Evening star., 1913-11-23
Eastern Star Notes.


of entertainment.
Eastern Star Notes.
The real story of the erection of the
Masonic and Eastern Star Home-not
in its now almost completed form, but
In the first instance when it was known
simply as the Eastern Star Home"-is
Interestingly told by Mrs. Alcena
Lamond, who has been the president of
the board Of directors since its incep-
tion.
THE movement really began in 1898,
when the necessity for such an insti-
tuition was forcibly impressed upon the
women of the Masonic families of the
District of Columbia, who had formed
branches or chapters of the Order of
the Eastern Star in the District of
Columbia. A Mason had died leaving
three little children without means of
support. and their helpless condition so
Impressed the women of the Eastern
Star that a committee was appointed
by the Grand Chapter to consider the
advisability and the practicability of
establishing home in the District to
meet the exigencies of just such cases.
The report, favorable one, was adopt
ed, and the committee was continued
as permanent committee to take the
matter in hand and push the project to
completion
"A communication was sent by this
committee to every Eastern Star chapter
In the District, in which it was asked that
the chapter indicate it's wish in the mat
ter and If it would be willing to contribute
such a home. The response was not only
favorable, but enthusiastic, and, assured
Of hearty support from its own, the Grand
Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star,
through It's proper channels, addressed
the Grand Lodge Of Masons of the Dis
tr1ct Of Columbia, asking it's approval OF
the establishment of the home and to
name three incorporators. The Grand
chapters communication was referred by
the Grand Lodge to a special committee
which ultimately reported that while if
recognized the prospective benefits to be
derived from such an institution, it could
not recommend the active participation
OF the Grand Lodge therein. The commit
Lodge
"On March 10. 1902, the act to incorpo-
rate the Eastern Star Home for the Dis
tri5t of Columbia was approved and be-
came law The directors named in the
charter held their first meeting May a
l9O2. and organized by electing Mrs AL
cena Lamond president John A. Mover
secretary, John F. O'Neil treasurer and
L. Cabell Williamson attorney for the
board. These original officers. with the
exception of Mr.. O'Neil. who was subse-
quently replaced by James L. Marshall.
the present treasurer. have continued in
off1ce ever since, being reelected annu-
ally.
BY gathering here little and there
little, sum was finally realized that was
considered sufficient to warrant the board
In looking about for site upon which
to erect the home. Mrs. Sarah e.. Seek.
who Will always be regarded as friend
and benefactress by the Order of the
Eastern Star In the District OF Columbia,
offered five acres of beautifully located
ground for the home site. as my Offering
to the Lord His blessing Mrs. Lamond
says. has attended our efforts, and to it
In no small degree we attribute the reaIi-
zation OF our hopes through her conse-
Grafton
May II, 1905, accordingly, by invita-
tion from our board of directors the
Grand Lodge of Masons of the Dis
trict of Columbia, in the midst of a
large concourse of Masohs, members
OF the Eastern Star and our friends
laid the corner stone of the home.
Later 1t was deemed necessary to
secure larger grounds, and five acres
more were purchased from our friend
Mrs. Sarah Z. Seek, who again came
to our aid In unique way. She ac-
cepted notes for the purchase money
running for twenty years and bearing
no interest. and. by codicil in her
will provided that all notes left un
paid at her death should revert to our
board of directors. Two of the notes
were paid when she died. and the
US enabled US to dedicate one wing
of the present home free of debt
THE Grand Lodge of Masons. on the
recommendation Of the then grand
1905. passed a resolution authorizing
the Grand Chapter of the Order of
the Eastern Star to incorporate the
word Masonic as a part of the name
of the Eastern Star Home of the Dis
trict of Columbia, and it also elected
three representatives of the Grand
Lodge as members of the board of
directors.
AT the first session Of the Fifty
ninth Congress the act of incorporation
was amended. and the home became
the Masonic and Eastern Star Home
of the District of Columbia" The
amended act also provided for three
representatives from the Grand Lodge
constituent lodges in the District on
the board of directors of the home.
at it's stated communication in Sep
tember. 1906. the Grand Lodge adopted
lodges are required to contribute 25
cents per capita per annum TO the sup
port of the home, and October 16, 1906.
the Masonic and Eastern Star Home
Il
ly dedicated by Grand Master Walter A.
Brown. assisted by the other officers OF
the Grand Lodge Of Masons for the Dis
trict.
six years later, the needs of the home
having outgrown its quarters, the then
grand master. Ben w. Murch, called the
masters and wardens of the constituent
| lodges Of the District, and the then
grand matron. Mrs. Fannie Taylor.
called the matrons, the patrons and the
associate matrons of the chapters of
| the Eastern Star TO a mass meeting.
| together with the board sof directors OF
the home, which was held in Masonic
| Temple, in September. 1912. At this
| joint meeting the suggestion was Of
\ fered by Past Master Lurtin r. CHM
| that a fund be raised to complete the
home by asking each of the constituent
| lodges and each of the Eastern Star
chapters to contribute sum equal to
So per capita of their membership.
After much discussion IL was finally
adopted and later approved by the Grand
Lodge and the Grand Chapter
$50 hearty was the response to this
request that the board of directors
was enabled to arrange for the prepa-
ration of the plans and specifications
by the architects, Messrs. Kendall &
Smith, and, after competitive bids. to
award the contract for the erection of
the home to Arthur M. Poynton, the
hSAdor he OF ad