The Order of the Eastern Star is the largest fraternal organization in the world that both men and women can join. It was established in 1850 by Robert Morris, a lawyer and educator from Boston, Massachusetts who had been an official with the Freemasons. It is based on teachings from the Bible, but is open to people of all faiths. It has approximately 10,000 chapters in twenty countries and approximately one million members under its General Grand Chapter. Members of the Order are aged 18 and older; men must be Master Masons and women must have specific Masonic relationships.

The emblem of the Order is a five-pointed star. The character-building lessons taught in the Order are stories inspired by Biblical figures:

• Adah (Jephthah's daughter, from Genesis)
• Ruth
• Esther
• Martha (sister of Lazarus, from the Gospel of John)
• Electa (the "elect lady", from II John)

The Order has a charitable foundation and from 1986-2001 contributed $513,147 to Alzheimers disease research, juvenile diabetes research, and juvenile asthma research. It also provides bursaries to students of theology and religious music, as well as other scholarships that differ by jurisdiction. In 2000 over $83,000 was donated. Many jurisdictions support a Masonic and/or Eastern Star retirement center or nursing home for older members; some homes are also open to the public.

The Order is not to be confused with the Order of the Star of the East, a messianic organization created in 1911 by the Theosophical Society - Adyar and dissolved in 1929 by J. Krishnamurti.

External links

• Order of the Eastern Star homepage
• Topical History of Eastern Star