Order of the Eastern Star, Prince Hall Chapter No. 41 records

The membership of the Order of the Eastern Star Prince Hall affiliated chapters are comprised of female relatives of men who are in the Prince Hall Masonry. There is another Order of the Eastern Star for Caucasian women, but they link their founding to Robert Morris, a 19th century lawyer from Boston, Massachusetts. The Prince Hall Masons are believed to have been founded by Prince Hall and other African-American men in Boston, Massachusetts in 1787. In 1784, African Lodge #459 of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was the first Lodge to be recognized by the Grand Lodge of England. The Prince Hall Masonry was created because African-American men were barred from becoming members in Freemasonry, which was composed of Caucasian men. On September 6, 1901, a Lodge was organized in Charleston, South Carolina. The original officers of Prince Hall Masons Lodge No. 46 were Wm. Singleton, W.M; M.S. Frasier, S.W.; J.B. Moultrie, J.W; E.G. Logan, Secretary; F.R. Blanchard, Treasurer; Philip Cherry, Tiler; E.R. Hayne, S.D; and D.J. Mitchell, J.D.

According to Mrs. S. Joe Brown, who published The History of the Order of the Eastern Star Among Colored People in 1925, the Order [of the Eastern Star] was originated by Master Masons for the protection of their wives, widows, mothers, sisters and daughters and hence cannot exist without the co-operatnon (sp) of the members.

In 1875, the first subordinate chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star African American chapter was created by A.F & A.M., Bro. Thornton A. Jackson in Washington, D.C. Between 1875 and 1876 he established nine chapters in total in the following cities: Alexandria, VA; Baltimore, MD; and Philadelphia, PA. In 1880, in Washington, North Carolina, Bishop J.W. Hood, organized the first Negro Grand Chapter of O.E.S. The Charleston chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star began circa 1912 and are known as Prince Hall Chapter No. 41, Order of the Eastern Star. Other O.E.S. chapters in the area were in St. Andrews Parish and in Columbia. According to O.E.S. No. 41 By-Laws the Charleston chapter met the third Tuesday of each month to conduct business. The chapter abides by the Constitution of the Grand Chapter and adminstrative responsibilities was divided into committees. The following committees were created: the sick committee, which was charged with contacting the sick members of the organization and providing assistance as long as necessary; the investigating committee, which was responsible for establishing the good standing of potential members; and the auditing committee, which was in charge of examining the secretary's and treasurer's books annually. Noted members of the O.E.S. Charleston chapter include Mamie Garvin Fields, Wilhelmina Lecque, Lady Loraine Moultrie, Marie Hutchinson (was a charter member and matron), and Rebecca Garvin.

During the period that the Order of the Eastern Star was created African-American women were taking on leadership roles and organizing themselves in addition to being a part of inter-gender organizations. Thus, African-American women were seeking new roles and were redefining what an African-American woman was supposed to do; as a result, their work respresented a new trajectory of African-American political and social movement.

Some of the benefits of being a O.E.S. star member are obtaining relief in times of need (ex. death and sickness); helping future generations; and connecting with likeminded women. The women that are members of the Order are committed to uplift their community by providing assisstance to those that need it the most.

The symbol of the Order is the pentagram (a.k.a. star pentagon) and the five points symbolizes the tenets of the Order, which is based upon the women in the Bible. Adah is blue and stands for fidelity; Ruth is yellow and stands for constancy; Esther is white and represents loyalty; Martha is green for faith; and Electra is red for love.