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Dr. Rob Morris' own statement as to the names given the Star Points may be of interest. It is as follows: "From the Holy Writings I culled four biographical sketches to correspond with my first four points, viz., JEPHTHAH'S DAUGHTER (named "ADAH"), RUTH, ESTHER and MARTHA. These were illustrations of four great congeries of womanly virtues, and their selection has proved highly popular. The fifth point introduced me to the early history of the Christian Church, where amidst a "noble army of martyrs" I found many whose lives and death overflowed the cup of martyrdom with a glory not surpassed by any of those named in Holy Writ. This gave me ELECTA, "the Elect Lady," friend of St. John, the Christian woman whose venerable years were crowned with the utmost splendor of the crucifixion."
THE STORY OF THE "STARS"
Here is a story of the grand, old time,
A tale of virtues, tender, yet sublime,
Inscribed on sacred page to give us faith,
In woman's constancy, in life and death;
Here, in God's book, the bright narration see,
And five brave hearts make up the history.
ADAH, great Jephthah's daughter, soul of truth,
RUTH, flower of Moab, humble, pious Ruth,
ESTHER, the Crowned, and worthiest of a crown,
MARTHA, His friend, whom saints and angels own,
ELECTA, strong the martyr's cross to bear --
These are the heroines of the Eastern Star
Fairest among ten thousand deathless names,
How altogether lovely do they glow!
Time's annals yield no brighter, noble themes,
No purer hearts the ranks of heaven know;
Here, then, oh Sisters, sister-virtues trace,
And light from these your lamps of truth and grace.
Rob Morris
From the book "History of the Star Points, Order of the Eastern Star" by John Kennedy Lacock
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