RUTH COURT #11

OUR HISTORY

The female auxiliary for the Royal Arch in the York Rite Bodies is the Heroines of Jericho.

The Order of the Eastern Star was organized in Georgia for the female relatives of Masons in

1899. Before the first OES Chapter, the Ladies of the St. Mary’s area had asked the Masons of

that area to organize a Heroines of Jericho Chapter, but at that time the Grand Lodge thought that

membership of female relatives of Royal Arch Masons, would be too limited. Thus, it was

thought best to create an Eastern Star body first. The Wilhelmina H. Parrish Most Ancient

Grand Court of Heroines of Jericho was created in 1982 with the first Most Ancient Matron as

Sis. Wilhelmina Parrish.

The emblem for the Royal Arch is a Circle and a triangle inside containing a Triple Tau and

the color for the House is red. The Tau is connected to the Hebrew culture, and may have been

an ancient symbol for the cross or the Egyptian Ankh. It was a symbol of salvation and

consecration and was used by the ancient Mexicans as an Astronomical cross. It was sacred to

the Hindus who placed the Tau as a mark on the brows of their initiates. The Degree consists of

the Mark Master, the Past Master, Most Excellent Master, the Royal Arch Degree. Membership

in Georgia is open to all Master Masons under a lodge in the MWPHGL of Georgia that are in

good standing.