North Dakota Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star History 1894 - 1994

Looking back when Brother Rob Morris planned this beautiful Order of ours, we recognize its dedication to Charity, Truth and Loving kindness.  We who believe in Him, whose Star we have seen in the East, must never lose sight of our Faith in His power.  Therefore, let us be ever loyal to Right and Duty by AThinking Beyond Ourselves@.

 

Over the past years, many changes have been made in the projects we have supported.  Some of those projects have been, Student Loan Fund, Relief Fund, Near East Relief Fund, Flood Relief, International Temple Fund, French Orphans Adopted, Liberty Bonds, U.S. War Bonds, U.S. Defense Bonds, Red Cross, Conserving Food, Portland Fair Fund, St Louis Fair Fund, Lewis and Clark Fund, San Haven Cheer Benefit and Relief Association, China=s Children and Save the Children Federation Rice Bowl, International Order of Rainbow for Girls, Library Cart, Mobile Unite or Rehabilitation Fund, Masonic Service Centers, Overseas Relief, Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children, Pusan Children=s Charity Hospital, Cancer, Arthritis and Rheumatism Foundation.

 

The O.E.S. Home of North Dakota was one of our own project supported by each chapter until 1976 when the home was sold.  The Peace Garden Fund was begun in 1937 and when General Grand Chapter decided to put an O.E.S. Chapel at the Peace Garden, our Grand Chapter supported this.  We also supported the O.E.S. Overlook Shelter which our Grand Chapter purchased in 1964.

 

Many other projects have been supported over the last twenty-five years, including the ESTARL (Eastern Star Training Awards for Religious Leadership ) project.  ESTARL awards are a gift to the applicant not a loan.  Since the beginning of the ESTARL project in 1952, the members of North Dakota chapter have given out over five hundred awards.  What greater heritage can we offer the youth of the future than well trained religious leaders spreading the love of our Heavenly Father by teaching others about God.  Other projects receiving support from our members have been Peace Garden Chapel Music Fund, Cancer Research, Arthritis Foundation, Children=s Village, Merry Heart Fund, Grand Family Gift Fund, Bicentennial Portraits Project, Masonic Memorial Auditorium at the Peace Garden, Patio Fund at the Peace Garden, Harvest Fund, Praying Hands Speaker Fund, Diabetes Research, Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Heart Fund, Shriner Hospital, Education Loan Fund, Drug and Alcohol Fund, Maynard and Myrtle Morrison Fund, Rainbow and DeMolay, Youth Scholarship, and the Wonderful Youth Scholarship Fund.

 

Helping others brings rich rewards; it draws us closer to each other for our own good and for the good of our Order.  The support of our projects by the members of our subordinate chapters is generous and given with love and concern for others.

 

North Dakota Eastern Star Home Corporation

 

An Eastern Star Home had been discussed for several years before Elizabeth Treumann and Rev. C.A. Armstrong became Worthy Grand Matron and Worthy Grand Patron.  They decided to pursue the idea, and WGP Cleveland A. Armstron, through his affiliation with the council of Churches, located the Martin Hector home in Fargo and the Beisecker home at Fessenden.  Pertinent information was put together and given to the members at the 1943 Grand Chapter Session.  After an informative discussion, headed by the Worthy Grand Patron, a vote was held, and an overwhelming number of the members voted for the Beisecker home at Fessenden.

 

The Home continued until 1976.  It was forced to close as it was to expensive to remodel to meet the state fire codes.  After the closing of the Home July 1, 1976, there continued to be a Home Board of five trustees plus the Worthy Grand Matron and Worthy Grand Patron as ex-officio members.  At the present time, most of the interest monies are given to various charities.

 

History of the International Peace Garden and the Overlook Shelter

of the Order of the Eastern Star

 

The International Peace Garden was dedicated in 1932 on the border of Canada and the United States in the middle of both countries where North Dakota and Manitoba join.  In 1970, the General Grand Chapter dedicated the Peace Garden Chapel to be used by all denominations.  It is the only building built directly on the boarder.  Carved on its inside granite walls are inspirational quotations by prominent leaders of many lands.  In the center of the Chapel is a water fountain.  An organ and piped music add to the religious atmosphere.  Church services are held each Sunday during the summer with a variety of ministers from the area presiding.  It is also the scene of many weddings.

