The Eastern Star Journal

Fall 2011 Issue

editor@easternstarjournal.org — 2011-11-03T12:21:35-04:00

This Fall issue of The Journal should be arriving soon – be sure to get your copy and read the cover story: Divorce, The Duchess, and Dupont Circle; and learn about the International Peace Garden, and some of the wonderful things our youth are doing in the Eastern Star world.

The Journal on Facebook

editor@easternstarjournal.org — 2011-11-02T18:03:52-04:00

The Eastern Star Journal is live on Facebook – be sure to “like” our page if you haven’t already!

www.facebook.com/easternstarjournal
Be sure to check the page regularly, as we are posting questions to the readership so that you can have a say as to what we’re going to feature in future issues of the Journal.

How Did We Get Into This?

editor@easternstarjournal.org — 2011-10-15T20:00:00-04:00

Mark T. “Bull” Jones, Sentinel, Dave Langham Chapter, Alabama

Our family’s Masonic journey began in 2009 when after a decade of considering the Lodge and wondering why none of the Masons in my family had asked me to join. I seriously thought that there had to be something wrong with me! Eventually, though, the desire to be a part of something larger than my self – something like I felt in my days in the U.S. Navy back in the 1980’s – became overwhelming and in July of that year I submitted my petition to the Lodge nearest our Tillman’s Corner, AL home. George U. Potter Lodge, #912, F. & A.M. With nothing less than amazement I discovered that I was worthy of the fraternity!

Divorce, the Duchess, and Dupont Circle

editor@easternstarjournal.org — 2011-10-15T20:00:00-04:00

Laura Humphreys
Laura Humphreys spent two months writing a report on the International Headquarters in Washington DC for the Historic American Buildings Survey as part of a Masters Degree at the Ironbridge Institute in the United Kingdom.

Walking down New Hampshire Avenue towards the Eastern Star International Headquarters for the first time is quite an experience. It is a strange building, occupying a whole triangular city block with blind windows, strange angles and Beaux-Arts flourishes on every spare inch of stone. It lights up like a majestic riverboat sailing towards Dupont circle in the night, leaving much more ordinary buildings (with much more ordinary histories) in its wake.

What Does the OES Offer to our Prospects? What Does the OES Offer to our Prospects?

editor@easternstarjournal.org — 2011-07-15T20:00:00-04:00

Greg Keffer
Worthy Patron
Adda Chapter No. 467, Kansas

Republished from
The Kansas Star Journal

At a recent Star meeting, our Grand Worthy Matron asked all who thought that the Order of Eastern Star had something to offer to a prospect to stand. I, like everyone else, jumped to my feet and was proud to stand with Kathy as a member in good standing of our wonderful Order. Our mutual goal, as stated by our Grand Worthy Patron is to initiate at least one more new member than we lose this year.

The ESJ Editors go to Romania

editor@easternstarjournal.org — 2011-07-15T20:00:00-04:00

Jerold J. Samet, Editor

Our trip to Romania was one of the most heart warming trips. We landed in Bucharest and were met by The most gracious Aruna Tohaneanu and Alex Scurtu. Aruna, the head of the Order of Eastern Star and Alex, an Alumnus of Youth Leaders International became our family in Romania. Aruna lives in Bucharest with her husband and four wonderful children. Alex lives in Drobeta Turnu-Severin, about four hours away from Bucharest. Aruna had worked for weeks coordinating our time in Romania, making sure we gained access to sights on the days she planned. She even coordinated our meals in the different cities and with many of the families who hosted our meals over the Easter weekend. The families of our members of YLI accepted us into their homes and prepared wonderful meals for us to partake with their families. In Severin, we spent Saturday evening at the home of one of our YLI counselors, Ileana Wisket, and her husband Stefan for a scrumptious dinner and then went out to a very old Monastery to participate in the midnight Easter Vigil with a wonderful candlelit service with hundreds of people. On Sunday, we had great lunch at the home of the several of our students, the Grecus, and then a tour of Severin and dinner at the home of another YLI counselor, Michaela Udrischte. On Monday, we had a great meeting at the Trajan high school with many of our YLI students, teachers, alumni and the Headmaster of the high School. That afternoon, we went on a boat ride up the Danube with many of the YLI students and alumni, relaxing, chatting, and enjoying the beautiful scenery of the Danube. That evening, we enjoyed dinner with the President of the DTS city council.

Chapter initiates family

editor@easternstarjournal.org — 2011-04-15T20:00:00-04:00

Three Generations in one night
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Family & Chapter History Made
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By GRACE K. EDDINS, GGCCM ESJ

ALABAMA. – It was a special night at Dave Langham Chapter No. 536, Theodore, AL on January 13, 2011, when we initiated an entire family into our Chapter. We made Chapter history as well as family history with the initiation of Brother Bruce Parden, Father, Sister Retha Parden, Mother, Sister Laura Parden Barnett, Daughter, and Sister Courtney Barnett, Granddaughter. It is indeed an honor and pleasure to initiate three generations into our Order on the same night.

Eastern Star at the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893 Eastern Star at the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893

editor@easternstarjournal.org — 2011-04-15T20:00:00-04:00

Janelle Hammarstedt, Grand Treasurer Emeritus and Historian, Iowa

A few years ago, while visiting Vesper Chapter in LeMars, Iowa, I discovered a very large picture of “The Eastern Star Corner” in the Woman’s Building at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Because of what I had read in the 1892 and 1895 proceedings of General Grand Chapter, I immediately knew the historical significance of the picture and was surprised and delighted when the chapter presented the picture to me at the close of the meeting.

Texas Rainbow Honors One of Their Own

editor@easternstarjournal.org — 2011-01-15T19:00:00-05:00

Michelle White
Princeton Chapter No. 1126, TEXAS

The Grand Assembly of Texas had an outstanding honor bestowed upon them this past August at Supreme Assembly in Omaha Nebraska, when Mrs. Marlene Dibrell, Supreme Inspector in Texas and Mexico and a member of the House of Gold was installed as Supreme Fidelity. It was truly a beautiful Sunday afternoon on October 17th, when the Adult Grand Officers of Texas hosted a Tea in the Atrium of the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital in Dallas to honor Mrs. Dibrell on her Supreme Appointment.

Chapter Contributes to Fight Parkinson's

editor@easternstarjournal.org — 2011-01-15T19:00:00-05:00

By BARBARA LINDE, WM

ARKANSAS –Shown are a members of Mountain Home Chapter #202, Mountain Home, Arkansas. Front Row, (l to r) are Anna Williams, PM; Linda Teal, AM; Virginia Pabst, PM; and Gary Fortin. On the back row are Donna Weaverm PM; Jean Scott, PM; and Patsy Meadows, PM. The Chapter contributed over $300.00 to the drive for combat Parkinson’s Disease.

“Grand” Grand Representatives

editor@easternstarjournal.org — 2011-01-15T19:00:00-05:00

A promise kept
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Grand Representatives keeping friendship over thousands of miles
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By KEN CONROD, PP

NOVA SCOTIA & PEI. – It began in 1985 when a handsome young 25 year old man received an appointment as Grand Representative of Utah in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Brother Ken Conrod had only been a member of the Order for two years and for him, this was a journey into the unknown. That changed, however, when he began his friendship with his counterpart, Dorothy Parks of Salt Lake City. Dorothy was a diminutive little lady, fifty years his senior in age, but equal in enthusiasm, energy and delight in the appointment.