The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-09-11
The Intelligencer Job Office
Something Decidedly Rich.
WHY CANNOT A WOMAN pE A MASON?


WHY CANNOT A WOMAN DE MASON?
At tho late anniversary celebration of
the Masons of Austin, Nevada, the orator
of the day thus discoursed upon this much
vcxed question:
Woman sometimes complains that she
is not permitted to enter our lodges and
work with the craft in their labors, and
learn all there is to be learned in the in
stitution We will explain the reason:
We learn that before the Almighty had
finished His work, 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 Mason) aid
erected for him the first lodge in the
world, and called it Paradise No. l. He
then caused all the beasts Of the field and
fowls of the field to pass before Adam for
him to name them, which was piece OF
work he had to do alone; so that no con-
fusion might hereafter arise from Eve,
whom He knew would make trouble if
she was allowed to participate in it, if Lie
created her beforehand.
Adam being very much fatigucd with.
the labors of his first task, fellinto deep
sleep, 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, when finished, she i'm
mediatclv called the craft from labor to
refreshment. Instead of attending to the
duties of her Office as she ought, she left
her station, violated her obligation, and
let in an expelled Mason, who had no bu-
siness 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 tbs Grand Master, he suddenly took
his leave, telling Eve to go to making
aprons, as she and Adam were notsin
proper regalia She went and told Adam,
and when the Grand Master returned to
the Lodge he found his gaycl had been
stolen.
He called for the senior and junior
wardcns, who had neglected to guard the
door. and found them absent. After
searching some timo, he came to where
they wero hid, and demanded of Adam
what he was doing there, instead OF oc-s
cupying his official station. Adam re-
piled he was waiting for Eve TO call the
craft from retrcshment 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 her unofficial
and unmasonic conduct. She replied that
a follow, passing himself off as Grand
Lecturer, had been giving her instruc-
tions and she thought it was no harm to
learn them. The Grand Master there
upon asked her what had become of his
ravel; sho said she didn't know unless
that fellow had carried it away.
Finding that Eve was no longer trust
worthy, and that she had caused Adam to
neglect his duty, andha let in one whom
he had been expelled, the Grand Master
had closed the lodge, and turning them
out, set faithful tyler to guard the door
with flaming sword. Adam repcnting
of his folly, went to work like man and
good Mason, in order to got reinstated
again. Not so with Eve; she got angry
about it and commenced raising Cain.
Adam, on account of his reformation, was
permitted to established lodges and work
in the lower degrees; and while Eve was
allowed to join him in works of charity
outside, sho was never again to be ad-.
mitted to assist in the regular work OF
the craft. Hence the reason why woman
cannot become an inside Mason.