Observant drivers sitting in their car at the intersection of Main Street and Bridge Street in Springvale may have noticed a new symbol on the northeast face of the Key Bank.
   Not only is the emblem a new addition to the bank, it is a representation of the Order of the Eastern Star, Fern Chapter 109 in Alfred and a symbol of the full circle of the chapter’s birth.
   The Fern Chapter recently merged with Springvale’s Ruth Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star.
   The Order of the Eastern Star, the largest fraternal organization in the world, admits both men and women, 40-year Ruth Chapter Patty Beals said.
   However, in order for women to join, they must have an affiliation with a Mason or been a former Rainbow girl.
   Men may also join, but they must be a Mason, 10-year Ruth Chapter member Susan Riding said.
   Eastern Star, divided by chapters in each state, is numbered by the order of their founding. Currently, the highest numbered chapter in Maine is Damariscotta, Beacon Chapter 202, but only 78 chapters exist between chapter one and 202.
   Beals said the reason for this is because when chapters can no longer function independently, they merge or consolidate with a neighboring chapter.
   She said when chapters merge, one is absorbed by the other. However, a consolidation calls for a new charter.
   When a chapter is merged or consolidated, its number is forever retired. Because so many chapters have merged or consolidated with others, there are many “missing” numbers or chapters.
   On Jan. 19, Springvale’s Ruth Chapter 14 Order of the Eastern Star, welcomed into its fold, members of Alfred’s Fern Chapter 139, which was established in 1907.
   “Ruth Chapter 14 performed the ritual at Fern Chapter’s founding,” Beals said.  
   Fern was an active chapter in Alfred for 100 years, Riding said.
   A history of the Fern chapter, written in 2007 by Alfred resident Elizabeth Morrison, revealed a community-driven organization.
   Riding said the Fern Chapter once hosted barn dances, prepared lunch when court was in session and helped during the fires of 1947.
   In 1967, Fern Chapter moved to the Masonic Lodge in Alfred, Riding said. As of their 100th birthday in 2007, the chapter had a membership of 202 people because Union Chapter and Day Spring Chapter of Newfield had merged with Fern in years past.
   But, recently, Fern Chapter’s membership diminished to about 141 and they decided it could no longer function due to an elderly membership and not enough active membership to continue its work.
   As of Jan. 19, Fern members became Ruth Chapter members, which has been in existence since 1893, Riding said.
   “We are so pleased to have Fern,” the women said. “We hope they feel welcome.”
   The foundation of the Order of the Eastern Star comes from the Biblical passage, “We have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him” (Matthew 2:2).
   Through Biblical stories, members of the Eastern Star share “embellished” stories of the lives of women from the Bible, including Adah, Ruth, Esther, Martha and Electa, Beals said.
   The stories are told to new members.
   When Riding, whose husband Robert is a Mason, considered joining the Order of the Eastern Star, she asked Beals, “What do I do?”
   “I told her, ‘You just did what you needed to do,’” Beals said.
   Riding was presented with a Ruth Chapter pin that once belonged to former Worthy Matron Mary Flanders. The back of the pin is engraved with Flanders’ name and the year 1948.
  Riding when she was admitted to Ruth Chapter, she said she listened to the stories of the Bibical women.
   “My grandmother heard these stories,” Riding said, noting her grandmother had also been a member of the Eastern Star.
   The story of each Biblical woman’s life teaches the lessons of fidelity, constancy, loyalty, faith and love, qualities by which the members of Eastern Star strive to live.
   While the teachings of the Eastern Star are based on Biblical stories, Beals said the organization is not religious.
   “A person must have a belief in a supreme being, but it doesn’t have to be God,” she said.
   The group meets 10 months out of the year, usually taking hiatus in July or August.
   Riding said the reason for the recess has it’s roots in the agricultural nature of many states, honoring the time farmers needs to tend to their crops.
    Beals described the Ruth Chapter as a social and charitable group. Instead of the members’ spending money on a gift exchange during Christmas, members pooled their money to sponsor two families at Christmas.
   They not only purchased gifts, they collected non-perishable foods for food baskets.
   Beals said the Ruth Chapter also hosts dinners with the Masons, as well as yard sales and raffles to raise money for various non-profit organizations, including Shriner’s Hospitals, cancer research and education, Heart Foundation, Knights Templar Eye Foundation and local libraries.
   The Grand Matron collects toiletries for “love bags,” Riding said.
   “They are filled with all the things you leave behind when you leave your home for a women’s shelter,” Riding said.
   She said the bags also include items for children.
   “It’s a very supportive, caring community,” Beals said.
   Riding said the Order of Eastern Star is widespread and its generosity is available for all members.
   She said she had a friend who was traveling in the Midwest when with her husband. The friend’s husband became ill and required hospitalization. When hospital officials asked the woman what they could do for her, she told them to find her a Mason. Hospital officials located a Mason and Riding’s friend was able to return home.
   “She was met in one town after another, by Masons,” Riding said.
   They escorted her home, one by one, one town at a time.
   “This is not uncommon,” Riding said.
   Beals and Riding said they are looking forward to having the Fern Chapters members in their fold.
   “I can’t imagine giving up your chapter,” Beals said.  “We have a new family, a blended family.”
   The emblem on the Key Bank building is a fitting place for Fern’s emblem.  
   Fern members will now meet with their new “family” in the building where Ruth Chapter has been meeting since 1914. They will meet with Ruth Chapter members whose relatives, 100 years ago, performed the ritual at Fern Chapters founding.
   To contact Renee Worthing, email news@intheregister.com or 282-4337 ext. 240