Traditionally, members must be eighteen years or older and either Master Masons in good standing or properly related to a Master Mason in good standing. The latter category includes wives, widows, sisters, daughters, mothers, granddaughters, step-mothers, step-daughters, step-sisters and half-sisters. In 1994 this was expanded to include neices, daughters-in-law and grandmothers. A growing number of chapters are begining to allow non-masonicly affiliated women to be initiated. Bethel No. 7B does not require Masonic affiliation of new initiates.
Each chapter has eighteen officers, some elected and others appointed. Two officers are specifically male (Patron and Associate Patron) while nine officers are specifically female (including the Matron and Associate Matron). While the Worth Matron is considered to be the presiding officer of the chapter, the degrees cannot be conferred without a presiding brother in good standing (hence the Patron or Associate Patron). Each chapter retains the right to decide who shall be a member of the organization. Election to the degrees must be unanimous, without debate and secret. The successful candidate must profess a belief in a Supreme Being and is initiated in five degrees, which are confered in one ceremony. (When Eastern Star was created, it was intended to be the first of a three degree series. The second and third degrees were Queen of the South and the Order of the Aramanth, respectively.)
Even though degrees are based in both the Old and New Testaments, OES requires only the believe in a Supreme Being. Non-Christians are not barred from membership.
The above article was edited from Dave Stites Masonic FAQ page.
Rite Among Black Women
Past Grand Worthy Matron Jessie Mae Ayers
In obedience to the authority granted by William H. Myers, Grand Master, Union Grand Lodge, Jurisdiction of the District of Columbia, Brother Jackson established the first Eastern Star Chapter among Black women in the United States. On December 1, 1874, Queen Esther Chapter No. 1, Order of the Eastern Star, was established at 708 O St. NW, Washington, DC in the home of Mrs. Georgiana Thomas. The first Worthy Matron was Sister Martha Welch and the first Worthy Patron was Brother Thornton A. Jackson.
In December 1874, Grand Master Willilam H. Myers and Deputy Grand Master William A. Tallaferro, Union Grand Lodge, Jurisdiction of the District of Columbia, were invited to recieve the androgynous degrees. They both accepted, thus further cementing the ties that bind the Masonic family together. Upon the occasion of Grand Master Myers' initiation into the Adoptive Rite, he made the following statement to the sisters of Queen Esther Chapter No. 1-- extolling them to greatness: "May the dove of peace hover over you. May the All Seeing Eye, whome the Sun, Moon and Stars obey ever watch over you. May he keep and protect you in your every effort to provote interests in the general good of this chapter."
On April 28, 1890, Queen of Sheba Chapter No. 3 and on October 20, 1890, Gethsemane Chapter No. 4, Order of the Eastern Star, were established by Thornton A. Jackson within the Jurisdiction of the District of Columbia.
He was also instrumental and helped to establish one chapter in Alexandria, Virginia, three chapters in Maryland and three chapters in Pennsylvania. In each instance when a chapter was organized and established, it was adopted by a regularly constitued masonic Lodge. Thus, Brother Jackson was able to bring about more unity within the Masonic Family.
During the year 1875, Pythagoras Lodge No. 9 presented the officers of Queen Esther Chapter NO. 1 with their first badges which were known as Rosettes. This presentation was made by Worthy Patron Thronton A. Jackson who wished the chapter success and prosperity inthe work upon which they were entering.
He admonished the officers to wear the Rosettes with dignity keeping ever before them the memory of the five Heroines: Adah, Ruth, Esther, Marth and Electa. In closing, Brother Jackson stated "To you Queen Esther Chapter and Associates, the representatives of the rays of the beautiful star and from whom comes the most charming, the most prophetic and the most instrucitve lessons of the Old and New Testaments. May you always through an air of beauty and solemnity around all that you bring thousands to worship Him."
This has been our charge as bona fide members of the Order of Eastern Stars since 1875 to this present moment in time.
And so it was one hundred years after the founding of the first Black Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, Queen Esther Chapter No. 1, Order of the Eastern Star, was officially instituted in the City of Washington in the District of Columbia.