NOTE: THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED AS OF TUESDAY APRIL 8, 2025 AT 7:50AM:
I've had it confirmed that on March 21st, 2025, David Ray Pyle, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge AF&AM of West Virginia, issued a directive ordering all chapters of the Order of the Eastern Star to vacate all West Virginia Masonic buildings, effective immediately.
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| WV Grand Master David Ray Pyle |
In his directive, he states that the O.E.S. in West Virginia no longer requires Masonic membership as a prerequisite. Consequently, they may no longer be permitted the use of any Masonic hall in that jurisdiction. He further states that the order extends to all Masonic building premisses, not just the lodge room itself.
GM Pyle has given the O.E.S. until July 21st to remove their property and ephemera from all Masonic halls, with a final drop-dead eviction date of September 21st.
GM Pyle's explanation in his directive is not exactly correct. The Masonic membership prerequisite still remains in place for men wishing to join the OES. Only the female relationship to an existing Mason has been dropped from their requirements.
Here's the change announced last November by the OES General Chapter:
WASHINGTON — At the Order of the Eastern Star (OES) 51st General Grand Chapter held in Florida [sic]* in October 2024, a resolution was passed to allow membership to all women who are sponsored by two members of the Order and are eligible for membership. This is a change from the previous requirement that OES members have a Masonic family affiliation or have been a members of a Masonic youth group. OES members nationwide are excited about this change as it will allow more women the opportunity to experience the friendship of Star and to make a difference in the world through its charitable works and kindness to others.
Information regarding the OES can be found at the websites https://washingtonoes.org or https://easternstar.org*To be completely factual, their triennial assembly last year was in Myrtle Beach, SC, not Florida. Thanks to Brother C. Winston Douglas for finding this OES announcement.
To reiterate, the OES has ONLY dropped the familial relationship with an existing Freemason for women. Men joining the OES still are required to become a Master Mason first.
So, GM Pyle does have leeway, even with their regulations in West Virginia. And to cut off the OES, which is seen as being of benefit to hundreds of lodges throughout the U.S. (along with being an occasional goad to non-Mason men whose girlfriends, wives or daughters are OES members to seek Masonic membership), seems unduly harsh and shortsighted. While the OES has waned in popularity over the decades, there are still plenty of Masonic lodges that will struggle, or even close, if their Star chapter isn't there to support them (or share in the cost of running their building). It's pretty tough to see how kicking them to the curb when nothing substantive has changed benefits - or even protects - Freemasonry in West Virginia.
Says the Dummy Mason from the relative safety of his perch in Indiana where we don't load up our regulations with needlessly restrictive stuff like this.
So, GM Pyle does have leeway, even with their regulations in West Virginia. And to cut off the OES, which is seen as being of benefit to hundreds of lodges throughout the U.S. (along with being an occasional goad to non-Mason men whose girlfriends, wives or daughters are OES members to seek Masonic membership), seems unduly harsh and shortsighted. While the OES has waned in popularity over the decades, there are still plenty of Masonic lodges that will struggle, or even close, if their Star chapter isn't there to support them (or share in the cost of running their building). It's pretty tough to see how kicking them to the curb when nothing substantive has changed benefits - or even protects - Freemasonry in West Virginia.
Says the Dummy Mason from the relative safety of his perch in Indiana where we don't load up our regulations with needlessly restrictive stuff like this.
I don't recall exactly when West Virginia holds its annual communication, but I believe it's in November, which will be after Pyle's final eviction date. So even if someone can sponsor a resolution to change the rule and get it passed, it will be too late to stop the U-Haul trucks.
I've not yet seen an official reaction from the O.E.S. Grand Chapter of West Virginia or the O.E.S. General Grand Chapter in Washington, D.C.
FYI - The RW General Grand Secretary of the The International General Grand Chapter, Charles Chandler, is a Master Mason in the GLWV and RW PGWP of GCOES of WV.
ReplyDeleteThat won't be a BIT uncomfortable, will it?
