The Order of the Eastern Star is the largest fraternal organization in the world to which both men and women may belong. Only men who are Masons are eligible, and only women with specific Masonic affiliation may be members.
Those desiring membership must petition to do so. Petitions are carefully read, eligibility investigated, and election to membership must be by unanimous vote. The Order strives to select persons of mental, moral and spiritual quality who will work together in harmony to perform its objectives.
Dr. Robert Morris, the poet laureate of Masonry, founded this Order using beautiful and inspiring biblical examples of heroic conduct and moral values to portray the noble principles, which should adorn the personal lives of Eastern Stars. Eastern Star strives to take good people and through uplifting and elevating associations of love and service, through precept and example, build an Order which is truly dedicated to Charity, Truth and Loving kindness. The magnitude of the Order has grown beyond the fondest dreams of its founder - conclusive evidence of its need, its worth and its value to society.
The heart of Eastern Star is in the subordinate or local Chapter. For proper administration these Chapters join to form a larger Province or State organization, the Grand Chapter. To facilitate uniformity and coordination of effort, these jurisdictions work together under a General Grand Chapter. In those cases where there are too few Chapters to form a Grand Chapter, the General Grand Chapter has jurisdiction over these subordinate Chapters. There are more than thirteen thousand Subordinate Chapters with a membership in excess of two million that serves this Order. The membership encompasses fifteen countries that have active Chapters, and others have expressed interest in becoming associated with the beneficial work of the Order.
Master Masons in good standing, the wives, daughters, legally adopted daughters, daughters-in-law, mothers, grandmothers, mothers-in-law, widows, nieces, sisters, half sisters, granddaughters, great-granddaughters, stepmothers, stepdaughters, sisters-in-law, daughters of sisters or brothers and stepsisters of affiliated Master Masons, or of Master Masons in good standing at the time of death, are eligible for membership in the Order upon attainment of the age of eighteen.
Concrete evidence of the charitable nature of the organization as it affects others is the millions of dollars which have been raised within the membership to support ESTARL (Eastern Star Training Awards for Religious Leadership), Cancer Research Project, Arthritis Fund, Heart Fund, Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Shriners' Hospital for Crippled Children, orphanages, and many other charities within each Grand Jurisdiction. Many Grand Jurisdictions have Homes for their senior members.
The members of the Order of Eastern Star are dedicated women and men who sincerely reflect the spirit of fraternal love and the desire to work together for good. It gives them the opportunity to give a part of their time to many projects that benefit mankind. The Easter Star Chapter meetings are interesting and important. We need the energies of our members to increase the membership of our Order. We are proud of our Order's heritage. Thousands of our members have contributed their time, energy and wisdom in unselfish service to our Order and for the good of the world. It is through this fraternal service to humanity that together we build a better life for all.
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