New Britain herald., 1921-07-02
SAY EASTERN STAR
 WILL NOW SUSPEND
Penna. Grand Master Bars
 MasonS as Members
l}al' S

Wilkes-Barre, Pa., July 2.-That there is grave danger of the Order O. the Eastern Star, sometimes known as the women's branch, or Ladies Aux i.iary of the Masonic fraternity, ols- banding in this state because of ru1- ing by the Grand Master of the Penn sylvania Grand lodge, A. F. and A. M., is admitted here, authough no definite action has been reported to date.
 l. While it is reported the Order of the Eastern Star has been dissolved, of- ficers for the ensuing year have been elected.
 Past and present officers declined to discuss reports that the Grand Chap Ter, in annual session at Wilkes-Barre, Pa., last week, ordered either the complete dissolution or temporary suspension of the order in this state
 This action, it is reported, was ta- ken by the Grand Chapter, following the edict on June 1 by John $. Sell, of Greensburg, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania of Free and Accepted Masons.
 Under MT. Sells ultimatun, about 1000 Masons of the 150,00 in Penn sylvania who belong to the Order of Eastern Star, must sever their mem bership in that order or must relin- quish their utilization with the Ma sonic order.
 In his edict, Grand Master Sell says:
 From a number of reliable Ma sonic sources it is now demonstrated that agencies and influences are ac- &l>s- through an organization known as The Order of the Eastern Star, and other organizations hereinafter re- ferred to, which organizations have in recent years received as associates in their work, members of this Fra ternity, which are now personally identified herewith, and which, as at present conducted, seriously interfere with our long established and law fully recognized procedure.
 With social or fraternal bodies ex- ercising authority over other agencies for the good of humanity, by what ever name they may be called, or from whatever source they claim to derive tLeir initial authority, we have noth- ing to do, and have no desire to inter fere in any way, leaving them to gov ern themselves and manage their own concerns in their own way. This Grand Lodge, however, denies the right of any body or association, or any member of it, to interfere with the due and orderly management of our fraternal affairs
 In addition to the Order of the Eastern Star, Grand Master Sell in- structs Masons to drop out of the White Shrine of Jerusalem, the Amaranths, or any organization pur- porting to have Masonic utilization and whose mem bership is composed of both sexes.
 The Order of the Eastern Star has a mem bership of more than 1,500, 900 m nembers in the United States and 65, 900 in Pennsylvania. It is said forty eight new chapters of the order were organized in Pennsylvania in the past year. The order has never been offic- ely recognized by the Masons of Pennsylvania, though it has made re- peated efforts for such recognition. Tie order is composed of mem bers of the Masons, their wives, sisters, daughters and mothers. The order is recognized by Masonic lodges of the West, where it is permitted in some places to use Masonic halls for it's I'll eetings.
 The grand master Mason's ultima tum is said to have been due to an ta gonism arising in Western Pennsyl- vania, due to Eastern Star women in