Idaho semi-weekly world. (Idaho City, Boise County, Idaho Territory) 1867-1868, 1867-07-27
why Cannot a Woman be q Mason:


At the Masonic celebration IN Idaho Clty'
June oath last, the Orator, Chief Justice NC
Bride. in the course Of his fine Address, gave
a humorous statement of the reasons why Wo-
men are not admitted to the fraternity At
n similar celebration at Austin, Nevada, on the
same day, Major Sherman delivered the Adj
dress; and in reference to the same subject,
presented the reasons we copy below. 1t is
for the Fraternity hereabouts to satisfy their
fair friends whether Judge Mcbride or Major
sherman has hit the nail upon the head, IN
reference to- the point in controversy. Major
Sherman reasons are as follows:
Woman sometimes complains that she is
not permitted to,enter our lodges and work
with the craft intheir labors and learn all
there is to be learned in the institution. We
will explain the reason. We learn that before
the Almighty had finished his work, that he
was in some doubt about creating Eve. The
creation of every living and creeping thing had
been accomplished, and the Almighty had made
Adam, (whO was the first Masen, and created
for him the finest lodge in the world, and call
ed it Paradise No. L. He then caused all the
beasts of the field, and the fowls Of the air to
pass before Adam for hun to name them, which
was piece of work he had to do alone, so that
no confusion might thereafter arise when Eve
was created, whom he knew would make tr0u
bic if she was allowed to participate in it if he
created her beforehand Adam being very
much fatigued with the labors of his first task.
fell asleep, and when he awoke he found Eve
in the lodge with him. Adam being Senior
Warden placed Eve, as the pillar of beauty, IN
the South, and they received their Instructions
from the Grand Master IN, the East, which,
o+~1-, Il nsnff
from labor to refreshment Instead ofsattend-
inq to the duties of the Office, as-she ought, she
left her station, violated her obligation, and let
in an expelled Mason, who had no business
there. and went around with him. leaving Adam
to look after the Jewels. This fellow had been
expelled from the Grand Lodge with several
others some time before But hearing the
footsteps of the Grand Master, he suddenly.
took his leave telling Eve to go to making
aprons, as she and Adam were not in proper
regalia. She went and told Adam, and when
the Grand Master returned to- the Lodge lie
found his gavel had been stolen, lie called
for the Senior and Junior Warcens, who had
neglected to guard the door,, and. found them
absent After searching some time he came
to where they were hid, aud demanded OF
Adm what he was doing there, instead of oc-
eupying his official station. Adam replied he
was waiting for Eve to call the craft from re-
treatment to labor again, and that the craft
was not properly clothed which. they were
making provisions for Turning to Eve he
asked her what she had to offer in excuse for
herunoficial and unmasonic conduct. She re
piled that aefellow, passing himself off as q
Grand Lecturer, had. been giving her instruc-
tions, and. she thought it was no harm to learn
them. The Grand Master then asked her
what had become Of his gavel; she said she
didn't know, unless that fellow had taken it
away. Finding that Eve was no longer trust
worthy, and that she had caused Adam to neg.
lect his duty, and had let in one whom lie had
expelled, the Grand Master closed the lodge,
and turning them out, set faithful Tyler to
guard the door withsa flaming sword. Adam
repenting of his, foAys went to work like man
and good Mason, in order to get reinstated
again. Not so with Eve, she got angry about
it and commenced raising. Cain. Adam, on
account of his reformation, was permitted to
establish lodges and work irthe lower degrees;
and while Eve was allowed to join him in acts
of charity outside, she was never again to be
admitted to assist in the regular lodge work
of the craft Hence the reason why woman
can not become an inside Mason.