DeleteMen HAVE to be Master Masons. The ties still remain. This is nothing short of a power trip.
DeleteHe resigned listing family reasons I believe.
DeleteGeneral Grand Chapters Triennial in 2024 was held in SC NOT FL. M Sorge PGM PA 2006-2007
DeleteMen will still have to be a Master Mason to belong. It only concerns women who will just need a Masonic Recommendation. How is West Virginia interpreting the legislation.
ReplyDeleteAs an administrative note, the Triennial held by the General Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, in October 2024 was in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the correction. Several OES members have written to tell me this. So would have thought a press release would be wrong...?
DeleteIn his letter he states that he "was informed". This clearly indicates second-hand knowledge. In a letter from the Most Worthy Grand Matron, OES in January, 2025, communications states: At the recent General Grand Chapter Session in Myrtle Beach. SC, the voting delegates adopted Resolution #42, which expands the qualifications for membership in the OES to include a female petitioner SPONSORED BY ONE BROTHER AND ONE SISTER WHO SUBMIT A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION ON THE PEITIONER'S BEHALF. The Petitioner is then sent to an investigating committee of 3, 1 brother and 2 sisters. If favorable report is given, balloting on the petitioner is taken. If he is going to banish the Eastern Star because a lady is allowed to petition without Masonic heritage, then he should banish the Job's Daughters, Rainbow for girls and the Demolay as these organizations no longer depend on Masonic heritage.
DeleteWhat grade did this Grand Master study? Does he know how to interpret a text?
ReplyDeleteAs a Past Master & former Grand Lodge Secretary from the state of Alabama I honestly think this is horrible for a Grandmaster to do this retaliation is something that could truly divide the craft in WV. When asking a man to choose the Lodge over his wife? I choose my wife every time!!!
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, that’s how a lot of lodges are up in Massachusetts as well. They don’t always like it when the men join eastern star. I don’t understand why they think men can’t do both and be supportive and interactive with their wives, daughters, etc.. i’m sure both Masons and eastern star are losing members every year and gaining is not increasing as fast as losing people.
DeleteOES is just following the tradition that Freemasonry has had forever. To join a Lodge of Freemasons, you don’t need Masonic affiliation to join. You only need recommended as of good character and have a belief in a supreme being. Eastern Star is following the same tradition as freemasonry has had in membership requirements. Seems that Grand Lodge is hypocritical by saying it is fine to join a Lodge without Masonic affiliation, but Eastern Star MUST follow different membership requirements. Shame on WV and its Grand Master.
ReplyDeleteBrothers, the words we use on the internet are not exempt from our traditions of good faith and treatment of other brothers in real life, no matter what jurisdiction they are in or their status. If you have a well reasoned argument why an edict from a grandmaster is questionable or in error, it must be done with the respect due another brother.
DeleteI would also say that a Brother of our lodge should never post anything calling for SHAME. Especially under an ANONYMOUS account. The circumstances made it apparent to me the GM was trying to protect the Craft and the proper response is to discuss the reasons and follow Masonic procedure in resolving the issue. Over the years I have dealt with many people desiring to disrupt the lodges in particular and as a whole and it is something the Lodge needs to be aware of.
FreemasonsForDummies could eliminate anonymous posters to help authenticate contributors.
@Brother Ted - I've seen a Mason recently get expelled over having a 'Pique or Quarrel', even as it was done privately. As a result of incidents like these, many will not post anything online unless it's anonymous for fear of getting expelled themselves. The 1st Amendment does not exist in the Craft. WB Chris will certainly not publish the remarks of those who are doing things vindictively, I'm sure it's become a full time job for him to have to filter out the rubbish.
DeleteFrom the grand lodge constitution rules listed in the MW's pronouncement, are WV lodge's able to sponsor Scout units? It would seem a clear violation.
ReplyDeleteScouting is an outside organization and is sponsored by the lodge. OES is not "sponsored", it is an appendant body and therefore falls under the jurisdiction of the GM. Not trying to start an argument, just trying to point out the difference.
