Ritual of the Order of the Eastern StarOrder of the Eastern Star. General Grand Chapter
Religion
Ritual of the Order of the Eastern Star
Order of the Eastern Star. General Grand Chapter
Freemasonry -- Rituals; Order of the Eastern Star -- Rituals
_Esther._ White symbolizes light and purity. The heroic Queen Esther
evinced the purity of her motive and love of kindred and friends, by her
willingness to risk the loss of crown and life, to save her people from
death. In token of sincere affection for our sister, I deposit in her
grave this emblem of light and purity.
Deposits her tribute, and then, addressing Martha, says:
Sister Martha, what is the voice and tribute from the Green point of our
Star?
_Martha._ Green is an emblem of Nature's life and beauty. The evergreen
is a symbol of immortal life, and teaches us, that in the economy of God
there is no death; forms change, but the spirit survives. Martha, beside
the grave of her beloved brother, avowed her trustful faith and hope of
immortal life. In the full assurance of our sister's entrance upon a
glorious immortality, I deposit in her grave this evergreen.
Deposits her tribute, and then, addressing Electa, says:
Sister Electa, what is the voice and tribute from the Red point of our
Star?
_Electa._ Red symbolizes fervency and zeal. Electa represents those who
have been pre-eminent in charity, and heroic in endurance of the wrongs
of persecution. In token of the fervency of our affection for our
sister, I deposit in her grave this tribute of love.
Deposits her tribute, and then, addressing the Worthy Matron, says:
Worthy Matron, we have spoken from the five points of our emblematic
Star, but our departed sister hears us not. Is it in vain that we speak
to the living?
_W. M._ You have spoken well, my sisters. It is not in vain that we hear
the oft repeated lessons of our Star. It is true that our sister hears
not with mortal ear the lessons she was wont to learn from you; but is
it true that she listens not to our words of love, and sees not the
beautiful tributes strewn within her grave? May not her quickened
spirit, freed from its earthly tenement, yet hover around the loved ones
here assembled, listen to our words, and perceive with clearer vision
our every movement?
She needs not to be ministered unto; but may she not now minister to us?
"Are they not all ministering spirits?" saith the apostle.
Love is an attribute of the soul, and imperishable. Our sister's
affection ceases not; therefore may she not now be whispering to
grief-stricken hearts, "Peace be still," "Lo, I am with you always."
Think not that the spirit world is distant. Our loved ones, though lost
to mortal sight, may yet be with us in spiritual existence. Let their
loving presence be to us a perpetual inspiration, calling us to a higher
moral and spiritual life.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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