Eastern Star is an organization associated with the Masons. The Acacia Chapter was for many years associated with St. Louis Park’s Paul Revere Masonic Lodge. Paul Revere has now been merged with the Templar Lodge, but Acacia lives on.
Acacia chapter 272 began with a petition for charter signed by 30 Eastern Star members. The chapter was instituted and constituted on March 15, 1924. The names of the first class initiated were added to the charter, making a total of 46 charter members. In 1961 there were 474 members. Acacia is made up of men and women; men must be Master Masons and women must have a relationship to a Master Mason.
From Acacia’s 50th Anniversary Booklet, 1974:
After several meeting with interested Star members living in the area, thirty members petitioned Grand Chapter for a chapter in St. Louis Park and on March 15th, 1924, Acacia chapter U.D. was instituted with Lorraine chapter #16 of Minneapolis conferring degrees. Our chapter was fortunate to have interested and dedicated members from the very beginning and when the constituting ceremony was held on May 15th, 1924, there were forty-six names on our charter. Now, fifty years later, our membership totals 488.
Our paraphernalia was, like most new chapters, of a makeshift variety to begin with—our signet was a wall hanging used with a pointer and our first star point pedestals were made of tin by a member who was a tinsmith. Those charter members who are still actively participating in our activities confirm our present day feelings of pride and joy in each new accomplishment and acquisition for our chapter. It has ever been thus. It is interesting to note that the altar Bible signed by each Junior Past Matron and Junior Past Patron is our original Bible, having come safely through our disastrous fire in 1958.
In 1930 brother Robert Sorensen was installed as our first Associate Patron. One of our early members, Mary Bradley who joined our chapter in 1926, was initiated by the founder of our Order, Rob Morris, on May 31st, 1861. Two other sisters, Eliza Clark and Euphemia Blair were initiated in Falkirk chapter 35 of Scotland and later affiliated with Acacia.
Among some of our earlier expenditures we find the note that in 1947 we donated $2.50 for apples for a treat for the residents of the Masonic Home and $200 to start our Bethel 41, Job’s Daughters. The first Honored Queen, Ardith Fountain Pingel is a member of Acacia as are the first Bethel Guardians, Jean and Charles (Buzz) Anthony, P.M. and P.P. of Acacia.
During World War II we actively participated in all service projects and shared with some of our members their troubles as their sons went off to serve their country. On May 19, 1949, we celebrated our 25th anniversary, in 1964 the occasion of our 40th anniversary was marked by the awarding of pins to our 25, 30, 35 and 40 year members.
Our clubs include the Past Matrons Club, organized in 1940, the Morning Sewing Club, the Evening Social Club, organized in September 1951 and the Grandmothers Club, known as the “Jolly G’s” was organized in June 1952. Our choir, which has been privileged to sing at Grand Chapter, was organized in May of 1951 by Mae Sorensen.
Each year the reports submitted by our Worthy Matron, Secretary, Treasurer, Ways and Means Chairmen and all other committees and clubs have shown a healthy growth and interest. We have participated in all Gran Chapter projects, have given generously to the Masonic Memorial Cancer Hospital drives and have had the privilege of supporting our ESTARL project 100% in addition to sponsoring several ESTARL awardees.
Attesting to the ability of our officers, our Grand Chapter appointments have included all committees that subordinate chapter may serve and in addition we have had many other honors. Our first Grand Officer, P.M. Ruth Hagen, Grand Ruth in 1939-40 has generously replaced our sheaf whenever it showed signs of wear, P.M. Dorothy Rorbach was Grand Warder in 1955-56, P.M. Jorene Magnuson, Grand Esther in 1962-63 and P.M. BettyLu Close, Grand Martha in 1968-69.
Our records show that P.M.s Dorothea Seirup, Viola Lundberg Layman, Edith Engler, Dolores Anderson and Hazel Nisser have served as Masonic Home Committee chairmen, That P.M.s Olga Ainsworth and Helen Doyle have represented in Minnesota the Grand Chapter of Iowa, Dorothy Rorbach the Grand Chapter of West Virginia, Dolores Anderson the Grand Chapter of Mississippi, and Delores Sorensen the Grand Chapter of Michigan. Sister Olga Ainsworth served as president of the State OES Secretaries Association and Dolores Anderson will be serving a similar office for the State Grand Representatives Association.
