Members of The Mary Baldwin Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star served lasagna, garlic bread, Caesar salad and dessert as a fund raiser to help the Superior Recycling Center and the Mineral County Food Bank on Sunday at the Masonic Lodge in Superior. 

The evening was enhanced with live Italian accordion music and a hilarious auction where bidders purchased bottles hidden in bags that had everything from mouthwash to liquors, bourbon and wines as well as M & M’s and other surprises.  

The Order of the Eastern Star was charted Nov. 16, 1876, by Dr. Rob Morris and his wife, Charlotte Mendenhall Morris. Dr. Rob was a Freemason, Master Mason and Poet Laureate of Masonry, who made it is his mission to share the principles of Masonry with women. He taught at Kentucky Masonic College where the two of them developed the Membership in the Order of the Eastern Star which was designed to be open to individuals who have close affiliations with Freemasonry.  

Members engage in charitable activities, supporting various causes within their communities. One key benefit of joining is the sense of community and the camaraderie it offers. 

The Mineral County chapter of OES is named after one of the first Past Grand Matrons in Montana and Mary Baldwin Chapter #87 celebrated their 100th anniversary in 2020, four years ago. Elaine Robinson is the Worthy Matron which is equal to being president or chairman of an organization. “Last year, Tammy Wieweck was the Worthy Matron and next year it will be Gaylene Borden. The Worthy Matron chooses for the chapter charities that we want to help out and this year I picked the recycling center and the food bank. Last year Tammy chose Women in Timber and We Care, I think, so we watch and follow the charitable establishments and do what we can to spread some help to them.” Statewide, the chapters are raising money for seizure alert service dogs.   

Every organization is looking for volunteers and if the OES interests you, contact Elaine to share their structure. [email protected]. “We meet every two weeks on a Tuesday afternoon in September, October and November,” she explained. 

They then take the winter off from their organized meetings and resume in March for three months. 

“And then in June, our whole state gathers in 1-location, and this next year will be Great Falls for the 135th Annual Session. As we speak right now, the General Grand Chapter is meeting in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina which is the world meeting with Grand Chapters from all over the world attending.”