Lafayette County WI Archives History - Books .....Order Of The Eastern Star 1976
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/wi/wifiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 28, 2008, 11:39 pm

Book Title: A History Of Blanchardville, Gem Of The Pecatonica

Alpha Chapter #114 Order Of The Eastern Star, Argyle, Wisconsin

    On June 19, 1899, Alpha Chapter was granted a dispensation from the Grand
Chapter, O.E.S. of Wisconsin signed by Cyrus S. Stockwell, Worthy Grand Patron,
and Helen M. Loftin, Grand Secretary. On February 28, 1900, Alpha Chapter #114
received its charter with a total of 24 members including six charter members.

    In 1903, Alpha Chapter became the "Mother Chapter" of South Wayne Chapter
#142, O.E.S. of South Wayne, Wisconsin as they received their dispensation.

    On February 19, 1925, Cora Larson as Worthy Matron and Lyman Bartle as
Worthy Patron, the chapter celebrated its 25th anniversary. It is interesting to
note that on June 9, 1950, Cora Larson again served as Worthy Matron and
Clarence LaVassor as Worthy Patron for the Chapter's 50th Anniversary. The
chapter observed its 75th Anniversary on April 13, 1975, with Margaret Nelson as
Worthy Patron and Cora Larson serving as treasurer at that time.

    In 1940 meetings were set for the first Thursday of each month. During the
time of gas rationing it was most necessary to meet once a month as membership
came from Darlington, Lamont, and Blanchardville as well as Argyle. The chapter
still meets the first Thursday of every month at 8 p.m. in the Masonic Temple,
recessing the months of January and February. The first meetings were held over
Hendrickson's Hardware Store and then in the Temple after its completion.

    Over the past 76 years many residents of Blanchardville have held membership
and served as officers as well as many other capacities in Alpha Chapter. Their
dedication has helped keep the chapter prosperous.

    Membership is open to Master Masons in good standing, wives, daughters,
legally adopted daughters, mothers, widows, sisters, half-sisters,
granddaughters, step-mothers and step-sisters of affiliated Master Masons in
good standing or if deceased were in good standing at the time of their death
and are at least 18 years of age. Even through Eastern Star members are related
by the dearest ties to the Masonic Fraternity the Order is no part of the
Masonic Fraternity.

    There are five degrees in the Order with its lessons scriptural, its
teachings moral, and its purposes beneficient.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from

A History of Blanchardville, Gem of the Pecatonica


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/wi/lafayette/history/1976/ahistory/orderofe270gms.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/wifiles/

File size: 3.0 Kb