The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-01-19
NATAL DAY Of ORDER
Eastern Star Ladies Celebrate
Anniversary Last Night.
OLD DAYS ARE RECALLED.
History Of The Organ zation Waich Is
an Auxiliary to Masonry;
The PIcgram.
OLD DAYS ARE RECALLED,
From Thursdays Daily.

From Thursdays Daily.
The Masonic hall on Second street
was well filled last evening by members
of the Order of the Eastern Star who as
sembled to celebrate the thirty fourth
anniversary of the organization of Cereal
chapter. Masonic authority tells us that
Brother Robert Morris first conceived the
idea of the order, although the Adaptive
Rite was in force in France two hun
dred years ago. 1t is recorded that JOS
ephine, the first wife of Napoleon was a
member of the order, which was much
patronized by the nobility in the year of
1870, Many systems of adaptive ma
sorry have from time to time been in
ried success, none of which, however,
have seemed to pass the elements of per-
manency excepting the Order of the
Eastern Star. The order in this coun-
try was planned by Robert Morris dur
ing a time when he was confined to his
home by an accident. His idea was to
enable the wives, sisters, mothers and
daughters of Masons to make themselves
known when in need of assistance. He
came to Mankato and organized Cereal
chapter Dec. IL, 1871, i'll the old stone
building on Front street which was the
home of the Masonic lodge for many
years. A meeting was soon called to
select a name for the new order and DR..
c. F. Warner suggested the name of
Cereal as this part of the state and es-
pccially Blue Earth county, was be-
coming famous as an agricultural To-
cality and as these pioneers were always
on the lookout to boom Mankato it is
suspected there was a motive in the
choice of name for the oldest chapter
in the state.
Among the charter members present
last evening who gave interesting remin-
essences were Mrs. c. +. Warner, who
has served the chapter as worthy matron
seven years III all; Mr.. and Mrs. Clark
Keysor, Mrs. Frank Fowler, and Mr. and
Mrs. c. A. Chapman. Mr.. Chapman serv-
ed the state as worthy grand patron
one year.
Cereal Chapter No. now numbers l46
members, some of whom reside outside
4
present responded when their name was
called. Some responded with musical
numbers. Mr.. Thomas Gardner sang a
delightful solo accompanied by Mrs.
Grace Fox Mrs. Sherman, Miss Jessie
Mead, Mrs Baker and Miss Smyth de-
lighted all with mandolin number.
Letters of greeting, were read from a
number of absent members, among them
Rev. and Mrs Geo. Ii. Davis of Fari-
bault; Mr.. and Mrs. S. W. Gleason of
St. Charles and Mrs. Curran of Wells.
Mrs NJ. d. Fritz, the retiring secre-
tarv, who has filled that office for seven
years, presented the chapter with hand
somely bound volume of the Grand
Chapter proceedings for the past seven
years.
After the roll call the newly elected Of
fcers were duly installed by Senator
Eberhart, who acted as installing officer
At the close of the ceremonies a splen-
did banquet was served by the brothers
of the chapter who not only demonstrate
ed their ability in the Kitchen but waited
upon the ladies in the most approved
style. 1t was midnight when the merry
assemblage broke up and went to their
several homes.