The Star Points provide lessons for the Three Great Lights of the Order of the Eastern Star: Charity, Loving Kindness, and Truth. These mirror the Three Great Lights in Masonry: Truth, Relief, and Brotherly Love. The Star Point Heroines are central to the Order of the Eastern Star and its teachings:
ADAH – DAUGHTER
RUTH – WIDOW
ESTHER – WIFE
MARTHA – SISTER
ELECTA – MOTHER
Each heroine was selected because a certain phrase in each of their lives paralleled a certain phase in the life of Christ. Four of the five Star Point Heroines are used to symbolize the seasons:
Spring – or youth of life of Adah
Summer – abundance and growth of Ruth
Autumn – harvest time ; full maturity of life of Electa
Winter - end of year, or lifetime, one must rely on faith in eternal life of Martha
The five points of the star are also referred to as the Central Jewels or Floral Center. The “Beatitudes” which are found in the fifth Chapter of Matthew, can also be associated with the Five Star Point Heroines: Adah, the sixth; Ruth, the third; Esther, the seventh; Martha, the second; Electa, the eighth. Here is further explanation for each Star Point along with the Biblical reference for the story, the colors, symbols, jewels, and emblematic flowers.
ADAH - Judges 11: 1-40
The first of the Star Point heroines.
Shares lessons of duty of obedience to the will of God
The name Adah does not appear in the Bible. She is referred to as Jephthah’s daughter. “Adah” was the name given her by the founder of our Order, Dr. Robert Morris. She represents the Ideal Daughter because of her sense of duty and her devotion to her father. The name Adah means “Ornament.” Although the name does not appear in the Bible it is an appropriate choice. Not only may it be said that Adah’s innocent spirit and faultless character were her own personal ornaments, but she was a daughter who so exemplified these virtues as an ornament to her father’s life.
BLUE: The clear blue of the skies is the color dedicated to the first Star Point. It is the symbol of fidelity, loyalty and intelligence.
VIOLET: The violet is dedicated to Adah because of its association with meekness and humility.
SYMBOL: The symbol for the first Star Point is the Open Bible. It was to signify that only the Word of God may direct the individual in the right way in which to go.
JEWEL: The turquoise or the blue sapphire are used to represent the virtues of Adah.
SEASON: Adah represents the SPRING of the year. Her life is representative of the early womanhood of life.
The story of Adah challenges each of us to carry throughout our lives, the innocence and sweetness of a young girl and to approach our life problems with the enthusiasm and willingness as Adah approached the problems she had to face.
EMBLEM: The emblem for Adah is the Sword and Veil. It represents the concept that the sword must sometimes be taken up in the defense of right and in the performance of duty.
RuthRUTH - Book of Ruth
The second of the Star Point heroine. Shares lessons of Honor & Justice. The name Ruth means “friend.” She represents the “Ideal Widow” because she cherished her family, faith, and inheritance of her husband above her every personal ambition, her original native allegiance, and her originally heathen religion.
YELLOW: The color yellow represents “constancy,” “exalted,” and richness. Ruth is definitely characterized by a strong and radiant personality and therefore the “color of the sun” is dedicated to her.
JASMINE: The yellow jasmine is dedicated to Ruth because it has a meaning of “humbleness.”
SYMBOL: The symbol of the station of Ruth is the Lily of the Valley. It is said, as Christ, the Lily of the Valley, left his heavenly home and His Father to serve humankind on earth, so Ruth left her home and people to serve her fellow man in strange and unfamiliar country.
JEWEL: The yellow Topaz which is very rare is the jewel dedicated to Ruth. A friendship such as Ruth and Naomi is a rare “gem” and well worth treasuring.
SEASON: Ruth represents the summer season. The time of growing and maturing of life itself.
The story of Ruth challenges each of us to serve our fellow man and to extend the hand of friendship to those in need.
EMBLEM: The sheaf is the emblem dedicated to Ruth. It represents the collective worth of many small deeds of kindness which are done for the sake of another.
Part 1