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| HULDAH CHAPTER #212 | ||||
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A charter was granted to Huldah Chapter by the Grand Chapter of Michigan on October 27, 1897. Officers elected and serving for the first two years were: |
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| Worthy Matron | Nettie Buell | |
| Worthy Patron | Luther Kanouse | |
| Assoc. Matron | Myrtle Close | |
| Conductress | Marie Parrish | |
| Assoc. Conductress | Cora Savage | |
| Secretary | Catherine Schad | |
| Treasurer | Anna Hunt | |
| Chaplain | Elizabeth Lewis | |
| Organist | Ella Stowell | |
| Adah | Edith Savage | |
| Ruth | Emma Lusk | |
| Esther | Flora Westlake | |
| Martha | Elsie Smith | |
| Electa | Vinnie Kanouse | |
| Warder | Mollie Lusk | |
| Sentinel | A.J. Williams | |
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Many gatherings and banquets were held at the Opera House and Macabee
Hall in Byron. Meetings were held in the Masonic Temple. During the early 1900’s the many ice cream socials were a big money maker and enjoyment to all. In the early years, members visits to other chapters were made possible by the use of special trains. Sometimes meetings were brought to a close early because the train was waiting for them. On June 2, 1915 the Worthy Grand Matron asked all members to sign a petition to send to President Wilson asking him to use his influence to bring about a cessation of the horrors of war in Europe. In 1917 the chapter donated funds to the Red Cross Yarn Fund. Moneys were raised with a fish supper, with the fish being provided by the chapter men. In the Fall of 1942 a donation was sent to Battle Creek for the purchase of Soldiers Travel Kits and 1,888 hours of knitting and 110 hours of sewing were accumulated by Huldah Chapter members for the Red Cross. Huldah Chapter has prepared a Decoration (Memorial) Day dinner which was, and is, open to the public for many years. There was no dinner in 1943 due to the war because of “points”, gas rationing and defense workers unable to attend. Huldah Chapter celebrated its Golden Anniversary on September 26, 1947 with many activities, dinner for 200 and evening program with 300 in attendance. In February, 1970 special permission was received to move Huldah’s Charter into the new Masonic Temple that was built across the street from the original building. |
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Huldah Chapter member Minnie E. Keyes attained the title of Right Worthy
Grand Secretary of General Grand Chapter in 1935. She was instrumental
in creating an International Eastern Star Temple for the Order in
Washington D.C. in 1934-35. Contributions from all Chapter members aided
int his effort to purchase the Belmont Mansion in Washington D.C. for
the General Grand Chapter headquarters. Many of our members have held
offices and positions of distinction in the Grand Chapter of Michigan.
We are proud of them all. In January 1997 quilting bees began for an anniversary quilt that was raffled off on August 23, the date that Huldah Chapter celebrated its 100th anniversary. Dinner and entertainment were held at the Byron High School cafeteria with approximately 100 in attendance. Through all of these years Huldah Chapter has made donations to the many Byron community organizations, such as Byron Area Ambulance Service, Byron Sesquicentennial Park, Byron Cemetery and Byron High School Community Library, to name a few. |
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Front Row, Seated L to R – Elizabeth
Cramner, Doris Fisher, Charlene Pierce, Beverly Marr and Suzanne
McChristy |
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