History of Mizpah Grand Chapter – Order of Eastern Star, Alabama

-1894 – Grand Chapter Order of Eastern Star, adopted by the Most Ancient Free and accepted Grand Lodge of Alabama, was started in Mobile, Alabama, and instituted June 21, 1894. Members consisted of the wives, daughters, mothers, sisters, and widows of Master Masons who were members of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge, Prince Hall affiliated – Jurisdiction of Alabama. These women were from different parts of the State of Alabama, and they all came together to form the Grand Chapter OES.

-1894-1899 – OES chapters divided and assigned numbers based on the date the charter was granted. The following chapters made up the Grand Chapter of Alabama:

• Oziel Chapter No. 1 – Mobile

Mrs. Gussie Mims, Worthy Matron

• Zorah Chapter No. 2 – Montgomery

Mrs. Alice C. Hawkins, Worthy Matron

• Orphia Chapter No. 3 – Blocton

Mrs. Amanda Taylor, Worthy Matron

• Tharoh Chapter No. 4 – Birmingham

Mr. M. E. Sanson, Worthy Matron

• Electa Chapter No. 5 – Blount Springs

Mrs. P. A. McGee, Worthy Matron

• Miriam Chapter No. 6 – Florence
• Hager Chapter No. 7 – Dolomite

Mrs. Ferry Davis, Worthy Matron

• Bethsheba Chapter No. 8 – Bessemer

Mrs. M. A. Davis, Worthy Matron

• Ruth Chapter No. 9 – Coalbury

Mrs. Alice Smith, Worthy Matron

• Priscilla Chapter No. 10 – Pratt City

Mrs. Mollie Compton, Worthy Matron

• Evening Star Chapter No. 11 – Wetumpka
• Silver Star Chapter No. 12 – Troy

Mrs. Cora R. Pryor, Worthy Matron

• Almer Chapter No. 13 – Sheffield
• Darcus Chapter No. 14 – Tuscaloosa
• Deborah Chapter No. 15 – Hartsell

-1894-1898 – Recorded proceedings totally destroyed by fire along with all the codes of law, according to a statement from Mr. R. R. Mims, Grand Worthy Patron. Mr. Mims recommended that proceedings be recorded quickly and published immediately, and that Oziel Chapter be granted a new charter.

-1899-1902 – First Annual Communication of the Proceedings of the Eastern Star, State of Alabama, and its jurisdictions, convened at Mobile, Alabama, with Mr. R. R. Mims presiding as Grand Worthy Patron and Mrs. Gussie Mims as Grand Worthy Matron. Proceedings were printed immediately and placed in Mizpah Grand Chapter’s Library. Entire proceedings from 1899-1903 placed in the history book.