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 Origins The real origins of the Eastern Star (like most secret societies) are shrouded in great mystery. Notwithstanding, the Order of the Eastern Star claims to be the largest fraternal organisation in the world in which both men and women are members. The Eastern Star rituals degrees and secrets are carefully guarded like all the other various secret societies of the world. It is believed that Dr. Rob Morris founded the Eastern Star rituals, degrees and secrets around 1849. He joined Freemasonry on 5th March 1846 and eventually ascended to the 'Ladies degree,' within the Lodge, which later became the basis of the Eastern Star degrees. He became Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky on the 12th of October 1858. Although some writers have taken the origins back as far as 1778 or 1793, the degree format and content of today finds its roots in the design of Dr. Morris. Morris himself testified, "I wrote every word of the original lectures and composed the songs. For twenty-eight years I have been communicating it as my own origination. I am the founder of the system and no one can show any proof of its existence prior to 1849." Morris' heretical syncretism views In 'The Lights and Shadows of Freemasonry' Morris wrote, "I have fully expressed my admiration for much of the character and many of the precepts of Mohammed, as embodied in the Koran. Avoiding the doctrinal points and, read in the spirit of fraternal love, as illustrated in the lectures of Freemasonry, that remarkable book, the Koran, might justly be taken as a comment upon the much older, far wiser, and most remarkable book ever written, THE OLD TESTAMENT of the Hebrews dispensation. [Emphasis in the original]" Morris continues, "Our forms of faith are diverse. In language, customs, and modes of thought, we are cast in different moulds; but in Masonic UNITY we are one, and one in Masonic FAITH. As our hopes and aims and labours are one, we, trusting in one God, and doing, each of us, what we believe to be His expressed will, do humbly expect a common reward when we have passed that common lot which none can escape. To the Divine power, therefore, I tenderly commend your excellency, both for this world and for that which is to come. [Emphasis in the original]" Like Freemasonry, the Eastern Star claims not to be a religion. Its candidates are simply required to have a belief in a supreme being - whether it is Buddha, Allah or Christ. However, the Bible says, "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time" (1 Timothy 2:5-6). Jesus said, in John 14:6, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Jesus also said in John 5:23b-24, "He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." Requirements for membership Membership requirements for men are that they first be a Master Mason; for women the requirements are that they be related to a Master Mason, in good standing or one who was a member in good standing at the time of his death, as either a wife, sister, mother, daughter, granddaughter, niece, legally adopted daughter, widow, half-sisters, stepmothers, stepdaughters, stepsisters, daughters-in-law, grandmothers, great grandmothers, great granddaughters. This list has just been expanded to include great-great granddaughters and nieces as well as Rainbow girls and Job's Daughters who are 18 years of age and have 3 years of membership in their respective Masonic Youth group. Whilst some Masons openly disassociate themselves from the Eastern Star the order is without doubt a daughter of the Masonic Lodge. In fact the intimate relationship between the parent and the child can be found throughout the many Masonic and Eastern Star sites worldwide. One of the Eastern Star lectures explains, "Ladies, you are connected with Masonry by ties far more intimate and tender than you are aware of, or than I can ever inform you of." As in other secret societies, and the cults like Mormonism and the 'Jehovah Witnesses', the Eastern Star employs Scripture in a corrupted manner to impress Masonic truths upon its members. The heroines of the Order 'represent the various stations in a woman's life' as well as attributes to emulate; they are as follows: Adah (blue), Ruth (yellow), Esther (white), Martha (green) and Electa (red). Eastern Star lecture The female Eastern Star candidate is subjected to the following teaching in a question and answer form: Are you a sister of the Eastern Star? We have seen his star in the East. For what came you here? We came here to worship him. Have you the cabalistic word? I have. Will you give it to me? I will, with your assistance. Begin. No, you begin. Begin you. F. A. T. A. L. Has that word any signification? It has, two. First, that it would be fatal to the character of any lady for truth who should disdose the secrets of these degrees unlawfully. Second, each of the letters of this word stands for one or more words, which words make the cabalistic motto. Have you the Cabalistic motto? I have. Will you give it to me? I will, with your assistance. Begin. No, you begin. Begin you. Fairest. Among. Ten thousand. Altogether. Lovely. Fairest — among — ten thousand —altogether lovely. Cabalism Cabalism (also known as Kabbalism, or Qabalism) is a mystical digression from Orthodox Judaism. Kabbalists believe the Old Testament Scriptures should not be taken literally because they contain hidden information which is not obvious to the uninformed. Whilst they hold to the inspiration of Scripture, they do not seek the plain meaning of the sacred text. The Kabbalah approach is extremely allegorical and superstitious, using things like numerology and other surreptitious methods to find alleged hidden and deeper meanings in the inspired text. By this spurious system one could potentially make the Bible say anything one wishes. But this mystical approach totally disregards the elementary rules of textual interpretation. God provided His Word in order that He might clearly and unambiguously communicate with mankind and reveal Himself to humanity. All Scripture is meant to be taken at face value, understood plainly and in agreement with the rest of Scripture. Far-fetched, mystical, superstitious or private interpretation is not accepted. It is amazing how blatant the Eastern Star is in claiming Occultic origin. This should be evidence enough to flee this darkness and run for the exit door. This should immediately be followed by repentance, renouncing and resignation. Masonic authority Albert Mackey speaks of the Kabbalah in his comprehensive work the Encyclopaedia of Freemasonry, explaining, “This word is frequently written Kabbala … The mystical philosophy or theosophy of the Jews is called the Cabala. The word is derived from the Hebrew Kabal, signifying to receive, because it is the doctrine received from the elders … the Cabala may be defined to be a system of philosophy which embraces certain mystical interpretations of Scripture … In these interpretations and speculations, according to the Jewish doctors, were enveloped the most profound truths of religion, which, to be comprehended by finite beings, are obliged to be revealed through the medium of symbols and allegories” (pp. 23-24). The later development of a so-called Christian Kabbalah came to the fore in the 1200s and has interested Occultists ever since. This, and a form of Gnosticism, has held an important position within the cults of the arcane mysteries throughout the centuries. All the different mysteries or Occult societies (whether ancient or modern) utilise a combination of ceremonial rites and oral tradition to achieve their ultimate ends. The different grades are progressively acquired by travelling several different levels of enlightenment. The secrecy of the various grades secures the ‘sacred knowledge’ from the profane. Clearly, the vast majority of members of these modern secret societies, such as the Eastern Star are unaware of the real influence that lies behind their covert orders. They are ignorant of the fact that these fraternities are simply modern mutations of the ancient mysteries. In fact, the procedures practised by these orders closely replicate many of the beliefs and practices performed by Christian Mystics from the time of the early Gnostics – doctrines which the Christian apostles denounced as heresies. The Eastern Star rituals, degrees and secrets are definitely FATAL to the soul of its members. This oragnaisation should be reprobated by all sane observers. |
