Order of the Eastern Star

From Thelemapedia

Categories: Organizations

The Order of the Eastern Star was established in 1850 by Robert Morris, a Mason, lawyer and educator from Boston, Massachusetts who composed the initiatiatory rituals. It has 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 Masonic relationships.

The stated purposes of the organization are: Charity, Education, Fraternity and Science; although a general ethic of Christian morality underscores the fraternity. As their website says, the Eastern Star "strives to take good people and through uplifting and elevating associations of love and service, and through precept and example, build an Order which is truly dedicated to charity, truth and loving kindness." [1] (http://easternstar.org/oes/frame.html)

They are organized into Chapters, headed by the General Grand Chapter (GGC), which is located within their International Headquarters, (also known as the International Temple) in Washington DC. Within America, they are divided into four Grand Jurisdictions: the various states (not including NY and NJ), Canada, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Other International Jurisdictions include Brazil, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, China, and Saudi Arabia.

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.)

References

• Easternstar.org (http://www.easternstar.org/).
• History of the Order of the Eastern Star (http://www.netwiz.net/~monarch/OEShist.htm).
• Wikipedia. (2004). Order of the Eastern Star (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_the_Eastern_Star). Retrieved on January 18, 2005.