The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1868-07-03
WHY CANNOT A WOMAN BECOME A
MASONR

At the late anniversary of the Masons
of Austin, Nevada, the orator of the
day thus discoursed upon this much
vexed custom: 3
Woman sometimes complains that she
is not permitted to enter their lodges
and work with them i'll their labors and
learn all there is TO be learned in their
institution. We learn before the AL
mighty had finished His work, He was
in some doubt about creating Eve. The
creating of every living being had been
accomplished, and the Almighty had
made Adam, who was the first mason,
and erecting for him the first lodge in
the world, called it paradise No. /. He
then caused all the beasts of the field and
fowls of the air to pass before Adam
for him to name them this was piece
of work he had to do alone so that no
confusion might hereafter arise from
Eve, whom he knew would make troub-
lie if she was allowed TO participate in it,
if lie created beforehand.
Adam being very much fatigued with
the labors of his first task, Cell into
deep sleep, and when he awoke he found
Eve in the lodge with him.
Adam being the senior Warden pla-
ced Eve as the pillar of beauty in the
South, and they received their instruc-
tons frem the Grand Master in the East,
which, when finished, she Immediately
called the craft from refreshment. In
stead of attending to the duties of her
Office as she ought, she left her station,
violated her obligation, aud left it with
an expelled mason, who had no business
there, and went around with him, leav-
ing 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 took his leave,
telling Eve to go to making aprons as
she and Adam were not IN proper rega-
liza. She went and told Adam, and when
| the Grand Master returned TO the lodge
his gavel had been stolen.
He called for the Senior and Junior
Wardens who had neglected to guard the
door, and found them absent. After
searching some time, he came where
they were hid, and demanded of Adam
what he was doing there. instead of oc-
cupying his official station. Adam re-
piled that he was waiting for Eve to call
the craft from refreshment to labor
again, and that the craft was not prop
! erly clothed which they were making
provisions for. Turning to Eve, he ask
| ed her what she had to offer in excuse
| for her Unofficial and unmasonic conduct
/ She replied that q fellow passing him
| self off as Grand Lecturer, had been.
giving her Instructions and She thought
| it was no harm to follow them. The
Grand Master fhereupon asked her what
/ had become. of his gavel; she said she
did not know unless that fellow La d
carried it away. $3.50
| Finding that Eve was no longer trust
| worthy, and that she had caused AdaDl
to neglect his duty, and let ia one tina {
he had expelled, the Grand Master had
+ closed the lodge and turning them OUT.
set a faithful tyler to guard the door
! with flaming sword. Adam, repenteGl
for his folly, went to work like man
and a good mason, in order to get rein
stated again. Not so with Eve, Sue got
angry about If, and commenced raising
i Cain. Adam, on account of his refor-
nation, was permitted to establish ibdg-
{, es and work in the lower degrees; and
| while Eve was allowed to join him in
works OF charity outside, shewas never
again admitted to assist in the regular
" ork of the craft. Hence the reason
i why woman cannot become an inside
mason.