 

Manitoba and North Dakota Grand Chapters have an annual AHands Across the Border@ picnic the second Sunday in August, General Grand Chapter Pilgrimages are held once during the triennium.  After dinner in our own Picnic Shelters, we join in a simple church service in the Chapel.  We alternate to host a coffee hour and fellowship time.  We have welcomed O.E.S. tours from all states and provinces.

 

Thirty years ago, the International Fine Arts and Music Camp found a home in the Peace Garden.  More than 60,000 students from 47 countries have shared in the training of all the arts and all kinds of music.  Teachers from around the world have taught the students and foreign tours have been sponsored.

 

A recent addition to the Garden is a fine Masonic Auditorium built by the Masons of North Dakota and Manitoba which has filled a need for large conventions and band, chorus and dance concerts.

 

The thousands of flowers and plants that are planted each year in different arrangements make frequents visits to the Peace Garden interesting and inspiring.  The members of Eastern Star are pleased to provide Peace Chapel as a religious symbol of Peace between two nations.  It was built with confidence and love for present and future use.

 

The Fiftieth Anniversary of North Dakota Grand Chapter, 1994

 

The Fiftieth Anniversary of the founding of the Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, in North Dakota, was observed at the Grand Chapter session held in Fargo, June 21, 22 and 23, 1944.  Frances C. Beeman, daughter of Jennie Chenery, who was Worthy Grand Matron in 1911, was the Worthy Grand Matron.  Harry W. Gill was Worthy Grand Patron, Mecca Chapter #5 was the host chapter.  There were 105 chapters with a membership of 8,429.

 

The session was in the World War II years when the war took all attention.  All travel and monies were restricted to the necessities.  However, the auditorium of the Masonic Temple was decorated with large baskets of peonies from our gardens, with palms and ferns rented from the occasion, and with flags of Allied Nations borrowed from the county superintendent of schools formed a background in the Grand East.  A banner across the Grand East proclaimed this session, AThe Golden Opportunity Session@.  White lattice fences decorated with greenery and flowers marked the approach to the Grand East.  Sister Lander was give a corsage of War Stamps.  In her address, Sister Lander stated how much our AFifty years of service to Humanity@ have meant.  AOur members are serving in all branches of the air, the land and the sea> They are giving life-blood that we might have freedom and be able to meet as we are tonight in this beautiful Order.  Our members are working in all branches, and we believe that rehabilitation is our greatest project.  We are asking that you attend the Red Cross Surgical Dressing, give blood to the banks and work on the Salvage Drives...@

 

AThis is a very momentous occasion.  One which cannot happen again.  The celebration of fifty years of service - fifty year of service to the Master, leading other to see the Light, following in the footsteps of the Christ, giving and trying to lead other that they might have this wonderful experience.@

 

Brother Gill reported instituting one new chapter, Home Chapter #119, at Fessenden.  This was thought necessary because of the purchase of the Beisecker Home in that town as an Eastern Star Home.

 

The first O.E.S. Home Board meeting was held following the close of the Grand Chapter in 1943.

 

Grand Representatives Club

 

In June 1964, a meeting was held after the luncheon which was the beginning of the Grand Representatives Association of North Dakota.  It entitled all past and present Grand Representatives to belong, and its purpose was to be strictly a social club.

 

In June, 1965, the By-laws were accepted and an election of officers was held.  Annual dues of $1 were collected.  In 1991, the Club voted to increase the dues to $2.00, currently the annual dues is $5.  The first Annual meeting was held June 9, 1966. 

 

A Grand Representatives pin has been adopted shaped in the outline of the state of North Dakota.  These pins are given to Grand Representatives of North Dakota in other Jurisdictions.

 

Our membership has grown over the years and includes honorary membership of Past Grand Matrons and Past Grand Patrons.  Our luncheon and business meeting is well attended with between 200 and 300 Sisters and Brothers extending the hand of Friendship.

