The Order of the Eastern Star is the largest female fraternal organization in the world. It was established in 1850 by Rob Morris, a lawyer and educator from Boston, Massachusetts, who had been an official with the Freemasons. It is based on teachings from the King James Bible, but is open to people of all monotheistic faiths. It has approximately 15,000 chapters in twenty countries and approximately 2.5 million members of both Eastern Stars and Masons under its General Grand Chapters. Members of the Order must be 18 and older. A masonic relative or another  Eastern Star has to vouch for you as a woman of  Christian disposition and worthy to join. One of the General Grand Chapter headquarters, the International Temple, is located in Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington D.C., in the former Perry Belmont Mansion. The mansion was built in 1909 for the purpose of entertaining the guests of Perry Belmont. This include Britain's Prince whales in 1919. General Grand Chapter purchased the building in 1935. The secretary of General Grand Chapter lives there while serving his or her term of office. The mansion features works of art from around the world, most of which were given as gifts from various International Order of the Eastern Star chapters.

 

The Order has a charitable foundation and from 1986-2001 contributed $513,147.00 to Alzheimer's disease research, juvenile diabetes research, and juvenile asthma research. It also provides bursaries to students of theology and religious music, as well as other scholarships that differ by forms of christianity. Several nursing homes have been built for our Senior Sistars and Brothers across the United States.