women in freemasonry
Compilation of Many Articles
Women and Freemasonry
Excerpted from a talk given by VW Bro.Rev.
Neville B. Cryer to the Philalethes Society, as printed in Masonic Times, May,
1995, Rochester, New York, USA
In 1693 we have
the York Manuscript No. 4, belonging to the Grand Lodge of York, which relates
how when an Apprentice is admitted the 'elders taking the Booke, he or shee
[sic] that is to be made Mason shall lay their hands thereon, and the charge
shall be given.' Now I have to tell you, that my predecessors in Masonic
Research in England from Hughan and Vibert and from all the rest onward, have
all tried to pretend that the 'shee' is merely a misprint for 'they.' I now am
the Chairman of the Heritage Committee of York. I know these documents; I've
examined them, and I'm telling you, they say 'she,' without any question.
Of course, we
have a problem, haven't we; to try to explain that. My predecessors would not
try to explain this; they were too male oriented. The fact remains that, there
it is, in an ancient document of a 17th century date. That this could have been
the case seems all the more likely as that in 1696 two widows are named as
members in the Operative masons Court. Away in the South of England, we read in
1714 — that's before the Grand Lodge of England — of Mary Bannister, the
daughter of a barber in the town of Barking, being apprenticed as a Mason for 7
years with a fee of 5/- which she paid to the Company.
Women Freemasons
by Bro. Dudley Wright
The Builder, August 1920: England
Although the Antient Charges forbid the admission or initiation of women into
the Order of Free and Accepted Masons, there are known instances where as the
result of accident or sometimes design the rule has been broken and women have
been duly initiated. The most prominent instance is that of the Hon. Elizabeth
St. Leger, or, as she afterwards became, on marriage, the Hon. Mrs. Aldworth,
who is referred to sometimes, though erroneously, as the "only woman who over
obtained the honour of initiation into the sublime mysteries of Freemasonry."
The Hon. Elizabeth St. Leger was a daughter of the first Viscount Doneraile,
a resident of Cork. Her father was a very zealous Freemason and, as was the
custom in his time — the early part of the eighteenth century - held an
occasional lodge in his own house, when he was assisted by members of his own
family and any brethren in the immediate neighbourhood and visitors to Doneraile
House. This lodge was duly warranted and held the number 150 on the Register of
the Grand Lodge of Ireland.
The story runs that one evening previous to the initiation of a gentleman
named Coppinger, Miss St. Leger hid herself in the room adjoining the one used
as a lodgeroom. This room was at that time undergoing some alterations and Miss
St. Leger is said to have removed a brick from the partition with her scissors
and through the aperture thus created witnessed the ceremony of initiation. What
she saw appears to have disturbed her so thoroughly that she at once determined
upon making her escape, but failed to elude the vigilance of the tyler, who,
armed with a sword stood barring her exit. Her shrieks alarmed the members of
the lodge, who came rushing to the spot, when they learned that she had
witnessed the whole of the ceremony which had just been enacted. After a
considerable discussion and yielding to the entreaties of her brother it was
decided to admit her into the Order and she was duly initiated, and, in course
of time, became the Master of the lodge.
According to Milliken, the Irish Masonic historian, she was initiated in
Lodge No. 95, which still meets at Cork, but there is no record extant of her
reception into the Order. It is, however, on record that she was a subscriber to
the Irish Book of Constitutions, which appeared in 1744 and that she frequently
attended, wearing her Masonic regalia, entertainments that were given under
Masonic auspices for the benefit of the poor and distressed. She afterwards
married Mr. Richard Aldworth of Newmarket and when she died she was accorded the
honour of a Masonic burial. She was cousin to General Antony St. Leger, of Park
Hill, near Doncaster, who, in 1776, instituted the celebrated Doncaster St.
Leger races and stakes.
Co-Masonry
by Bro. Dudley Wright
The Builder, November 1920: England
In 1879 several Chapters owning
allegiance to the Supreme Council of France of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish
Rite, at the instigation of the Grand Orient, seceded from that allegiance and
reconstituted themselves as La Grande Loge Symbolique de France. One of these
Chapters, bearing the name of Les Libres Penseurs, meeting at Pecq, a village of
Seine et Oise, in November 1881, proposed to initiate into Freemasonry, Mlle.
Maria Desraimes, a well-known writer on Humanitarian and women suffrage
questions, which they did on 14th January, 1882, for which act the Lodge or
Chapter was suspended. Mlle. Desraimes was instrumental in bringing into the
ranks of Freemasonry several other well-known women in France, with the result
that an Androgynous Masonic body, known as La Grande Loge Symbolique Ecossaise
was formed on 4th April, 1893 although its jurisdiction at that time extended
over only one lodge, that known as Le Droit Humain, which came into being on the
same day, and which, in 1900, adopted the thirty degrees of the Ancient and
Accepted Scottish Rite.
One of the principal workers in the formation of this new Grand lodge was Dr.
