What do YOU want to do? Besides learning how to support each other in our walk through life, our members decide what charity or needy cause we will support and what social events we will have. Do you want to have a Ladies Night? Chef Taught Cooking Lesson? Self-Defense Class? Buy dog beds for the shelter? Crawfish Boil with our Masons? Family Day at the Zoo? Murder Mystery Dinner? Collect shoes fo
r needy children? Come join us and tell us what YOU want to do with your OES chapter! Is the Order of the Eastern Star a secret society? Not really. You found us, didn't you? We do enjoy a distinctive means of identifying each other or locating each other when we need to. We also have secret methods of learning and illustrating important lessons that help us be better people and bond us closely together in sisterhood. Only members are allowed in our closed meetings, but we also have public social events and provide services for our local community, so you will often see us in local news. Isn't Eastern Star old and outdated? The principles, values and lessons of OES are timeless, and are based on the Bible, which will never need updating. However, current membership in Louisiana is mostly 60+ years. The re-opening in Jena marks an important new beginning. Our Masonic lodge membership (Michael Dempsey) is one of the youngest and most active in the state, and we intend to grow our OES chapter with them. While we want members of ALL ages, our goal is to update and promote OES for the next generation, ensuring the legacy for the future. I think my mother, grandmother, aunt, etc. … was a member. How can I find out? Send us your information! We have many historical records for Rainbow Girls and Eastern Star in LaSalle parish and the surrounding area. We can help you find your masonic connection and you may discover some interesting things about your family history. YOU are the descendant we've been looking for. Please join and help us preserve their legacy! Email your name and information to [email protected] and one of our members will contact you. What is the purpose of OES? "The Order of the Eastern Star supports friendship and fellowship among its members and philanthropy in the community. It encourages Charity, Truth and Loving-kindness for the good of all mankind throughout the world." Our Chapter will support needy causes locally, providing services and assistance to the causes our members identify in the community. We are a social group who loves to have fun, while helping each other live our best lives, and keeping God at the center of it all. Do I have to memorize a lot of stuff? There is no mandatory memory work. You may wish to memorize the ways of making yourself known if you wish to visit another Chapter and no one there can vouch for you, or if you are ever in need of help and wish to locate a sister or brother. If you become a Chapter officer, you are encouraged to learn your role, but may use your book or prompts as long as you need them. Who can join the Jena chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star? Members must be 18 years of age or older. You must be a Master Mason, a female relative (even in-laws qualify!) of a master mason or a former Rainbow Girl who has reached majority (age 20+ or married) or was active for 3 years. If you are interested in joining and do not know if any of your relatives are Masons, contact us! We can help you find your masonic connection. [email protected]
The full requirements from General Grand Chapter state, "Affiliated Master Masons in good standing and any female relatives who are related by birth, marriage, or adoption to Affiliated Master Masons in good standing, or if deceased were in good standing at the time of death; as well as members – either active for three (3) years or majority- in the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls® or in Job’s Daughters International®, each of whom have attained to at least the age of eighteen (18) years, are eligible to membership in the Order of the Eastern Star.”
What if I am already a member of OES somewhere else? Or I used to be a member but haven't paid dues? No problem! If you are currently a member in another chapter and would like to join us as well, just email us and request a plural membership form. If you used to be a member but haven't paid dues, we can help you get reinstated and it is much easier and cheaper than you think! Just email us and we will send you a reinstatement form. [email protected]
How do I join? Please download the petition form and instruction sheet on our page or email us for a copy. Complete it and email to [email protected]. If you can't scan the form, you may take a photo of the completed form and send it as an email attachment so we may begin processing your application. You will still need to send the original by postal mail. You may also email your name and phone number and one of us will call you. How much does it cost to join? Fees have not yet been set, but our current figures estimate an initiation fee of around $14 and annual dues around $40. We are planning for annual dues to be pro-rated for those joining in the middle of the year. These amounts may change as the by-laws must go through a lengthy approval process. Is Eastern Star a religion? Does it conflict with my religion? Eastern Star is not a religion. You won't find your salvation here. Star does not take the place of religion. While OES is open to all denominations and requires only a belief in a Supreme Being, our local chapter is made up of Christians and we use the King James Version of the Holy Bible as our sacred text, The Order was founded on Christian principles and our star points represent women of the Bible that we study and learn from. We encourage each other to be living examples of Christian morals, values, and principles in our every day lives. We believe surrounding ourselves with good people gives us a network of support and encouragement to help us be the best version of ourselves. If you practice a religion other than Christianity, you are welcome in Eastern Star, but you will probably be more comfortable in a chapter with people who share your religious beliefs.
