History of the Grand Chapter of Kansas

This history has been extracted from The History of the Order of the Eastern Star, written and published by Reverend Willis D. Engle, Most Worthy Grand Patron and first Right Worthy Grand Secretary of the General Grand Chapter of the Order.

KANSAS.

The first Chapter was Esther No. I, at Burlington, organized in December, 1875, and eighty-two were organized principally through the labors of Harmon G. Reynolds, who called the convention to organize the Grand Chapter, at Emporia, October 18, 1876, when forty-two Chapters were represented, thirty-one of them by proxies, many of the proxies not being members of the Chapters they represented. The Grand Patron was made the executive head of the Grand Chapter, but this was changed in 1877, since which time the Grand Matron has held the authority. The constitution also provided for a Deputy Grand Patron and a Deputy Grand Matron, but these offices were abolished in 1878. The annual per capita dues were fixed at 10 cents, but were raised in 1877 to 20 cents, in 1896 to 30 cents, but were later reduced to 20 cents.

In 1877 delegates were elected to the General Grand Chapter, with discretionary powers, who, for the Grand Chapter, formally gave its allegiance to the General Grand Chapter at its meeting in 1878.

By the provisions of the constitution the annual meetings were held at the same time and place at the meetings of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, and owing to the postponement of its meeting from October, 1879, to February 1880, no meeting of the Grand Chapter was held in 1879. The annual meeting was changed in 1882 to such time and place as the Grand Chapter shall designate.

An Eastern Star Association, whose object is to properly celebrate the festal day of the Order was organized by members in Kansas and western Missouri in 1884, which held most enjoyable picnics, which have been participated in by goodly numbers.

A Past Grand Matron’s jewel was presented to the retiring Grand Matron in 1886, and, with few exceptions, all Grand Matrons have been similarly remembered with valuable gifts. In 1891 it was

“Resolved, That, in token of the high appreciation of her services, the Grand Chapter extends to its first Grand Matron, Mary A. Hepler, a heartfelt welcome, and authorizes the Grand Secretary to draw an order on the Grand Treasurer refunding to her the amount of her expenses incurred in attending this meeting, and this be done annually so long as she remains in this Grand Jurisdiction.”

In 1893 the Grand Chapter presented Sister Hepler a gold watch, suitably inscribed, and, in 1895, appropriated $10 per month to her during the remainder of her life. Sister Hepler’s services to the Order in Kansas and generally were invaluable, and she well deserved all the kindnesses that the Order bestowed upon her.

The Grand Chapter, in 1891, also voted to appropriate $50 annually to aid Electa Chapter in caring for the orphan, Emma Avery, so long as the Chapter has her in charge.

At the funeral of Lizzie E. Gabriel, Associate Grand Matron, in February 1891, the Knights Templar Commandery, by permission of the Grand Commander, acted as escort to the Chapter, which performed the funeral rites of the Order, and, in 1892, a Chapter of Sorrow was held in her memory, and that of Georgiana SeCoy, Past Grand Matron, by the Grand Chapter. The memory of the different Past Grand officers has been similarly commemorated by the Grand Chapter.

By invitation of the Grand Commandery, the meeting of the Grand Chapter was held at Topeka in 1893. The many courtesies extended to the Order by the different branches of Masonry in Kansas and elsewhere are noted in this history to show the growing recognition of the Order and of its good works. No one who has come into the Order in recent years can so fully appreciate the contrast between the condition of matters in this regard and what formerly prevailed, as can those who were early laborers in its upbuilding. In a historical address delivered by Mary H. Buck, Past Grand Matron, at the twenty-first annual meeting, she said:

“In those days it was deemed expedient to meet at the same time and place as the Masonic Grand Lodge. I well remember the cold stare we received, and the elevated noses of some of the the brethren, as we were compelled at times to pass through their committee rooms and anterooms, going to and from our place of meeting. . . . There was much prejudice to overcome on behalf of our Order in the minds of even the truest and best of Masons, the idea having become fossilized with many that woman never had been and never could be made a Mason – never had and never could keep a secret. But I can safely say we have learned to do even that better than many of them, for if by chance any terrible mystery is revealed ‘to the profane,’ it is usually traceable to the brethren.”

A painting designed by Sister Hepler, giving a pictorial history of the Order in Kansas, was paid for by contributions from the subordinate Chapters, amounting to $300, and was displayed in the Kansas building at the World’s Fair, and it now adorns the walls of the Kansas Masonic Home. The Galveston flood sufferers were relieved to the extent of $282.

