Quitman Eastern Star chapter celebrates century

Posted 10/13/22

Quitman Chapter No. 695, Order of the Eastern Star (OES) will celebrate its 100th anniversary on Sunday, Oct. 23 from 2-4 p.m. at the Flora Masonic Lodge at 915 S. State Hwy 37 in Quitman.

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Quitman Eastern Star chapter celebrates century

Posted

Quitman Chapter No. 695, Order of the Eastern Star (OES) will celebrate its 100th anniversary on Sunday, Oct. 23 from 2-4 p.m. at the Flora Masonic Lodge at 915 S. State Hwy 37 in Quitman.

Worthy Matron Margaret Turrentine and Worthy Patron Gary Dixon invite OES members, family, friends and non-members to help the Quitman chapter celebrate this event.

Distinguished guests will be Texas Worthy Grand Matron Phyllis Macon and Worthy Grand Patron James Parker and other grand officers. A reception will follow the program.

Quitman was established in 1850 and became the Wood County seat. Petition for Flora Masonic Lodge No. 119 Charter was made on Jan. 5, 1852.

Due to slow growth and hardship in the early years in Quitman, it wasn’t until 1922 that Quitman Chapter No. 695, OES was instituted April 11 and constituted Oct. 26.

It began with 20 charter members led by Worthy Matron Lovie Searcy and Worthy Patron John F. Smart. Other charter members’ names might be recognized on street signs and areas in Quitman: Opal Benton, Amanda Black, Ethel Denton, Mollie Goldsmith, Floyd Harry, Lily Jones, Nig Kendrick, S.T Kendrick, Laura Macon, Winona Martin, H.V. Puckett, Lois Robbins, Adelle Smart, Maggie Smart, Viola Smart, Cora Smart, Sallie Stone and Bertha Wright. 

Through the years, they started seeing consolidations of OES Chapters. Yantis Chapter No. 1137, constituted in 1988, consolidated June 1, 2002 with Quitman Chapter No. 695, and shortly after Mineola Chapter No. 454 which began in 1923 consolidated June 1, 2003. Lindale Chapter consolidated June 1, 2013. 

Eastern Star is one of the largest fraternal organizations in the world to which men and women may belong and is based on relevant and inspiring Biblical examples of charity, truth, loving kindness, heroic conduct and moral integrity.

The organization was created in the United States in 1850 by Master Mason Dr. Rob Morris, a Past Grand Master Mason of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, with the idea 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.

It would also create a place in the Masonic family that would allow men and women to participate together.