DeleteThis man is on a power trip. Men who join Star have to be Master Masons. This reeks of some kind of personal vendetta, and he has proven that he lacks any kind of intelligence if he cannot comprehend that the ties to Masonry remain because men in OES must be Master Masons and women who join must be recommended and sponsored by a Master Mason. He conveniently left that out of his directive. He’s not fit to lead, or even to be a Mason. He is asking OES men in WV to kick their own wives, daughters, mothers, sisters out of lodges. He’s telling Masons to go against one of their own obligations by kicking the widows of their brethren to the curb. The Masons of WV should oust him. Other Grand Lodges should pull recognition if the WV men don’t do the right thing.
ReplyDeleteYou do not have correct information about this situation. It’s Eastern Star who passed a resolution to allow women who are not related to a Mason petition to join OES
DeleteYou forgot widows of MM
DeleteAbsolutely true. He is not being fair to WV OES. His Deputy Grand Master's wife was WGM in WV last year and his chaplain is a Past Grand Patron of WV and his wife is now the Grand Conductress of WV
DeleteHis gripe should be with the General Grand Chapter, not WV.
DeleteA question has been asked by several readers that I can't answer with certainty. Does this same regulation mean that Masonic-related youth groups are also prevented from meeting in or using Masonic Halls in West Virginia? DeMolay, Rainbow and Job's Daughters dropped the Masonic relationship requirements for their candidates years ago. I also seem to recall that West Virginia won't permit the Boy Scouts or ANY other outside group from renting or in any way using a Masonic building in that state. Is this true? (Feel free to email me privately at hodapp@aol.com if you're nervous about commenting publicly.)
ReplyDeleteYouth groups are allowed to meet in the refreshment hall, not in the lodge room. Amaranth, which has basically the same membership rules (men have to be Master Masons, unrelated women my join upon the sponsorship of masons) ARE still allowed to meet in the refreshment hall as well. This is just against Star.
DeleteI am a sitting Worshipful Master of a Lodge in New Jersey. This past weekend my Lodge and I were served a lawsuit by an OES member that attended an OES installation at our Lodge 2 years ago. When this happened our insurance investigated the matter and denied her claim. I was not Worshipful Master when this happened. She is not a member of one of the 2 chapters that meets in my Lodge. This past Saturday I was served a lawsuit naming me as defendant in a civil lawsuit. I was not at the OES installation when this happened, and I do not know this woman. We do not change OES anything to use our Lodge, and they have a history of leaving our Lodge a mess and not leaving our building in the same condition that they would it. This has been an ongoing issue since my first year as Worshipful Master five years ago. This woman makes not mention of suing OES because they had no insurance at he time and we are doing them a favor no by paying for them to have insurance. Now my Lodge and I are getting sued by an OES member.
ReplyDeleteWith all due respect to the Grand Master he seems to be misinformed since OES still requires men to be Masons and there have to be at least two male officers in every chapter. Perhaps he will rethink his edict when he has more information.
ReplyDeleteFor those Masons no familiar with Eastern Star a Worthy Patron, who must be a Master Mason, must be present in every EasternStar meeting to open so there is always Masonic supervision.
ReplyDeleteThe OES was one of the worst things to happen to American Freemasonry. It allowed undue influence or outright control of lodges by brothers wives, subverting the entire purpose of a fraternity (male only space for self improvement). It also helped usher in abolition of alcohol in many American jurisdictions. George Blackie wrote at the time that the OES was “useless and superfluous” and “admitted our ladies through the side door of the temple.”At best, it is a distraction that pulls much needed man hours away from the blue lodge.
