By Sterling McGinn
In an unfortunate trend, many of Newberry’s longstanding service organizations and groups have disbanded in recent years. And the trend continues: After 117 years, Luce Chapter 364 Order of Eastern Star was faced with the same shortage of members and lack of participation. They surrendered their charter on June 17, 2024.
“We had fewer and fewer members participating,” said chapter Treasurer and past Worthy Matron Jan Bonifield. “We had been going over this for two years trying to figure out what our options were to keep going.”
The chapter had requested help from a chapter consultant but eventually made the difficult decision to disband.
Some officers had to travel from nearby towns, and it was difficult to reach quorum for meetings.
“We had two officers from Munising and two from Manistique coming over, and we had to have at least seven officers,” Bonifield said.
The Luce Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star met monthly in the Masonic Lodge on Newberry Avenue.
The Order of Eastern Star is an international Masonic affiliated body that accepts men and women as members. These members emphasize caring for one another, providing relief for those in need and service to their communities. The Order seeks to make positive change in the world through charitable effort, enduring friendships, and showing kindness to all.
Members are aged 18 years and older. Male members must be a Master Mason, while female members need to have a specific relationship with a Mason such as wife, daughter, sister, mother, etc.
The order was originated by Freemason Dr. Rob Morris in the 1850s, who made it his mission to share the principles of Masonry with women. He and his wife, Charlotte, developed the beliefs and concepts for the foundation of the Order.
The Order has more than 500,000 members and over 7,500 chapters. From October of 2022 to October 2023 the Michigan Order of Eastern Star provided $57,600 to the Benevolence Fund, $66,800 in educational scholarships, and $13,000 to service dog programs.
The first meeting of Luce Chapter 364 took place on October 4, 1906. Because the chapter had not formed and run under dispensation for 60 days prior to that year’s Grand Chapter Session, it was resolved that the charter could not be granted until the following year. Their charter was officially granted on October 10, 1907.
There were 28 charter members.
Over the years, Luce Chapter had been well represented at both district and state levels. The members serving in those capacities included Emma Sherman Cox, Merle Bystrom, Virginia Story, Rena Perry, Phyllis Carpenter, Frances Carlson, Winnie Richmond, Ruth Ike, Nancy Quick, and Rachel McCutcheon.
The Luce Chapter contributed two backpacks for Project Backpack for approximately 25 years, helped at the Luce County Animal Shelter and The Diane Peppler Resource Center, and contributed to numerous local projects. Other contributions over the years included March of Dimes, Red Cross drives, Bay Cliff Health Camp, Box Tops for Education, food for local shelters, and teddies for local ambulance corps.
Members of the former Luce Chapter will transfer their membership to other chapters in the U.P.
