Dr. Rob Morris - Master Builder of The Order of the Eastern Star

Born August 31, 1818 - in New York City, New York
Died July 31, 1888 - in LaGrange, Kentucky

"Dr. Morris was happiest when sharing with others that which the Lord had bestowed upon him."

Dr. Rob Morris was born Robert Williams Peckham in New York City, August 31, 1818. At the death of his father, he was placed in a foster home where he took his foster father's name of Morris.

Young Rob Morris spent his childhood and young manhood in New York. Here he received many educational advantages, including a splendid college training. Later in life the Degrees of Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Laws were conferred upon him.

Robert Peckman Morris married Charlotte Mendenhall. Mrs. Morris was an inspiration and a real helpmate to Dr. Morris for nearly 50 years.

Dr. Morris was an educator of high esteem. One of his positions as an educator was principal of The Mount Sylvan Academy,a school established by Freemasons in Oxford Mississippi.

While principal at the Academy,he became a Master Mason on March 5, 1846. He received his degrees in the Oxford Lodge #33, Mississippi. Through the years he held many Masonic Officers.

Dr. Morris also received the "Ladies Degrees" while in Oxford, Mississippi. These degrees later became the basis of the Order of the Eastern Star.

He began writing the ritual as we know it today in 1849. They were first published under the title of "The Rosary of the Eastern Star". However at this time, the structure of Grand Chapter and subordinate chapters had not yet been established.

Dr. Rob Morris traveled extensively in foreign countries researching Masonic origins and lore. Before leaving on an extended tour in the Holy Land in 1867, Dr. Morris gave Robert Macoy authority to use his work of the rituals.

Using Dr. Morris's work, the first Grand chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star was organized in Michigan in 1867. To eliminate the confusion and diversity in the work of the early chapters, the General Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star was organized.

In 1880 the General Grand chapter conferred the title of "Master Builder of the Order of the Eastern Star" upon Dr. Rob Morris.

Dr. Morris wrote a great number of Masonic books and periodicals. A sampling of his popular works includes "The Lights and Shadows of Masonry" & "Free Masonry in the Holy Land".

Dr. Morris was also a talented poet, having written over 400 poems. His best known poem is "The Level and the Square."

In 1884, in New York, Brother Rob Morris was crowned "Poet Laureate of freemasonry". He was the first living person to be so honored.

Dr. Morris's talent did not stop at writing books, periodicals and poems. He was also a song writer. He wrote many religious songs which are still used by Churches and Sunday Schools today. He wrote the song "O, Galilee" while seated on the shore of the Sea of Galilee in Palestine.

After failing health, Dr. Robert Peckman Morris died July 31, 1888. He was buried in the cemetery in La Grange, Kentucky, where a tall marble shaft has been erected in his memory. On one side of the shaft is the Square and Compasses and on the other side is the Five Pointed Star.

His home in LaGrange, Kentucky, where his family was reared and educated, is now property of the Grand chapter of Kentucky and is maintained as a Shrine in honor of Dr. Rob Morris, the Master Builder of the Order of the Eastern Star.

The "Little Red Brick School Building" in Mississippi where he once taught is maintained as a Shrine in honor of Dr. Morris' writing of the Ritual.

Dr. Rob Morris will live on in the hearts of all of us, as we treasure the memories of our years in the Order of the Eastern Star.