Our History & Our PGM & PGP
1. The First Era extended from 1850 to 1866, under the leadership of Dr. Rob Morris, Poet Laureate of Masonry.
2. The Second Era extended from 1866 to 1876, under the leadership of Robert Macoy of New York.
3. The Third Era extends from 1876, when the General Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, was established to the present time.
Of these eras, the first is perhaps the most important as it prepared the way for the other two. The real origin of the Order of the Eastern Star, like Masonry, will always be shrouded in mystery. Many researchers believe it had a French origin as early as 1703. By some, this is claimed to be the first inception of “Female Masonry” or “Androgynous Degrees” — (degrees for both men and women).
There appeared at this time, to be a demand for “Side Degrees” or Degrees conferred on ladies, and quite a list sprang up — “Heroines of Jericho”, “Danger in the Dark”, “Tall Cedars of Lebanon”, etc. These were extensively used but soon fell into decay for lack of lasting worth. As to the real origin of the Eastern Star degrees in its Initiatory form, there is not the least shadow of doubt that the honor belongs to Dr. Rob Morris and its real origin comes under the First Era. Dr. Morris had traveled many years. He had written many books on Masonry which are valued references in many Masonic Libraries.
Never quite satisfied that all the good in Masonry should be confined to men, Dr. Morris felt that Masonry should be for the whole family. But by the laws of that Ancient Order, women are not eligible for its degrees. Knowing he could not change the Ancient Landmarks of Masonry, Dr. Morris sought some method by which women could share with the Masonic Brother the same inspiration that “prompts man to noble deeds.” Although he harbored these feelings for years, it wasn’t until 1850, while confined to his home after an accident, that Dr. Morris fully developed the Eastern Star Degrees in their present initiatory form. During this time, he carefully thought out the symbolism and significance of the floor plan and the corps of officers. He conferred the degrees upon his wife and daughters, and some neighbors, presumably having an idea to clothe the ladies with certain words or signs whereby they might make themselves known to Master Masons. These signs and so-called mysteries of the Order were communicated freely to all Master Masons and their relatives. Dr. Morris and other prominent Master Masons gave many lectures and conferred the degrees on many ladies throughout the nation.
The Order was created by Rob Morris, he set down the principles of the order in his Rosary of the Eastern Star. By 1855, he had organized a “Supreme Constellation” in New York, which chartered chapters throughout the United States. In 1866, Dr. Morris started working with Robert Macoy, and handed the Order over to him while Morris was traveling in the Holy Land. Macoy organized the current system of Chapters, and modified Dr. Morris’ Rosary into a Ritual. On December 1, 1874, Queen Esther Chapter No. 1 became the first Prince Hall Affiliate chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star when it was established in Washington, D.C. by Thornton Andrew Jackson. The “General Grand Chapter” was formed in Indianapolis, Indiana on November 6, 1876. Committees formed at that time created the Ritual of the Order of the Eastern Star in more or less its current form.
