History of The Order of Eastern Star
We are the Order of Eastern Star and one of the largest fraternal organizations in the world which both women and men can belong to. We provide an organization where men and women with a high moral character desire to work for the betterment of others. We strive to help those in need in various ways.
The Secret Societies, imitating Freemasonry for the admission of females as members was first organized in France about 1730. Then Robert Morris who was a Master Mason, School teacher, and Poet conferred various degrees on female relatives of Master Masons from 1850 throughout 1857. The Ritual was revised by Robert Macoy who was a Masonic Publisher in 1866. Macoy added the Queen of the South, Past Matron’s Degree, and the Amaranth Degree.
The Order of Eastern Star today works with five degrees, the degrees are based on the story of five women in the Bible who is known as heroines, and based on the Holy Scriptures. Our slogan is “We have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him”.
Our beliefs and practices are based on the five heroines, along with our fifteen landmarks.