According to the records we have had many Grand Pages, those serving in that capacity were Esther Kornberg, Louise Warren, Edith Wood, Ethel Drake, Harriet Frye, Grace Stuck, Freda Warner, Dorothy Teter, Florence Bayers, Jean Anthony, BettyLu Close, Grace DeVere, Mildred Wade and Hazel Nisser. Georgia Sorsensen served as a Friendship Girl and Charlotte Anderson will be serving as a Loyalty Girl at Grand Chapter in May 1974.
Our chapter has always shown a great interest and given generously to any project involving the Masonic Home. We are members of the 100 dollar club and as a tribute to our members for our Golden Anniversary we are donating $850 to refurnish a room in the Main Lodge of the Home. In addition, a most generous member has contributed $500 anonymously to the project and the chapter members voted to donate the balance so that Acacia chapter will have, proudly, its name on two doors in the Main Lodge of our lovely Masonic Home.
To go back in time, how nice must have been the first meeting that was held after central heating and indoor plumbing was installed in our old building; and how many, many pails of water were carried to wash dishes and make coffee for the social hours that followed the early meetings! Yet the family feeling, the fellowship and camaraderie that surrounded the pot bellied stove and old granite coffee pots have remained with us. The social hours that followed were memorable and always accompanied by hearty and delicious refreshments.
The first draperies stitched for the dining room, the equipment purchased, piece by piece, for the kitchen, the silver and dishes, the lounge furniture—and the old outside wooden stairway in back of our building—how many, many bags and boxes of groceries were toted up those steps? With sinking hearts members came from blocks and miles around to watch it all go up in smoke on December 25th, 1958.
And yet, with the same old spirit the members were back the next day searching through the still smouldering rubble for items that could be salvaged. Meetings of the heads of the various bodies meeting in the temple were held immediately and new places to gather were found for the duration. Acacia was very fortunate in the offer of Robbinsdale chapter to hold chapter and Job’s Daughters meetings in their temple. This we did, working all the while so that in September of 1960 we were once again home! Our dreams had been realized—we had a lovely new temple and no more steps to climb.
For our new temple Acacia equipped the kitchen, furnished the lounge, black-topped the parking lot, bought new chairs, pedestals and paraphernalia and together with Bethel 41 replaced the old piano with a beautiful new one. All outward signs of our cooperation and joy in working together for the good of our chapter. A few years later we joined with Paul Revere Lodge 321 AF&AM in the purchase of our lovely organ.
Remember the “tornado night?” As one husband, also a member, said, “Only a member of Acacia chapter would go to a meeting on a night like this!” The Worthy Patron in 1965, Clyde Sorensen, instructed us what to do in case St. Louis Park was hit by the tornado that devastated one of our northern suburbs.
Our various fund raising activities have provided fellowship as well as wherewithal and it is safe to say that from the first sale of ‘scrubbers” to our present Harvest Dinner and Bazaar we have been successful. Our Brothers project, the annual Pancake Breakfast, is well known for the fellowship and fun our brothers have, baking the pancakes and sausages.
Acacia’s officers continue to strive for perfection and it is our hope that Acacia members will always “Love One Another” as we follow His Star in the East.
ACACIA MATRONS AND PATRONS
The names of the leaders of Acacia are well-known to those familiar with St. Louis Park History. For example, Robert Scott was Superintendent of Schools; Sarah Wadell was a member of the Pioneering Baston family; Earl Ainsworth was Hennepin County Commissioner for many years; Gertrude Renner was Village Treasurer.
