Order of Eastern Star Week 1 Flashcards

Dr. Robert Morris

• Founder of the Order of Eastern Star and known as the Master Builder of the organization.
• Born on August 31, 1818, and became a Master Mason on March 5, 1846, in Oxford, Mississippi.
• Taught at "The Little Red Brick School Building" during 1849-1850.
• Authored the first ritual, "The Rosary of the Eastern Star," in 1850.
• Died on July 31, 1888; memorialized with a marble column featuring the square and compass and a five-pointed star.

Order of Eastern Star

• Established its first Grand Chapter in Michigan in 1867.
• The General Grand Chapter was organized on November 16, 1876, in Indianapolis, Indiana.
• On August 10, 1874, Thornton Jackson received various degrees from C.B. Case and Robert Macoy.

Chapters and Legacy

• Queen Esther Chapter No. 1 was the first Eastern Star chapter for black women, established in Washington D.C. by Georgiana Thomas.
• Queen of Sheba Chapter No. 3 was established by Thornton Jackson on April 28, 1890.
• Gethsemane Chapter No. 4 was established on October 20, 1890.
• Thornton Jackson played a significant role in establishing multiple chapters, including one in Alexandria, Virginia, and three in both Maryland and Pennsylvania.

Badges and Traditions

• Pythagoras Lodge No. 9 presented the first badges known as Rosettes to the officers of Queen Esther Chapter No. 1 in 1875.
• Thornton Jackson encouraged the officers of Queen Esther Chapter to wear Rosettes with dignity to honor the memory of the five heroines: Adah, Ruth, Esther, Martha, and Electa.

Milestones

• In 1884, a notable achievement was celebrated when 500,000 Master Masons were crowned with laurel wreaths, symbolizing the Poet Laureate of Masonry.
• In 1950, the General Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star marked the 100th Anniversary of the writing of its ritual.