1. The First Era extended from 1850 to 1866, under the leadership of Dr. Rob Morris, Poet Laureate of Masonry, and dear Brother.
2. The Second Era extended from 1866 to 1876, under the leadership of Robert Macoy, author, and publicist base out of New York.
3. The Third Era extends to Present day, when the General Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, was established for Women of Color in 1874.

Of these eras, the first is the most important as it prepared the way for the other two. The Order of the Eastern Star was the first membership organization in the United States that gave women a voice on a national scale. The real origin of the Order of the Eastern Star, like Masonry, will always be shrouded in Mystery, but many researchers believe its Ancient Origins are Egyptian and Persian, to include the Heroines of Jericho. Further research traces its Origins to the Middle Ages in Europe from 1653 with the Swedish Empire to the early 1700’s with the French Empire; to include the Order of Amaranth and the French Adoptive Masonic Rite.  By some, these Orders and Degrees are claimed to be the original inception of “Female Masonry” or “Androgynous Degrees” — (degrees for both men and women). However, as time went on, there was a demand for “Side Degrees” or Degrees conferred on Ladies of a Higher Degree Nature other than the Order of the Eastern Star, to include the following– “Danger in the Dark”, “Tall Cedars of Lebanon”, “Queen of the South”, “Lady Knights” etc.  These are just a few examples of additional Masonic Degrees that included Ladies that were extensively used, but some fell into decay due to the lack of participation or membership; and some are still being practiced to this very day.

The First Era 
As it pertains to the real origin of the Eastern Star degrees in its Initiatory form in America, there is not the least shadow of a doubt that in 1850 the honor belongs Solley to the Illustrious Brother, Dr. Rob Morris, 33°.  He was a lawyer and an educator at the Eureka Masonic College in Richland, Mississippi; a prestigious learning institution that is known as the birthplace of the Order of Eastern Star. Dr. Morris was responsible for the First Era of the Order, which benefited from his leadership and development. To utterly understand the Order, Dr. Morris traveled from near and far all over the world for many years to gain a firsthand knowledge of the Lights, Rites, and Benefits of this organization and many other organizations just like it.  Understanding the fact that as men were historically and biblically performing miraculous meaningful feats of faith in ancient times, so were the women. He had authored many books on Masonry which are valued references in many Masonic Libraries regarding such facts. He was never quite satisfied that all the good in Masonry should be confined to just men. Dr. Morris felt that Masonry should be for the whole family, to include women.  But by the laws of the Ancient Order of Traditional Masonry in the United States of America, a Women is not eligible for the existing Masonic degrees.  Knowing he could not change the Ancient Landmarks of Masonry, Dr. Morris sought some method by which women could share with the Masonic Brothers the same inspiration that “prompts men to noble deeds from within the Craft and without.” Although he harbored these feelings for years, it wasn’t until 1850, while confined to his home after an accident, that Dr. Morris fully developed the Eastern Star Degrees in their present initiatory form. During this time, he carefully thought out the symbolism and significance of the floor plan and the corps of officers based on 5 Biblical Heroines that had specific characteristic traits and values similar to those taught in Masonry and the [Te-tra-gram-ma-ton] or Pentagram of Solomon… You may ask what is the Tetragrammaton? It is the key to unlocking the Mysteries of all things. It is of Hebrew origin, translated into a Greek word meaning, “The 4 Lettered Name,” representing the Unspeakable Name of GOD in Hebrew, [YHVH]. In metaphysics, Tetragrammaton is a mathematical equation for the essence of the Universe. It has been depicted throughout history as a pentagram in which each point signifies an Element: Earth, Wind, Fire, Water, and Ether (Spirit). These base elements with their specific colors are representative of the 5 elements of God and Nature.

​Brother Morris was a High Degree Mason, so he knew and understood these things from his teachings which allowed him to incorporate them and many other esoteric teachings into the Order of the Eastern Star. The first Sisters that he conferred the degrees of O.E.S. upon where his own wife and daughters, and some neighbors, having an idea to clothe the ladies with certain words or signs whereby they might make themselves known to Master Masons and each other; especially in a time of need or danger. These signs and so-called mysteries of the Order were communicated to all Master Masons that also took the female degrees so that they too could communicate and fellowship with fidelity, fervor, and zeal; while offering protection and loyalty, one to another.  Dr. Morris and other prominent Master Masons gave many lectures on the ancient history and shared connections of Masonry and O.E.S.; at the same time, they were also present and actively a part of the conferring of points and other orders/degrees on many ladies throughout the nation.

