In 1925 a meeting of men and women was held in the Great Veterans Hall to talk about forming a chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star (OES) here in Prince George. The Order of the Eastern Star is part of the Masonic Family of Organizations and is one of the largest fraternal organizations in the world. Many dedicated people went to work on the idea and Nechako Chapter No. 40 was organized and then instituted 90 years ago on April 28, 1925, with the support of 29 charter members.
Meetings of the new chapter were held upstairs in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Hall (IOOF). The hall had a wood heater and was very cold unless you were lucky enough to be sitting near the stove. The hall was considered modern at the time because there was a chemical toilet located outside.
Helen Porter was the first Worthy Matron (the presiding officer) and Robert McLeod was the first Worthy Patron (a Master Mason who provides general supervision over the chapter). Seven candidates for membership were initiated in their first year. There were 11 more candidates the following year (in 1926) and Nechako Chapter was on its way.
Margret (Olts) Royston became the first Worthy Grand Matron from Nechako Chapter and for the first time ever the Grand Chapter Sessions of British Columbia were held in Prince George in June of 1968.
The year 1986 became a big one for Nechako Chapter as Roberta Barnes was elected as Worthy Grand Matron and for the second time in history Grand Chapter Sessions were held in Prince George in 1987.
Wilfred Olts was the first Worthy Grand Patron from Nechako Chapter in 1958 followed by Bruce Minchin in 1993.
In 1943 the chapter meetings were temporarily changed from evening meetings to afternoon meetings during the blackout periods for everyone's safety during the war. It was events like this that helped cement the foundations of Nechako Chapter. The members continue to build on that same strong foundation today.
In 1927 the first OES Auxiliary was formed in the home of Mary Paschal. Their first project was to furnish a much-needed room at the local hospital. The group has been active ever since its inception and now includes offering the free use of equipment and other physical aids such as wheelchairs and walkers for use by members of the Order of the Eastern Star and their relatives.
One of many benevolent projects that started in 1955 and continues today is the collection of canceled postage stamps (and now Campbell's Soup labels). The proceeds from these fundraisers go toward the purchase of supplies for the OES Cancer Dressings Project. Members of Nechako Chapter meet regularly to make and provide cancer dressings, free of charge, for cancer patients in Prince George and throughout the province.
Other projects that the members raised funds to support include the OES totally-funded Comfort Fund for the BC Cancer Agency for the North, the Prince George Freemasons Cancer Car program, a flat-screen television for the lounge at the Kordyban Lodge, a scholarship fund for the University of Northern B.C. and continued support for the Kordyban Lodge.
I am a 39-year-member of Nechako Chapter No. 40 Order of the Eastern Star and as we celebrate our 90th birthday on April 28th I can say that we are all proud of our longevity. Our Chapter has just over 130 members and most of them are seniors who have lived in this city for many years.
There are 21 Nechako Chapter members who have been members of our Order for more than 50 years and we call them our Golden Stars. The Golden Stars are Helen Moffat (73-year-member), Sheila Keller (66-year-member), Doris Lawrence (64-year-member), Patricia Allen (62-year-member), Patsy Patterson and Glennis Glencross are 59-year-members, Donna Spurr (58-year-member), Beth Wojciechowski, Bonnie Walberg, Margaret Smith and Catherine Bond are all 57-year-members, Freda Hermanson (55-year-member), Marjorie Tattersall (54-year-member), Trudy McMillan and Marion Robertson are 53-year-members, Lee Abra, Jessie McIntosh and Noon Rothwell are 52-year-members, Grace Munro (51-year-member) and Maisie Minchin and Jean Froese-Burr are 50-year-members.
For more information about the Order of the Eastern Star please phone 250-964-8267.
The Forever Young Chorus at the Elder Citizens Recreation Centre (1692 10th Ave.) proudly presents: Show Tunes That Rocked Our World. Show times are Friday, April 24 at 7 p.m., Saturday, April 25 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, April 26 at 2 p.m. Admission is $10. Tickets will be available at the door.
