Electa

* IN THE SECOND EDITION (1862) OF THE MANUAL OF THE EASTERN STAR DEGREE WE FIND IT STATED THAT THE DEGREE OF ELECTA IS ENTIRELY COMPOSED OF INFORMATION FROM MASONIC TRADITION.

* HER HUSBAND WAS GAIUS, A NOTED GRANDMASTER OF MASONS, WHO WAS SUCCEEDED BY JOHN THE EVANGELIST.

* SHE WAS RAISED A HEATHEN AND TAUGHT TO WORSHIP IDOLS. SHE REARED HER FAMILY IN THESE TRADITIONS UNTIL SHE CHANCED TO HEAR THE CHRISTIAN PAUL'S SERMONS.

* ALL CHRISTIANS WERE PERSECUTED IN THOSE DAYS AND ONLY HER HUSBAND'S MASONIC TIES KEPT THEM FROM IMMEDIATE DISASTER.

* SHE BECAME AN ARDENT BELIEVER AND HER FAME AS A CHRISTIAN SPREAD FAR. STRICT ORDERS FROM THE ROMANS DECREED THAT ALL WHO PROFESSED THE CHRISTIAN BELIEF MUST SUFFER AND SHE DID NOT ESCAPE.

* HER FAMILY WAS CAST INTO A DUNGEON AND ALL HER POSESSIONS WERE DESTROYED.

* AFTER A YEAR IN THE DUNGEON, THE ROMAN JUDGE, HIMSELF A FREEMASON WHO HAD SERVED UNDER GAIUS, CAME TO THEIR CELL AND TRIED FERVENTLY TO PERSUADE THEM TO YIELD TO THE PRESSURE AND DENY THEIR FAITH.

* THEY WERE SAVAGELY BEATEN ALMOST TO DEATH THEN PLACED IN OXEN DRAWN CARTS AND AMID JEERS AND SCORN, TAKEN TO A NEARBY HILL AND NAILED TO A CROSS. ELECTA WAS THE LAST TO BE CRUCIFIED AND SHE PRAYED FOR PARDON FOR HER MURDERERS.

* AT THE NEXT GRAND LODGE, ST. JOHN RELATED HER HISTORY AND AT HIS SUGGESTION IT WAS AGREED THAT BY SIGNS AND PASSES HER STORY WOULD BE PERPETUATED GENERATION AFTER GENERATION.

-Some Further info on Electa -

Why do we refer to Electa as the Mother? Why do we use the color Red to represent Mother? Where did the symbol of Electa, the Lion, originate? And the Cup?

Of all the Star Points, most of us probably know less of the story of Electa than any of the others. Was she a real live person or a symbolic representation of Christians everywhere?

Here we will try and understand some of the story as written and even more that has been handed down as tradition through the centuries.

The biblical book of 2 John is believed to have been a letter and, in fact, appears to be such, written to "The Elect Lady and her Children". It tells none of the traditional story that we have come to know of a fearless, devoted Mother who refused to renounce her Christian beliefs and trample the Cross under her feet. Rather, it reminds her to be alert for "deceivers" who bring the false doctrine and do not confess that "Jesus Christ is come in the flesh". She is also told that St. John intends to go to visit her and speak to her face-to-face.

Does that sound like a letter written to a symbolic person?

Most of what we know of Electa the person is traditional, meaning that it has been handed down through the ages (See notes above).

The word "Electa" means "Honorable", or "lady", or "Called of God" and represents the Ideal Mother because she sacrificed everything to establish a Christian heritage for her children. She was an influential member of the young religion of Christ and John was anxious to commend her for her exemplary service. Being at the time about ninety years of age, perhaps is why John wished to write such a short letter and wait until he saw her to complete the discussion. Regardless, he did warn her of dangers in the world that would come of deceivers.

Since the New Religion "Christianity" was becoming such a strong force in the land, the ruling authorities wished to discredit the reality of Christ and the leaders of Christianity. They hoped to intimidate these leaders with the threat of prison and death so they would renounce Christ. This would show that the leaders of the new religion were lacking in faith and courage of their convictions.

Soldiers were sent to require that Electa profane the symbol of Christ. When she refused, she and all of her family were sent to prison. When she had still refused to comply after one year, she and all her children were crucified.

Even during her agonizing death, Electa steadfastly remained true to her convictions and to the demands to "love one another" and she sought only compassion and forgiveness for those who persecuted her.

John's letter to her, although cautioning her of possible trouble, did not mention persecution of disbeliveers, only of love to one another, even to one's enemies. What a strong contrast to that of the persecutors!

The color, red, was chosen to represent Electa because it stands for fervency and love. It was a symbol of Christ's sacrifice on the cross and therefore also represented Electa's ghastly death.

Even today we wear the red carnation on Mother's day to show that our mother is living and one of white if she has passed to that haven of everlasting peace and contentment.

The cup represents one's allotted portion of life's joys or sorrows. Although the bitterness of Electa's life might appear to be a Cup of Sorrow, through her love and faith her tribulations became a Cup of Joy through her unwavering testimony to the love of Christ.

In addition to representing strength, the lion also is dedicated to Electa because of her devotion to Christ who was the "Lion of the Tribe of Judah".

I felt that some small unraveling of the mysteries of Electa, the Mother figure of our Eastern Star Heroines, would be appropriate in this place.

Ray Dotson, P.P.

(Compiled for Mother’s Day presentation before Goldsboro Chapter #54 in 1983.)