The Second Era 
In 1866, Bro. Robert Macoy continued to carry the torch that was passed to him by Ill. Dr. Rob Morris starting the second era of the modernization of the American Adoptive Rite of female Masonry known as the Order of Eastern Star with its members being comprised of both Male Master Masons and Female Affiliates. It was in the year 1883, that Brother Robert Macoy polished and wrote the modern version of the Order of Amaranth in New York, which is in connection with the Eastern Star Degree. The First Order of Eastern Star was the Alpha Chapter No. 1, which is still active and located in New York City; they meet at the Mainstream White Grand Lodge of the State of New York, Free and Accepted Masons (F. & A.M.) The Order of the Amaranth was originally a Masonic-affiliated organization in the States for Master Masons and the Ladies in their lives (Wife, Mother, Daughter, Sister, etc.). It was founded in 1873. As in the Order of the Eastern Star, members of the Order must be age 18 or older; men must be Master Masons; and women once needed to be related to a Mason as a wife, mother, daughter, widow, sister, niece, aunt, etcetera, or have been active members of the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls or Job’s Daughters International for more than three years and be recommended by a Master Mason. 

The Third Era 
On December 1st in 1874, the Order of the Eastern Star was created as the First and Oldest Sorority-based Black Women’s Organization in America. Queen Esther Chapter No. 1, Order of the Eastern Star, was established at 708 O St. NW, Washington, DC, in the home of Mrs. Georgiana Thomas.  Its founding came one hundred years after the founding of the First Black Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons (Prince Hall), that Queen Esther Chapter No. 1, Order of the Eastern Star, was officially instituted.  The first Worthy Matron was Sister Martha Welch, and the first Worthy Patron was Brother Thornton A. Jackson. Earlier that year (August 10, 1874), Thornton Andrew Jackson received several degrees of the Rite of Adoption of the Order of the Eastern Star from the White Mainstream Masonic Order given by Brother C. B. Case, a Deputy and agent of Illustrious Bro. Robert McCoy 33rd, Supreme Patron of the Rite of Adoption of the World. In addition, Thornton A. Jackson also received a letter from Brother Case granting him the authority to establish chapters of the Eastern Star among eligible Women of Color throughout the United States and its territories.

In obedience to the authority granted by William H. Myers, Grand Master of Union Grand Lodge, Jurisdiction of the District of Columbia (F. & A.M.), Brother Jackson established the first Eastern Star Chapter among Women of Color in the United States. On December 1, 1874, Grand Master William H. Myers and Deputy Grand Master William A. Taliaferro of Union Grand Lodge, Jurisdiction of the District of Columbia (F. & A.M.), were invited to receive the androgynous degrees. They both accepted, thus further cementing the ties that bind the Masonic family together. In 1890, Queen of Sheba Chapter No. 3 and Gethsemane Chapter No. 4, Order of the Eastern Star, were established. Thornton A. Jackson, within the Jurisdiction of the District of Columbia, formed them too. He helped to establish one chapter in Alexandria, Virginia, three chapters in Maryland, and three chapters in Pennsylvania. Keeping with Masonic Law and tradition, each O.E.S. Chapter was adopted and affiliated with a regularly constituted Masonic Lodge in each instance when a chapter was organized and established. Thus, Brother Jackson brought about more unity within the Masonic Family, to include Women and Men, Sisters and Brothers, working together for a common cause under the Masonic Umbrella of Peace, Love, and Unity. Worthy Patron Thornton A. Jackson, who wished the chapter success and prosperity in the work they were entering, made a presentation admonishing the officers to wear their Rosettes and Jewels of office with dignity, keeping the memory of the five Heroines: Adah, Ruth, Esther, Marth, and Electa in mind at all times. In closing, Brother Jackson stated, “To you, Queen Esther Chapter and Associates, the representatives of the rays of the beautiful star and from whom comes the most charming, the most prophetic and the most instructive lessons of the Old and New Testaments. May you always bring thousands to worship Him through the air of beauty and solemnity around all.” This has been the charge as bona fide members of the Order of Eastern Stars since 1875.