ReplyDeleteI see your posting as "anonymous." Apparently your also a misogynist based on your post. You have zero clue about the TRUE tenets of Freemasonry which are Brotherly love, Relief and Truth. I am the WGP of Michigan and Eastern Star is a great organization, not just for the wives, sisters, mothers, daughter's and WIDOWS of Master Mason's, but also for the Mason's themselves. We promulgate those tenets mentioned above, but also Faith, Hope and Charity, and the greatest of these is Charity. Apparently you sir don't believe in those tenets and ONLY care about Mason's and to hell with anybody else!! Eastern Star AND Freemasonry in Michigan work together to better the lives of ALL individuals, NOT just men. Before you decide to post about something you obviously know nothing about, you might want to do some research first so you can use FACTS to prove your point.
DeleteWow. Tell me you're an alcoholic without telling me. Tell me you don't know anything about OES without telling me. It's things just like this that explain why the numbers are down in both organizations.
DeleteBob Breck, you don't know what you're talking about. Maybe should get out of Masonry.
DeleteWV Grand Chapter is held the first week of October.
ReplyDeleteWhile each jurisdiction has the right to manage itself.
ReplyDeleteI find this decision to be troublesome and it will only serve as a disservice to the craft. Star is an opportunity for husband and wife to participate together loosely within our greater masonic families. How this will pan out is going to be interesting as there is going to be pushback somewhere and frankly i feel it will be the end for some chapters.
Additionally what about the lodge ownership? Some chapters in my jurisdiction are part owners of the building. With this decision there may be lodges forced to sell there buildings or they maybe further disputes.
This is really troubling to me.
This is a shame. This man is having such a a power trip and doesn't realize or just doesn't care about the appendant body. I am an OES Sister and I am very passionate about the organization. To see one single person rip it apart makes me sick. It's time for this man to get off of his high horse and realize he will be the cause of the end of the OES in the state of WV. In order for a woman that does not have an affiliation to a Mason she must have a letter of recommendation from a Master Mason and a recommendation letter from a Sister in the OES. In closing DAVID you disgust me and in my opinion you are a disgrace to the Masonic fraternities.
ReplyDeleteI would agree
DeleteI agree wholeheartedly
DeleteLook up Frank Haas. Granted, that was a long time ago, but the General Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star did not ONLY make this change with respect to requirements for women to be members, they also recognized PHA OES.
ReplyDeleteAnd it's really telling that WV is one of four jurisdictions that still refuse to recognize their PHA counterparts.
I say this talk about the Masonic requirements change is a distraction from the real reason for the edict.
Gwen Douglass
ReplyDeleteI hope WV is going to happy when they start losing members due to this rule. I have been raising in the Masonic Family my whole life from Jobs Daughters to OES. I believe he is just wanting to ensure the death of the Masonic families and it's way of life. This is so disappointing, that a man having so much power and truly following it's own foundations yo protect the the widows, wives, & sisters of Masons. Not to mention not recognizing PH members. God made all of us and loves us all. However , does not seem like him feels the same.
ReplyDeleteI see "power trip" used a lot. But, he's not the only one. There's one local that comes to OES and feels he doesn't have to do any of the rituals because "it's his building and he is allowing us to use his building". Mind you we pay a hefty amount for the "use" and clean more than the men do. I'm not saying it brag, just to make a point. My grandmother and grandfather have been members in that building for decades, and have said the same thing for years. One thing I'm very grateful for, in times like this, is to remember to remain humble. I think this man should do the same. I know what my OES goals for community uplifting are, and it is strengthened in-house. Maybe someone should remind him what the Good books says before he makes such harsh punishment, consi both institutions are losing larger numbers of members every year.
ReplyDeleteIf it were me -- and I speak only for myself from a jurisdiction that is not WV -- and I were the Grand Chapter of WV, I'd go to court and try to get an injunction based on the fact that the GM's edict has to be ratified by GL in November (after the deadline he has set), and even if it is ratified, the next GM might choose not to continue the edict. I'd add in that the GM's interpretation of their Law is questionable in this case, and also that this will cause headaches for all involved where the OES owns a share of the lodge building/temple. But that's just me, thinking out loud, from two states away.
ReplyDeleteNathan Brindle
Low-ranking Mason
Indiana