The Birth of the Order of the Eastern Star, Prince Hall Affiliated (PHA)

Grand Master William H. Myers, Union Grand Lodge, Jurisdiction of the District of Columbia, and Sir Thornton Andrew Jackson established the first Eastern Star Chapter among women of color in the United States.

Special thanks to Mrs. Georgiana Thomas, who was a lady of color, who had a dream of starting an Eastern Star Chapter. When she was approached by Sir Thornton A. Jackson about establishing a Chapter, she leaped for joy that her dream would become a reality to begin Queen Esther Chapter No. 1.

On Wednesday, December 1, 1874, Mrs. Georgiana Thomas’s home became the meeting place for Queen Esther Chapter No.1. It was 90 years after the founding of the first Black Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons that Queen Esther Chapter No. 1, Order of the Eastern Star, Prince Hall Affiliated was officially instituted and began the first chapter of the Adoptive Rite among ladies of color.

The first Worthy Matron was Sister Martha Welch, and the first Worthy Patron was Sir Thornton A. Jackson. Grand Master William H. Myers and Deputy Grand Master William A. Taliaferro, Union Lodge, Jurisdiction of the District of Columbia, were invited to receive the degrees of the Adoptive Rite. They both accepted, thus further helping to connect the ties that bind the Masonic family together.

After Grand Master Myers’ initiation into the Adoptive Rite, he made a powerful statement to those sisters of Queen Esther Chapter No. 1, exclaiming their greatness. His words are: “May the dove of peace hover over you. May the All-Seeing Eye, whom the Sun, Moon, and Stars obey, ever watch over you. May He keep and protect you in your every effort to promote interests in the general good of this chapter.”