Funerals - Eastern Star Service

In this article we're going to briefly discuss anchapter building for what they call a draping
offshoot of the Masonic service, one for womenceremony. At this ceremony their alter is draped
called the Eastern Star Funeral Service.in black and a special opening of the chapter is
The Eastern Star organization is an offshoot ofthen performed. This is, in many cases, done just
the Masons for women. The reason for this isonce during the year to commemorate all the
that a woman can't become a Mason. Themembers who have died that year. After the
reasons why, at least for this article, aredraping at the chapter the members then
unimportant. However, there is an organization forproceed to the funeral home.
women who want to be a part of the MasonicAt the home there is a special Eastern Star
community. That organization is the Eastern Star.service. It is very similar to the Masonic service in
The only requirement for becoming a member ofsome respects but very different in others. For
the Eastern Star is that the woman has to be theone thing, where the Masonic service is
descendent of a Mason. Yes, there is a catch.memorized, the Eastern Star service is read from
Your father or grandfather or husband orwhat is called a book of ritual. This book contains
somebody in your family has to be a Masonthe entire Eastern Star funeral service and must
himself. If this one condition is met and you thenbe read word for word.
become a member of the Eastern Star you areIn a Masonic service one person does the reading,
then entitled to an Eastern Star memorial service.but in an Eastern Star service there are many
So how does one qualify for an Eastern Starreaders. The readings are done by various
funeral service? Well, when a member of themembers of the fraternity who occupy specific
Eastern Star in good standing, dies, they arestations as officers. Each officer reads a part
entitled to this service. Good standing means thatassigned to their station. Each individual part is
their dues are paid up in full and have no Masonicrather short but putting them all together the
charges filed against them.actual service can run 15 to 20 minutes.
When an Eastern Star member dies the chapterAfter the service is over the members of the
to which they belong sends a floral arrangementchapter pay their final respects to the deceased
to the funeral home. This arrangement is in theand process out of the funeral home room.
shape of a five pointed star and with the mysticalAfterwards they will meet with the family and
colors of the order.friends of the deceased, many who are probably
Before the actual service takes place however,Eastern Star members themselves of other
the members of the chapter meet at theirchapters.