Proceedings of the Eighth Annual Meeting of the Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star of Wisconsin Held in Milwaukee, February 16 and 17, 1898

The eighth annual meeting of the Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star of the State of Wisconsin was opened in due form in the Masonic Building in the City of Milwaukee at 2 o’clock on Wednesday, February 16, 1898.

Resolved: The “Grand Honors” in the Grand Chapter are due only to the Grand Officers and to distinguished visitors from Sister Grand Jurisdictions.

Owen Meredith has truly said: “No stream from its source flows seaward, how lonely soever its course, but what some land is gladden’d. No star ever rose and set without influence somewhere. No life can be pure in its purpose and strong in its strife, and all life not be purer and stronger thereby”.

So may our influence be felt and the world made brighter and better for our having lived and carried on the work of the Order of the Eastern Star.

Constituting:

To expedite this work, I appointed special duties, who promptly accepted their commissions and duly reported their duties performed. I had the pleasure of personally doing this work for Rainbow Chapter No. 87.

The other chapters were constituted and their officers installed as follows:

Kenosha Chapter No. 92 Everett Chapter No. 95, Marshfield St. Omar Chapter No. 90, Monroe

On July 12th I was present and assisted the Worthy Grand Patron to institute Star of Bethlehem Chapter, U.D.

I have traveled from the extreme north to south, and east to the west of the Jurisdiction, covering a distance of 8,500 miles (Ed note: quite a feat in those days!)

District Conventions:

Believing the holding of District Conventions a great benefit to our Order, in securing uniformity of work, cultivating the social virtues and serving as an Eastern Star educator in general, I arranged for a continuance of the custom. The increased number of new Chapters made it necessary, as in former years, to redistrict the State. Our one hundred chapters were grouped into thirteen districts and a Chapter in each district was invited to entertain the Convention. These invitations were cheerfully accepted and the Grand Secretary issued a circular letter making the announcements.

The series of conventions began August 31st and continued through September and October. Ninety-five chapters were represented and over two thousand members were in attendance. It was my privilege to be present at all of these conventions. The exemplification of the work, both Ritual and Floral, in each instance merited the commendation it received from all who witnessed it. Hospitality, courtesy and royal entertainment characterized each gathering, and I am gratified to report a successful series of Conventions.

As our membership increases it will become still more difficult for the Grand Matron to visit all chapters each year; consequently the system of district conventions will become almost a necessity. The majority of our members is unable to attend the annual sessions of the Grand Chapter, but if this system be continued many may have the privilege of attending at least one fraternal gathering of our Order for mutual instruction each year.

A full report of each convention appears in the columns of our official organ, The Masonic Tidings.

Grand Representatives:

The system of Grand Representatives is a matter upon which I believe there is still room for improvement (Ed note: at this time the Worthy Grand Matron is the Grand Representative of any other jurisdiction to which she is appointed; and vice versa, she appoints their Worthy Grand Matron as Wisconsin’s Grand Representative). In my opinion, it would be much better if the General Grand Chapter would recommend the plan followed by the Masonic Grand Bodies of appointing as Grand Representatives distinguished members of the Order who hold the position either for a definite time or until death, removal or good cause a vacancy occurs. This would enable the Grand Matron to recommend for this courtesy prominent members of the Grand Chapter who would be in a position to act as appropriate Grand Representatives and those honors thus be distributed.

Fire:

Mineral Point Chapter lost their hall and much of their furniture by fire (Ed note: they no longer have an OES Chapter but are the oldest Masonic Center in the state).

Secret Work:

Resolved: that the Grand Secretary be and is hereby directed to call in all copies of the Secret Work, keep an account of such as are returned and in the presence of the Worthy Grand Matron see that the same are destroyed and to send to each patron a copy of the Secret Work in cipher.

Masonic Home:

I suggest that the Grand Chapter take into consideration the question as to whether the time has arrived for us to take steps towards preparing for a Home, either Masonic in name or in the name of both Lodge and Star, perhaps by the appointment of a committee by this Grand Body to confer with a like committee from the Masonic Grand Lodge, should they at their next meeting see fit to appoint such a committee for consultation.

Recommendations:

I recommend that a careful and complete digest of the approved “Rulings and Decisions” be prepared and printed in our next Proceedings and that the “Red Book” prepared by Sister Martha D. Ross for instituting chapters be so amended as to conform to the present regulations and also printed with the Proceedings; that the work hereby provided for be under the direction of the Grand Secretary and two additional members of this Grand Chapter, appointed by the Worthy Grand Matron.

Tuesday evening:

Following the practice of previous years, the Plankinton House was selected as the headquarters of the Grand Matron during the session of the Grand Chapter.

On Tuesday evening, February 15, a reception was tendered by the Grand Officers to members and delegates to the Grand Chapter. Light refreshments were served and music by Clauder’s Orchestra added to the pleasure of the affair. A large number of members were in the city and availed themselves of the pleasure of meeting the Grand Officers in this pleasant manner. The entertainment was pronounced a success in every particular and one of the most enjoyable of the many similar occasions which have attended the annual meetings of the Grand Chapter.

On Wednesday evening some 300 members and delegates to the Grand Chapter assembled to witness the exemplification of the ritualistic work.

102 Chapters
6,308 Members