Ritual of the Order of the Eastern Star

by Order of the Eastern Star. General Grand Chapter

SINGING.

The following or some other appropriate hymn may be used:

Friend after friend departs;

Who hath not lost a friend?

There is no union here of hearts,

That finds not here an end.

Were this frail world our only rest,

Living or dying, none were blest.

There is a world above,

Where parting is unknown—

A whole eternity of love

And blessedness alone;

And faith beholds the dying here,

Translated to that happier sphere.

W. P. The examples and symbols of our Order are full of useful and impressive lessons. They speak to us in this solemn hour with unwonted significance.

These floral tributes, the offering of sisterly affection, echo voices often heard from the several points of our Star; they symbolize, in the ritual of our Order, virtues which should adorn our lives. How appropriately, then, may they bear an important part in this solemn ceremonial.

Sisters of our Star, you who represent the five distinguished heroines of our Order, have you anything to offer ere we leave the grave of our departed sister?

Sister Adah, what is the voice and tribute from the Blue point of our emblematic Star?

Adah. Blue symbolizes fidelity, and is appropriate to Jephthah's Daughter, who, in the morning of life, surrendered to the grave the brightest of earthly hopes, that she might be faithful to her convictions of right, and preserve her father's honor. As a token of faithfulness to the memory of our sister, I deposit in her grave this tribute of faithful love.

At the proper time each officer will drop into the grave, or place upon the casket, the flowers provided for that purpose.

Adah deposits her tribute, and then, addressing Ruth, says:

Sister Ruth, what is the voice and tribute from the Yellow point of our Star?

Ruth. Yellow symbolizes constancy, teaching faithful obedience to the demands of honor and justice. Ruth exemplified these virtues in humble station, and sought the society of the good and true. In token of appreciation of these virtues, I deposit in the grave of our sister this floral tribute.

Deposits her tribute, and then, addressing Esther, says:

Sister Esther, what is the voice and tribute from the White point of our Star?

Esther. White symbolizes light and purity. The heroic Queen Esther evinced the purity of her motive and love of kindred and friends, by her willingness to risk the loss of crown and life, to save her people from death. In token of sincere affection for our sister, I deposit in her grave this emblem of light and purity.

Deposits her tribute, and then, addressing Martha, says:

Sister Martha, what is the voice and tribute from the Green point of our Star?

Martha. Green is an emblem of Nature's life and beauty. The evergreen is a symbol of immortal life, and teaches us, that in the economy of God there is no death; forms change, but the spirit survives. Martha, beside the grave of her beloved brother, avowed her trustful faith and hope of immortal life. In the full assurance of our sister's entrance upon a glorious immortality, I deposit in her grave this evergreen.

Deposits her tribute, and then, addressing Electa, says:

Sister Electa, what is the voice and tribute from the Red point of our Star?

Electa. Red symbolizes fervency and zeal. Electa represents those who have been pre-eminent in charity, and heroic in endurance of the wrongs of persecution. In token of the fervency of our affection for our sister, I deposit in her grave this tribute of love.

Deposits her tribute, and then, addressing the Worthy Matron, says:

Worthy Matron, we have spoken from the five points of our emblematic Star, but our departed sister hears us not. Is it in vain that we speak to the living?

W. M. You have spoken well, my sisters. It is not in vain that we hear the oft repeated lessons of our Star. It is true that our sister hears not with mortal ear the lessons she was wont to learn from you; but is it true that she listens not to our words of love, and sees not the beautiful tributes strewn within her grave? May not her quickened spirit, freed from its earthly tenement, yet hover around the loved ones here assembled, listen to our words, and perceive with clearer vision our every movement?

She needs not to be ministered unto; but may she not now minister to us? "Are they not all ministering spirits?" saith the apostle.

Love is an attribute of the soul, and imperishable. Our sister's affection ceases not; therefore may she not now be whispering to grief-stricken hearts, "Peace be still," "Lo, I am with you always." Think not that the spirit world is distant. Our loved ones, though lost to mortal sight, may yet be with us in spiritual existence. Let their loving presence be to us a perpetual inspiration, calling us to a higher moral and spiritual life.

These beautiful flowers are the highest expression of Nature's loveliness. We never tire of looking at their perfect and delicately variegated tints. From time immemorial they have been endowed with expressive language. They speak to us, "To whisper hope whene'er our faith grows dim." But these floral emblems, with all their exquisite loveliness, are but dim reflections of the glories that may be unfolded to our spiritual vision. In token of our hope that such an unfolding of spiritual life may come to us all, I scatter these flowers within the grave of our departed sister. May we cherish her memory and emulate her virtues.

Deposits her tribute, and then, addressing the Worthy Patron, says:

Worthy Patron, within the grave, hallowed by the tenderest ties of human affection, we scatter these floral emblems of Nature's loveliness, and spiritual life. May we not trust all else to the Father's loving care?

W. P. The Infinite Father's ever watchful care is nowhere more impressively taught, than by His voice speaking to us through the floral kingdom. Over the whole earth where life exists, flowers bloom in endless variety and profusion, there is no place so obscure but that they blossom there and give to the world their beauty and fragrance. Some open with the rising sun, and close with his setting rays. Others open to the full moon and starry firmament, and shrink before the piercing gaze of the king of day.

So the Father's love goes forth by day and night, to the weakest, most humble, and obscure of His children.

We are told to consider the lilies of the field, and learn the paternal love of Him, beyond whose watchful care none can stray. Not a sparrow falls without His notice. "Ye are of more value than many sparrows."

In token of our trust in the all-embracing love of the Infinite Father, I deposit these emblems of His watchful care in the grave of our departed sister.

Drops the flowers, and continues as follows:

Sisters and brothers, within the city of the dead, we consign to the bosom of mother earth all that was mortal of our departed sister. The body we leave in the grave is but the casket which held the precious jewel of life. We bear it tenderly to its resting-place, because it is the form by which we knew her in our Chapter. Peacefully let it rest in the hallowed ground where we place it. Upon her grave flowerets will bloom amid all the countless activities of Nature's life.

"The murmuring brook, the bird on airy wing,

And whispering pines, will here her requiem sing."

Over her the fleeting shadows will pass. The rising sun will scatter over the chambers of the dead his gladsome rays, and tint the western sky with the glories of departing day. In the hush of night the feeble rays of countless stars, traveling centuries on their journey here, will finally rest upon her grave.

We leave in this lowly bed the earthly form of our departed sister, and may the hallowing influence of this providence go with us in the remaining journey of our life, and when our earthly mission is over, and we are "beyond the smiling and the weeping" of earth, may we gather with the loved ones gone before.

Let us unite in prayer.