Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Order of the Eastern Star?
A: The Order of the Eastern Star is a social, charitable and Fraternal
Organization to which both women and men can belong. There are over
30,000 members throughout the State of Missouri. The Order of the
Eastern Star is comprised of 262 Chapters and is divided into 50
regional districts within Missouri. Districts are usually comprised of
one or more counties.
Q: Who may join?
A: Affiliated Master Mason in good standing, Wives, Daughters, Legally
adopted daughter, Mothers, Widows, Sisters, Half sisters,
Granddaughters, Step mothers, Stepdaughters, Stepsisters,
Daughters-in-law, Grandmothers, Great-granddaughters, Nieces,
Great-nieces, Mothers-in-law, Sisters-in-law, and daughters of sisters
or brothers of affiliated Master Masons in good standing, or if deceased
were in good standings at the time of their death, as well as to
members-either active for three years or majority-of the International
Order of the Rainbow for Girls or of the International Order of Job's
Daughters, each of whom have attained the age of eighteen years, are
eligible to membership in the Order of the Eastern Star.
Q: How may I express a desire to join the
Order of the Eastern Star?
A: If you are not familiar with anyone in a Chapter in your area, you
may contact the Grand Secretary of the Grand Chapter of Missouri,
(636)376-0471 for the name, address and phone number of a Chapter in
your area to express your desire for additional information.
Q: What procedure should I follow when I
have decided that I would like to join a Chapter?
A:The Chapter you intend to join will provide you with a Petition, which
you must fill out completely. It should be returned to the Chapter
Secretary, as soon as possible, with the appropriate fees.
Q: What happens after I submit my petition?
A:Your petition will be read at a Chapter meeting and submitted to an
Investigation Committee composed of members of the Chapter that you wish
to join. Shortly thereafter the members of the Investigation Committee
will contact you individually to set up a time and place for a meeting.
This is done (1) To ask a few very simple questions, (2) To provide you
a opportunity to meet some of the Chapter members, and (3) To provide
you a opportunity to ask and receive answers to any additional questions
that you might have. The information that the Investigation Committee
receives will be reported to the Worthy Matron.
Q:What will be the next step?
A:If all of the information is in order, the report of the Investigation Committee will be submitted to the Chapter members at a stated meeting and a vote will be taken. If favorable, you will have been elected to receive the Degrees of the Order of the Eastern Star. The Secretary will notify you of the results of the election and arrange for you to be initiated into the Order.
Q: How long after the election will that be?
A:Each Chapter attempts to plan the events of each meeting for the entire year. That usually includes some flexibility to accommodate Degree meetings for the new members; however, in some instances very special plans cannot be interrupted, so the Degrees will be given at the first possible date.
Q: What happens at the Chapter Meetings?
A:An Eastern Star Chapter meets once or twice a month to conduct its business and to confer Eastern Star Degrees. If no initiatory work is being preformed, the meeting will include a program of interest or entertainment. Refreshments are almost always served.
Most of the Question and Answers that were provided here can also be found on Grand Chapter of Missouri.