The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-10-21
Why Can't a Woman Be a Mason!

1 10 Az tliS VleboOutC CClCUidttOu dl AUS
tin, Nevada, recently, Major Sherman
delivered the address, abounding in
wit and humor, clustering around elO-
quent gems of Masonic history. As a
specimen of the humor, we quote the
solution of the above query, as report
ed in the Reueiie:
Women sometimes complain that
they are not permitted to enter our
lodge and work with the craft in
their labors, and learn all there is to be
learned of the institution. We win ex-
plain 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 creeping
thing had been accomplished, and the
Almighty had made Adam fwho was
the first Mason and created him for
the finest lodge In the world, and call
ed it Paradise No. /. He then caused
all the beasts of the field and and fowls
of the to pass before Adam for him to
name them, which was piece of work
he had to do alone, so that no confu-
sion might thereafter arise when Eve
was created, whom he would make
trouble if she was allowed to participate
in ii, if he created her before hand
Adam, being very much fatigued with
the fabors of his first task, fell asleep,
and when he awoke he found Eve In
the lodge with him. Adam being Sc
nOir Warden, placed Eve as the pillar
of beauty in the South, and they re-
ceived their instructions from the
Grand Master in the East, which, when
finished, she Immediately called tie
Craft from labor to refreshment. In.
stead of attending to the duties of the
office as she ought, she left her station,
violated her obligations, let in an ex-
PEELED Mason, who had no business
there, and went round with him, leav-
ing Adam to look after the jewels.
This fellow had been expelled from the
Lodge, with several others, sometime
before. But hearing the footsteps of
the Grand Master, lie 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 re-
turned to the Lodge he found his gavel
had been stolen. He called for the Sc
nior and Junior Wardens, who had
neglected to guard the door, and found
them absent. After searching for some
time he came to where they were hid,
and demanded of Adam what he was
doing there, instead of occupying his
official station. Adam replied that he
was waiting for Eve to call the Graft
from refreshment to labor again; and
that the Graft was not properly clothed,
which they were making provisions
for. Turning to Eve, he asked her
what she had to offer i'm excuse for her
unofficial and unmasonie conduct. She,
replied that fellow passing himself off
as a Grand Lecturer had been giving
her instructions, and she thought it
was no harm. The Grand Master then
asked her what had become of his gav-
ell. She said she didn't know, unless
that fellow had taken it away. Find
ing that Eve was no longer trustwor-
thy, and that she had caused Adam to
neglect'his duty, and having let one i'm
whom he had expelled, the Grand
Master closed the Lodge, and turning
them out, set faithful Tyler to watch
the door with a flaming sword. Adam,
repentiDg of his folly, went to work
like q man and good Mason, in order
to get reinstated again. Not so with
Eve-she got angry about it, and COM
menced raising Cain. a-s1' le
adam, ON account of his refOrma-
ton, was permitted to establish Lodges
and work i'm the degrees, and while
Eve was allowed to join him in acts of
charity outside, she was never again to
be admitted to assist i'm the regular
Lodge work of the Craft. Hence, the
reason why a woman cannot become
an inside Mason. .s
An attempt was made Sunday last
topoison the family of Mr.. r. S. Brown,
living about six miles from Clinton,
La, by a negro woman employed in
the family as cook. She acknowledge
ed upon her arrest the commission Of
the crime, having been suborned there
to by a negro man, who offered her
so for the commission of the act, with
the promise that he wonld increase the
amount, as Mr.. Brown had large
amount Of money which lIe would pro-
cure in the event of his DEATH. The
mode he pointed out was to poison the
coffee with stryehnine, but instead of
so doing, she placed it in some Gust
ards. Mr.. Brown carried them over to