| Year | Matron | Patron |
| 1924 | Inez Guy | Robert Scott |
| 1925 | Sarah Waddell | Robert Scott |
| 1926 | Rose Mae Harper | S. Earl Ainsworth |
| 1927 | Dorothea Seirup | S. Earl Ainsworth |
| 1928 | Olga Ainsworth | John Seirup |
| 1929 | Millie Werner | John Seirup |
| 1930 | Gertrude Renner | Fred Doyle |
| 1931 | Helen Doyle | Robert Sorensen |
| 1932 | Esther Korberg | Fred Doyle |
| 1933 | Ruth Cross | Robert Sorensen |
| 1934 | Elizabeth Rorbach | Edward Klimmek |
| 1935 | Jessie Henderson | Edward Klimmek |
| 1936 | Astrid Guy | Edwin Renner |
| 1937 | Viola Layman | John Seirup |
| 1938 | Louise Warren | S. Earl Ainsworth |
| 1939 | Ruth Hagen, P.G.R. | Walter Hagen |
| 1940 | Ethel Drake | Charles Larson |
| 1941 | Ermina Woodfill | Frank Woodfill |
| 1942 | Eva Larson | Charles Larson |
| 1943 | Edith Woods | Fred Gilbert |
| 1944 | Ammey Larson | Frank Woodfill |
| 1945 | Florence Langdon | Oscar Erlanson |
| 1946 | Inez Larson | S. Robert Sinkey |
| 1947 | Ruth Euchera | Harvey Warner |
| 1948 | Grace Waldron | Earl Clark |
| 1949 | Alice Vraalstad | Gerald Longabaugh |
| 1950 | Grace Stuck | Oscar Erlanson |
| 1951 | Dorothy Sinkey | Howard Perkins |
| 1952 | Eunice Nuernberger | Dow Starkey |
| 1953 | Elmyra Longabaugh | Sigurd Johnson |
| 1954 | Dorothy Teter | Willard Keller |
| 1955 | Dorthy Rorbach, P.G.W. | Vance Rorbach |
| 1956 | Marian Felber | Walter Hagen |
| 1957 | Viola Erlanson | Woodrow Floten |
| 1958 | Dorothea Kaess | Harry Kaess |
| 1959 | Florence Bayers | Rodney Olson |
| 1960 | Jean Anthony | Charles Anthony |
| 1961 | Edith Engler | Virgil Hall |
| 1962 | Jorene Magnuson, P.G.E. | Roy Magnuson |
| 1963 | Carol Magnuson | John Magnuson |
| 1964 | Delores Sorsensen | Stewart Chase |
| 1965 | BettyLu Close, P.G.M. | Clyde Sorensen |
| 1966 | Dolores Anderson | John Cornelius |
| 1967 | Helen Obermeyer | Clyde Branch |
| 1968 | Elizabeth Whalen | Clifford Moss |
| 1969 | Grace DeVere | Harold Bickford |
| 1970 | Mildred Wade | Edward Behringer |
| 1971 | Hazel Nisser | Spencer Young |
| 1972 | Georgia Sorensen | Kenneth Anderson |
| 1973 | Charlotte Anderson | David Edwins |
| 1974 | Marilyn Anderson | Edward Behringer |
| 1975 | Judy Lantto | Howard Johnson |
| 1976 | Arliss Young | Spencer Young |
| 1977 | Marj Eckers | Steven Hoops |
| 1978 | Ethel Anderson | Neil Anderson |
| 1979 | Katie Lee Thomas | Robert Thomas |
| 1980 | Grace DeVere, P.G.W. | John Billman |
| 1981 | Constance Stonelake | Herman Sogard |
| 1982 | Marj Eckers | Steven Hoops |
| 1983 | Marilyn Baker | Jerome Bloch |
| 1984 | Kathie Brown | Larry Drinkwitz |
| 1985 | Dorothy Stitt | Robert Stitt |
| 1986 | Jan Hermanson | Glenn Moore |
| 1987 | Pamela Leech | Michael Leech |
| 1988 | Elizabeth Bloch | Jerome Bloch |
| 1989 | Robyn Johnson | Glenn Moore |
| 1990 | Marguerite Dean | William Dean |
| 1991 | Maraline Keeling, P.G.M. | Ronald Nolte |
| 1992 | Violet Moore | Glenn Moore |
| 1993 | Caprice Lantto-Walker | Russell Walker |
| 1994 | Maraline Keeling, P.G.M. | Ronald Nolte |
| 1995 | Tracy Keeling | Jimmy Klym |
| 1996 | Kathie Brown | Lachlan Noren |
| 1997 | Dorothy Cawhorn | John Cawhorn |
| 1998 | Jule Metro | Neal Langsdale |
| 1999 | Jan Hermanson | John McBride |
| 2000 | Gale Winikoff | Jerry Bloch |
| 2001 | Dorothy Stitt | Lachlan Noren |
| 2002 | Leslie Olufson | Cy Brown |
| 2003 | Judy Lantto | Reuben Lantto |
| 2004 | Tracy Keeling | Larry Drinkwitz |
| 2005 | Maraline Keeling, P.G.M. | Ray Prout |
| 2006 | Dorothy Stitt | Bill Harrison |
| 2007 | Julie Bloch | Larry Drinkwitz |
| 2008 | Leslie O’Donnell | Larry Drinkwitz |
| 2009 | Jan Johnson | Bob Johnson |
| 2010 | Kathie Brown | Jimmy Klym |
| 2011 | Jan Arnold | Larry Drinkwitz |
| 2012 | Jamie Johnson | Bob Johnson |
| 2013 | Jamie Johnson | Bob Johnson |
| 2014 |