Georges Martin, at one time a member of the Lodge Les Libres Penseurs. The
schismatic movement spread to Paris and Benares and afterwards to London, at
which last-named place, in September, 1902, the Lodge "Human Duty," now No. 6 on
the Co-Masonry Register, was consecrated. The title "Co-Masonry" in lieu of the
earlier term "Joint Masonry" was adopted in 1905.
Reprinted from a brochure published by
American Co-Masonry, The American Federation of Human Rights. Larkspur, Colorado
Freemasonry is an ancient fraternity which groups under its banners men of
every race, of every nationality, and of every religion. Wishing to do away with
all cause for division and strife, Freemasons continually seek the means which
will help all human beings to unite and become as one in the cause of the good
of the whole. Masonic orders are divided into several rites which, though they
may differ, spring from the same goal. That common goal is the reunion of Man
with his Divine Source.
American Co-Masonry is a Masonic order which works the Scottish Rite from the
1st through the 33rd degrees, plus some degrees of the York Rite. That which
distinguishes the American Co-Masonic Order from other Masonic workings is that,
instead of admitting men only to its ranks, it admits women on an equal footing.
It is sovereign and does not depend on any foreign rulership or control.
American Co-Masonry proclaims equal rights for both sexes and absolute freedom
to search for the truth; the utmost toleration is demanded from all members.
American Co-Masonry operates as a non-profit corporation chartered by the
State of Colorado under the name "The American Federation of Human Rights," with
headquarters in Larkspur, Colorado.
American Co-Masonry, through its organization, its disciplines, its
philosophic orientation, and symbolic rituals, continues the traditions of the
old Mystery Schools, providing an opportunity for spiritual growth and service
to humanity.
"Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall
be opened unto you..."
Freemasonry is a system of morality developed and inculcated by the science of
symbolism.
American Co-Masonry is founded on the principles of freedom of conscience,
solidarity and justice, and is based on the facts of Brotherhood. It is
organized as the American Federation of Human Rights, Incorporated, and stands
for the Human Duty of mutual service.
It is Freemasonry opening its Temple to women as well as to men, because it
recognizes that united strength is necessary and that efforts made by one sex
alone are inadequate for the solution of economic, social and ethical problems.
In
accordance with the ancient declaration of Freemasonry, The American Federation
of Human Rights asserts the existence of a Supreme Power under the name of "The
Great Architect of the Universe," at the same time leaving Human Reason at
perfect liberty to differ in regard to His Attributes.
It
imposes no restrictions on free search after truth, and in order to secure that
freedom, exacts the greatest tolerance from its members.
The principles of Co-Freemasonry
by Bro. Dudley Wright
The Builder, February, 1921: England
- Co-Freemasonry asserts, in accordance with
the ancient declarations of Freemasonry, the existence of a Creative
Principle, or Supreme Being, under the title of "The Great Architect of the
Universe."
- It maintains an open "Volume of Sacred Law"
in every lodge, when duly formed for Masonic purposes.
- It maintains the ancient landmarks of
Freemasonry.
- It withholds recognition from all irregular
and clandestine meetings, or lodges not holding proper charter.
- It imposes no restrictions on the free
search for Truth, and to secure that freedom exacts tolerance from all its
members.
- It is open to men and women, without
distinction of race or religion, who are free, of good report, and abide by
strict morals.
- It pledges its members to obedience to the
laws of the country, loyalty to their nation or national sovreign, silence
with regard to Masonic secrets, a high standard of honour, and ceaseless
endeavour to promote the welfare of humanity.
- Every Freemason is bound faithfully to
observe the decisions of the Supreme Council to which he or she owes
allegiance.
Certificate of Incorporation
Excerpted from the August 7, 1907 Certificate of
Incorporation of The American Federation of Human Rights in Washington, DC, USA.
 "The
particular business and objects of this society are to demand equal rights for
both sexes before the law, to labor according to the Constitution and General
By-Laws to be made and adopted by the society for the mutual improvement of its
members by combating ignorance under all its forms, the building of human
character, the practice of solidarity, the upholding of high standards of honor
and of social justice with a kindly feeling towards all, and a ceaseless
endeavor to promote the moral and material welfare of the human race, and to
that end, to organize and to conduct throughout the United States of America,
branches or Lodges of Co-Masonry..."
According to Arthur Edward Waite's The New Encyclopedia of Freemasonry (1922),
American and British male freemasons would recognize and follow Co-Masonic work
with ease, for the allegories and symbols are universal throughout Freemasonry.
In addition, Co-Masonry makes use of a European continent-style
Chamber of Reflection prior to initiation.
Contact information
Women only
(Grand Secretary)
The Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons
68 Great Cumberland Place
London W1H 7FD
United Kingdom
tel: 0171-723 9526
(Grand Secretary)
The Order of Women's Freemasons
27 Pembridge Gardens
London W2 4EF
United Kingdom
tel: 0171-229 2368
Men and Women
The American Federation of Human Rights
American Co-Masonry
P. O. Box 70 Larkspur
Colorado 80118
USA
tel: +1-303-681-2028
(Grand Secretary)
International Co-Freemasonry
Hexagon House Surbiton Hill Road
Surbiton Surrey KT6 4LS
United Kingdom
tel: 0181-339 9000
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