Order of the Eastern Star
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The Order of the Eastern Star is the largest fraternal organization in the world that both men and women can join. It was established in 1850 by Robert Morris, a lawyer and educator from Boston, Massachusetts who had been an official with the Freemasons. It is based on teachings from the Bible, but is open to people of all monotheistic faiths. It has approximately 10,000 chapters in twenty countries and approximately one million members under its General Grand Chapter. Members of the Order are aged 18 and older; men must be Master Masons and women must have specific relationships with Masons. Originally, a woman would have to be the daughter, widow, wife, sister, niece, sister-in-law or mother of a master Mason, but this has been expanded throughout the years in response to declining membership.
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Emblem and heroines
The emblem of the Order is a five-pointed star, representing the Star of Bethlehem. In the Chapter room, the downward-pointing white ray points to the West. The character-building lessons taught in the Order are stories inspired by Biblical figures:
- Adah (Jephthah's daughter, from Judges)
- Ruth, the widow
- Esther, the wife
- Martha (sister of Lazarus, from the Gospel of John)
- Electa (the "elect lady", from II John), the mother
Officers
There are 18 main officers in a full chapter:
- Worthy Matron - presiding officer
- Worthy Patron - provides general supervision
- Associate Matron - assumes the duties of the Worthy Matron in the absence of that officer
- Associate Patron - assumes the duties of the Worthy Patron in the absence of that officer
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- Conductress - Leads visitors and initiations.
- Associate Conductress - Assists with introductions and handles ballot box.
- Chaplain - leads the Chapter in prayer
- Marshall
- Organist
- Adah
- Ruth
- Esther
- Martha
- Electa
- Warder - Sits next to the door inside the meeting room, to make sure those that enter the chapter room are members of the Order.
- Sentinel - Sits next to the door outside the chapter room, to make sure those that wish to enter are members of the Order.
Traditionally, a woman who is elected Associate Conductress will the following year be elected to Conductress, then the next year Associate Matron, and the next year Worthy Matron. A man elected Associate Patron will usually the next year be elected Worthy Patron. Usually the woman who is elected to become Associate Matron will let it be known who she wishes to be her Associate Patron, so the next year they will both go to the East together as Worthy Matron and Worthy Patron. There is no male counterpart to the Conductress and Associate Conductress. Only women are allowed to be Matrons, Conductresses, and the Star Points (Adah, Ruth, etc.) and only men should be Patrons; however, occasionally there is no male member of the chapter and thus the position must be held by a female.
Charities
The Order has a charitable foundation and from 1986-2001 contributed $513,147 to Alzheimer's disease research, juvenile diabetes research, and juvenile asthma research. It also provides bursaries to students of theology and religious music, as well as other scholarships that differ by jurisdiction. In 2000 over $83,000 was donated. Many jurisdictions support a Masonic and/or Eastern Star retirement center or nursing home for older members; some homes are also open to the public. As well as many charitable contributions in their local communities, normally done low key without much fan-fare.
Miscellaneous
The Order is not to be confused with the Order of the Star of the East, a messianic organization created in 1911 by the Theosophical Society - Adyar and dissolved in 1929 by J. Krishnamurti.
On December 1, 1875, Queen Esther Chapter No. 1 became the first Prince Hall Affiliate chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star.
See also
- International Order of the Rainbow for Girls
- Job's Daughters International
- Organization of Triangles
- Order of the Amaranth
- Freemasonry