[View Figure]MORRIS SIGNET.
A GENERAL HISTORY
OF THE ORDER OF THE EASTERN
STAR
BYREV. WILLIS D. ENGLE
Past Grand Patron of Indiana, and first Right Worthy Grand Secretary of the General Grand Chapter of the Order* * * * *
ILLUSTRATED* * * * *
MACOY PUBLISHING 7 MASONIC SUPPLY CO. 34 PARK ROW, N.Y.1901
This HISTORY OF THE ORDER OF THE EASTERN STAR is
FRATERNALLY DEDICATED
By the author to his co-laborers in the early
days of the Order, whose
eyes have seen the crowning of their labors; and to the
memory
of those faithful ones among them who have passed on
to the larger life,
and entered upon rest nobly won.
Copyrighted by WILLIS D. ENGLE,
1901.
[View Figure]
Willis D. Engle
PREFACE.
* * * * *
TO BE the first to enter an unexplored field, and attempt to map out before the understanding of one's readers its various characteristics; to delve below the soil and thus endeavor to discover the hidden sources from which has sprung that which appears upon the surface; and thus to add to the store of knowledge, is no easy task, and requires patient, persevering labor. Although the writer of this book has been an active worker in the Order of the Eastern Star for twenty-eight years, and during all that time has been a diligent gatherer of material and facts concerning it, and has, by the favor of his fellow-members been placed in positions of trust and responsibility, which have given him rare opportunities to learn much of the workings of the order, yet he had no idea, when he undertook the production of this history, how great the task would prove, for he has undertaken to be doubly sure of the facts stated and has spent days in running down some particular item that, perhaps, when secured, would not add a dozen lines to the work. That it is perfect, and that every essential fact that it is possible to ascertain in regard to the order is contained in it, he would not pretend to say; but he does say that he has made an honest effort in that direction. How far he has succeeded perhaps time only can demonstrate. Although there have been brief historical sketches of the order written, they have been produced generally for a purpose other than a simple development of the truth, and page: 4[View Page 4] the writer knows of none, however brief, that has not contained more or less inaccurate statements, even as his may be found to do, but none have been knowingly made, and he has tried to present every fact in an unbiased manner. That his book will meet with favorable criticism, he hopes; that it will also receive some unfavorable comment, he expects. If he succeeds in adding something to the common stock of knowledge and understanding, and in rescuing some facts from being lost, and is privileged to be an instrument in adding a little to the glory and luster of the order, he will be satisfied. In the history it will be found that while he has made no direct quotations from the present authorized ritual, with one or two minor exceptions, he has quoted, sometimes quite copiously, from rituals that are now obsolete, but in doing so he has carefully avoided incorporating therein anything that might throw any light upon what is the real secret work of the order, and in this respect he believes his work will be found to compare favorably with the masonic encyclopedias. He has endeavored, at the same time, to convey to the enlightened reader as full knowledge of the subject in hand as was possible with these limitations. Many months of continuous labor have been bestowed upon it, and as he indites these words as his task is drawing to a close, it is with the desire that his readers will consider how hard it is for one to write unbiasedly of his own times, and of events in which he has been an active participant, so that if the first person singular is sometimes singularly prominent, it is simply because a full recital of essential facts rendered it necessary, as he has no desire to use both ends of the trumpet of fame. He would be singularly remiss if he did not express his deep sense of obligation to the many brothers and page: 5[View Page 5] sisters who have given him material assistance in securing information that has helped to make the work both valuable and interesting; and he would also give expression to his sense of obligation to those more numerous sisters and brothers who have so generously confided in his ability to create a work worthy of their encouragement, and have manifested that confidence by subscribing in advance of its production, and thus rendered its publication possible. He trusts that none of them will be disappointed in its perusal, and that they will by kindly words, encourage others to purchase it, that he may receive at least some return for his months of labor. He will be grateful, also, to any one who may be able to add any facts concerning the order that will be of interest, that can be used in a second edition of the work. He will always be glad to know of any copies of old rituals that can be purchased, and he will also be pleased to supply to his fellow Eastern Star bibliomaniacs copies of any rituals of which he may have duplicates.
It will be noticed that in this work the Eastern Star degrees are sometimes spoken of in the singular, and sometimes in the plural. This will be understood when it is stated that when the secrets were given by communication the singular number was used in the early days, but when given in constellations or chapters, they were spoken of in the plural, and I have followed this custom.
WILLIS D. ENGLE.
Indianapolis, Ind., February 9, 1901.
page: 6[View Page 6]BON VOYAGE.
- Go, "History of the Eastern Star,"
- Where e'er its wandering children are;
- Recall to those who hailed its birth.
- Their toilsome struggle 'mid the dearth
- Of cheering words, or sunny ways;
- And tell to those of later days
- How great the triumph it has met--
- Lest they forget--lest they forget.
- Go gladly forth, and may thy pages
- Suffice to keep for future ages
- The record of the care and strength
- Which nursed and fostered, till at length
- The Order of the Eastern Star
- Is known and loved the world afar.
- With naught set down in malice vile,
- E'en unkind facts wear friendship's smile,
- For, though our order had its battle,
- It's grown above war's din and rattle,
- And charity's broad mantle red
- Is cast about those days, instead.
- To those who labored, loved, and--fought,
- The guerdon was not dearly bought,
- For our great order moves to-day
- Untrammelled in its upward way.
- To those who helped with heart and hand
- To make this true; that knightly band;
- Those women brave; we ask the fame
- Too often grudged each early name.
- No easy task for woman lone
- To stand as target; many a stone
- Was hurled 'gainst such whose word and deed
- Helped in our order's hour of need.
- They're now forgotten, yet that honr
- Gave birth to all its present power.
- Now, in these days of proud progress,
- Forget not those of storm and stress,
- Encourage the same zeal and.truth
- Which marked our order in its youth,
- And let the future years reveal
- The same desire for its best weal;
- Then shall its record grow and blaze
- With the refulgence of its rays,
- Till earth, illumined, near and far
- Reflects the light of Bethlehem's star!
--ADDIE C. STRONG ENGLE.
