Origin of the Organization

in the United States

The first regular lodge of Negroes A. F. & A.M. was constituted September 29, 1784, by the Grand Lodge of England on the petition of Prince Hall, Boston Smith, Thomas Sanderson and several other Masons residing in the city of Boston, Mass.  They were constituted into a regular Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons under the title or denomination of the African Lodge, to be opened in Boston, Mass., with Prince Hall as Master; Boston Smith, Senior Warden, and Thomas Sanderson, Junior Warden.

The first subordinate chapter, O. E. S., to be organized among the colored people of America was Queen Esther No. 1, instituted in the city of Washington, D. C., in the year 1875, by Brother Thornton A. Jackson, who received the degrees of the Adoptive Rite of the O. E. S. on August 10, 1874, from Brother C. B. Case, a deputy and agent of Illustrous. Robert McCoy, 33, the Supreme Patron of the Rite of Adoption of the world as set forth in the History of the Adoptive Rite in the District of Columbia.

The first Negro Grand Chapter, O. E. S., was organized by Bishop J. W. Hood in North Carolina in 1880.  In 1881 the second Grand Chapter was organized in Tennesee, and Grand Chapters were organized in over 80  jurisdictions thereafter.

 

International Conference of Grand Chapters
Order of Eastern Star

Prince Hall Affiliation

Brief Account of it's Origin

The International Conference of Grand Chapters, Order of Eastern Star, Prince Hall Affiliation, was organized in the City of Boston, Massachusetts in the year 1907 and styled itself "The Supreme United Grand Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star."

The birth and organization of the International Conference of Grand Chapters, Order of Eastern Star was sprung from a crying necessity for a uniformity of the interpretation of the Ritualistic Work in the several Grand Jurisdictions of the Order in general.  Many of the members of the Order found in visiting other Jurisdictions that there was such a marked difference in the mode of recognition, the ways of giving the signs and passes, and especially in the manner of conferring the degrees and the interpretation of the Ritualistic Work.

Each Jurisdiction was going about its work without regard to what was being done along the same line in their sister Jurisdictions.  The Order in general was in a chaotic condition in regard to everything Ritualistic and in fact everything pertaining to the forms and ceremonies of the Work.

Since we are of Prince Hall Affiliation and all sprung from the same source, and we use the same Rituals, then why such a vast difference in the way and manner of doing the same things?

 

As many of our more progressive members began to visit the sister Jurisdictions, they awoke to the fact that these alarming differences demanded some kind of united action to remedy the growing evils and that we should bring more uniformity and perfection in the interpretation of our Ritualistic work in the various Jurisdictions; and for a closer fraternal relationship, not only between the various Grand Chapters, but among the members of the Order in general wherever dispersed, that our Fraternal Chain might thus be strengthened

 

Since there existed no Supreme Body to which our many Grand Chapters owed allegiance, several of the Grand Jurisdictions finally decided to form themselves into some kind of a confederation or organization to bring about more uniformity in the Ritualistic Work.  Thus the International Conference of Grand Chapters Order of the Eastern Star came into existence.

 

The first organization was called together on September 11, and 12, 1907, by Mrs. Letitia L. Foy of Mass., and styled itself the Supreme United Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star.  Fifteen Grand Chapters were involved.

 

The delegates of the fifteen Grand Chapters represented expressed their sincere interest in the work to be accomplished and stated they would return to their Jurisdictions and advise united action of all concerned to remedy the growing evil in order to carry out the purposes of the Organization.

Since each Grand Chapter is a sovereign body owing no allegiance to any Supreme Body, some Jurisdictions objected to this new organization being called "Supreme" and feared it might in some way interfere with or take away some of their rights, so in order to satisfy such Jurisdictions and remove any such objections that might be offered or keep them from becoming a member, the name was changed in 1910 to "The Interstate Conference of Grand Chapters."  Later on Grand Chapters from countries outside of the United States sought admission, so in 1924, the name was again changed to "The International Conference of Grand Chapters, O.E.S."

A great amount of good has been accomplished by these friendly meetings, both in bringing about uniformity of our Ritualistic Work and in lending our offices in bringing about peace and harmony in some of the Jurisdictions where differences have sprung up.  It is our aim to have every Jurisdiction and every member of the Order feel that this Conference is not a BOSS or a DICTATOR, but merely a good old friend who understands and wants only to give you all a helping hand and sisterly or brotherly advice.