The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1871-11-02
Why Can't Woman be a Mason +?

AZ Il hdSOllC ccleDTallOn III AuSlln,
Nevada, Major Sherman delivered the ad-
dress, abounding in wit and humor, clus-
tering around eloquent gems of Masonic
history. As Il specimen of the humor, we
qlote the solution of the above query, as
reported in the Reyeile:
Women sometimes complain that they
ere not permitted to enter our lodge and
work with the craft in their labors, and
earn all there is to be learned in the insti-
tuition. We will explain the reason. We
learn that before the Almighty had finish
ed his work he was in some doubt about
creating Eye. The creation of every liv-
ing creeping thing had been accomplished,
and the Almighty had made Adam (who
was the first Mason,) and created tor him
the finest lodge in the world, and called it
Paradise, No. 1. He then caused all the
beasts Of the field and fowls of the air to
pass before Adam for him to name them,
which was a piece of work he had to do
alone, SO that no confusion might there
fore arise when Eve was created, whom
he knew would make trouble if she was
allowed to participate in it, if he created
her before hand. Adam, being very much
fa.gued 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. when finished, she
Immediately called the Craft from labor
to retreshment. Instead of attending to
the duties of the office is she ought, she
left her station, violated her obligations,
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
Lodge, with several others, some time be-
fore. But hearing the footsteps of the
Grand Master he suddenly took his leave,
telling Eve to 80 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 he
found 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 for
some time he came to where they were
hid, and demanded of Adam what he was
doing there, instead OF occupying his Of
fetal station. Adam replied that he was
waiting for Eve to call the Craft from re-
freshment to labor again; and that the
Graft was not properly clothed, which
they were making provisions for. Turn
ing to Eve, he asked her what she had to
offer in excuse for her unofficial and I'M
masonic conduct She replied that fel-
low passing himself off as Il grand lectur-
er, had been giving her Instructions, and
she thought it no harm. 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
neglect his duty, and having let one in
whom he had expelled, the Grand Master
closed the lodge, and turning them out,
set a faithful Tiler to watch the door with
a flaming sword. Adam repenting of his
| folly, went to work lake a man and a 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 in the degrees, and while Eve was
allowed to join him in acts Of charity out.
side, she was never again to be admitted
to assist in the regular Lodge work Of the
Craft. Hence the reason why a woman
cannot become an inside Mason