About EGC – Excelsior Grand Chapter, OES, TN, PHA

ABOUT EXCELSIOR GRAND CHAPTER

EXCELSIOR GRAND CHAPTER MISSION & PURPOSE:

Excelsior Grand Chapter’s Mission is to S.E.R.V.E

S- Serve the Communities in the jurisdiction of Tennessee by contributing to strong families and sharing ideas and providing actions that will benefit all

E- Educating ourselves to learn and get a better understanding of who we are, which supporting our youth through scholarship and our Aide to Black College initiatives

R- Religious conviction, to be spiritual and believe in a supreme being that promotes us to live by morals and principals

V- Value our membership

E- Economic growth is essential to our continued development as a Grand Chapter

EXCELSIOR GRAND CHAPTER HISTORY:

In the year 1869, the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge in the Jurisdiction of Ohio set up three (3) Masonic lodges in the State of Tennessee. Namely, Rock City Lodge #17, which later became Prince Hall Lodge #1, and East Star Lodge #20 both in Nashville, and Job Thompson Lodge #33 in Pulaski, Tennessee. On August 31, 1870, these three lodges held a convention, but not yet a Grand Lodge Session. During this time, Bro. G, H. Shaffer came to Nashville from Ohio, already having the O.E.S. degrees, and deputized other brothers to organize chapters in the Jurisdiction of Tennessee. He labored untiringly with the brothers in Nashville for the permission to organize chapters of the Order of the Eastern Star in the state.

The first subordinate chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star to be organized among the colored people of America was Queen Esther Chapter #1, instituted in the City of Washington, D.C. in the year 1875. This was done by Bro. Thornton A. Jackson, who received the degree of the Adoptive Rite of the O.E.S. on August 10, 1874 from Bro. C. B. Case, a deputy and agent of the Illustrious Robert McCoy, 33º, the Supreme Patron of the Rite of Adoption of the World.

The first Black Grand Chapter of O.E.S. was organized by Bishop J. W. Hood in North Carolina in 1880. On August 31, 1881, at a session in Nashville, the second Grand Chapter was organized in Tennessee.

THE BIRTH OF EXCELSIOR

Early in the year 1880, Electa Chapter #1 was organized in Nashville, Tennessee. In April 1880 five (5) young women, accompanied by Bro. D. J. Hodges, left Memphis, bound for Nashville, Tennessee to be initiated into the light and knowledge of the Order of O.E.S. in Electa Chapter #1. These persons returned to Memphis and began working, and on June 14, 1880, Adah Chapter #2 was organized. Later in 1880, Queen Esther Chapter #3 was organized in Knoxville, Tennessee. Beautiful Star Chapter #4 was then organized in 1880, also in the Memphis area.

The first leaders of these four chapters were:

Electa #1–Sis. A. P. Wood, WM
Bro. J. H. Adams, WP

Adah #2-Sis. Mattie Bowman, WM
Bro. Ellis Dupree, WP

Queen Esther #3-Sis. M. E. Hamilton, WM
Bro. W. Oliver Smith, WP

Beautiful Star #4–Sis. H. L. Mosby, WM
Bro. Charles Williams, WP

In the pursuit of the landmarks of Free Masonry, the brothers of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Tennessee saw fit to provide a mechanism where their female relatives (wives, mothers, sisters, widows, and daughters) could have the full benefit of the Rite by organizing and adopting the Second Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star in the United States of America, namely, “The Excelsior Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star, Tennessee Jurisdiction, Prince Hall Affiliation.” It was organized October 18, 1880 and on August 31, 1881 at the aforementioned session in Nashville, Sis. V. A. Broughton was made the first Grand Worthy Matron and Bro. G. H. Shaffer was made the first Grand Worthy Patron.

As of today, Excelsior Grand Chapter has grown to over 70 chapters totalling over 1500 members across the jurisdiction of Tennessee. Our work in Faith, Hope, and Charity continues to be seen all over the world. We look to live up to the meaning of our name by continuing to move our families and our communities “Onward and Upward”!

PAST GRAND MATRONS OF EXCELSIOR GRAND CHAPTER

Sister V. A. Broughton……………………1881 – 1885
Sister G. A. Shelton……………………….1885 – 1887
Sister M. A. Sumner………………………1887 – 1889
Sister Ethel Banks………………………….1889 – 1891
Sister Nell Rice ………………………………1891 – 1893
Sister A. E. Logan……………..……………..1893 – 1895
Sister S. L. Porter………..…………………..1895 – 1897
Sister L. S. Session…………………………1897 – 1899
Sister M. E. Hamilton…………………….1899 – 1901
Sister M. A. Turner………………………..1901 – 1903
Sis. Leora Hamilton……………………….1903 – 1905
Sister M. A. Haigler……………………….1905 – 1907
Sister Pearl Hodges-Carey……………..1907 – 1911
Sister M. L. Kelly………..……………………1911 – 1912
Sister Ada LaPrade………………………..1912 – 1926
Sister Betty Hayes………………………….1926 – 1930
Sister Lula C. Byas……………………..…..1930 – 1947
Sister Ethel Beck……………………………1947 – 1950
Sister Rosa B. Whitson…………………..1950 – 1968
Sister Lula McCoy……………………….…1968 – 1970
Sister Etta Mae Selmon…………………1970 – 1988
Sister Willie Gillespie……………………1988 – 1990
Sister Eva Drain…..………………………..1990 – 1991
Sister Bernice H. Stevens….…………..1991 – 2004
Sister Carrie T. Herron…….…………..2004 – 2004
Sister June E. Jones………………………..2004 – 2011
Sister Rubye B. Meeks………….………..2011 – 2018
Sister Elizabeth A. Cross…………..…..2018 – 2021
Sister Robbie R. Pillow…………………..2021 – 2023
Sister LaTashja R. Mosby……..………..2023 – 2024
Sister Darneasha C. Pickett…………………..2024 –

PAST GRAND PATRONS OF EXCELSIOR GRAND CHAPTER

Brother G. H. Shaffer……………………..1881 – 1885
Brother Benford Greene………………..1885 – 1889
Brother S. H. Sumner…………………….1889 – 1901
Brother A. S. Scruggs…………………….1901 – 1903
Brother A. W. Wood………………………1903 – 1907
Brother J. H. Adams………………………1907 – 1921
Brother C. D. Hayes……………………….1921 – 1923
Brother E. T. Brown……………………….1923 – 1943
Brother W. A. Graham…………………..1943 – 1947
Brother C. D. Stamps…………………….1947 – 1951
Brother Wahleita Goodner…………….1951 – 1952
Brother W. E. Roberts……………………1952 – 1967
Brother J. E. McKinnie…………………..1967 – 1974
Brother Samuel Robertson…………….1974 – 1975
Brother James L. Stewart……………….1975 – 1991
Brother Anthony Buck…………………..1991 – 2008
Brother Willie Foster……………………..2008 – 2011
Brother Cedric J. Bailey, Sr……………..2011 – 2018
Brother Willie L. Jackson, Sr….………2018 – 2022
Brother Q Joseph Kent………………………….2022 –

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