Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-12-01

"A Tour OF Inspections Something About
the Order.

r Mrsi katherine c. Morrill,, associate
tn. matron Of Maine, has returned
/, vicinity. ~ rsockiaho anu
~ 0 III tsn an increase in membership
Interest," ~ sb CHAPTERS visited. also a marked
throughout the State. wSo are m Mns%rs
OF the Y, r. 8. among whom are minis
shovi Moct sh, lawyers and teachers, thus
Star ranks high among those wh" . re-
educatea and refined.
Staustlcs show there is no fraternai or
- lie NIL on u the country which Includes
| -. i's ..sempership so many literary men
ana women. and when we remember thar
me nrst lady In the land" Mrs. McKin-
n les; mas ra Deen for years and il now an
| acuvS mcmOer Of this order, ii Is not
necessary to say that people or culf,Ire
anu tennement are Interested In the work
ana teacnings OF this beautiful order.
MI Mill sysIems of adaptive Masonry
nave from time to time, been introduced
INTO the United States with varied sue
cess, none Of which, however, seemed to
possess me elements of permanency, ex-
tcept the order Of the Eastern Star. which
year ITS.
The degrees of the Eastern Star were
arranged by Robert Morris. LID. fsuh
sequen!y grand master of Masons OF
Kentucky in 1850, who communica ted
them 70 several thousands of Masons and
! their iema.e relatives in all parts of the
country. Inc degrees We're thus commu-
| nicated Dy robert Morris only, as they
We're not printed in the form OF u ritual
un,I 1860.
! In 1866 Mr. Morris reeast the work and
II was first printed under the name OF
| The Mosaic Book BY reason Of the
elaborateness of the ritual work, and the
| expense of the necessary paraphernalia.
| as well as the amount of high drama til.
talent required to exenlplify the degrees
properly. none Of the Subordinate con-
s,t:siIations which had been organized Ii,
different states were a success, and ali
soon ceased to exist
In 1856 Robert Macoy, subsequently
grand patron of the Grand Chapter Of
New York arranged a manual which was
| more widely used than any that had pre-
coded H. and under his guidance the Su-
preme Grand Chapter OF the United
states was organized in 1868. while dur
ing the next eight years over COO chap
| tiers were organized in "a states ant
territories. The origin. of the ritual-al-
though generally attributed TO Robert
Morris. To whom all credits for it's Amer
lean production is due--was probably In
France or Sweden. about the middle OF
the eighteenth century. when the present
name was given the order. and the char
actcrs portrayed In the several degrees
were first presented for the emulation Of
Masons and their female. relatives.
In the first ritual Published In this
country in 1875 under the authority of inc
Supreme Constellation. Is foand the fo.-
lowing: In selecting some Androgynons
degree. extensively known. ancient in
date. and ample in scope for the basis
Of this rite. the choice falls without con-
troversy upon The Eastern Star For
this Is 81 degree familiar to thousands of
the most enlightened York Masons and
their female relatives; established in
this country at least before ITS, and one
which popularity bears the palm In
point of doctrine and elegance over all
others" The degree upon which the
American Adaptive Rite is built is very
ancient. more so by far than any other
save the YORK rite and is mentioned In
all comprehensive treatise upon the earl
lest history Of Free Masonry
In the history of this order the first
era presents as its leading character. the
founder and patriarch, Robert Morris
who viii long live in ancient craft Ma
sorry as the author of: I'VE meet upon
the level and we part upon the square,
while his labors in the Eastern Star have
been those of architect and master build
er. In the earliest days of the general
grand chapter, he did not receive the
courtesies 70 which he thought he was
entitled: but later suitable PREPARATION
was made by electing him an honorary
member and setting apart his birthday
august 81. 1879, as the festal day of the
order.
The following is an extract from an
address he gave when being informed OF
the unexpected honor conferred upon
him.
wait fifteen or twenty years, and let
the General Grand Chapter have chance
to demonstrate the good that l am sure
is in it. and which will result in such a
grand success that the Masonic Frater-
nifty will accept it as helpmeet for it,
and be surprised that it did not take it
up sooner. for. properly worked out. X
will form a grand attachment OF Freema-
sonry. This felt years ago. and trust
that the day will come when every lodge
will have i'll connection with IL a chap
ter of the Eastern Star"
In the second era. the most prominent
character was Robert Macoy of New
York, whose life has been full of devoted
work for FreemasOnry, and who did sue
cessful work in laying the foundation
for the orders present prosperity.
Although the third era has abounded,
and still abounds, with men and women
who stood or stand high in the social
one is more worthy of mention than
Thomas NJ. Lamb whose labors in con-
nection with the ritual, as promulgated
by the General Grand Chapter, have lett
their impress upon that document. and
consequently. upon the work of the or
der for long years To come. He held the
offices of patron, grand secretary, grand
patron of Massachusetts. and most
Grand Chapter of the United States. and
in all of these positions he ever showci!
an unfaiiing interest in, and a love Tor,
the teachings of the Order of the Eastern
Star.
At present there are 20 constituted
chapters in Maine. and several others
which working under dspensations,
with an aggregate membership of about
G000.
The O. F. s. has fourished in the West
for upwards of 36 years, and in the east
it is rapidly gaining ground. for it is an
Organiza ton that has surely come to
stay. and the better class of noble-mind-
ed Masons recognize its true worth and
feel honored by having the Eastern Star
Chapter hold their meetings within the
sacred portals of their temples.