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 Origins The real origins of the Eastern Star - like most secret societies are shrouded in great mystery. Notwithstanding, the Order of the Eastern Star claims to be the largest fraternal organisation in the world in which BOTH men and women are members. It is believed that Dr. Rob Morris founded the Order around 1849. He joined Freemasonry on 5th March 1846 and eventually ascended to the 'Ladies degree,' within the Lodge, which later became the basis of the Eastern Star degrees. He became Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky on the 12th of October 1858. Although some writers have taken the origins back as far as 1778 or 1793. The degree format and content of today finds its roots in the design of Dr. Morris. Morris testified, "I wrote every word of the original lectures and composed the songs. For twenty-eight years I have been communicating it as my own origination. I am the founder of the system and no one can show any proof of its existence prior to 1849." Morris' heretical syncretism views In 'The Lights and Shadows of Freemasonry' Morris wrote, "I have fully expressed my admiration for much of the character and many of the precepts of Mohammed, as embodied in the Koran. Avoiding the doctrinal points and, read in the spirit of fraternal love, as illustrated in the lectures of Freemasonry, that remarkable book, the Koran, might justly be taken as a comment upon the much older, far wiser, and most remarkable book ever written, THE OLD TESTAMENT of the Hebrews dispensation. [Emphasis in the original]" Morris continues, "Our forms of faith are diverse. In language, customs, and modes of thought, we are cast in different moulds; but in Masonic UNITY we are one, and one in Masonic FAITH. As our hopes and aims and labours are one, we, trusting in one God, and doing, each of us, what we believe to be His expressed will, do humbly expect a common reward when we have passed that common lot which none can escape. To the Divine power, therefore, I tenderly commend your excellency, both for this world and for that which is to come. [Emphasis in the original]" Like Freemasonry, the Eastern Star claims not to be a religion. Its candidates are simply required to have a belief in a supreme being - whether it is Buddha, Allah or Christ. However, the Bible says, "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time" (1 Timothy 2:5-6). Jesus said, in John 14:6, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Jesus also said in John 5:23b-24, "He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." Requirements for membership Membership requirements for men are that they first be a Master Mason; for women the requirements are that they be related to a Master Mason, in good standing or one who was a member in good standing at the time of his death, as either a wife, sister, mother, daughter, granddaughter, niece, legally adopted daughter, widow, half-sisters, stepmothers, stepdaughters, stepsisters, daughters-in-law, grandmothers, great grandmothers, great granddaughters. Membership is now open to Both Rainbow Girls and Jobs Daughters who are 18 years of age and have 3 years of membership in their respective Masonic Youth group. This list has just been expanded to include great-great granddaughters and nieces as well as majority Rainbow girls and Job's Daughters with 3 years of membership before reaching majority. Whilst some Masons openly disassociate themselves from the Eastern Star the order is without doubt a daughter of the Masonic Lodge. In fact the intimate relationship between the parent and the child can be found throughout the many Masonic and Eastern Star sites worldwide. One of the Eastern Star lectures explains, "Ladies, you are connected with Masonry by ties far more intimate and tender than you are aware of, or than I can ever inform you of." As in other secret societies, Mormonism and the 'Jehovah Witnesses' the Eastern Star employs Scripture in a corrupted manner to impress Masonic truths upon its members. The heroines of the Order 'represent the various stations in a woman's life' as well as attributes to emulate; they are as follows: Adah (blue), Ruth (yellow), Esther (white), Martha (green) and Electa (red). |
