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The Order of The Eastern Star
What
is the Order of the Eastern Star?
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. Only women with specific Masonic
affiliation may become members, and men who are
Master Masons are eligible. A petitioner must be
of good moral character, believe in a Supreme Being, have
attained the age of 18, believe in the laws of the United
States of America, be willing to assume the obligation of
the Order, be able to participate in the Ceremony of
Initiation, be free from disqualifying mental illness, be
a resident of the State for the last 12 months
(exceptions), and not be convicted of a felony (or
adjudged an habitual criminal) under the law of any
State, or of the United States.
Q. What Masonic affiliation is
required for a woman to become a member?
A. She must be the wife,
daughter, legally adopted daughter, mother, widow,
stepmother, sister, stepsister, half-sister,
granddaughter, or stepdaughter of a Master Mason as well
as grandmother, great granddaughter, niece or
daughter-in-law, mothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, and
daughters of sisters or brothers of affiliated Master
Masons.
(updated by General Grand Chapter
Assembly (11/97).
Q. Must the Master Mason, whom a
woman might be using for her affiliation, belong to the
Eastern Star before she can become a member?
A. No.
Q. May a woman use, as her
affiliation, a Master Mason who has died?
A. Yes. Provided the Master Mason was a
member in good standing at the time of his death. A
letter of verification from the man's Lodge will be
required before the Degrees of the Order of The Eastern
Star may be given.
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. 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.
Purposes
And Goals
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
contribute much time, energy and wisdom to our Order with
Charity, Truth and Loving-kindness for the good of all
mankind throughout the world.
How
Does One Belong?
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 California,
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 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, (3) To provide you an opportunity to ask and
receive answers to any additional questions that you
might have, and (4) To verify your Masonic affiliation.
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. This will be between one week
and not later than 60 days.
OES
- A Way Of Life
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 The 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. 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 Social Enjoyment
Chairman 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.
Youth
Groups
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 Rainbow for Girls (ages
11 through 21) and Job's Daughters (ages 11
through 20). 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. The Masons also sponsor DeMolay
for Boys (ages 13 through 21).
Charity
Q. Does the Order of the Eastern
Star have any special projects?
A. Yes. Our Order of the Eastern Star
membership supports E.S.T.A.R.L (Eastern Star Training
Awards for Religious Leadership) and college or
university scholarship awards to students of any race,
creed, or color; Eastern Star Home for its senior members
in California; J. Clifford Lee and Marguerite Rennie
Memorial Cancer Funds; Memorial Cancer Dressing Stations;
Heart Research Foundation and a Benevolent Fund for the
relief of qualified indigent and distressed members or
Chapters. Additional charities are also supported.
Popular
Misconceptions
Q. Is the Order of the Eastern Star
a secret society?
A. No. Secret societies are underground
and hard to find. We are easily found within the
community. 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.
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.
The above
material is from a pamphlet entitled:
The Eastern Star 'A Way of Life'
Printed in 1991
by the
Grand Chapter of California,
Order of the Eastern Star
16960 Bastanchury Road, Suite E
Yorba Linda, CA 92886-1711
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