Our Past Worthy Grand Matron And Worthy Grand Patron
For the most part we have been using scans of association pins, if you have any of the missing pins, please email
Worthy Grand Matron | Worthy Grand Patron | Installed | Association (Began: 1931) | |
Emogene Williams (1) | S. Penrose Williams (1) | August 22, 1895 | ||
Mary F. Phillips (2) | Elisha P. Clarke (4) | October 14, 1896 | ||
Hattie E. Davis (1) | Frederick E. Phillips (2) | October 13, 1897 | ||
Sarah E. Ballou (1) | Fred W. Arnold (3) | October 12, 1898 | ||
Hanna F. Aldrich (3) | John M. Nye (5) | October 11, 1899 | ||
Lizzie F. Chase (5) | Frank N. Cook (6) | October 10, 1900 | ||
Lizzie J. Hoxie (4) | Caleb L. Knight (3) | October 09, 1901 | ||
Fannie M. Freeman (2) | Anson T. Rice (1) | October 08, 1902 | ||
Jennie L Huston (8) | George H. Huston (8) | October 14, 1903 | ||
Alice M. Arnold (1) | Edward B. Smith (2) | October 12, 1904 | ||
Isabella H. Sanborn (7) | John P. Sanborn (7) | October 11, 1905 | ||
Charlotte E. Rice (1) | John C. Davis (1) | October 10, 1906 | ||
Mary R. Tillinghast (4) | Archer C. Anthony (8) | October 09, 1907 | ||
Bertha G. Haines (3) | Byron A. Northup (5) | October 14, 1908 | ||
Myra A. Ray (8) | George W. Avery (4) | October 13, 1909 | ||
Louise A. Babcock (9) | Samuel S. Eldred (6) | October 12, 1910 | ||
J. Elvira Burr (2) | Albert H. Humes (2) | October 11, 1911 | ||
Mabel F.C. Remington (1) | Chester W. Barrows (1) | October 09, 1912 | ||
Anita G. Gillies (5) | Charles W. Salisbury (10) | October 08, 1913 | ||
Lillie H. Durfee (7) | Charles M. Kebbe (9) | October 14, 1914 | ||
Edna C. Browning (8) | John Barlow (6) | October 13, 1915 | ||
Henrietta C.H. Broadbent (3) | Stephen H. Douglas (3) | October 11, 1916 | ||
Mary E. Hall (6) | Alvah H. Sanborn (7) | October 10, 1917 | ||
Robina A. Mitchell (2) | Eugene McKenzie (5) | October 09, 1918 | ||
Elizabeth R. Sherman (1) | William E. Smyth (8) | October 08, 1919 | ||
Sallie C. Simmons (10) | Frank F. Davis (13) | October 13, 1920 | ||
Bertha E. Parker (5) | Theodore E. Dexter (2) | October 12, 1921 | ||
M. Isabelle Fiddes (9) | John J. Greene (4) | October 11, 1922 | ||
Abbie B. Coleman (12) | Frank E. Ballou (1) | October 10, 1923 | ||
Bertha P. Miller (8) | Joseph A. Haines (3) | October 08, 1924 | ||
Sarah A. King (7) | George H. Blackwell (14) | October 14, 1925 | ||
Maude L. Stevens (15) | Fred A. Brown (17) | October 13, 1926 | ||
Harriet G. Bullock (6) | Henry H. Wardle (20) | October 12, 1927 | ||
Affa Mae Pierpoint (16) | George H. Potter (10) | October 10, 1928 | ||
Evelyn W. Spaulding (3) | Henry M. Soule (2) | October 09, 1929 | ||
Annie H. Blake (2) | Arthur A. Sherman (19) | October 08, 1930 | Ramblers | |
Ethel G. Albro (1) | William L. Marchant (21) | October 14, 1931 | The Thirty-Twos | |
Ella L. Blackwell (14) | George C. Clark (1) | October 12, 1932 | Songsters | |
Isabella M. Stark (7) | Nathaniel D. Brown (22) | October 11, 1933 | Skippers | |
Laura H. Nickerson (8) | Alpheus S. Place (15) | October 10, 1934 | Satalites | |
Lucy E. Spencer (23) | Henry G. Heath (4) | October 09, 1935 | The Rangers | |
Nettie E. Thompson (16) | Alexander Mitchell (9) | October 14, 1936 | The Comets | |
Jean T. Swan (20) | J. Foss Magoon (5) | October 13, 1937 | Cygnets | |
