Hey MOM im a DeMolay in Memphis Tennessee how r u?[/QUOTE]
Hi there Memphis! I'm doing great..how are you? Sorry it took me so long to answer, but my son came home from Iraq, and I got married a few weeks ago. Are you still in DeMolay? My daughter is active on the state Rainbow.
I got down to Memphis a few years ago with Red Cross......got to view "the ducks" and had some fantastic foods while there.
Mom Jean

Welcome Sister!

I know so little about this, but I found out that my grandmother was a member of the Eastern Star and she had a "50 year pin" and was quite proud of it.

She passed away a few months ago and it was only then I found out about this. I was surprised too, because I knew her so well, but somehow didn't know about this part of her life. I'm really very interested in it because my grandma was such a beautiful woman - in every way. May she rest in eternal peace.

Not sure where to post this, but my cousin told me that one of the reasons my grandma loved gospel hymns so much was because of the Eastern Star. She said they sang those old hymns.

That warms my heart.

Welcome to the board PB.
The Eastern Star Ladies are very fine women. Who strive to do good in their communities.

John

quote:

Originally posted by Celticpiper:
Welcome to the board PB.
The Eastern Star Ladies are very fine women. Who strive to do good in their communities.

John

Thanks.

I know that to be true because she touched so many lives and everyone loved her. And the sweetest disposition.

For some reason that seems to be the quality of Eastern Star women.

Sweet!

And you know I'm going to ask how I can become one?

quote:

Originally posted by sgtmom:
Thanks for adding us! Member at large at the moment. Any other sisters out there???

Sgt Mom

Signing in. This is the group that my chapter belongs to:
http://www.paeasternstar.org/pa_oes_history.htm
Go to 2001-2010 then 2007, then Session -- a nice picture.
Then go to district deputies...does your order wear white?

quote:

Originally posted by Lucyfan:
Hello all! I spoke with FleetLiberal on another thread about getting information on joining your group and he said I should come here. I have done a little research and I saw that you have to be related to a Mason in order to join. My father was a Mason, however I do believe he left and is no longer one. Can you provide any information/help? Thanks!

You do not have to be related to a Mason to join the order if you are male, you just have to ask. If you are a woman you need to have a husband, father or grandfather, etc. who was a mason. It does not matter if he was in "Good Standing" ie: dues paid. As long as he was a mason you can join Eastern Star.

Col Murph, with all due respect, it does INDEED matter, at least in the Grand Chapter of California, if the qualifying Mason was in good standing or not. The proper Masonic relationship as defined by the General Grand Chapter is: A MASTER Mason who is either the Husband, Father, Grandfather, Uncle, Brother, or Son of the petitioner. There are two exceptions to this rule: If a woman has been either a Rainbow or a Job's Daughter and she received her Majority through either organization, even if her Masonic was not close enough (Rainbows need only be RECOMMENDED by a Master Mason but do not have to have any Masonic relationship whatsoever to belong, for example), then she would be, upon a favorable report from the Committee of Investigation and the ballot of the Chapter, be admitted into the Order to receive our beautiful degrees.

As a Past Matron, when I presided in the East, One of the 7 promises I made at the Altar at Installation was to see that the laws and regulations of the Grand Chapter were obeyed. If a report of Committee of Investigation returned to me from the brother on that Committee stated the Masonic relationship was not or had not been in good standing at the time of his death, I would have been obligated to go to the petitioner and inform her of this, ask her to withdraw her petition for the time being while she talked with the Lodge her family member had belonged to and restore them to good standing, if deceased. Of course, upon that assurance from the Lodge, which the brother on the Committee of Investigation would contact, she would be most welcome to resubmit her petition to mine or any other Chapter of her choice.

Also, if a Brother is suspended from his Lodge for nonpayment of his dues, he is to be suspended from the rights and privilegs of the Order as well until his Lodge dues are made current and he is restored to Good Standing. I encountered this very situation as a young Worthy Matron in 1992.

