Beyond the Brotherhood: Exploring the Order of the Eastern Star

Group Photo of Officers of Collinsville Chapter #666, Order of the Eastern Star, in 1932

History and Founding

The Order of the Eastern Star was founded in 1850 by Dr. Robert Morris, a lawyer, educator, and prominent Master Mason from Mississippi. Morris believed that the positive principles of Freemasonry—its emphasis on character building, charity, and mutual support—should be accessible to the female relatives of Masons. He felt that a structured organization was needed where women could share in the fraternal spirit and work alongside their Masonic family members for the betterment of their communities.

He developed a system of degrees based on the lives of five heroic female figures from the Bible. His goal was to create an order with its own unique identity and teachings, yet one that would be inextricably linked to the Masonic fraternity. The organization he founded is dedicated to "Charitable, Educational,Fraternal and Scientific" purposes, with a strong emphasis on personal growth and community service.

Membership and Structure

Membership in the Order of the Eastern Star is directly tied to the Masonic fraternity. It is open to Master Masons as well as their female relatives, including wives, widows, sisters, daughters, mothers, and granddaughters. Members of certain Masonic-related youth organizations for girls, such as the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls and Job's Daughters, are also eligible to join upon reaching the age of 18.

The order is structured into local bodies called Chapters, which are governed by state-level Grand Chapters. Each local chapter is led by a set of elected officers, with the Worthy Matron serving as the presiding officer and the Worthy Patron (who must be a Master Mason) serving as her advisor.

Teachings and Symbolism

The central symbol of the Order is the five-pointed, inverted star. Each point of the star is associated with one of the order's five biblical heroines—Adah, Ruth, Esther, Martha, and Electa—and each represents a corresponding virtue from their stories: fidelity, constancy, loyalty, faith, and love. The teachings of the order are designed to inspire members to emulate these virtues in their own lives.

Like Freemasonry, the OES is deeply committed to charity. Chapters and Grand Chapters support a wide range of philanthropic projects, including scholarships for students pursuing religious studies (known as ESTARL awards), cancer research funds, and retirement homes for their older members.

The relationship between Freemasonry and the Order of the Eastern Star is best understood as a partnership built on a foundation of shared values. While the Blue Lodge provides a unique space for men, the OES offers a parallel path for women to engage in a similar journey of self-improvement, charitable work, and profound fellowship. It expands the Masonic concept of "family" beyond the individual brother, creating a wider community where men and women can work together to practice the principles of brotherly love, relief, and truth.