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History of the Grand Chapter of Manitoba


Our History

June 1922 Organizational meeting of the Grand Chapter of Manitoba

OES has a long history in Manitoba with the first chapter constituted in 1922.

The Grand Chapter of Manitoba was organized at a convention held in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on June 20 – 21, 1922. There were 14 Chapters in Manitoba at the time that the Grand Chapter was legally constituted and chartered by the General Grand Chapter. Over the years following Manitoba has had as many as 68 Chapters, but presently there are 7 active Chapters.

The information below was presented by Mrs. Eileen Hurlburt, PGM, at the 50th Anniversary of the Grand Chapter of Manitoba in 1972 and is reproduced with her permission.

“Winnipeg, Manitoba, Latitude 49-54 degrees North, Longitude 97-08 degrees West, the world’s greatest grain center, at the confluence of the Assiniboine and Red rivers, in one of the choicest of God’s fertile gardens, with its beautiful buildings, splendid hotels and true men and women with hearts of Gold. June 20th, 1922.

Our Original Charter

Early in May of the year, 1922, the Most Worthy Grand Patron, Dr. Alfred C. McDanniel, from his office in San Antonio, Texas, sent a call to each Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star in Manitoba to appear in Winnipeg, June 20th and 21st, to take part in the organization of the Grand Chapter. As a result, representatives of the fourteen Chapters came to enjoy the first Homecoming of the Members of this Province.

The purpose of calling together the members of these fourteen Chapters was to organize the Grand Chapter of Manitoba, Order of the Eastern Star. Since that time, an annual convention has been held and this week we are completing fifty years of progress in Manitoba with our “Tree of Life” Session.

Sixty-seven Chapters have been instituted in our Province and although all are not operating at the present time, they extended from Churchill in the North to the United States border; Pine Falls in the East to Flin Flon on the Saskatchewan boundary

Representatives from all Chapters have held elected or appointed offices in the Grand Chapter of Manitoba, and at this, our Golden Anniversary Session, we are privileged to have many Past Grand Officers with us.

Tonight we are planning to present a short history of the past fifty years and to introduce to you the Worthy Grand Matrons and Worthy Grand Patrons and members of their Grand Families in our Golden Anniversary Pageant.

“ Friendship is a golden thread that runs throughout the years,
And we look back on the past, that shining thread appears;
Weaving in and out the days, a bright unbroken strand,
Life’s fabric becomes worn beneath the pressure of Time’s hand;
But nothing dims the brightness of a friendship tried and true,
The colors may be faded, but the gold comes gleaming through.”

In reviewing the history of our Grand Chapter we will endeavour to bring to you now, in words and music, a few highlights of the past fifty years.

The first golden threads of Manitoba’s Tapestry were woven by dedicated pioneers of our first fourteen Chapters when the Grand Chapter of Manitoba was legally constituted and chartered by the General Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star.

Chapters which have surrendered their Charter

click arrow on right to view list

Chapter (location)InstitutedDemised or AffiliatedAffiliated With
Carman #4 (Carman)31 January 191618 September 1989#67
Victoria #5 (Hartney)10 July 191826 November 1990#3
Victory #6 (Dauphin)12 January 192015 September 2005#15
Palestine #7 (Gladstone)12 April 192019 May 1999#2
Minnehaha #9 (Boissevain)05 July 192002 November 1998#62, 3
Russell #10 (Russell)12 November 192011 September 2002#58, 15
Naomi #11 (Neepawa)16 December192029 November 1995#7,2
Queen Esther #12 (Rivers)09 December 195526 November 1990#3
Minto #13 (Minto)14 April 195914 April 1959Closed
Mizpah #14 (Winnipeg)03 March 192222 February 1978#1
Artaban #16 (Birtle)03 March 192322 October 2002#58, 15
Fort Garry #17 (Winnipeg)16 February 192416 April 2012#67
St. John’s #18 (Winnipeg)04 March 192424 March 1995#17, 67
Washakada #19 (Swan River)03 November 192417 April 2000#6, 24
Harmony #20 (Winnipeg)05 October 192615 December 1977#1
Border #21 (Gretna)14 December 192709 January 1930Closed
Jephthah #22 (Winnipeg)04 October 192915 June 2017#1
Armadale #23 (Winnipeg)02 June 193001 May 1933Closed
St. James #25 (Winnipeg)07 February 193324 March 2008#8
Souris #26 (Souris)23 May 193512 Apr 83#39 – 3
Jubilee #27 (Winnipeg)16 January 193608 June 2015#8
Aurora #28 (Stony Mountain)22 April 193616 April 1991#25 – 8
Flin Flon #29 (Flin Flon)23 March 193923 April 2005#24
Royal York #30 (Shoal Lake)03 May 193911 September 2002#15
Loyalty #31 (Beausejour)21 June 194015 January 1954Closed
Elm Creek #32 (Elm Creek)12 April 194428 September 1988#2
Norris #33 (Griswold)22 May 194431 May 1960Closed
Melita #34 (Melita)08 January 194528 April 1983#36 – 3
Selkirk #35 (Selkirk)23 February 194515 October 2021#67
Reston #36 (Reston)25 October 194508 April 1991#3
Deloraine #37 (Deloraine)17 May 194620 May 1985#36, 3
Constellation #38 (Moosehorn)26 August 194609 March 1989#65, 25, 8
Concord #39 (Alexander)31 August 194608 April 2002#3
Royal Valley #40 (Rapid City)08 November 194625 September 1973#12, 3
Louise #41 (Crystal City)08 March 194716 October 1968Closed
Roblin #42 (Roblin)11 April 194713 November 1985#10, 58, 15
Treherne #43 (Treherne)19 April 194721 April 1981#32, 2
Pembina #44 (Miami)13 November 194728 April 1982#54, 62, 3
Pilot #45 (Pilot Mound)01 October 194811 January 1960Closed
Oakwood #46 (Oakwood)19 January 194921 June 1983#39, 3
Atoimah #47 (Hamiota)29 March 194920 November 1970Closed
Bowsman #48 (Bowsman)14 November 194908 January 1974#19, 6, 15
Benito #49 (Benito)18 April 195005 December 1973#19, 6, 15
Dominion City #50 (Dominion City)13 December 195127 March 1986#51, 1
Sheba #51 (Morris)31 December 195123 March 1995#1
Sharon #52 (Carberry)29 January 195213 April 2011#15
Killarney #53 (Killarney)11 December 195221 October 1975#9, 62, 3
Morden #54 (Morden)13 May 195307 May 2001#62, 3
Brookdale #55 (Brookdale)22 August 195323 May 1989#11, 7, 3
Pine Falls #56 (Pine Falls)24 October 195315 June 1994#35, 67
Manitou #57 (Manitou)19 December 195329 January 1974Closed
Foxwarren #58 (Foxwarren)27 February 195411 April 2007#15
West Kildonan #59 (Winnipeg)08 April 195420 March 1992#22, 1
Empress #60 (Winnipeg)01 April 195423 March 1992#8
Samuel Hearne #61 (Churchill)23 February 195527 September 1981#68, 24
Pelican Lake #62 (Belmont)01 December 195528 October 2013#3
Rainbow #63 (Winnipeg)23 April 195821 May 1998#27, 8
Dawn #64 (Lynn Lake)26 November 195813 January 1990#68, 24
Fidelity #65 (Ericksdale)09 January 195916 April 1992#25, 8
Emerson #66 (Emerson)15 December 195908 December 1970Closed
Chimo #68 (Thompson)03 February 197323 June 2002#24