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Landmarks of the Order of the Eastern Star |
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A belief in the
existence of a Supreme Being.
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| 2.
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In the Order of
the Easter Star, there are only five degrees, known
as Adah, the daughter; Ruth, the widow; Esther, the
wife; Martha, the sister; and Electa, the mother.
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| 3.
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The name of the
Order, the names of its degrees, and modes of
recognition are unchangeable.
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| 4.
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Its lessons are
Scriptural, its teachings moral, and its purposes
beneficent.
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Its obligations
are based on the honor of those who obtain its
secrets, and are framed upon the principle that
whatever benefits are due from Masons to the wives,
daughters, legally adopted daughters, mothers,
widows, sisters, half sisters, granddaughters,
stepmothers, stepdaughters, stepsisters,
daughters-in-law, grandmothers, great
granddaughters, nieces, mothers-in-law,
sisters-in-law and daughters of Sisters or Brothers
of affiliated Master masons in good standing; or if
deceased, were in good standing at the time of their
death; as well as members - either active for
three(3) years or majority - of the International
Order of the Rainbow for Girls or of the
International Order of Job's daughters, each of whom
having attained to at least the age of eighteen (18)
years, are eligible to membership in the Order of
the Eastern Star.
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| 6.
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The Obligation
of our Order, voluntarily assumed, is perpetual,
from the force of which there is no release.
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| 7.
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The ballot upon
candidates for the degrees or for membership, must
be unanimous to secure election, and must be without
debate and kept inviolably secret.
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| 8.
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The degrees
cannot be conferred unless a Brother in good
standing shall preside; provided that in cases of
extreme emergency, the Most Worthy Grand Matron may
grant permission in writing for a Sister to act in
place of a Brother.
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| 9.
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Every member is
amenable to the laws of the Order; and may be tried
for offenses, either by the Chapter to which the
member belongs, or by the Chapter within whose
jurisdiction the member resides or the offense was
committed.
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10. |
The right of
every member to appeal from the decision of a
Subordinate Chapter to the Grand Chapter or its
executive head.
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11. |
The right of
each Chapter to decide, from among eligible
candidates, who shall be admitted to membership.
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12. |
The right of
every member to visit any Chapter unless lawful
objection is made to such visitor. |
Q. What is the Order
of the Eastern Star?
A. The Order
of the Eastern Star is a social, charitable and Fraternal
Organization to which both women and men can belong. There
are over 30,000 members throughout the State of Missouri.
The Order of the Eastern Star is comprised of 262 Chapters
and is divided into 50 regional Districts within Missouri.
The regional Districts are usually comprised of one or more
counties.
Q. What are the
requirements for membership?
A. Membership
in the Order of the Eastern Star is open to women 18 years
of age or older, as well as Master Masons in good standings
in their Lodges.
Q. When was the
Order of the Eastern Star formed?
A. Brother
Robert McCoy conceived the Order of the Eastern Star in 1850
based on the original work of Brother Rob Morris (see
information on Bro. Morris on this web site).
Q. What is the basis
of the Order of Eastern Star?
A. Brother
McCoy 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.
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. Our members do come from
all denominations.
Q. What are the
purposes and goals of the Order of the Eastern Star?
A. To provide
an organization where women and men with high moral and
social character, can join together and contribute time,
energy and wisdom to our Order with Charity, Truth and
Loving-kindness for the good of all mankind throughout the
world.
Q. How may I express
a desire to join the Order of the Eastern Star?
A. If you are
not familiar with anyone in a Chapter in your area, you may
contact the Grand Secretary of the Grand Chapter of
Missouri, (636-376-0471) for the name, address, and phone
number of a Chapter in your area to express your desire for
additional information.
Q. What procedure
should I follow when I have decided that I would like to
join a chapter?
A. The Chapter
you intend to join will provide you with a Petition, which
you must fill out completely. It should be returned to the
Chapter Secretary, as soon as possible, with the appropriate
fees.
Q. What happens
after I submit my petition?
A. Your
petition will be read at a Chapter meeting and submitted to
an Investigation Committee composed of members of the
Chapter that you wish to join. Shortly thereafter the
members of the Investigation Committee will contact you
individually to set up a time and place for a meeting. This
is done (1) To ask a few very simple questions, (2) To
provide you an opportunity to meet some of the Chapter
members, and (3) To provide you an opportunity to ask and
receive answers to any additional questions that you might
have. The information that the Investigation Committee
receives will be reported to the Worthy Matron.
