Omaha daily bee., 1896-07-19

THE STAR.
Work ACCOMPLISHED by Freemnsons

Work Accomplished by FrccnnsOns'
sisters. Mothers and daughters.
To perform with zeal any work which
their hands find to do, by the wayside, in
the workshop or the home is the aim of the
100, 900 and more earnest women who form
the organization known as the Eastern Star.
This order has lately had it's annual con-
%vention, and the work which it mapped
out for the coming year is to raise funds
for building an Eastern Star home, where
those of its members who need shelter,
either from age, illness or misfortune, can
find 1t.
When a woman becomes a member of the
Order of the Eastern Star she has stepped
o"ar the mystic threshold of a Mason's
lodge in a certain sense, and has become
almost a Mason,
Under Masonic law women cannot par
ticipate in any of the rites and ceremonies
OF Masons, The female relatives, therefore,
of the brethren had a reasonable prejudice
against the craft because or their isolation
from it, and they believed that the influence
welded against Masonry would be turned
in its favor by the foundation of an order
of similar purposes, but combining its mem
bers to a Masonic relationship: that is, one
cannot become a member of the order un,
less she is a mother, daughter, sister or
wife of a Mason.
although the Order OF the Eastern Star
Is a comparatively youthful organization, -
san bliN vi Ait . , a similar OIutI
has existed in France for nearly 200 years;
it was established under the same auspices
and with objects nearly identical TO those
of our order"
Among the objects for which the order was
founded, not the least important are to com
fort the sorrowing, relieve the distressed,
and nurse the sick. The badge is a five,
pointed star, and there are five degrees;
that of Adah, the daughters of Ruth, the
widows OF Esther, the wives of Martha, the
EiGtlrg anR Rfth that % MI -
mothers. The Biblical characters represent
moral virtues. Ruth illustrating devotion to
religious principle with the color yellow rep.
resented by jessamine; Esther. illustrating
fidelity to kindred and friends, with the
color white, represented by the lily; Martha.
illustrating faith in the hour OF trial, with
the color of green, represented by the pine
leaf; Electa, illustrating patience under
wrongs, with the color red, represented by
the rose.
At the installation of officers. the only
time when the uninitiated are allowed
within the sacred precincts of a Masonic
lodge, the ceremonie are most interesting:
FIVE members, sisters, represent the five
points OF the star; the matrons and patrons
appear in the regalia; each officer, wearing
her own special Jewel" and scarf, takes up
her station, one in the east. one in the west.
one in the south. one in the north, one at
the door inside and one at the door outside.
The ceremonies are closed by the grand
marshal, who says: Il proclaim that the
officers Of tho Eastern Star are regularly
Installed for the ensuing year; | proclaim il
from the south, | proclaim II from the west
| proclaim II from the east"
Attractive names are given to the diff
ferent chapters, For instance, the New
York and Brooklyn chapters are designated
as Floral, Stella, Orient, Arcturus. Crescent,
Eyangeline, Concordia, Laurel, Alma,
Harmonic. Alpha, Delta. and Esther: Beacon
Light is the name OF the Staten Island
chapter, and Ruth, Golden Rule. Radiant.
Rising Star and Bethlehem are other pretty
titles by which various chapters are des-
ignated. In all there are about 100 chapters,