History of the Order of the Eastern Star

Master Builder of the Order of the Eastern Star

Establishing the Order

During the years he taught as principal in “The Little Brick School Building” in Richland, Mississippi, 1849-1850, he worked with zeal writing a Ritual of the Order of the Eastern Star. In 1850, he systemized the Degrees with the idea of giving them form, he decided on the degrees, contemplated the themes, incorporated from the pages of antiquity the heroines and names upon which the beautiful work is built, established the signs and passes, colors, and emblems of the Order and promulgated the fundamental principles which have remained unchanged through the years.

The first Ritual was compiled and published under the title “The Rosary of the Eastern Star.”

In 1855, he organized a Supreme Constellation with himself as the Most Enlightened Grand Luminary, with headquarters in New York City. Charters were issued in all parts of the United States.

In 1860, the Constellation form of organization was discontinued and charters were issued for the organization of Families. In 1868, the Constellation and Families became lost except for their historical value.

Traveling Abroad and Mr. Macoy

In 1866, Dr. Morris became associated with Mr. Robert Macoy of New York City. Upon Dr. Morris’ departure for the Holy Land, he transferred to Robert Macoy all the authority he had assumed and exercised in planning the Order of the Eastern Star. Under Mr. Macoy’s guiding hand, the Supreme Grand Chapter was organized. This was a self-constituted body. Deputies were appointed in all parts of the United States, the Territories, and in Mexico.

In 1867 and 1868, Mr. Macoy compiled and published a Ritual using Dr. Morris’ Rosary as a guide. This was the beginning of the organization of Chapters of the Order of the Eastern Star in the United States, as well as nationally. He immediately attempted to make the work more systematic and succeeded in adapting it to organized Chapters in such a way as to assure their success.

Dr. Morris traveled extensively in foreign countries. He spent nearly a year in the Holy Land. He organized the first Masonic Lodge in Jerusalem, Royal Solomon Number One, and became its first Worshipful Master.

Dr. Morris' Writings

He was an author of great ability and wrote numerous and valuable works on Masonry and its kindred subjects. The most popular of which were, “The Lights and Shadows of Masonry” and “Free Masonry in the Holy Land.” He contributed to columns in almost every Masonic publication.

He was a poet of unusual attainment, having written over four hundred poems. His best known poem is “The Level and the Square.” Many of these poems were devoted to the Order of the Eastern Star and are still used by Chapters.

Aside from his work in Masonry and Eastern Star, he wrote many religious songs which are used by Churches and Sunday schools. While seated on the shore of the Sea of Galilee in Palestine, he wrote the beautiful song, “O, Galilee.”

Dr. Morris' Influence

In 1858-1859, Dr. Morris served as Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in Kentucky. In 1860, he drafted the Constitution of the Grand Lodge. Having passed through the chairs of the Blue Lodge, Royal Arch Chapter, Council, Commandery, Consistory, and Grand Lodge, and having spent most of the strength, thought, and wisdom of his early manhood in a close study of the Rituals, codes, principles, and tenets of Masonry, he was conceded to be one of the most versatile and learned Masons of his day.

In 1880, the General Grand Chapter conferred on Dr. Morris the title of “Master Builder of the Order of the Eastern Star” and August 31^st, the birthday of this illustrious man, was set apart as the Festal Day of the Order, to be observed by having special programs on that day. He also had the Degrees of Doctor oh Philosophy and Doctor of Laws conferred upon him later in life.

The crowning event in the career of this remarkable man occurred in 1884 when over five hundred thousand Master Masons through the world expressed their desire that he be crowned with the laurel wreath, symbolizing Poet Laureate of Masonry. One hundred years had elapsed since the first Poet Laureate, Robert Burns, had received this honor. Dr. Morris was the first poet thought capable of filling this place after Robert Burns. In the presence of more than seven hundred dignitaries, this honor was conferred for the second time in the history of the Craft.

The Structural Organization

The first Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star was organized in Michigan in 1867. Three years later, Grand Chapters were organized in Mississippi, New Jersey, and New York. Before the close of 1876, Grand Chapters were organized in California, Vermont, Indiana, Connecticut, Nebraska, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, and Massachusetts.

Meanwhile, the publication of different Rituals and revised editions thereof, brought confusion and diversity in the work where there should have been uniformity. It, therefore, became necessary that this should be corrected with all Grand Chapters united under one body and using the same Ritual, thus the General Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star was organized in Indianapolis, Indiana, on November 16, 1876. Committees were appointed to compile and edit a Ritual of the Order of the Eastern Star. The one now in use has been evolved from the Ritual edited by the Committees appointed at that time.

The Chapters of the Order of the Eastern Star now encircled the Earth. The General Grand Chapter has jurisdiction over all Grand Chapters in the United States (except New York and New Jersey which are independent Grand Chapter), the Provinces in Canada, Puerto Rico, Bolivia and San Paulo. There is a Supreme Grand Chapter of Scotland with jurisdiction over Scotland, England, Ireland, Wales, South Africa, and New Zealand. The States, Territories, and Dependencies of Australia are under the jurisdiction of the United Grand Chapter of Australia which was established in 1985.

Chapters have been organized subordinate to the General Grand Chapter in Alaska, Aruba, Brazil, Columbia, Peru, Taiwan, Germany, Guam, Hawaii, Japan, Mexico, Italy, Philippines, and Romania. The membership of the Order numbers over 650,000 members in over five thousand Chapters.

In 1950, the General Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, observed the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Writing of the Ritual with appropriate ceremonies held in Washington, D.C.

The International Eastern Star Headquarters and the offices of the General Grand Chapter are located in Washington, D.C. In the Reception room of the Internation Eastern Star Headquarters, over the mantel, hangs an oil painting of this distinguished Master Builder of our Order. This was a gift from the Grand Chapter of Kentucky and was unveiled by his granddaughter, Miss Ella Morris Mount, Past Grand Matron and Grand Secretary of Kentucky.

Dr. Morris' Lasting Impact