History is a very important thing for any organization. It’s what makes us who we are. To follow is the history of the Constellation of Junior Stars:

In 1948, Sisters of the Order of the Eastern Star in Westchester County, New York State felt the need of a Youth Organization for teen age girls. This also seemed to be the feeling among the Eastern Star members around the State of New York. Quoting from the Annual Eastern Star proceedings of Mrs. Harriet M. Knoeckel, Grand Matron in 1949, as follows:

“If any of the Members of Chapters are interested in organizing a “CONSTELLATION OF JUNIOR STARS” for teenage girls who will be eligible to membership in our Order when they reach the age of eighteen, the retiring age, they should be encouraged to do so. Several Constellations are now in the process of organization at the present time to be known as “… CONSTELLATION OF JUNIOR STARS,” the name selected by the Group to precede the word “Constellation.”

These groups are sponsored by individual members of our Chapters who are interested in constructive programs for our teen-age girls in their locality which will not impose upon them unnecessary responsibility but will enable them to cooperate with other teen-age groups in their community and participate as a group in New York State Youth Programs.

At the 1949 Session of the Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star the Grand Matron, Most Worthy Harriet M. Knoeckel, called attention to the Delegates another valuable gift presented to the members by Most Worthy Annie M. Pond, the beautiful “Ritual of the Constellation of Junior Stars” of which she was the Author.

As the new Chapters were being formed throughout New York State in 1950, organizing Councils of Sponsors were realizing that they were building for the Order of the Eastern Star and for the welfare of YOUTH in their respective Communities. In some instances Constellations are named for members who have given outstanding service to the Order of the Eastern Star or for their Community.

The first Group was organized in Westchester County and fittingly named “THE ANNIE M. POND CONSTELLATION #1” – then The Nettie V. Higgins Constellation #2 in Brooklyn; The May M Gooderson Constellation # 3 in Manhattan; the Anna W. McArthur Constellation # 4 in Saratoga County. Followed by Jennie M. Lord Constellation #5 in Rochester, the Anna J. Connor Constellation in Salamanca, and so on.

In the year of 1951 through the efforts of Most Worthy Annie M. Pond and the then Grand Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star, Most Worthy Elizabeth B. Van Scoy, ten new Constellations were Organized and Chartered – namely; Grace J. Ostertag Constellation in Perry, New York; Star of the East Constellation at Ossining, New York; the Harriet M. Knoeckel Constellation in Nassau County; the Katherine E. Bowen Constellation at Pottersville; the Mary E. Purvis Constellation at New Hartford, New York; the LaVerne W. Twining Constellation at Binghamton; the Katherine J. Church Constellation at Morrisville; the Nan Coye Clark Constellation at Oneonta, New York; the Elizabeth B. VanScoy Constellation at Cortland, New York; the Liberty Constellation at Liberty, New York – and so Chapters grew like mushrooms throughout New York State bearing the names of “Sunrise,” now Lynn R. Thide Constellation – Olive R. Forstell Constellation – Mary Foster Smith Constellation – Elizabeth C. Davis Constellation – Edward Leigh Hargrave Constellation – all Past Grand Matrons and Past Grand Patrons of the Order of the Eastern Star of New York until to date (1983) sixty-two Chapters were Chartered. In 1983, much enthusiasm was expressed as “STARLIGHT” Constellation #62 at Franklinville, New York was Organized and Chartered. In 2005, Lumiere Constellation #63 was started in the Albany area.

Individual Chapters throughout the State of New York proceeded notably in the later years on their own. In 1961 a Committee consisting of Most Worthy Mary Foster Smith, Past Grand Matron of the Eastern Star of Elmira, New York and Mrs. Vera Bates, Past Matron of Crystal City Chapter, Corning, New York brought before a group of Sponsors from various Constellations the thought of organizing a GRAND CONSTELLATION OF THE STATE under the guidance of the BOARD OF DIRECTORS of the parent ORDER OF THE CONSTELLATION OF JUNIOR STARS OF NEW YORK, INC. to elect a State Council of Sponsors and to call together delegates from all of the individual Constellations to meet in annual Convocation. Such an Organization was formed and the first Annual Meeting was held at the Thomas J. Watson Homestead at Coopers Plains, New York in May of 1962. It was held their every year until 2001 when the Annual Convocation was moved to the summer and the location changed.

The First Annual Meeting was one of great interest, promise and praise. The method of choosing a Grand Exalted Star of Light and Love and the line Grand Officers is unique in selection and different from any Organization known and has worked in each succeeding year as Grand Officers are selected. Miss Linda Laux of North Tonawanda, New York was elected the first Grand Exalted Star of Light and Love. Since then 44 more girls have served as Grand Exalted Star of Light and Love.
(see attached list of Past Grand Exalted Stars their Constellations & their projects)

From the time the Grand Constellation was formed until she retired in 1988, the Grand Constellation had the supervision and guidance of Mrs. Edna T. Salvidge, as President of the State Council of Sponsors. During that time she had a great influence on the membership and encouraged the girls to follow the precepts taught in the beautiful Constellation Ritual which is dedicated to the fundamental principles in the history and ethics of religion on which all faiths agree.

In 1988, when Mrs. Salvidge retired she was named President Emeritus of the Grand Council of Sponsors. Upon her retirement, Mrs. Joyce Hansen Bidnick, PGES 1972-1973, took over and currently continues to serve as the President of the Grand Council of Sponsors.