General History

The Order of the Eastern Star is an adoptive rite of Freemasonry with teachings based on the Bible and objectives that are charitable and benevolent. The founder of OES was Dr. Robert Morris, a lawyer and 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 great opposition this idea engendered. After his first published ritual in 1849-50, he became associated with Robert Macoy who wrote and published 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 chapters, which are responsible to the General Grand Chapter at the International Eastern Star temple in Washington, D.C.

Members must be eighteen years or older and either Master Masons in good standing or properly related to a Master Mason in good standing. The latter category includes wives; widows; sisters; daughters; mothers; granddaughters; step-mothers; step daughters; step-sisters; 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 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.)

Interestingly enough, OES requires only the belief in a Supreme Being even though the degrees are based in both the Old and New Testaments. While non-Christians are not specifically barred from membership, it would seem to be difficult to be other than Christian and belong to the Order.

The above article was edited from Dave Stites Masonic FAQ page.

Origin and History of the Adoptive Rite Among Black Women

Researched, compiled and written by

Past Grand Worthy Matron Jessie Mae Ayers

The Order of the Eastern Star was started as far back as 1730 in France.  Dr. Robert Macoy and Dr. Robert Morris are credited with the beginning.  Dr. Morris was never satisfied that all the good in Masonry should be confined to men.  There was always in his mind the thought that Masonry should be for the entire family.

 

From the time that Masonry originated, women were considered a low state of social development and were man’s inferior of tradition and race.  Dr. Morris was a great traveler, author, poet and writer.  But nothing he did reflect more credit than his work in bringing threads of the Eastern Star into its drama of the various degrees.  This did not meet with the approval of Masons in general.  He was accused of giving away Masonic secrets.  The work has since proven that nothing was ever more secure.  There were many prosecutions against him, even his own Lodge, handled him seriously, and he suffered the penalty of serious charges.

 

Dr. Morris knew that he could not change the Ancient Landmarks of Masonry, so he sought some method by which women could share with the Masonic Brothers.  In l850, while confined to his home from the effects of an accident, he fully developed the Eastern Star Degrees.  In revising his work, Dr. Morris transferred all rights and his work to Robert Macoy and went to the Holy Land for several years.  Macoy took complete control of all affairs.

 

When the adoptive rite was first introduced, it was composed of the Eastern Star Degree only.  At a later period Robert Macoy, who gave Robert Morris the credit of being the founder of the Adoptive Rite, wrote the Ritual, first of the “Queen of the South.”  On Dr. Morris’ return from the Holy land, he and Dr. Macoy worked together setting up lodges.  The work of the Eastern Star was more systematically arranged.

 

It is reported that the first Black Order of the Eastern Star Chapter was organized December 1, 1879 in Washington, D.C.  It was named Queen Esther No. l.  Sister Mary Welch was the Worthy Matron.
 
It has been recorded in History that the first Black Grand Chapter was organized in 1879 in North Carolina.  The first Grand Session was held in Washington, NC in l880.  Bishop J. W. Hood (Fayetteville) was the first Grand Patron and Sister Julia Foy (Greensboro) was the first Grand Matron.  The next year the Grand Chapter Session was held in Raleigh, then Fayetteville, Smithfield and Warrenton.

Additional information on the history of the Order of Eastern Star may be found in the booklet entitled, “A History of the Order of the Eastern Star.” (This booklet can be purchased from Macoy Masonic Publishing Company.)

    First Grand Matron Julia Foy