by Christopher HodappThe national Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star has released an explanatory letter regarding the recent change to the OES constitution which removed the former Masonic family connection for female petitioners.
As reported HERE, MW David Ray Pyle, the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge AF&AM of West Virginia issued a directive earlier this month evicting OES chapters from all Masonic lodge halls and buildings in his jurisdiction.
In their letter, OES Grand Worthy Matron Billie Bradford and Grand Worthy Patron Michael E. Berry, Past Grand Master of Arizona, stress that the change was ONLY for women, that the Masonic membership requirement for men remains unchanged. It reads, in part:
"Prior to the adoption of this legislation in October 2024, those eligible to membership in the Order of the Eastern Star included:
• Affiliated Master Masons in good standing and any female relatives who are related by birth, marriage, or adoption to Affiliated Master Masons in good standing, or if deceased were in good standing at thetime of their death; as well as:
• Members – either active for three (3) years or majority – in the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls or in the Job’s Daughters International, each of whom having attained the age of eighteen (18) years.
Resolution 42 added the following:
• Women sponsored by a sister and brother who are members of the Order
"Please be aware that one important qualification did not change—any man wishing to join the Order of the Eastern Star must be a Master Mason in good standing. If a male petitioner is not a Master Mason, he cannot join Eastern Star. And if a male member of Eastern Star is suspended from his Lodge (whether for non-payment of dues or otherwise), then he is also automatically suspended from Eastern Star. In other words, membership in Freemasonry is a prerequisite for any man wishing to join Eastern Star.
"The change that was made to the membership qualifications applies strictly to female petitioners for the degrees in Eastern Star and adds only a category for sponsored membership. The gist of sponsored membership is that any woman who wants to join the Order of the Eastern Star and who does not meet the standard requirements for membership can nevertheless petition for membership if she presents with her petition two letters of recommendation, one of which is signed by a female member of the Order in good standing, and the other is signed by a male member of the Order in good standing. In other words, if a woman wants to join Eastern Star as a sponsored petitioner, she must first be vouched for by a Master Mason who is in good standing.
"We understand the concern over the foregoing change, especially that it has eliminated the prerequisite Masonic connection for female petitioners. We ask those espousing this belief to remember that before sponsored membership was enacted, the connections between some of our petitioners and their Masonic relations were spotty at best. For example, a young woman who never or barely knew her grandfather but could prove that he was a Master Mason in good standing when he died was eligible to join Eastern Star—but the woman who has been a constant companion to her Master Mason boyfriend for decades could not.
"In fact, we see sponsored membership as requiring a much stronger Masonic connection than Eastern Star previously required. While the young woman who never or barely knew her Master Mason grandfather, uncle or stepbrother is still eligible to join, a woman who wants to join but who is not related to a Master Mason must present a letter, signed by a living Master Mason in good standing, in which that Brother vouches for the woman’s character. In our opinion, this demonstrates that not only does the Order of the Eastern Star remain deeply connected to Freemasonry, but no sponsored member may join without the express approval of a Mason. In other words, unlike a woman who can prove a direct relationship in her past, Master Masons in the present essentially have direct authority over which women are eligible to join."
It goes on to state that the vote to make this change was overwhelmingly passed by their members last year, who all DID have the Masonic family relationship. Moreover, the state Grand Chapters do not possess the ability to ignore, set aside, or modify the national rules, nor do the national grand officers have the ability to do so, while most Masonic Grand Masters DO possess that power within their jurisdictions. Meaning, the GM of West Virginia didn't have to evict them. He certainly could have remained silent on the subject, waited until his annual meeting, and asked for a vote of the subordinate lodge representatives.
Another point made by the letter is a matter of basic Masonic charity and brotherly love.
"The directives and edicts issued or being contemplated in the various Masonic jurisdictions have had a major impact, as we have been inundated with calls, emails, and letters of concern from Eastern Star members both in North America and all around the world. Our hearts break for these Sisters and Brothers whose membership may be impacted because for many of our members, particularly those who are in the golden years of their lives, Eastern Star is one of their few opportunities for social interaction and camaraderie."
This is the real heart of the matter. How does the action of the Grand Master of West Virginia help Freemasonry in any way, shape or form? How does evicting the Eastern Star Chapters his serve his members?
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