Elizabeth Haskell (2) | Grafton H. Willey, Jr. (8) | October 12, 1938 | Twinklers | |
Bessie F. Potter (10) | Lewis A. Rhodes (12) | October 11, 1939 | Bessie-Lews | |
Charlotte O. Davenport (19) | James D. Nall (6) | October 09, 1940 | Starlets | |
Elizabeth J.T. Read (1) | George A. Farron (3) | October 08, 1941 | Loyalites | |
Ethel W. Place (15) | Ernest F. Scholfield (16) | October 14, 1942 | Beacons | |
Marilla J. Hopkins (21) | Janus P. Luth (7) | October 13, 1943 | Marillaites | |
Irene G. Williams (24) | Joseph Sedgwick (20) | October 11, 1944 | Gleaners | |
Elsie S. Magoon (5) | Amos W. Hazard (1) | October 10, 1945 | Aremes | |
Mae W. Hacking (2) | Roland A. Salisbury (17) | October 09, 1946 | Amapoes | |
Mabel E. Aldrich (3) | Peter Scott (18) | October 08, 1947 | Amarities | |
Evelyn A. Bethel (22) | Thomas Thoresen (8) | October 13, 1948 | Cheramies | |
Mary A.N. Webb (6) | Robert H. Chappell (19) | October 12, 1949 | Webb-Stars | |
Esther T. Littlefield (11) | Roy H. Vaill (16) | October 11, 1950 | Estrellitas | |
Bertha M. Weaver (1) | Robert D. Kinniburgh (2) | October 10, 1951 | Blue Rays | |
Mary W. Needham (10) | Russell W.B. Barlow (22) | October 08, 1952 | Lyrics | |
Agnes S. Farley (3) | Forrest G. Mowry (5) | October 14, 1953 | Chysolites | |
Grace B. Swinson (18) | William H. Johnston (4) | October 13, 1954 | Sun Rays | |
Helen B. Bowers (14) | Howard B. Arnold (10) | October 12, 1955 | Electalites | |
Edith Meehan (20) | Leonard Truman (1) | October 10, 1956 | Star-Lites | |
Edna A. Gavitt (2) | Andrew B. Winsor (13) | October 09, 1957 | Travelers | |
Ethel D. Wilcox (12) | William R. Aldrich (18) | October 08, 1958 | Eth-Alds | |
Sarah T. Foster (26) | Elmer R. Sherman (9) | October 14, 1959 | All-Stars | |
Rachel E. Raymond (22) | Opha D. Strawderman (4) | October 12, 1960 | Star-Rays | |
Elenora T. Butterworth (16) | Harlan H. Howe (20) | October 11, 1961 | Halos | |
Althea S.T. Finch (17) | Charles H. Leffingwell (21) | October 10, 1962 | Al-Chas | |
Ada M. Frey (15) | Hobart S. Caswell (6) | October 09, 1963 | Eastern Lights | |
Mildred L. Voelker (3) | Walter E. Linden (14) | October 14, 1964 | The Milers | |
Jane S. Bennett (5) | Everett Cobain (2) | October 13, 1965 | Jane-ettes | |
Marjorie H. Self (8) | Ensley W. Ramsey (23) | October 12, 1966 | The Mareners | |
Audrey Z. Andrew (16) | Earland W. Fielder (24) | October 11, 1967 | The Auralites | |
Gladys W. Steere (13) | Robert W. Harris (1) | October 09, 1968 | The Gladabouts | |
Dorothy E. Hall (22) | Kenneth T. MacCaskill (26) | October 11, 1969 | The Hall-Macs | |
Muriel L.P. Kent (14) | Howard W. Dawley (16) | October 14, 1970 | Kay-Dees | |
Dorris H. Orr (6) | Eddie Pitney, Jr. (7) | October 13, 1971 | The Dor-Eds | |
Alice J. O’Brien (21) | Peter G. Frageorgia (25) | October 11, 1972 | The Key-Notes | |
Marion G. Weaver (5) | Robert B. Green (15) | October 10, 1973 | Wea-Bobs | |
Devara Poll (2) | Howard C. Potter (6) | October 12, 1974 | Golden Rulers | |
Jerane Chapman (24) | Stewart A. Davis (4) | October 11, 1975 | Centennials | |
Hope E. Barter (20) | George R. Congdon, Jr. (15) | October 09, 1976 | The Harvesters | |
Kitty Harrison (25) | Stephen M. Kemp, Jr. (13) | October 08, 1977 | Bell Ringers | |
Anna R. Northup (23) | Walter J. Gardiner (15) | October 07, 1978 | Gard I Anns | |
