also received a letter from Bro. C. B. Case granting him the authority to establish chapters of the Eastern Star among eligible black women. In obedience to the authority granted by William H. Myers, Grand Master, Union Grand Lodge, Jurisdiction of the District of Columbia, Bro. Jackson established the first Eastern Star Chapter among black women in the United States.

On December 1, 1874, Queen Esther Chapter No. 1, Order of the Eastern Star, was established at 708 - O Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., in the home of Mrs. Georgiana Thomas. The first Worthy Matron was Sister Martha Welch, and the first Worthy Patron was Bro. Thornton A. Jackson.

In December 1874, Grand Master William H. Myers and Deputy Grand Master William A. Taliaferro, Union Grand Lodge, Jurisdiction of the District of Columbia, were invited to receive the androgynous degrees. They both accepted, thus further cementing the ties that bind the Masonic Family together. Upon the occasion of Grand Master Myers' initiation into the Adoptive Rite, he made the following statement to the sisters of Queen Esther Chapter No. 1 - extolling them to greatness:


"May the dove of peace hover over you. May the All-Seeing Eye, whom the Sun, Moon, and Stars obey, ever watch over you. May he keep and protect you in your every effort to promote interest in the general good of this chapter".


On April 28, 1890, Queen of Sheba Chapter No. 3 and on October 20, 1890, Gethsemane Chapter No. 4, Order of the Eastern Star, were established by Thornton A. Jackson within the Jurisdiction of the District of Columbia. He was also

Instrumental helped establish one (1) chapter in Alexandria, Virginia, three (3) branches in Maryland, and three in Pennsylvania. In each instance, when a chapter was organized and established, it was adopted by a regularly constituted Masonic Lodge. Thus, Brother Jackson brought about more unity within the Masonic Family.

In 1875, Pythagoras Lodge No. 9 presented the Queen Esther Chapter No. 1 officers with their first badges, known as Rosettes. This presentation was made by Worthy Patron Thornton A. Jackson, who wished the chapter success and prosperity in the work upon which they were entering. He admonished the officers to wear the Rosettes with dignity, keeping ever before them the memory of the five (5) Heroines: Adah, Ruth, Esther, Martha, and Electa. In closing, Brother Jackson stated, "To you, Queen Esther and Associates, the representatives of the rays of the Beautiful Star and from whom comes the most charming, prophetic, and instructive lessons of the Old and New Testaments. May you always throw an air of beauty and solemnity around all you bring thousands to worship Him." This has been our charge as bona fide Order of Eastern Stars members from 1875 to now.

And so it was one hundred years after the founding of the first Black Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, Queen Esther Chapter No. 1, Order of the Eastern Star, was officially instituted in the City of Washington in the District of Columbia.

Have you or anyone in your generation been in Freemasonry? Did you know there are a lot of curses that come down the family bloodline when someone has been involved in the Masonic Lodge, like curses of sickness and disease, financial problems, job problems, etc?

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