Name/Title
History of the Waupun Chapter #144 Order Of Eastern Star.Description
History of the Waupun Chapter #144 Order Of Eastern Star.
HISTORY OF WAUPUN CHAPTER #144 ORDER OF EASTERN STAR.
Early in the spring of 1903, some of the Masons of Waupun Lodge F & AM began to agitate the question of the organization of an Order of the Eastern Star. Chiefly among them was H. C. Curtis. A few were opposed to the Order.
Accordingly a committee was appointed and consisting of H. C. Curtis, J. E. Williams and P. B. Patton. A year or so before this some members of the Order had taken up their residence in Waupun. Dr. and Mrs. E. H. Newton, Mr. Hugo Oppenhiemer and they were very desirous of having a Chapter in Waupun. Consequently Mr. Curtis went to Milwaukee to confer with the Secretary of the Grand Chapter, Helen Laflin. He was informed that before an application for a charter could be made there must be at least seven people who were members of the Order and who were residents of Waupun. After Mr. Curtis returned from Milwaukee the Masons issued invitations to wives, mothers, widow, daughters and sisters of Master Masons to attend a social and banquet. The Masons of Fox Lake and the Chapter of O. E. S. were also invited. W. A. Hinsry of Milwaukee, who was W. G. P. at that time, was speaker of the evening. There were about 200 attended the banquet and arrangements were made that night for a chapter of an O. E. S. in Waupun. As there were not enough members of the Order in Waupun to apply for a Charter,
the following were chosen to go to Fox Lake and receive the degrees of the Order. Mrs. Marcia Wiggins, Mrs. Brooks Brown, Mrs. Minnie Sargent, Miss May Taylor and Fannie Colt. Dr. and Mrs. Newton and Mr. Oppenhiemer filed for their demits. On May 29, 1913 we received the degrees of the Order and became members of the Fox Lake Chapter #47.
A meeting was held by the newly elected members and Mrs. Wiggins was chosen to be Worthy Matron. Tarmir Cole Associate Matron, Mrs. Mary Brooks Brown, Cond., Mrs. Minnie Sargent Associate Conductress; and May Taylor Secretary.
Application was made for a charter and necessary supplies sent for and the date set for October 1st, when the new Chapter would be instituted. But Alas, "In the measureless realms of time how brief is our earthly life. Today we build castles, tomorrow fickle fortune snatches from hope the promised joy -- tomorrow adversity or sore bereavement casts us into the Valley of Sorrow." We were cast into the Valley of Sorrow, by the death of Mrs. Wiggins on October 9th. Owing to her death and other matters the instituting of the Chapter was postponed until November.
On November 9th the officers and many of the members of Fox Lake Chapter, the Worthy Grand Patron - W. A. Hinsry and Mrs. Hinsry of Milwaukee instituted the Waupun Chapter under Dispensation.
In looking over the records of the first year of our organization, I find that Mrs. Mary G. Tayler, who was the mother of our present Secretary Mrs. Levy, as having the honor of being the first to receive the degrees of the Order in our new Chapter. Furthermore I think that the Tayler family holds the honor of having the largest number cf any one family belonging to the Order which is five in all. At the first regular meeting of our Chapter U. D. (Under Dispensation) the petitions of Ada Atwell, Sara Wallace, E. B. Patten, J. E. Williams and Eva Jones were presented.
In the minutes of that first meeting the name of Sister Ora Clark appear. Sister Clark had recently come to Waupun as a bride and was a member of the Sharron Chapter. While Sister Clark did not affiliate that first year she attended the Chapter regularly and filled many of the offices ProTem. As in all new organizations it takes time and patience before things can be running smoothly, and there were many changing and shifting about of the officers that first few months. Finally by the first of June 1904 we had a sufficient number of members to fill the offices and the new Chapter had settled down to the order of business and sociability.
The Masons aided us in many ways by joining the Order, granting us the use of their Lodge rooms free of charge, attending our socials, card parties, suppers and so on. During that first year we initiated seventeen into the Order besides the six who were initiated under dispensation. In March our Charter was granted us, and on April 4, Bro. Watson of Fond du Lac Chapter presented it to us and said hence forth we would be known as Waupun Chapter No. 144 O. E. S.
During that first year some of the officers of the Fox Lake Chapter assisted the new Chapter in the initiating of new members. Mr. Chveranr especially who was always ready to aid us in any of our work.
In June we received the seal of our Chapter. In November we received our jewels and wore them on November 21st for the first time.
Of the thirteen Charter members Sister Mary Brooks Brown is living at Long Beach, California; Sister Minnie Sargent is living in Beloit, Wisconsin; Bro. Oppenheimer is in business in Wahpeton, North Dakota. Sisters Mary Tayler Reiner, Margaret Hatcher and Ella Kennady have passed beyond the Bar. Bro. Curtis, Sister Curtis, Sister Newton, Lucy Brooks, Lurinda Warren and Fanne Miller are still members of the Order. Bro. Newton being unable to attend on account of ill health has withdrawn from Chapter.
Time will not permit me to relate the achievements of this Chapter therefor I am only giving what was accomplished.
Note: The privious entry 2009.0014.0001 is a typewritten copy of the same text. Part of the handwritten is difficult to read and when Jim Laird did the data entry he assumed that the type written version was accurate.
It should be noted that the stationery used was Burr Oak Farm, A. B. Miller, Proprietor.Acquisition
Accession
2009.0014Source or Donor
Ruth ThomasAcquisition Method
Donation