In 1895 the Grand Chapter was invited to attend a reception and ball given by Mt. Olivet Commandery, Knights Templar, and in 1898 the Grand Commandery unanimously adopted the following:

“Resolved, That the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar, in annual conclave assembled, hereby extends to the Order of the Eastern Star our knightly and courteous greetings and our sincere wish that their session may be pleasant and harmonious and their legislation wise and judicious.”

In 1908, in response to the circular letter of the General Grand Chapter officers, it was unanimously

“Resolved, That we reaffirm the action taken by the Grand Chapter two years ago relative to the use of the square and compasses, the rods in purging the Chapter, and Matron leaving her station to greet newly admitted members; that we continue all the usages.”

The Grand Secretary is paid a salary of $1,000 and allowed $240 for office rent. There were 615 voters in the meeting in 1911, 328 of whom were representatives and 287 were either Grand officers, Past Matrons or Past Patrons.

The general fund receipts in 1911, including balance, were $9,845; disbursement, $4,080; balance, $5,765.

Engle, Rev. Willis D. “Kansas.” In The History of the Order of the
Eastern Star, 184–87. Indianapolis, Ind.: Willis D. Engle 1912.

This history has been extracted from The History of the Order of the Eastern Star, written and published by Reverend Willis D. Engle, Most Worthy Grand Patron and first Right Worthy Grand Secretary of the General Grand Chapter of the Order.

Kansas – The movement for a Masonic Home was begun by the Grand Chapter in 1885, when a committee was appointed to confer with the Grand Lodge, but little advance was made until 1891, when the Grand Lodge unanimously voted to yield to the solicitations of the Eastern Star and resolved “to co-operate with similar committees from the other regular and recognized Masonic bodies, and the Order of the Eastern Star, to furnish plans for arranging and carrying into effect the action of the Grand Lodge.” At its organization, and continuously since, a sister was made a member of the board of directors, the first time that a woman has served in such a capacity. The regulations were made to provide for the admission of the children of members of the Order.

In 1895, the Grand Lodge having decided to abandon the project on account of the prevailing hard times, the Grand Chapter asked the Grand Lodge to reconsider its action and to take steps toward founding a Home, pledging the heart assistance of the Order. To this request the Grand Lodge acceded, and in 1896 an annual per capita tax of 10 cents was made by the Grand Chapter for the object; a standing committee on the Home was provided for; June 24 was made Masonic Home day, which each subordinate Chapter was requested to devote to raising money for the Home. The contributions of the Order toward the Home have aggregated more than forty-three thousand dollars, in addition to special contributions for particular objects. Emma W. Port, Past Grand Matron, contributed $1,000 as the foundation of an endowment, to which the Grand Chapter added $500 in 1900.

In 1896 the board of directors adopted the following:

“We appreciate and gratefully acknowledge the encouragement, aid and support, moral as well as material, given by the Order of the Eastern Star, and record our conviction that an Order so distinguished and noted for its efforts in behalf of distressed, destitute and helpless humanity is entitled to the active support as well as the commendation of all good Masons.”

The Home was dedicated by the Grand Lodge September 10, 1896, and in his address on the occasion the Grand Master said:

“We do not forget the powerful aid and influence of the Eastern Star and its Chapters. Without their aid, and the support of the women of Masonry, we could boast neither of past success nor future hope.”

Rinda E. Chesney, Past Grand Matron, was the first matron of the Home, while the present one is Mary C. Snedden, Past Most Worthy Grand Matron.

We are pleased to present herewith an illustration of the home, and to quote the following description of it:

“It was erected for Hon. R. E. Lawrence in 1888, when Wichita was in the zenith of her glory and money was no object, and cost $97,000.

“It is built of stone, three stories high, with basement under the entire building; double walls and slate roof render it fireproof. The building is 90 by 90 feet. The reception room is 20 by 25, finished in oak, with massive French plate mirrors and parquet floor. Opening from this room, with folding doors, are the library, parlors, sitting room and matron’s room

“It is one of the many places in this land that cost a fortune and sold for a song. The Masons bought the place for only $21,000. Since buying it they have built an addition connecting the stable (which was as fine as the house) with the house. The addition contains the dining room and kitchen, the original dining room being used as the matron’s room and the original kitchen as the children’s play room. The stable has been fitted up for the old men, the former carriage room, with its beautiful mantel and grate, being their reading room. The Masons bought the Home and Eastern Star furnished it.”

Engle, Rev. Willis D. “Kansas.” In The History of the Order of the
Eastern Star, 184–87. Indianapolis, Ind.: Willis D. Engle 1912.