CalDreaming.
Sounds like California splits hairs. First time I have heard that if a member of the family is suspended for dues. The petitioner is not entitled to become an Eastern Star. A Mason being suspended for dues is still a Mason. That can only be taken away by being expelled by the Grand Lodge after a Masonic Trial. The only difference is that he is not entitled to the right and privileges of the Craft.
Col-Murph is correct in the USA with maybe the exception of California.

Celtic Piper PDDGM

As a Past Master that had to suspend members for non-payment of dues, we do send notices to all co coordinate bodies and other lodges. If a member dies without paying dues, he will still get a Masonic funeral and depending on his widows finance's the lodge can make a choice about Masonic charity (and yes my lodge has extended masonic charity to a widow whoes husband was suspended). But if I get a request for information concering if someone is a mason in the lodge, I'd give them all the information that is required, yes he was a mason, sorry he's passed away, and that's about it. If the member is passed away, if he was suspended for dues. That is a matter for the lodge only. Why should his family suffer? In 2007 I've been really turned off of the Eastern Star, I've heard people who I thought were ladies use the N word. The same ladies went to the Grand Master because of the way I wanted to have dinner tables arranged for Stated Meeting dinners. And if I get notice that a member is suspended from Eastern Star for dues I tell them sorry it's none of our business.
Bryan

quote:

Originally posted by Celticpiper:
CalDreaming.
Sounds like California splits hairs. First time I have heard that if a member of the family is suspended for dues. The petitioner is not entitled to become an Eastern Star. A Mason being suspended for dues is still a Mason. That can only be taken away by being expelled by the Grand Lodge after a Masonic Trial. The only difference is that he is not entitled to the right and privileges of the Craft.
Col-Murph is correct in the USA with maybe the exception of California.

Celtic Piper PDDGM

This message has been edited. Last edited by: USNGunner1,

That is the right thing to do Gunner. For some reason some lodges, appendent bodies and Grand Lodges have forgotten it not just monetary giving that separates us from the ordinary. It's just doing the right thing.

quote:

Originally posted by USNGunner1:
As a Past Master that had to suspend members for non-payment of dues, we do send notices to all co coordinate bodies and other lodges. If a member dies without paying dues, he will still get a Masonic funeral and depending on his widows finance's the lodge can make a choice about Masonic charity (and yes my lodge has extended masonic charity to a widow whoes husband was suspended). But if I get a request for information concering if someone is a mason in the lodge, I'd give them all the information that is required, yes he was a mason, sorry he's passed away, and that's about it. If the member is passed away, if he was suspended for dues. That is a matter for the lodge only. Why should his family suffer? In 2007 I've been really turned off of the Eastern Star, I've heard people who I thought were ladies use the N word. The same ladies went to the Grand Master because of the way I wanted to have dinner tables arranged for Stated Meeting dinners. And if I get notice that a member is suspended from Eastern Star for dues I tell them sorry it's none of our business.
Bryan

quote:

Originally posted by Celticpiper:
CalDreaming.
Sounds like California splits hairs. First time I have heard that if a member of the family is suspended for dues. The petitioner is not entitled to become an Eastern Star. A Mason being suspended for dues is still a Mason. That can only be taken away by being expelled by the Grand Lodge after a Masonic Trial. The only difference is that he is not entitled to the right and privileges of the Craft.
Col-Murph is correct in the USA with maybe the exception of California.

Celtic Piper PDDGM

CEMAB4Y, Please contact me at 303-717-1189. The I have 38 years in service and most of those as a Mason. I would like to hear more from you regarding your posting about favoritism and everything else that was alluded to.

He is in Iraq, I would'nt hope for a phone call soon
Bryan

quote:

Originally posted by Beaucant:
CEMAB4Y, Please contact me at 303-717-1189. The I have 38 years in service and most of those as a Mason. I would like to hear more from you regarding your posting about favoritism and everything else that was alluded to.

