Ten thousand Jewish women, members of the Order of the Eastern Star, which has a total membership in New Jersey of 58,000, have decided to secede from the women’s Masonic organization as a result of the unwillingness of the Order’s authorities to rescind resolutions passed in recent years making Christian references in the ritual mandatory upon the members.
A decision to this effect was taken, it was disclosed, at a secret conference of the Jewish membership representatives held recently in Asbury Park. Two hundred officers, past and present, participated in the conference, representing the 22 predominantly Jewish chapters involved in the controversy. The conference decided to organize strictly non-sectarian chapters to comprise the membership withdrawing from the Order of the Eastern Star.
Admittance will be open to women who are blood relations of Master Masons. E. M. Biron, patron of Grace Chapter of Atlantic City, was chosen temporary president of the seceding group until the formation of the new organization.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