 

Grand Representatives know that receiving this appointment is one of the most enjoyable experiences of Eastern Star.

 

The Pathfinder Club

 

The Pathfinders Club was formed to create visitations with our leaders and with one another.  It has been delightful to find enthusiastic groups of Stars walking side-by-side as they journey from chapter to chapter and from district to district.  The record is one of rich and lasting friendships; pleasant smiles and kindness cultivated and small obligations that preserved many memorable occasions.

 

In the fall of 1964, fellowship and love for our Eastern Star were stressed by WGM Sarah Love Christianson and WGP Brother Fred J. Nehrenberg.  This was the origin of the Pathfinder Club which the Grand Warder headed.  At the end of the 1992 Grand Chapter Session, a total of 6,021 members had received  Pathfinder badges, and four have had continuous membership.

 

Originally, membership in this club required - three (3) visits to chapters within one=s own district; two (2) visits with the WGM and/or WGP at Schools of Instruction and one (1) visit to a chapter outside one=s own district.  Through the years minor requirement changes have been made by the Worthy Grand Matrons.

 

Each Pathfinder receives a Pathfinder badge and is recognized at Grand Chapter by being presented.  A luncheon is served and through the club, enjoyment and satisfaction increased, and inspiration and information were gained.  May the fraternal ties that bind us together grow stronger through these visitations of true friendship.

 

State Secretaries and Treasurers Association

 

The North Dakota Secretaries Association of subordinate chapters of the Order of the Eastern Star was founded in 1917 by Sister Florence M. Hoskins of Bismarck who served as Grand Secretary of the Grand Chapter of North Dakota from 1896 through 1921.

 

The purpose of the association is to aid the secretaries and the Grand Secretary in efficiently carrying on the work of the local secretaries and in keeping accurate records of all chapters.  Question and answer sessions and panel discussion at the annual meetings benefit all secretaries by making work uniform and by clarifying any questions that might arise.

 

By-laws were drawn up when the association was organized and have been revised as necessary through the years.  In 1989, the Treasurers were invited to join the association and the name was changed to North Dakota Secretaries and Treasurers Association.

Each year a memorial service is held for all secretaries who have passed away during the year.  A breakfast followed by a business meeting and the installation of new officers is held.

 

Past Grands  Association

 

Sister Minnie E. Rusk was the first president of the Past Grands= Association.  During the first years, the business meetings were held in the afternoon prior to the banquet in the evening; but there was difficulty in getting the members together.  They then decided to have the business meeting at the close of the banquet.

 

For many years they have had a memorial service honoring those who have departed from our ranks in the past year.  A gift of money was sent to ESTARL in their memory, it has since been changed to sent a monetary gift to the Morrison Fund.

 

Distinguished guests and their spouses attend our banquet and much fellowship is enjoyed by all the Sisters and Brother from the various Grand Jurisdictions.

 

A Christmas newsletter called the AYule-Ette@ is compiled by the Secretary of the Past Grands.  All of our members send interesting accounts of their life during the past year.  These letters are copied and sent to all members.  This has been a very unique and interesting way to keep in touch.

 

The highlights of the evening is when our Junior Past Matron and Junior Past Patron are initiated into the Aillustrious group@ of the Past Grands.

 

The last few years, we have had our business meeting right after the Past Grands= pictures are taken.  This is before the formal opening of Grand Chapter.  This has proved to be very satisfactory.

 

International Order of Rainbow for Girls in North Dakota - Since 1969

 

The International Order of Rainbow for Girls has become fewer in number since the Order of Eastern Star celebrated their 75^th Anniversary, but it certainly has not diminished in enthusiasm!

 

In 1969, Mrs. Vivian Snyder of Williston was Supreme Deputy, she served Rainbow in North Dakota for 17 years.  While she was the head of Rainbow, the numbers reached over 2,000 girls.  In 1971, she named Mrs. Dorothy Yule of Bismarck who had been her Sub-Deputy.  AMom Yule@, as she was known, was a picture of grace and beauty for all of the girls.  She had formerly been the Chairwomen of the Grand Cross of Color.  After becoming Supreme Deputy, she appointed Mrs. Isabel McLaren of Fargo to the Grand Cross of Color Chairwoman; a position she held until 1990.

