Important Dates
Wednesday March 1st Stated meeting. Dinner at 6pm Gavel at 7pm
Tuesday March 7th Masonic Discussion Group 7pm Location TBD
Thursday March 9th Zal Gaz Grotto Movie/Membership Night! 6pm
Wednesday March 15th Special Communication EA degree Dinner at 6pm gavel at 7pm
Wednesday March 22nd Master’s Table Thompson & Co. 400 North River Street, Ypsilanti, MI 48198 7pm
Wednesday March 29th Lodge of instruction, and all the questions you were too afraid to ask dinner at 6pm gavel at 7pm(master masons only)
April 2nd Annual Past Master’s Roast -Fox Hills Country Club
Wednesday April 5th Stated Meeting. As it is the first day of pass over we will be having a seder for dinner
Saturday April 22nd Detroit Masonic Temple degree 11am
March is Women’s history month, so I contacted Sister Secretary Mary Gordon of Ypsilanti Chapter 119 Order of the Eastern Stars of Michigan and asked if she would be so kind as to tell us about OES a primarily women’s group in the Masonic Family
The Order of the Eastern Star is the largest Fraternal Organization in the World that both women and men can belong. The Order was founded by Dr. Rob Morris, a Master Mason and a poet Laureate of Masonry in 1850. In 1858-1859 Dr. Morris served as Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in Kentucky. Both Dr. Morris and his wife Charlotte worked on the idea of the Order and invited brother Masons and their wives to discuss the plans. Dr. Morris also wrote the first Ritual for the Order of the Eastern Star under the title of “The Rosary of the Eastern Star.” In 1866 Dr. Morris became associated with Mr. Robert Macoy of New York City. When Dr. Morris departed for the Holy Land, he transferred to Robert Macoy all the authority. In 1867 and 1868 Mr. Macoy compiled and published a Ritual using Dr. Morris Rosary as a guide. The was the beginning of the Order of the Eastern Star in the United States. The first Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star was organized in Michigan in 1867.
The Degrees of Eastern Star were created around the lives of five Biblical woman, Adah, Ruth, Esther, Martha and Electa. These five women were selected for their Biblical examples that stand for one of the principles of the order, Fidelity, Consistency, Loyalty, Faith and Love.
The Order of the Eastern Star provides us with a means of compassion and concern, not only for our fellow Sisters and Brothers in the Order of the Eastern Star, but to ourselves, our Country and our faith. Most of us want to do something for others and the Order of Eastern Star offers that guidance. When we meet on a monthly basis it is not only for business but also for fellowship. We are here to give a helping hand.
Our Charities are; The Benevolence Fund that helps our sisters and brothers in need. The Education Fund that offers scholarships to those pursuing higher education at a college or a trade school. We also have scholarships for those pursuing a divinity degree, music degree and advance degrees. Our Service Dog Charity supports Paws with a Cause, and Leader Dogs. We also support The Jaeger Foundation that pairs puppies with veterans and first responders who are in need of a service dog.
To belong a woman must be either a wife, daughter, legally adopted daughter, mother, widow, sister, half-sister, granddaughter daughter-in-law, Step mother, stepdaughter, step sister, great granddaughter, niece, great niece, mother-in-law, sister-in-law, of affiliated Master Mason or a Mason who has passed away but was in good standing, or members of either active for three (3) years or majority of the International Order of Rainbow for Girls or the International Order of Job’s Daughters.
For a man to join he must be a Master Mason in good standing
OES letter to 262