ORDER OF THE EASTERN STAR, HUNTERTOWN CHAPTER #388

50 Year Anniversary, August 24, 1963

By JOHN LARE, Past Patron

The year was 1913, automobiles were a rare luxury, paved roads unheard of, dot and dash wireless was a new communication system.  Huntertown Lodge had been organized the year before.  This fraternity filled a lingering need in the community by exemplification of its tenets, Brotherly love, Relief and Truth.

The growth and prosperity of this order was no doubt conducive to the formation of the Huntertown Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star.  OCIE CORBIN, HERSHELL HOLLOPETER and MABEL HATCH, who were members of the Order of the Eastern Star in another jurisdiction, together with 14 other ladies and 7 men whose names appear on your program are credited with the formation of Huntertown Chapter No. 388, Order of the Eastern Star, which was instituted on August 5, 1913 under the direction of ARTHUR S. KIMBER, Worthy Grand Patron.  He was assisted by Churubusco Chapter, with NETTIE DOWNEY and VIRGIL COMPTON, Worthy Matron and Patron, who exemplified the degree work.  JENNIE HATCH and MARY TILDEN (who are here tonight) were the first two candidates.

Many persons prominent in the community, recognized for their integrity and sincerity, worked hard and built a solid foundation for the years to follow.  Perhaps I should pause here to recognize and pay tribute to Churubusco Chapter who assisted so essentially in the formation of our chapter and for guidance during its formative period.  Shiloh Chapter in Fort Wayne and Leo Chapter also deserve credit for their assistance during these years.

The first year saw our membership grow from the original 24 to 72.  The membership came from a good cross section of the community, professional people, teachers, craftsmen, farmers and merchants, both young and old blended together to form a chain of enduring friendship.

Transportation was a problem in this rural community 50 years ago.  Side curtains on the family fliver was a luxury and sometimes old Dobbin got pretty cold waiting for a meeting to end.  The electric Interurban ran down the center of Huntertown, which by a concession made with a friendly manager, would stop in front of the Lodge Hall to discharge or pick up passengers for those who were fortunate enough to live along its route, and I understand a G R & I hand car was sometimes pressed into service for transportation to and from LaOtto.

Many names prominent in the growth and prosperity of the community appear on our membership list.  Entertainment and social life 40-50 years ago, especially in rural communities, consisted of home made or local talent and in that field the social life of the OES seemed to excel.  Group plays, skits, games, even mock weddings and Robinson Park picnics were all the vogue, of course, when groups such as this assembled you could bet that plenty of good food was in the offing, it might even be that the expression “The Knife and Fork Degree”, originated here.

Aside from the more mundane activities, a high degree of reverent life with respect and appreciation for ones neighbors and associates developed in the community.  The formation of this chapter and of course the Lodge served as a catalyst to cement human relationships in the years to follow.

To maintain and perpetuate any organization requires a lot of individual, in addition to group, effort, pride and interest.   This spirit has been very pronounced in Huntertown.  To say that problems and difficulties did not arise would be misleading, but with such a firm foundation as originated by ROB MORRIS, the fraternity continued to grow and prosper. 

The fraternal relationship between the chapter and Huntertown Lodge was of the finest.  Much of the credit for furnishings belong to the chapter for their help in providing such items as tables, kitchen equipment, chairs and in 1928 the chapter paid $100 toward the purchase of a new carpet and you can bet that the coming years will see the chapter a big influence and assistance toward that new Lodge Hall Building.

The seven chairs (the ornate ones) that you see on the floor tonight were purchased in 1928.  They were selected by JENNIE HATCH and MARY I. TILDEN who had been appointed to that responsibility.  They purchased them from the Rurodes Dry Goods Company for $190 on March 13, 1928.  The Worth Matron at this time was MARY McBRIDE.  The wisdom and good taste of that selection has been in evidence through the years and will continue for many more to come. 

Huntertown Chapter was frequently honored by visits from neighboring chapter notables and inspiring personages such as BEN BENNETT, LETTIE DICKEY and many others who gave so unselfishly of their time and talents.

In 1938 recognition was given to Huntertown Chapter by the appointment of MARY ELLEN SIBLE as Grand Adah in Indiana Grand Chapter by RUTH MEYER and BEN BENNETT, Worthy Grand Matron and Patron.  MARY ELLEN was further honored by being appointed Grand Representative to New York in 1939 and then to the State of Maryland in 1951.