In 1974, with Supreme Assembly in New Orleans, LA, Maynard and Myrtle Morrison organized the first bus trip to Supreme - the bus was full, as was the bus to Disneyland in 1976.  In 1978 at Louisville, KY, Mrs. Mary Muhs of Towner was installed Supreme Deputy.  A trip to Philadelphia in 1980 for Supreme had our first side trip to Washington D.C.  A side trip to Williamsburg, VA was before Supreme in Charleston, WV in 1982.  In 1984 at Little Rock, AR, North Dakota Rainbow bid to host Supreme Assembly in Bismarck in 1986, and the rest is history!  With our Centennial Worthy Grand Matron, Bonnie Elelfson as Co-Chairperson along with Marilyn Schultz, it was a huge success.  Every member of the Order of the Eastern Star , and all the members of the Masonic Lodge and ALL Appendant Bodies helped the girls by putting on the most successful Supreme Assembly in recent years.  A quote in the Florida O.E.S. Proceedings by their Supreme Deputy.  AThis portion of my report is an unsolicited love letter to the people of North Dakota.  They are only 294 Rainbow Girls in the entire state and this was an international meeting with delegations from 45 states and 7 foreign countries there.  You had to experience to believe the phenomenal cooperation between all the Appendant Bodies in the state.  That umbrella of fraternal love was never more evident.  Those people left nothing to change, every detail had been taken care of, as they said it wasn=t fancy, just genuine hospitality and caring.  I now know what total dedication and cooperation means, I saw it in action@.  It was an exciting time for all of us in North Dakota.  At that Supreme Assembly, Mary Muhs was elected to the House of Gold, and honor North Dakota had not received since 1931.

 

North Dakota Grand Assembly has had many wonderful, competent Grand Worthy Advisors, many who are members of the Easter Star today.  They are special young women; it would be wonderful if each one could be named.  They have come from every corner of North Dakota, and each one has continued with service projects.  It has been customary to have our Grand Worthy Advisor be the one to serve at whichever position that the Supreme Worthy Advisor asks when making out her program for Supreme Assembly, which is held every two years.  We have had our Grand Worthy Advisors give the Devotional and serve as Supreme Pages.  Once in a while, we have been honored with her serving as a Supreme Color Station.  In 1990 at Supreme Assembly in Phoenix, AZ, Tami Plummer from Wahpeton served as Acting Supreme Charity, an honor for Tami and certainly for North Dakota.  Also, at that Session, Mrs. Janice Sather of Bismarck was installed as Supreme Deputy in North Dakota, and Mary Muhs was installed as Supreme Love.  In July 1998 in St Louis, MO, Mary Muhs was installed as Supreme Worthy Advisor for the International Order of Rainbow for Girls, and honor for our state. 

 

Two of the most delightful stations in North Dakota Grand Assembly are State Mother Advisor and State Rainbow Dad.  The State Mother Advisor must be an Eastern Star or Majority member (one of long standing service to Rainbow).  The State Rainbow Dad must be a member in good standing of Masons and/or Eastern Star.  There is work involved with these honorary stations, but the love and respect they receive far outshines the work.

 

The Senior Executive Board is the Ruling Body of the Grand Assembly.  They are all Eastern Stars, Masons or Majority Members.  These special people are the real servants to Rainbow in North Dakota - this is their gift to the Rainbow Girls; years of work, a true labor of love, and with no pay!

 

History of Grand Lodge of North Dakota, A.F.&A.M.

 

The first known Mason to tread on North Dakota soil was Captain Meriweather Lewis of the Lewis and Clark expedition of 1804-06.

Northern Light Lodge at Pembina was the first regularly organized Lodge within the present state of North Dakota.  Dispensation for its organization was given September 13, 1863.  In 1921, a marker was placed on the spot where this pioneer lodge stood.  It is maintained by the Grand Lodge of North Dakota.

 

It is largely impossible to separate the Masonic histories of North and South Dakota.  These two states originally comprised the Dakota Territory which was divided by an Act of the United States Congress in 1889 for the purpose of creating two new State of the Union.

