Our History

The Order of the Eastern Star was founded by Dr. Rob Morris in the late 1800’s.  As a Master Mason, Dr. Morris had the idea that it would be nice to have a way for female relatives of Master Masons to share the benefits of knowledge and self-improvement that Freemasonry made available to men and to have a place in the Masonic Family that would allow men and women to participate together.

Dr. Morris and his wife Charlotte worked on this idea of a Masonic fraternal Order for Master Masons and their female relatives for many years.  In 1850, Dr. Morris selected the Biblical heroines and the lessons and values of the Order.  He established the signs and passes, colors and emblems of the Order and defined the fundamental principles which have remained unchanged throughout the years.  The first ceremony book for the Order was compiled and published under the title of “The Rosary of the Eastern Star.”

In 1866, Dr. Morris became associated with Mr. Robert Macoy, who took over the planning and organization of the Order of the Eastern Star.  In 1867 and 1868, Mr. Macoy compiled and published a Ritual, using Dr. Morris' Rosary as a guide.  This was the beginning of the organization of Chapters of the Order of the Eastern Star in the United States as well as internationally. He immediately attempted to make the work more systematic and succeeded in adapting it to organized Chapters in such a way as to assure their success.

The first Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star was organized in Michigan in 1867. The Grand Chapter of California was organized in 1868 and began having annual sessions in 1873.  We will celebrate 150 years of the Order in California in 2018.