Prince Hall Order of the Eastern Star facts for kids
The Prince Hall Order of the Eastern Star is a special group connected to Prince Hall Freemasonry. It's like a sister organization for African-American women, similar to the main Order of the Eastern Star.
Contents
A Look Back: How It Started
The idea for a group like the Order of the Eastern Star for Black women came from William R. Myers. He was a very important leader, a Grand Master, in the Prince Hall group in Washington, D.C.
William Myers worked with Georgiana Thomas to create the rules and organization for this new group. The very first chapter of the Prince Hall Order of the Eastern Star opened its doors on December 1, 1874.
The organization grew quickly. By 1907, different chapters came together for a meeting called the Conference of Grand Chapters, Order of the Eastern Star.
The name of this meeting changed a few times. In 1910, it became the Interstate Conference of Grand Chapters. Then, in 1924, it was renamed the International Conference of Grand Chapters.
Today, this group is known as the Prince Hall Conference of Grand Chapters, Order of the Eastern Star. Unlike the main Order of the Eastern Star, the Prince Hall Order doesn't have one big central office. Instead, each state's Grand Chapter is the main organization.
Who Can Join
Membership in the Prince Hall Order of the Eastern Star is open to women of any race. Historically, these women were often related to Prince Hall Masons. This included their wives, mothers, sisters, daughters, and granddaughters. In 1980, there were about 175,000 members in the organization.
What They Do: Rituals and Symbols
The group's special ceremonies, called rituals, are based on the five points of a star. This star is the main symbol of the Prince Hall Order of the Eastern Star. These rituals often include many religious references and meanings. Members wear special aprons that have the five colors of the star.
Helping Others: Philanthropy
Each Grand Chapter of the Prince Hall Order of the Eastern Star has its own projects to help the community. For example, one chapter in India ran a home for members who were sick or elderly. Other chapters have given scholarships for nursing students. They also hold contests like "Miss Prince Hall" and "Queen of the Grand Chapter."
Well-Known Members
See also
External links
- Homepage of the Conference of Grand Masters Prince Hall Masons, Inc and Prince Hall Conference of Grand Matrons and Grand Patrons Order of Eastern Star
