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Home : Quarterly Archives : Volume 10 |
Tredyffrin Easttown Historical Society |
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Source: April, 1958 Volume 10 Number 1, Pages 21–23 The Order of the Eastern Star Having a Masonic Lodge in the vicinity was a good reason for having an Order of the Eastern star in the neighborhood. In March of 1920, Margaret B. Alexander, holding the office of District Deputy Grand Matron in the Grand Chapter of Pennsylvania, met with some ladies at the home of Mrs. M.B. Wolf and explained the necessary steps to be taken in order to form a Chapter. On April 5th another meeting was held, this time at the home of Mrs. Frank Walker, in the dining room back of the drug store, then located on the corner of Knox avenue and Lincoln Highway, At this second meeting the name of the Chapter "General Anthony Wayne" was suggested by Miss Ida Channel. The meetings were to be held the third Saturday of each month in Odd Fellows Hall, Waterloo Avenue, Berwyn. Officers were elected to fill the stations in the Chapter and perform any other duties necessary to the constitution of a chapter. On April 17, 1920, a special meeting of the Grand Chapter of Pennsylvania was held in Odd Fellows Hall for the purpose of constituting the Chapter. The meeting was called to order by Worthy Grand Matron, Sister Sallie B. Hancox, Nursery Chapter No. 25, Franklin, Pa. Worthy Grand Patron Fred C. Boyer, Fernwood Chapter No. 141, Philadelphia, Pa., Grand Secretary Adeline W. Barnes, Victory Chapter No. 257 Pittsburgh, Pa. The Grand Marshal introduced the officers and members, and the Worthy Grand Patron constituted the Chapter in full form under the title "General Anthony Wayne, No. 297" with thirty five charter members, who were as follows: Mary J. Armstrong, Margaret W. Armstrong, Minnie Barbour, Edith W. Beaumont, Helen Bracken, Grace W. Burns, Martha A. Burns, Martha R. Burns, Ida Channel, Leslie Compton, Florence M. Corkhill Hilda E. Heagy, John F. Heagy,, Martha Kelley, Fannie Lamborn, Allen Latshaw, Brooke B. Longaker, George Maxton, Edna H. Myers, Jane A. Siner, Jean Stroh, Katharine M.Stroh, Carrie Tage, Agnes J, Walker Frank F. Walker, Fannie R. Wandless, Ella H. D. Wheeler, Emma Williams, Nellie W. Williams, Hettie T. Wolf, Michael B. Wolf, Florence Wolf, Anna Woodward, Gertrude Woodward, Henry Woodward. In September 1931 the meeting place was changed to the lower room of the Great Valley Baptist Chapel on Cassatt Avenue, Berwyn. In March of 1946 the meeting place was again changed to Berwyn Fire Hall, Bridge Avenue -- our present meeting place. The meeting night was changed from the third Saturday to the first Monday of the month. The following are the benevolent undertakings of the Order: Near East Relief, Cancer Fund, yearly subscription to the Chester County Tuberculosis Society, Needlework Guild, Girl Scouts, Salvation Army, Royer - Greaves School for the Blind, our Eastern Star Homes, gifts to relatives in the service and "Berwyn Post" during the war. We have contributed to a mobile canteen, an ambulance, and to other Red Cross calls for extra help, and have given one large and nine small afghans to Valley Forge Hospital. The Order has a permanent Relief Fund and an Educational Loan Fund to which we contribute. Our most outstanding act of charity in 1924 was to purchase a pair of artificial limbs for a crippled child. We also gave money toward braces for a child of a needy family. In depression years we did a considerable amount of local charity. Since the Korean War we have contributed to the support of a Korean orphan through the "Christian Children's Fund". "Estar", meaning "Eastern Star Training Awards for Religious Leadership," provides awards for young people to train in the field of religion. The O. E. S. is anxious to assist young men and women in preparing themselves for full-time religious service. In April of 1932, at the suggestion of Sister Wandless, we formed a Past Matrons Club, which meets in the homes the last Monday of each month except during July and August. PAST MATRONS
*Mrs. Jane Siner 1920 PAST PATRONS
* Mr. M.B Wolf 1920 * Deceased |
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