What is Eastern Star?

HISTORY

The origin of the Order of the Eastern Star dates back to the mid 19th century. Dr. Rob Morris, the Poet Laureate of Masonry and a past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, is acknowledged as the “master builder” of the Order. A teacher and school administrator, he wrote more than 400 poems and several books which continue to be valued references in today’s Masonic libraries. He also made it his mission to share the tenets of Masonry with women.

With the help of his wife, Charlotte, Dr. Morris developed the beautiful initiatory degrees of the Order of the Eastern Star in 1850. The ceremony focuses on selected women of the Bible who demonstrated heroic conduct and high moral values. The five degrees use these examples to teach the Masonic principles of charity, truth and loving kindness — qualities that are as necessary in today’s world as they were in the 1800s.

While the Order of the Eastern Star has evolved over time, it remains rooted in charitable endeavors and fraternal fellowship and offers its members a wide variety of opportunities for personal growth and community involvement.


 

You Can Be A Star

If you are looking for a way to help others, and have a great time in the process, you should consider membership in the Order of the Eastern Star, where you can find fun and fellowship with people who want to give back to the community – people like yourself.

Eastern Star is a unique organization with many qualities you won’t find anywhere else – beautiful ceremonies, meaningful lessons that focus on moral values and the friendship of sisters and brothers around the world. Members find that, wherever their jobs or circumstances take them, they can be assured of a warm welcome in an Eastern Star Chapter.

Would you like to know more? Here are some of the reasons why the Order of the Eastern Star is so very special.

We Are Co-Educational

The Order of the Eastern Star is the largest fraternal organization in the world to which both men and women may belong with more than 500,000 members in 5,000 Chapters worldwide. In Eastern Star Chapters, Masons and their female relatives promote the values of charitable purposes that are such an important part of the Masonic fraternity. Male petitioners must be members in good standing of a regular Masonic Lodge. Female petitioners must be at least 18 years of age and be related to a Master Mason, past or present. A woman always serves as the presiding officer of an OES Chapter, but Masons are there to advise and support.

Who can join?

  • Men who are Master Masons in good standing of a regular Lodge of the Masonic Fraternity
  • Women who are relatives of past or present Master Masons in good standing of a regular Lodge of the Masonic fraternity and have reached the age of 18. The necessary relationship is by birth, marriage, or adoption
  • Women who are majority members of the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls® or Job’s Daughters International® and who have reached the age of 18.

 

How do you join?

Contact the Grand Secretary for information about an Eastern Star Chapter near where you live.  

Open our Chapter Map to find a chapter in your area

Check out our Membership Brochure for more information!