July marks the end of one of Jasper鈥檚 longest serving fraternal organizations. After struggling for years to attract and retain new members, the Jasper section of the Excelsior chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star, held its final gathering on July 9.
The Jasper group was established in 1926 and over the past 90 years has raised money for local scholarships, research projects and charities. The Order of the Eastern Star is an international mixed gender group closely associated with the Masonic Lodge鈥檚 Freemasons.
For Millie Block, a member for the past 60-years, the last meeting was hard to swallow.
鈥淚t鈥檚 sad because it鈥檚 been such a big part of my life for so long,鈥� said Block. 鈥淎 fraternal organization is a true brotherhood and without it I wouldn鈥檛 have gotten to know so many of the people that today I call friends.鈥�
Although the closure is disappointing, Block said the news wasn鈥檛 much of a shock. At one time the local organization boasted 110 members, however, during the last few decades that number quickly dropped. In 2000, the Edson Eastern Star chapter pooled its resources with the Jasper group to try and keep the local chapter afloat. While the merger helped for a few years, Block said that near the end only about two members were showing up for the group鈥檚 monthly meetings.
鈥淲e haven鈥檛 even had a meeting since last October,鈥� Block said. 鈥淥ver the last couple of years we all knew this was going to happen, but we just kept dragging our feet hoping something would happen but it never did.鈥�
Over the last few years, Block said the Jasper chapter appealed to local Freemasons and their wives along with other Jasperites to help increase membership, but no one was interested.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really difficult to get the younger generations involved, but I understand that times have changed,鈥� Block said. 聽鈥淲hen I first started with the organization women didn鈥檛 work. Now people are so busy that it鈥檚 hard to get involved.鈥�
When Block joined the Order of the Eastern Star she was 20, living in a small prairie town before moving to Jasper in 1960.
鈥淔or me that was my means of socialization鈥攏ow people have computers and so many other groups, but for me it was always a good way to do some good in the community and get out of the house.鈥�
During the farewell ceremony, the group did its last good deed by donating $1,000 to the Jasper Yellowhead Museum and Archives.
Block said she remains hopeful that the chapter will start up again one day, however, she said some things will have to change. As of right now, people can only become members of the Order of Eastern Star if they are related or somehow closely affiliated to the Freemasons, an all male group.
鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to change that. I鈥檝e had inquiries from people that they鈥檇 like to join but just because of the rules they can鈥檛. That鈥檚 just stupid to me,鈥� Block said.
Until the day comes where the Jasper chapter rises again, Block said she鈥檒l attend Edson鈥檚 Order of the Eastern Star meetings every now and then.
鈥淚 still want to be involved somehow,鈥� Block said.
Kayla Byrne
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