The five prints in this series are inspired by the five heroines of the Order of the Eastern Star:
Adah (The Daughter)
Ruth (The Widow)
Esther (The Wife)
Martha (The Sister)
Electa (The Mother)

WHAT IS THE ORDER OF THE EASTERN STAR?

The Order of the Eastern Star (OES) was established in Boston, Massachusetts in 1850 by Robert Morris, a Masonic official. The OES is the largest fraternal organization that accepts both men and women. The organization is open to people of all monotheistic faiths, although the teachings are based on the bible. The rituals associated with attaining the degrees of the order teach the lessons of fidelity, constancy, loyalty, faith and love.

Male members must be Master Masons. Female members must have relationships with Masons. Originally, a woman had to be the daughter, widow, wife, sister, or mother of a Mason, but membership has since been extended to other relatives.

A five-pointed star is the emblem of the order. The star represents the star of Bethlehem and the planet Venus. Each point of the star contains a smaller emblem that represents one of the five heroines. The slogan of the order — Fairest Among Thousands Altogether Lovely — is from the Song of Solomon.

I decided to explore the OES because of my fascination with the mysterious star emblem of the order and my continuing interest in Freemasonry. Having little previous knowledge of the bible, I have enjoyed discovering the stories of the five impressive heroines. These heroines exemplify the traits of fidelity, constancy, loyalty, faith and love which are exalted by the OES, as well as displaying bravery, industry, and leadership, traits which are championed by independent women today.

FAIREST The Daughter: “Fidelity”

The Daughter is Adah, who is Jephthah's daughter from Judges in the Old Testament. While at war, Jephthah vows to God that he will sacrifice the first thing that he sees on his return home if he wins the battle. Unfortunately, the first thing he sees is his daughter, Adah. Adah respects her father's vow and agrees to the sacrifice, but requests two months on the mountains to lament her virginity. "Let me alone two months that I may go up and down upon the mountains" (Judges 11 37). Since human sacrifice was abhorrent to the god of Jephthah, many interpret the sacrifice as symbolic. In this interpretation, Adah is not burnt, but rather dedicates herself to the service of the tabernacle under an oath of celibacy.

Emblem: The sword covered in a veil symbolizes honour and integrity.
Colour: Blue

AMONG The Widow: “Constancy”

The Widow is Ruth from the book of Ruth in the Old Testament.
Naomi, along with her husband and two sons, leave Bethlehem because of famine and go to Moab. There, the sons marry Moabite women. Naomi's husband and both of her sons die and she is left with two daughters-in-law. Naomi counsels these women to return to their people while she returns to Bethlehem. Orphah takes the counsel while Ruth decides to stand by her mother-in-law and her adopted Jewish religion. “Where you die will I die, and there will I be buried” (Ruth 1 17). On their return to Bethlehem, Naomi tells Ruth to glean (collect leftover wheat and barley after the harvest) in Naomi's husband's kinsman Boaz's field. Boaz and Ruth fall in love and ultimately marry. The union of Ruth and Boaz through generations ultimately produces King David.

Emblem: The sheaf of grain symbolizes Ruth’s gleaning and reminds us that small, seemingly insignificant labours result in important results. The grain also represents plenty and the provision of God for mankind.
Colour: Yellow

THOUSANDS The Wife: "Loyalty"

The wife is Esther from the book of Esther in the Old Testament.
Esther, with the help of her uncle Mordecai, marries the Persian king Ahasuerus after his original wife Vashti refuses to attend a feast. Esther's Jewish faith is hidden from King Ahasuerus. Esther, through Mordecai, learns that the king's prime minister, Haman, is plotting a massacre of all of the Jewish people throughout the kingdom. Esther risks her life by going before the king without being summoned. “I will go in unto the king which is not according to law: and if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4 16). The king permits Esther's approach by extending his golden scepter. Esther relays the plight of her people to the king. Since the decree for massacre has already been passed it cannot be reversed, however, the king proclaims that the Jewish people should take up arms and defend themselves. Haman is hung for his actions.

Emblem: The scepter in the crown symbolizes the obligation of those in power to protect those being exploited or denied justice.
Colour: White
ALTOGETHER The Sister: “Faith”

The sister is Martha from the Gospel of John in the New Testament.
Martha is the sister of Lazarus and Mary Magdalene. The family were friends to Jesus and showed him comfort and hospitality. When Jesus hears of Lazarus' death he goes at great risk to Bethany, where Lazarus has been buried. There he meets with Martha. Her faith in Jesus causes her to proclaim “If thou hads't been here my brother had not died” (John 11 21). Jesus raises Lazarus from the grave after four days.

Emblem: The broken column is a symbol of sorrow, specifically the sorrow caused by a death of a loved one. The column, combined with its surrounding triangle (a symbol of the Holy Trinity), represents sorrow being relieved by a faith in God.
Colour: Green

LOVELY The Mother: “Love”

The Mother is the Elect Lady "Electa" from the second epistle of John.
According to the bible, John writes Electa a letter praising her faith and her guidance of her children. He also gives her a warning: “Look to yourselves that we lose not those things which we have wrought” (John 2 8). Electa's story, however, comes to us mainly though Masonic tradition, as her part in the bible is vague. Electa was a woman of standing in her community. She was generous with her wealth and did many philanthropic deeds. With her husband and children, Electa converted to Christianity. The Romans, in an attempt to suppress the growing religion, forced all known Christians to stomp on the cross or be crucified. Electa would not perform this blasphemy and so was arrested with her family, jailed, and ultimately crucified. Electa is thought of as the ideal mother because her sacrifice helped ensure a Christian future for her children. Even during her death, Electa's love stood strong as she prayed for those who persecuted her.

Emblem: The cup represents each person's allotment of joy or grief in life.
Colour: Red

References

http://www.srmason-sj.org/web/SRpublications/symbols.htm
http://www.masonicsites.org/zindex.html
http://www.scoes.org/
http://www.oescal.org/2005/2005RobMorris.htm

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