In 1947 Huntertown was significantly honored and recognized when CECIL SIBLE was appointed Grand Sentinel of the Indiana Grand Chapter by MARGARETTE WESTENBARGER and GEORGE BOONE, Worthy Grand Matron and Patron.  From that appointment CECIL advanced regularly to the station of Worthy Grand Patron in 1951 where he served so honorable with FLOY GREEN, Worthy Grand Matron.  Also in 1947 FLOYD GAUSE was appointed to the Audit and Inventory Committee by Grand Chapter.

The year 1950 was a red letter one.  We received a visit from ABBIE HANSON, Most Worthy Grand Matron of the General Grand Chapter and the same year Huntertown Chapter became the proud parent of Bethel No. 71, International Order of Jobs Daughters.  Much of the credit for founding this fine order for girls should go to HAZEL REITHMILLER of Fort Wayne, District Director of Jobs Daughters, and to VELMA SHANK who was Worthy Matron, and also MARY ELLEN SIBLE and RANDALL HOUSER, who were selected as their first Guardian and Associate Guardian.

In 1951 CLEORA KNISS was Page at Grand Chapter and CARL DICKES served on the Audit and Inventory Committee.  Last, but not least, our Chapter was privileged to assist our and I do mean “our” Worthy Grand Patron CECIL SIBLE, when he instituted a new chapter, Mt. Etna.  Yes, 1951, was a truly an outstanding year.

In 1955, HELEN WARNER was appointed by the Worthy Grand Matron as Deputy for District 14 and then in 1959 HELEN was again honored by the appointment of Grand Representative to New Brunswick, Canada.

In 1963, BETTY SURFUS was appointed Page at Grand Chapter. 

Some of our members have branched out into related areas of service.  ROSCOE BOCKMAN served as Associate Grand Guardian of Jobs Daughters in the State of Indiana.  Others to have served in the Grand Council;  DONNA DICKES as Grand Organist, MARY ELLEN SIBLE as Grand Chaplain, CLEORA KNISS  as Grand 1^st Messenger and BETTY SURFUS is currently Grand Honored Queen of the Grand Bethel.  BARBARA FRITZ is regional Chairman of District 8 in Indiana and many, many others who have and still do serve in this and other attendant bodies.

An attempt to name all those who have given so generously of their time and talents would be unending but the record would be remiss if it did not include BERYL PRESTON who served as Secretary for 18 of the formative years;  JENNIE BAKER our devoted Chaplain for over 20 years;  HELEN WARNER, our present Secretary who has served so faithfully for over 20 years and DONNA DICKES, who served as our Organist for over 21 years.

I would like to call attention to a chair, a very special chair, (you see it on the stage to your right).  This was the original chair of RUTH when this chapter was instituted.  CORA MYERS has kept this chair through the years, probably for just such an occasion as this.  It would seem in order to state that CORA MYERS, one of our 50-year members is a most devoted one.  She seldom misses a meeting.  Could be that she has another interest.  You see her daughter is organist and her grandson presides in the East.

Such has been the nature of Huntertown Chapter, instituted on the principles of fidelity, devotion, loyalty, faith and love.  The past 50 years of community service has seen many joys, intermingled with sadness at times in the fulfillment of life’s duties.

Statistics show our membership has grown from the original 14 to 315, but cold figures do not reflect the true depth and warmth of sincere friendships made nor count the blessings of those who may have gone on before.

From the program of the Golden Anniversary:

Charter Members of Huntertown Chapter No. 388 O.E.S.

Mrs. Ocie Corbin                                          Miss Mary I. Tilden

Mrs. Mabel Hatch Wood                              Mrs. E. Louise Corns

Mr. Herschel Hollopeter                             Mrs. Ernest Dunten

Mrs. Edna Dunten                                        Mr. Herman Hatch

Mrs. Mary Greenwell                                  Mrs. Hezekiah Hillegas

Mrs. Althea Hatch                                        Mrs. Walter Kell

Mrs. Jessie Hall                                            Mr. Eddie Preston

Mrs. Ella Hillegas                                        Mrs. Charles Tilden

Mrs. Jennie Hatch                                        Mrs. Mary E. Tilden

Mrs. Emma Hollopeter                                Mrs. Mary Preston

Mrs. Beryl Preston                                       Mr. Fred Preston

Mrs. Eunice Runyan                                                Mrs. Hallie Erwin

50 Year Members

Mrs. Jennie Hatch                                        Mrs. Cora Myers

Mrs. Mary I. Tilden                                      Mrs. Bessie Myers

Mrs. Walter Kell                                          Mrs. LeOra Burrell

Mrs. Myrtle Kell

Past Matrons and Past Patrons of Huntertown Chapter No. 388 O.E.S

Year                            W.M.                                                   W.P.