Q. What will be the
next step?
A. If all of
the information is in order, the report of the Investigation
Committee will be submitted to the Chapter members at a
stated meeting and a vote will be taken. If favorable, you
will have been elected to receive the Degrees of the Order
of the Eastern Star. The Secretary will notify you of the
results of the election and arrange for you to be initiated
into the Order.
Q. How long after
the election will that be?
A. Each
Chapter attempts to plan the events of each meeting for the
entire year. That usually includes some flexibility to
accommodate Degree meetings for new members; however, in
some instances very special plans cannot be interrupted, so
the Degrees will be given at the first possible date.
Q. What happens at
Chapter Meetings?
A. An Eastern
Star Chapter meets once or twice a month to conduct its
business and to confer Eastern Star degrees. If no
initiatory work is being performed, the meeting will include
a program of interest or entertainment. Refreshments are
almost always served.
Q. Just what is
Fraternal Life?
A. The Order
of the Eastern Star provides us with a means of compassion
and concern, not only for our fellow Sisters and Brothers in
the Order of the Eastern Star, but to ourselves, our
Country, and our faith. In addition, it enters us into a way
of life that all of us inwardly want for ourselves and our
families.
Why
should I want to join
the Order of Eastern Star? |
Q. What does the
Eastern Star have to offer that other organizations do not?
A. Each of us
has an inner need to do something for others and sometimes
it is difficult to determine just how to begin. The Order of
the Eastern Star offers that guidance and provides an
outlet, as well as serving as a resource center and support
group.
Q. Is there any
social involvement?
A. Yes. The
Chapter has numerous fun activities for all members and
their family and friends. Usually, the Worthy Matron has a
number of social events to supplement her planned
activities.
Q. Is there any
Fraternal friendship?
A. Both women
and men join a Fraternal Order to make friends and enjoy the
fellowship that is displayed. Members and their families can
enjoy interacting with others who share their beliefs.
Q. Will I become a
better person?
A. Yes. The
Order of the Eastern Star takes good citizens and makes them
even better. We continue to be central in the development of
the American promise of human opportunity and personal
fulfillment.
Q. Does the Order of
the Eastern Star give support to any affiliated youth
groups?
A. Yes. The
Order of the Eastern Star provides support to members of the
all Masonic youth groups. The purpose of these youth groups
is to train these fine young citizens to be leaders in the
community and to be future members and leaders in the Order
of the Eastern Star.
Q. Does the Order of
the Eastern Star have any special projects?
A. Yes.
The Order of the Eastern Star membership supports many
charitable organizations and programs. In Missouri, some of
the programs supported include ESTARL, Cancer Research,
Heart Disease, Scottish Rite Childhood Language Disorders,
volunteer service to Veteran's Hospitals, and the Missouri
Masonic Children's Foundation. Also supported is the Masonic
Home for our senior members and Masonic Youth Groups
(Rainbow For Girls, Job's Daughters and DeMolay). Many local
charities also benefit from Eastern Star donations.
Q. Is the Order of
the Eastern Star a secret society?
A. Absolutely
not. Secret societies are underground and hard to find. We
are easily found within the community; but, we do enjoy a
distinctive means of identifying each other. Only members
are allowed in a closed meeting.
Q. Can I afford
membership in the Order of the Eastern Star?
A. Yes.
Financial position is not considered in the Order. Members
come from all economic stations of life, and both the
Initiation Fee and Annual Dues are quite modest.
Q. Is my religious
faith allowed in the Order of the Eastern Star?
A. Yes.
Members of all religions may belong to the Order of the
Eastern Star. We only require a belief in a Supreme Being.
Q. Is the Order of
the Eastern Star time consuming?
A. After your
Initiation into our Order during a regular meeting, you may
attend as your time permits.
Q. Is there any
memory work?
A. There is no
mandatory memory work except the means of making yourself
known if you wish to visit a Chapter, or if you become an
officer. A short proficiency examination is strictly
voluntary, but encouraged.
Q. Is the Order
patriotic and democratic?
A. Yes.
Members are taught an allegiance to preserve the good order
of their country. We strongly support the government of the
United States of America.
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