Greetings All! I was recently introduced to this page by a Brother that received an e-mail from TerryTCT. I am currently in Iraq and have been a Star for a short time (less than a year). It is good to know you all are here.

quote:

Originally posted by USNGunner1:
As a Past Master that had to suspend members for non-payment of dues, we do send notices to all co coordinate bodies and other lodges. If a member dies without paying dues, he will still get a Masonic funeral and depending on his widows finance's the lodge can make a choice about Masonic charity (and yes my lodge has extended masonic charity to a widow whoes husband was suspended). But if I get a request for information concering if someone is a mason in the lodge, I'd give them all the information that is required, yes he was a mason, sorry he's passed away, and that's about it. If the member is passed away, if he was suspended for dues. That is a matter for the lodge only. Why should his family suffer? In 2007 I've been really turned off of the Eastern Star, I've heard people who I thought were ladies use the N word. The same ladies went to the Grand Master because of the way I wanted to have dinner tables arranged for Stated Meeting dinners. And if I get notice that a member is suspended from Eastern Star for dues I tell them sorry it's none of our business.
Bryan

quote:

Originally posted by Celticpiper:
CalDreaming.
Sounds like California splits hairs. First time I have heard that if a member of the family is suspended for dues. The petitioner is not entitled to become an Eastern Star. A Mason being suspended for dues is still a Mason. That can only be taken away by being expelled by the Grand Lodge after a Masonic Trial. The only difference is that he is not entitled to the right and privileges of the Craft.
Col-Murph is correct in the USA with maybe the exception of California.

Celtic Piper PDDGM

Gee, Bryan that really bites. But even good people who are trying to become better people sometimes blow it. At times over the last 30 years, I have gotten pretty frustrated at times - and then I look to the beauty of the lessons of the Star in the East and I realize - it's what we are to learn and then apply to our lives and interpersonal relationships that matters, personalities set aside. Some of the best people I have ever known have been in Star but sadly also some of the most meanspirited too. But, people are people - no matter what organization one belongs to. With a broad mantle of charity and kindness we have to cover our brothers and our sisters and always re-examine ourselves and our motives.

Celtic Piper, "Good Standing" is "Good Standing" - and if the regulations say it, then until we change the wording legally at a Grand level, we have to abide by the rules. Masonic laws and rules are not made to be bent nor broken. In each of our organizations, on bended knee at an altar, we promise to obey the laws and regulations of that particular body.

Bryan, our Eastern Star laws and rules, which must comply with Masonic Law, require a Chapter Secretary to notify any known dual or pleural Chapter and any Blue Lodge a brother is a member of be notified when that member is suspended - whether it is for nonpayment or something more serious. The Secretary doesn't make the rules, he/she just carries them out if he/she is doing their job.

The saddest thing I used to have to do as Chapter Secretary was notify members in Janary that their dues were in the arears and I used to plead with them that if there was a reason they could not pay their dues just to say so so that I could request a dues remission on their behalf without name ever being mentioned in Chapter - because it is our responsibility as brothers and sisters to care for our members - through the great times and the rough times as well. And then, if they didn't respond know that come the second year of nonpayment and without a response or request for remission or even a dimit that they had to be notified of suspension from the Order for nonpayment of dues. I absolutely hated mailing suspension notices because each and every one of our brothers and sisters should be that important to us - We are family.

But regardless, our Masonic bodies are for good people who only want to become better people - and we are all only human. It is the focus of the lessons from each body that helps us with that internalized desire to do good and better the world we live in.

Celtic Piper, I hope that someday I may travel to your parts and sit in Chapter with you. I absolutely love our Order and I would love to see how the floor work and introductions and the fun things of a Chapter meeting differ in your Grand Jurisdiction from those of the Grand Chapter of California.

quote:

Originally posted by sistar357:
Greetings All! I was recently introduced to this page by a Brother that received an e-mail from TerryTCT. I am currently in Iraq and have been a Star for a short time (less than a year). It is good to know you all are here.

Well welcome to our Star world Sistar! If you are ever in California or I am in Texas and you are home, I hope we can enjoy going to a Chapter meeting together. The lessons are beautiful and I know that when you are not so busy with military obligation, you will truly love and enjoy the beauty of the lessons of our Star - fidelity, constancy, loyalty, faith, and love - as exemplified in the lives of the heroines of our Order!

Sister, I'm new to this forum and for the life of me. I cannot locate a response to you post..I know it old LOL, but I can't find a response to you concern. Did anyone ever respond?