1913                            Ocie Corbin                           Hershel Hollopeter

1914                            Ocie Corbin                           Hershel Hollopeter

1915                            Mary Jane Greenwell          Hershel Hollopeter

1916                            Mary Jane Greenwell          Waldo A. Rich

1917                            Jennie Hatch                                     Waldo A. Rich

1918                            Mary I. Tilden                       Alfred Corbin

1919                            Marie Thrush                        Edgar M. Myers

1920                            Marie Thrush                        Edgar M. Myers

1921                            Susan Myers                          S. B. Hatch

1922                            Ica Garman                            Donald Dunten

1923                            Bessie Myers                                     Donald Dunten

1924                            Lydia Dunten                        Donald Dunten

1925                            Lela Dunten                          Ernest Dunten

1926                            Cora Myers                            Sylvester Warner

1927                            Emma McDonald                  Sylvester Warner

1928                            Emma McBride                     Herman Hatch

1929                            Freedonna Smith                  Herman Hatch         

1930                            Ida Malcolm                          Perry Rinehold

1931                            Leta McComb                        Perry Rinehold

1932                            Alta Smith                             Cecil Sible

1933                            Ruth Parker                          Joseph Kelham

1934                            Gertrude Graham                Almon Smith

1935                            Gladys Otto                           Almon Smith

1936                            Helen Warner                       Almon Smith

1937                            Mary Ellen Sible                   Almon Smith

1938                            Leonara Blake                      Carl Dickes

1939                            Donna Dickes                        Andrew Anderson

1940                            Hope Kessler                                    Andrew Anderson

1941                            Mabel Wood                          Andrew Anderson

1942                            Agnes Foster                                     Floyd Gause

1943                            Gladys Hout                          Rodney Ormiston

1944                            Jane McDuffee                      Lee McDuffee

1945                            Shirley Ormiston                  Floyd Gause

1946                            Helen Markey                       Glenn Shenk

1947                            CleOra Kniss                                    Glenn Shenk

1948                            Billie Sheean                                     Robert Guthrie

1949                            Lucille Gause                        Eugene Rinehold

1950                            Elma Rosswurm                   Clifford Emrich

1951                            Velma Shank                                     Randall Houser

1952                            Marjorie Hirons                    John Lare

1953                            Kathryn Emrich                   Charles Miller

1954                            Phyllis Brown                       Walter Kell

1955                            Martha Ruhl                          Donald Hirons

1956                            Virginia Tilden                     Howard Western

1957                            Helen Miller                                     Roscoe Bockman

1958                            Edith Surfus                          Wayne Griffis & Francis Brown

1959                            Carrie Russell                       Walter Russell

1960                            Patricia Lare                                     John Lare

1961                            Lalia Hand                            Kenneth Hand

1962                            Betty Surfus                          Eugene Martin

1963                            Wanda Dickes                       Lowell Dickes

 Program for the Celebration

Welcome…………………………………………………………..Wanda Dickes

            Worthy Matron, Huntertown Chapter

Invocation…………………………………………………………Rev. Howard Western

            Past Worthy Patron

Introduction of Distinguished Guests

“Our Sweetheart”…………………………………………………Jennie Baker

            Helen Warner, Grand Representative

“Dreaming of the Past”……………………………………………Sextet

            Mary Frost, Kathryn Emrich, Freedonna Smith, Ruby Yoder,

            Ann Kelham, Louise Logar, Donna Dickes, Acc.

Echoes of Robert Morris…………………………………………...Past Worthy Patrons

            Kenneth Hand, Walter Russell, Eugene Martin

Our Eastern Star…………………………………………………….Mary Ellen Sible

            Wife of Cecil W. Z. Sible, Past Grand Patron

“Star of the East”…………………………………………………….Sextet

History of Huntertown Chapter…………………………………..John L. Lare

            Past Worthy Patron

Presentation of 50-year pins……………………………………….Clayton Herrick

            Grand Chaplain

Introduction of Past Matrons and Past Patrons

            Gerald Runyan, Associate Patron

“Wondering”…………………………………………………………..Sextet

Our Heritage………………………………………………………….Esther Clifton

            Associate Matron

Entertainment………………………………………………………..The Notables

            Audrey Waldon, Lyle Cotton, Phillis Lahr

Benediction……………………………………………………………Clayton Herrick