 

The first lodges were chartered between the years of 1863 and 1876 under the Jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Iowa.  Six lodges, all in the southeastern part of Dakota Territory, formed the Grand of Dakota Territory on July 21, 1875.  While the Grand Lodge of Iowa was busy chartering lodges in the southern part of Dakota Territory, the Grand Lodge of Minnesota sponsored and chartered Shiloh Lodge #108 January 14, 1874.  Bismarck Lodge #120 received its charter January 12, 1876.  Both Lodges operated un the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.  On June 7, 1879, Shiloh Lodge #105 of Minnesota at its own request, became Shiloh Lodge #8 of Dakota Territory.  In like manner, on June 8, 1880, Bismarck Lodge #120 of Minnesota, became Bismarck Lodge #16 of Dakota Territory.

 

At the division of Dakota Territory into two states in 1889, the Grand Lodge of Dakota became the Grand Lodge of South Dakota with 73 lodges under its jurisdiction at the time.  The 26 lodges then working in North Dakota formed a new Grand Lodge - the Grand Lodge of North Dakota.  The division was effected with total harmony, with both Grand Lodges being formed on the same day and the Grand Officers of each assisting at the Installation of the other.  North Dakota Grand Lodge has the distinction of being the last Grand Lodge to be erected in the continental United States.  In terms of America as a whole, its Atitle@ as youngest Grand Lodge was lost to Alaska in 1981.

 

North Dakota is one of the smaller Masonic jurisdictions in the United States with a membership under 6000.  The State of North Dakota itself is largely rural with no large cities from which to draw members.  Nevertheless, the visitors will find it difficult to discover any town without Masonic members.  North Dakota does not possess any Masonic benevolent institutions, but nonetheless, the Grand Lodge is involved in several substantial charity funds.  The Grand Lodge building in Fargo possesses an excellent library and museum which visitors will no doubt find of particular interest.

 

Depression

 

North Dakota Grand Chapter has enjoyed many years of growth and withstood some years of depression.  The Order will continue to grow in spite of noticeable lack of interest which has been felt in many areas of this state and in most Grand Jurisdictions.

Those of us who were privileged to survive the depression, and especially the drought years in North Dakota, may well point with pride to the fact that through the 1930s and early 1940s our organization thrived and prospered.  Those hot dry years will never be forgotten, but it is gratifying to remember the attendance and enthusiasm of Sisters and Brothers who made each Grand Chapter Session a rewarding experience.  North Dakota never suffers too much the impact of national economics - our burden was the drought during the thirties...but the fraternal influence of the Order of the Eastern Star encouraged all members through those trying years.

 

Many miles were traveled on North Dakota roads not yet paved (some not even graveled) to attend Grand Chapter.  Those were no air conditioned automobiles, no air conditioned railroad cards, no air conditioned hotel rooms and no air conditioned chapter rooms to enjoy while attending Grand Chapter.  Yet many of the same devoted members returned year after year and attendance grew with each session.  No office or appointment was too small or too great to discourage the attendance, interest or enthusiasm.

 

Meetings alternated between Grand Forks and Fargo because no other chapter rooms in the state were large enough to accommodate the attendance.  Grand Chapter gave the membership something to cling to during those years of despair, and it is the earnest wish of every Past Grand that the dedication to the Order of the Eastern Star during the years of depression be equalled and surpassed during the years of prosperity.

 

1887

 

There were Eastern Star Chapters in Dakota Territory.

 

Lady Washington #1, Jamestown, became the first chapter when North Dakota became a state in 1889.  It had originally been number eight during Dakota Territory days.

 

The AMother of Eastern Star in North Dakota@ was Sister Elizabeth Porter, first Worthy Matron of Lady Washington #1 and fourth Worthy Grand Matron.  Before coming to North Dakota, she was Associate Matron of Miriam Chapter #1 of Chicago.

 

In the 1950s Eastern Star in North Dakota has grown to its height of 128 chapters and over 12,000 members.   Currently (2006) we have 21 chapters remaining with membership continuing to drop as all Fraternal organizations are experiencing.