18th Annual Meeting of the Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star of Wisconsin Held in Milwaukee, February 19 and 20, 1908

Order

At our last meeting, we were honored by the presence of our Most Worthy Grand Matron, Sister Madeleine B. Conkling, who, in her address to the Grand Chapter, made some suggestions as to ceremonies, methods, and work not in harmony with the established laws and usages of this Grand Jurisdiction.

Shortly after the adjournment of the Grand Chapter I began to receive notices that some of the Chapters were following said suggestions.

Knowing that a continuance of this would result in destroying the uniformity of our work, cause confusion, and believing that it was not only the right, but the duty of this Grand Chapter to sanction such changes before adopted, on March 28 I issued to subordinate Chapters the following order:

Sisters and Brothers:

I am in receipt of information that some of the Chapters are introducing new methods suggested by the Most Worthy Grand Matron at the last meeting of the Grand Chapter. It should be remembered, however, that she gave these only as suggestions, and her interpretation of the Ritual.

Wisconsin is a jurisdiction, and as such has a Constitution regularly adopted and in complete harmony with the Constitution of the General Grand Chapter. Under that Constitution we have numerous edicts of the Grand Chapter, and many adopted rulings of former Grand Matrons, and, in addition, each Chapter has its By-Laws in harmony with all the foregoing, and implicit obedience must be given thereto by all the Chapters in this jurisdiction, and no suggestions or recommendations that in any manner conflict with the above can be permitted, until the Grand Chapter of Wisconsin has officially sanctioned such suggestions, therefore:

Ordered, that in all things and every particular thereof, each subordinate Chapter of this Jurisdiction shall strictly observe the provisions of the Constitution, Ritual, Edicts of the Grand Chapter, and the approved Rulings of former Grand Matrons, and will permit no changes or innovations that in any way conflict with the established laws and customs of this Jurisdiction.

The Worthy Matron and Worthy Patron of each subordinate Chapter are hereby directed of each subordinate Chapter are hereby directed to see that this Ruling is strictly enforced.

• Official notification of the organization of a Grand Chapter of South Carolina on June 1.

• Question to Worthy Grand Matron: A woman has been married three times; her first and second husbands were Masons, the third was not. Is she eligible? Answer: No.

• Recommendation: That a Committee be appointed by the incoming Grand Matron, to compile, compose or arrange suitable instrumental music for use of Chapters.

• That the question of continuing the Deputy system, or hiring a Grand Lecturer to assist the Grand Matron for the coming year, be decided by ballot of the Grand Chapter.

• The twelfth tri-ennial assembly of the General Grand Chapter met in Milwaukee, September 4, 1907.

• “In memory’s storehouse will ever remain the flowers of affection and tendrils of love with which you have wreathed my brow and wound around my heart.”

• Past Grand Matron Ella Simmons Washburn was elected to the highest office in the gift of the Order of the Eastern Star.

• We therefore present for your consideration a beautiful design, furnished by the Louis Esser Company, to be of solid gold, something that will last the Grand Chapter always, the cost to be about $15.00 each for eighteen jewels, amounting in all to about $275.00

Chapters instituted during the year:

West Allis Chapter, West Allis

Address of Worthy Grand Patron, in part:

The thought has occurred to many of us that this Grand Chapter might select a more suitable time of the year for holding its annual session. We have been meeting for years in one of the coldest and most disagreeable months of the year. Up to the present time it was to some extent desirable and, in fact, almost necessary for us to meet in conjunction with the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons in order to secure reduced railroad rates, but with the advent of the two-cent fare that problem is done away with….

Number of Chapters: 178
Number of Members 14,499

Gains: 1,828

Losses: 711

Chapters having 200 members and over:

Oriental
Baraboo
Racine
Janesville

Grand Secretary 1891-1907	Grand Treasurer 1891-1907