Having family near Chehalis, I read The Daily Chronicle article: “Chehalis Order of the Eastern Star donating $130,000 to area groups” (Aug. 19 edition). Apparently, the Chehalis chapter is closing up and donating its surplus treasury to K9 police programs, as well as to Centralia College, the Masonic Lodge and Masonic youth.

That is sure better than sending it up to the state level where it might get lost in bureaucracy. I also noticed in the news elsewhere that the Luce Order of the Eastern Star has also dissolved after 117 years. That is sad, but a growing trend. Supposedly, they had two officers traveling to get there from one town, and another two members traveling from a different town. And they need seven members to have a quorum. It just wasn’t happening, and they had to close up forever.

I am a Mason and have been since I was 18. I joined Freemasonry some 42 years ago. I also joined the York Rite and Scottish Rite. I joined Shriners 35 years ago. Yet, I never wished to join the Order of the Eastern Star. I know it was formed in the 1800s for female relatives of Masons — and Masons can join. Yet, it wasn’t my cup of tea.

The few remaining members of both the Chehalis chapter and the Luce Chapter of Eastern Star will go to other chapters. I wish them good luck. But, nationally, I sure wish the Eastern Star would modify its emblem. I know, the upside-down star with tails pointed downward is meant to symbolically point down to Bethlehem. I realize that it is probably a good organization having a heritage of little old ladies in covered wagons having joined in some places over 150 years ago. I realize that the Order of the Eastern Star was created by a man named Rob Morris in 1850. He was supposedly an educator and a lawyer. He must have been more of a lawyer than anything else, since his symbolism seems so complicated and disjointed. I know he meant well, but I have had friends (even clergy members) take one look at his emblem and say that it looks blasphemous.

Public perception means a lot. However, in this 21st century, too many people envision a sinister, satanic emblem. Having the word “fatal” in tiny letters on the emblem is off-putting as well. That word may allude to something simple, yet it only scares off prospective members.

I just hope the powers-that-be in the Eastern Star straighten up and remake that emblem into an upright five-point star. That type of star is acceptable for the Texas flag and the United States’ flag. It is high time the Eastern Star remade its emblem family-friendly, too.

Good logos make for good public relations.

James Marples

Longview