Phyllis T. Brown (4) | Douglas A. Kershaw (17) | October 06, 1979 | Evergreens | |
Patricia H. Gwynne (1) | Alfred W. Wickersheim (26) | October 11, 1980 | Electa’s Pride | |
Doris E. Ogilvie (22) | Earl S. Downey (25) | October 10, 1981 | Highlanders | |
JoAnn G. Sugden (3) | Thomas M. Nisbet (5) | October 09, 1982 | Glad Apples | |
Edna F. Thibault (14) | Richard J. Wischnowsky (1) | October 08, 1983 | Harbor Lights | |
Helen Stoukides (2) | Emery W. Young (9) | October 13, 1984 | Olympians | |
Beverly J. Bittner (21) | Richard J. Reilly (6) | October 12, 1985 | Dream Weavers | |
Marjorie R. Taylor (26) | Henry A. Blake (7) | October 11, 1986 | Lucky Stars | |
Claudia A. Horton (23) | Robart A. Kane (24) | October 10, 1987 | Friendly Pandas | |
Marianne H. Salisbury (15) | Milton H. Thoene (13) | October 08, 1988 | Royal Notes | |
Frances R. Dawley (16) | Richard L. Wood (21) | October 14, 1989 | The Adventurers | |
Pauline V. Scullin (22) | Harold E. Smith (6) | October 13, 1990 | Golden Monarchs | |
Florence M. Young (9) | George J. Thibault (14) | October 12, 1991 | Star Steppers | |
Lorraine M. Christy (25) | Charl R. W. Davidson (7) | October 10, 1992 | Star Angels | |
Kathryn A. Newman (21) | Raymond C. Macomber (22) | October 09, 1993 | New Rays | |
Mary E. Rosenfield (24) | Mathew Aquilante (21) | October 08, 1994 | Anchors of Hope | |
Barbara A. Matteson (15) | Paul R. Sugden, Jr. (3) | October 14, 1995 | Shamrocks | |
Marjorie H. Dale (16) | Elmer F. Perkins | October 12, 1996 | Star Spotters | |
Nancy G. Nelson (6) | Ronald D. Newman (21) | October 11, 1997 | The Sea Stars | |
Willadean A. Wilson (9) | Stephen J. Madden, Jr. (15) | October 10, 1998 | Mad Deans | |
Barbara B. Giarrusso (6) | William H. Mitchell (9) | October 09, 1999 | Milleniums | |
Barbara A. Morrison (18) | Hugh A. Morrison, III (18) | October 14, 2000 | M&Ms | |
Meredith J. Pfefferle (26) | Frank Allen, Jr. (21) | October 13, 2001 | Love Doves | |
Sharon A. Mitchell (9) | Donald R. Hallene (15) | October 12, 2002 | The Bridge Builders | |
Nancy A. Gombeyski (24) | Ronald D. Ayers (3) | October 11, 2003 | The Lion Hearts | |
Shirley E.G. Ayers (3) | Ronald D. Newman (21) | October 09, 2004 | Harmonicats | |
Judith E. Brightman (21) | Douglas A. Kershaw (25) | October 08, 2005 | CrossRhodes | |
Mary B. Hallene (15) | Stephen M. Kemp, Jr. (10) | October 07, 2006 | Bright Stars | |
Ernestine I. Angell (2) | David J. Flaxington (2) | October 13, 2007 | Stars of Hope | |
Beverly J. Allen (21) | Frank Allen, Jr. (21) | October 11, 2008 | Youth Builders | |
Barbara A. Page (21) | Manuel G. Arruda (21) | October 10, 2009 | Magic Stars | |
Crystal C. Bradshaw (15) | Mark D. Thompson (15) | October 09, 2010 | Hummin’ Hoppers | |
Jan M. McIntyre-Ba (2) | Mark D. Thompson (15) | October 08, 2011 | Rhodesters | |
Hazel I. Arruda (21) | William H. Lacross (21) | October 13, 2012 | Constellations | |
Kimberly R. Harrison | Richard J. Therrien | October 2013 | Butter Crushers | |
Lynne A. Harrell | Ronald D. Ayers | October 2014 | Cat's "Meow" | |
Edith L. Johnson | Richard P. Harrell | October 2015 | GOD 'n EARS | |
Mary Jannarelli | Richard J. Therrien | October 2016 | ||
Deborah L. Therrien | Richard J. Therrien | October 2017 | ||
Allison C. Thiene | Mark D. Thompson | October 2018 | ||