Proceedings of the Twenty-Fifth Annual Session of the Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star of the State of Wisconsin Scottish Rite Cathedral, October 6 and 7, 1915

Convened Wednesday morning, October 6th at nine o’clock.

Grand Electa Sister Kate G. Stevens, having been called hone on account of illness in her family, the Grand Matron appointed Sister Viola L. Hayter to serve in her place.

A beautiful basket of flowers was presented to Grand Secretary Sister Helen M. Laflin in honor of twenty-five years’ service as Grand Secretary of the Order of the Eastern Star of Wisconsin.

A bouquet of roses was presented to Grand Treasurer Sister Lucille W. Parker in honor of having served twenty-five years as Grand Treasurer.

The address of welcome was delivered by Sister Belle W. Warr, Past Worthy Matron of Golden Rule Chapter No. 194 of Milwaukee.

“The months have hung twelve jewels bright,
upon the golden chain,
which binds the swift years in their flight
adown time’s misty lane;
and now we meet, to stop Time’s feet
a little while to stay;
each hand to grasp with earnest clasp,
and greet our friends today.”

Sisters and Brothers, since last we met another cycle of time has passed, carrying with it its usual amount of happiness and sorrow; the two great elements in life which bind men closer in the bonds of fraternal love. We meet again to review the past, strengthen the good, obliterate the evil and to prepare the way for another year of progress.

It now becomes my extreme pleasure to welcome to this, the 25th annual session of the Grand Chapter which they founded, Sister Adency Irons, First Grand Matron of the Grand Chapter of the OES of this State, Brother Wm. A. Lawrence, First Grand Patron and several other charter members of this Grand body. May it be the will of an All Wise Providence to spare them to meet with us again for many years to come.

“Much has been said, written and read
of old friends standing true,
that to hold the old is like hoarding pure gold,
that old friends are better than new.
To one comes the thought, by experience born
Presenting a broader view.
That the same strands of gold,
That we love in the old,
May be seen shining bright in the new.”

Response:

As we assemble here this beautiful October morning, a joy is born within us that we are permitted to gather together and celebrate this our twenty-fifth anniversary, our silver jubilee, to meet and greet each other with a warm handclasp and listen to the cordial welcome so graciously extended….

How thankful we are this morning, that while the countries abroad are being devastated by the ravages of war, and the powers are fighting for supremacy, we are permitted to live in this, our beloved America, the land of which one of the statesmen has said, “United we stand, divided we fall, our country, the land of Peace and Plenty, the land where we can love and serve God, and each other.”

Sisters and Brothers, the glory of life is to love, to be loved; to give, not go get; to serve, not to be served; to be a strong hand in the dark to another, in time of need, to be a cup of strength to human soul in a crisis of weakness is to know the full glory of life.

Grand Matron:

Let us be wide awake and ever alert to the call of duty. Let us leave nothing undone that is ours to do.

“It isn’t the things that you do, dear,
but the things you have left undone.
That gives you a bit of heartache
At the setting of the sun.”

I sent congratulations on behalf of the Grand Chapter of Wisconsin of the organization of a Grand Chapter in Ontario on April 27th, 1915.

I have written 954 letters, besides circulars and cards.

I attended the Twenty-fifth annual session and Silver Jubilee of Ohio, and the forty-first session of Indiana.

I have inspected the work in fifty-seven chapters. Installed the newly elected officers in eight; constituted five; in all seventy-six visits to subordinate Chapters. During the year, I have traveled 17,096 miles. With very few exceptions, I have found the chapters in excellent condition, and doing good work, and in every case, anxious to know, and to do the requirements of the law.

I make special mention of my home chapter, Jewel Chapter No. 19 of Antigo, where the Grand Officers, and two Sister Chapters were invited and where all joined in a happy celebration in honor of your Grand Matron.

In many of the other chapters I have met from two to four of my associate Grand Officers so that during the year we have indeed grown to be as one Grand Family, and by mutual understanding we feel that we are each dependent upon the others; that together we stand for the best interests of our Order.

