The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-06-29

have taken a new interest in our
fraternity, and that the average at
tendance of the Lodge meetings has
increased wonderfully. | would like
to see a chapter established wherever
we have a subordinate lodge, espec-
tally in the rural districts and small
er towns in the State, as | am thor
oughly convinced that the softening
and ennobling influence of the lady
members would tend to make us all
better and purer men.
Il am proud to say that 1 am now
member Of the Order of the East
ern Star, and consider the ceremony
Of initiation one Of the prettiest have
ever seen. The lessons taught are
sublime, and the furniture and re-
gala necessary are within the reach
| OF every community. And while, as
L stated last year. we cannot recog-
nize the Order as in any way belong
ing to and being part Of the Mason
1c fraternity, we should, as Masons,
do the best that in us lies for the ad-
vancement Of the ssterhood that our
mothers, our sisters. our wives and
our daughters love and revere"
The Steady Growth of the Order in
South Carolina.
When Brother Niche wrote the
above he was correct as far as the in
formation he then had, but since then
other chapters have been instituted,
and we now number "a and the mem
bership is about 1900 nearly equally
distributed between sisters and
brothers.
This sketch is printed and idstrib-
uted for the purpose of acauainting
Masons and others who would be in
terested with the work Of the Eastern
Star and the good it is doing, with
the hope that many will become in
terested and help extend the Or
der by having chapters organized
throughout South Carolina, so that
our usefulness and help in building
|
the Masonic Home may be greater.
How Easy it is to Organize a Chap
| ter.
In order to organize a chapter it
is necessary to have a petition for a
dispensation signed by at least 20 or
80 persons eligible for membership
A blank petition with all necessary
information will be glaly furnished
on application to the Grand Patron.
Much of the preparation of this
sketch was done by my devoted wife
before she was called to her reward
She was devoted to the Order and
to the budding Of the Masonic Home.
In both Of her annual addresses TO The
! Grand Chapter and by a number of
circular letters. and in al Of hoy
! talks In esta nlishing chapters she
urged the Eastern Star members 10
take UP actively this grand work. 7
| Know no better way 10 close this than
| by quoting few lines written by her
| ~ASS~ ~ AiCA last dHHudl aO-
dress. and as a slight tribute to her
| precious memory I crave Indulgence
for the use here. In speaking of the
| Easter Star she loved so we'll. she
said:
| May 1t shine on the mountain. cast
its spell on the vale,
And it's mystical radiance on all
hearts prevail;
For sweet is the truth on the Rituals
page,
Seen by the rays of that magical
star.
Open to those of all cline and age.
Who living and loving it's clasp will
unbar.
Glorious Star, whose beautiful light.
Scatters the darkness and illumines
the night,
May the glow of it's rays in all hearts
be cast,
Until it's truth and it's beauty are
understood at last"
D. A. G. QUITS, w. G. P.
Greenwood, S. c.