March 15, 2020
By: Dwayne Page
Officers of the Smithville Chapter #374 Order of the Eastern Star for the ensuing year assumed their new positions during an installation ceremony Saturday at the meeting hall on Market Street.
Dr. Robert R. Atnip was installed as the Worthy Patron and his wife Guylene is the Worthy Matron of the Smithville Chapter.
Other members assuming new leadership roles in the Chapter were Katherine McKeown, Carolyn Williams, Joel Dawes, Patricia Wilt, Mary Gottlied, Louise Knowles, Patricia Tallent, Becky Cowan, John Gottlied, and Wanda Gard.
During the ceremony, Carolyn Williams served as Installing Officer and Van Mathis of DeKalb #488 was the Assisting Installing Officer.
The theme of the Chapter for the year is “Celebrate 2020 Vision in OES” with a motto “to think about a plan for a future with imagination and wisdom” based on Biblical scripture from Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no vision, the people perish; but he that keepeth the law, happy is he”.
Following the ceremony, members and guests shared fellowship and a meal.
The Order of the Eastern Star is the largest fraternal organization in the world to which both men and women of all faiths may belong. Only men who are Masons are eligible and only women with specific Masonic affiliation may be members. Eastern Star is a social order comprised of persons with deep religious convictions and spiritual values reflecting the spirit of fraternal love and the desire to work together for good. It gives them the opportunity to give a part of their time to many projects that benefit mankind.