Grand Patron:

Sisters and Brothers, it is with a great deal of pleasure as well as satisfaction that I add a most hearty welcome to that already extended to you to this our twenty-fifth annual session. As the closing year of the first quarter century of our Grand Chapter’s existence, it is my hope that this session be one of especially great inspiration and benefit to each and every one.

One of the most pleasant occasions of the past year took place at Antigo. On the evening of Jan. 6th a celebration in honor of the Grand Matron was given by her home chapter. All the Grand Officers were invited to be present and exemplify the initiatory work. Fourteen responded to the invitation and gave the work in a very praiseworthy manner.

A motion was adopted at the last Grand Chapter to pay the “railroad fare” of instituting officer from Grand Chapter Treasury. (he recommended that Red book be changed to reflect that).

“When we make charity, truth and love
the keynotes of our heart,
and Strive in the virtues we teach
to take a living part;

Then will the light of our Order
Send its radiance near and far,
And each member reflect the glory,
Of our beautiful Eastern Star.”

A bouquet of flowers was presented to Sister Adency Irons, the First Grand Matron of the State of Wisconsin which she received in a very gracious manner.

Grand Secretary:

I approve of the Grand Matron’s recommendation in regard to the restriction of sale of Rituals, also in regard to the idea of charging for extra copies of Proceedings and Constitutions. It seems to me that this is not only a question of economy, but of the respect due to this Grand Chapter. In many cases the books and papers sent out by the Grand Chapter are lost through carelessness, and if they are worth having at all they are worth paying a small sum for.

“Since it has been my very joy to find
at every turning of the road
the strong arm of a comrade kind
to help me onward with my load;
and since I have no gold to give,
and love alone must make amends,
my only prayer is, while I live,
God make me worthy of my friends.”

Grand Lecturer:

Again the harvest time is here, and again I bring to you the sheaves, gathered from the 81 chapters visited since last we met.

Well may we be proud of the Order of the Eastern Star in Wisconsin; it brings sunshine into one’s life to look back over a year’s work remembering all the beautiful lives with which we come in touch, as we “pass like the ships at night,” the cordial welcome, the hearty handclasps and kindly words which greet the coming and speed the parting guest.

Let us bear in mind that ours is the day and this our opportunity.

PG Matron Sister Jennie Dower moved that a letter of condolence be sent to Sister Margaret A. Woods of Janesville Chapter No. 69 whose husband was lost on the “Arabic”. Carried.

President of the Masonic OES Home Association:

The most notable event of the year in Masonic circles was, that the Grand Lodge F. & A. M. unanimously voted to take over the Masonic Home at Dousman, so generously offered them by the Consistory, provided a clear title could be procured. Should the Grand Lodge be so fortunate as to secure this large and valuable property—I leave you to infer what it may mean to the Order of the Eastern Star of Wisconsin. May it be “that we will indeed be co-laborers with them in the service of humanity.”

Memorial:

“I cannot make it seem a day to dread
when from this dear earth I shall journey out,
to that dearer country of the dead,
and join the lost ones so long dreamed about.
I love this world, yet shall I love to go
And meet the friends who wait for me, I know.”

Wednesday Evening, October 6, 8 p.m.

One verse of “Rock of Ages” was sung by the chapter. The officers of Oriental Chapter No. 16 of Oshkosh took the chairs and rendered the whole ritualistic work in a most perfect manner. Members of the seven chapters of Milwaukee gave the military drill. While preparing the floor a solo was rendered by Mrs. C. C. Aller. There were 18 young ladies in the drill and the movements were all very well executed. In the course of the march the letters “GC”, “OES” and “WIS” were given and showed much patient labor on the part of both corps and instructor, Past Grand Patron Wm. A. Hinsey.

Remarks by the Most Worthy Grand Matron, Sister Rata A. Mills:

She commended the beautiful work of Oriental Chapter No. 16, very highly and said that no matter how much training or deep interest is shown by the officers in the work of the Order of the Eastern Star—however perfect the work may be given or how much time may be devoted to it—the Order was worthy of it all. The OES family now has a membership of 725,000 and therefore is a very large and happy family. You will find members of this family no matter where you go, north, east, south or west and be received cordially.

206 Chapters
21,630 members