The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-02-18
FEMALE MAS0NS.
The Eastern STAR - Tentative
@ E Branch ut Chicago.
From the Chicago Times, Jan. 26. ]

From the Chicago Times, Jan. 26l
1t is now about three years since .
regular organized branch of Masonr,
for the benefit of women has been or
ganized. At the time indicated, Rob
ert Morris, Esq, of kentucky, pre-
pared series of lectures and devised
ritual that should embrace certain
points of the Masonic rites to which la
dies might he eligible. Previous t.
this there had been the "Families,n y ar
informal organization which included
women, hut which had nothing def.
mite in the shape of principles or rules.
Mr.. Morris was and is well known tC
the fraternity as an able writer, and
excefieny lecturer and writer upon sub
jects pertaining to the craft, and his
propositions forming societies of thena-
ture i'm question was very favOrably re-
ceived, and is now being adopted in
several cities.
The order is denominated the "East>
ern Star" branch of Masonry, and is
.ub,livided into chapters, each of
which has an appropriate name. No
ladies can be admitted who are Eot, or
have not been,, Immediately related to
n master Mason, either as wife, moth
er, daughter or sister. The order con-
sists of five degrees, all of which are
taken at one time, and it has COM
plete code of grips, signs, passwords,
etc. .t7l' '~
The Chicago division of the order of
the Eastern Star is known as Miriam
Chapter, No. /, and was organized
about one year ago. The rule of the
order make it optional with the mem
bers to hold the yearly installation OF
officers i'm public or not, and the ladies
of Miriam Chapter concluded to keep
sopen house, on the occasion of the
second annual installation in their
lodge. A large number of frienus OF
the members were present on last eve
ming, at Blaney Lodge Hall, the apart
ment used by this chapter. The exer-
cises were found TO resemble somewhat
the ceremonies that are attendant upon
public installations i'm lodges of Master
Masons. The programme consisted OF
singing and an Introductory prayer,
after which the officers elect, portion
of whom were gentlemen, were sepa-
rately inducted in t,reir offices. After
this.the principal address of the even
ing was given, o. III. Horton, Esq,
being the orator. He was followed by
DIR. McWilliams, NJ. J. Bailey and
Others, all of whom made brief and aa6-
propriate remarks The formal cefe.
monies closed with an ode, sung by
all the members, the remainder of tht
evening being taken up with social
converse.
All of the ladies We're adorned will
certain mysterious and tastefully ar,
ranged regalia, the officials being de-
noted by trappings of more elaborate
nature. .
The officers for the ensuing year are
as follows: H--u<
Worthy Patron, DIR. S. A. McWil-
liams; Worthy Matron, Mrs. Joseph
Butler; Associate Matron, Mrs. G. I.
Wilt; Treasurer, Mrs. a. B. Hight
Secretary, Mrs. Joseph Gallagher
Warden, Mrs. Charles Magee; Sentinel,
Jacob Kuhn. .fi, ..l.... ,r ..
Adah-Mrs. Robert Tarrent.
Ruth-Mrs. c. j. Hall.
Esther-N. NJ. Bassett.
Martins ha-Miss'Mary Peters.
- ElectsLMrs. NJ. A. j. Ogden.
The last five officers named especial
Iy are peculiar to this order, and are
known as the five points of the Eastern
lfal