Members of the Order of the Eastern Star strive to live our lives by the enduring beliefs of Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth, along with certain core values:

Friendship: We are the largest fraternal organization in the world to which both women and men can belong. With Chapters in almost all 50 states and in 27 countries around the world, members can go anywhere and know that they can find friends and a helpful hand when they’re in need.

Community Service: We encourage our members not only to help one another, but also to reach out to their communities. Members are active in many community-based projects for those requiring assistance.

Diversity: The members of our Order reflect the social, cultural, educational, ethnic, and religious diversity of the community around them. We value each other’s strengths and opinions.

Charity: As an organization, we raise funds to aid our members in need and to make a difference in our communities with research funds and scholarships for students regardless of age or membership status, as well as other charities. We fund and operate a Senior Living Community for our older members who belong to California Chapters. And we were the first statewide non-profit sponsor of the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.

Patriotism: We encourage our members to value their citizenship and to honor the Flag of their country. We support our servicemen and women overseas through our We Care program, sending packages to our troops overseas to lighten the burden of their deployment.

The Order of the Eastern Star is a fraternal organization of women and men committed to providing an environment of friendship and fellowship, regardless of age, by implementing innovative ideas, facilitating positive change and planning for the future, while working cohesively with our Masonic Family.

Mutual Respect: To demonstrate mutual respect for each other, while recognizing the strengths and diversities of our members.

Service: To make the name of Eastern Star synonymous with service to our communities and service and assistance to our members.

Membership: To engage and revitalize our existing membership and appeal to prospective members through creative programs and activities.

The Order of the Eastern Star is a member of the Family of Freemasonry. We are the largest fraternal Order in the Family of Freemasonry that admits both women and men to membership.

Eastern Star celebrates the lives of five women of the Bible. Each woman exemplifies one of the principles of the Order— Fidelity, Constancy, Loyalty, Faith and Love.

Each member of the Order commits themselves to live by the virtues of our Order, which are illustrated and explained to each new member at the time of their initiation.

If you are interested in becoming a member, click here.

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 women and men 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 five women of the Bible whose stories would teach the lessons and values of the Order. 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 Robert Macoy, who 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.

The first chapter in California was instituted on May 10, 1869 in San Francisco.