Bro. Kamil Waters

quote:

Originally posted by cemab4y:
Has anyone seen this type of behavior ? (Posted on an anti-Masonic website)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am a female in the U.S. Army and I was just wondering if anyone else was noticing a problem with masons in the military. I have run into several masons in my 4 years in the military and none, sadly to say, have been very good guys. I have seen first hand and also heard from several other females that masons are no good and cannot be trusted. From what I have witnessed, masons tend to use their meetings and fellow brothers as covers to commit adultry and show favoritism in the ranks. I find this very upsetting and now refuse to date or even befriend a mason. I have done some research on the masons and I am going to continue to do so, but so far I have found that masons tend to cover up their bad deeds with talk of good-doings for the community. If anyone has an explaintion or agrees with me please post it. I hope that I am not the only female to notice this trend.

Brother Kamil,
There wasn't really anyone to respond too. It was something that Brother Charles saw on another site and posted it. More than likley a anti-Masonic site that prints bogus material.
And if this Young Lady did experience this. just because someone has an emblem on their vehicle. It does not mean they are a member of the order.

Frat. John

quote:

Originally posted by muddywaters1980:
Sister, I'm new to this forum and for the life of me. I cannot locate a response to you post..I know it old LOL, but I can't find a response to you concern. Did anyone ever respond?

Bro. Kamil Waters

quote:

Originally posted by cemab4y:
Has anyone seen this type of behavior ? (Posted on an anti-Masonic website)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am a female in the U.S. Army and I was just wondering if anyone else was noticing a problem with masons in the military. I have run into several masons in my 4 years in the military and none, sadly to say, have been very good guys. I have seen first hand and also heard from several other females that masons are no good and cannot be trusted. From what I have witnessed, masons tend to use their meetings and fellow brothers as covers to commit adultry and show favoritism in the ranks. I find this very upsetting and now refuse to date or even befriend a mason. I have done some research on the masons and I am going to continue to do so, but so far I have found that masons tend to cover up their bad deeds with talk of good-doings for the community. If anyone has an explaintion or agrees with me please post it. I hope that I am not the only female to notice this trend.

I recently petitioned the Eastern Star and I should know if I am accepted shortly. I will keep everyone posted on my travel to the Star in the East.

Fraternally,
/s/
Terry, PM
Freemason
Hot Topics Moderator

I joined in Nov and barely made it to the ceremony due to my job. Regretfully I have not been able to go to any of the meetings since that time for several reasons -- work schedule, commuting time from work to home, etc. In any case, we are moving to DC soon and I am so looking forward to participating and being a real full fledge member.

If there's any sisters in the DC area, please drop a line!

quote:

Originally posted by Rosilyn:
FATAL...ALWAYS

I too have seen the Star in the East. I am now an Eastern Star and now Worthy Patron of my chapter. Hope to see more Sisters and brothers post on this forum.

Fraternally,
/s/
Terry, PM
Worthy Patron, Golden Rule Ch. 413 OES
Hot Topics Moderator

I see no one has posted in months.

quote:

Originally posted by Geechie:
I see no one has posted in months.

Jump right in.

OES, Sakura Chapt. #28 raised in Yokota Japan! *S*

Coleen,
I've sent you a message here and on tagged
Bryan

quote:

Originally posted by CalDreaming02:

quote:

Originally posted by sistar357:
Greetings All! I was recently introduced to this page by a Brother that received an e-mail from TerryTCT. I am currently in Iraq and have been a Star for a short time (less than a year). It is good to know you all are here.

Well welcome to our Star world Sistar! If you are ever in California or I am in Texas and you are home, I hope we can enjoy going to a Chapter meeting together. The lessons are beautiful and I know that when you are not so busy with military obligation, you will truly love and enjoy the beauty of the lessons of our Star - fidelity, constancy, loyalty, faith, and love - as exemplified in the lives of the heroines of our Order!

Let's see where everyone isfrom and when they joined. I joined the OES back in '74 to go to meetings with my wife who had been a member since she left the rainbow. That was in Sulphur Springs, Texas. We now live in Fort Worth, Texas and we both have sat in the East, she as P.M. & I as P.P. A VERY rewarding experience.