The Van Buren press., 1873-07-22
Whv Can't, Woman be a Mason 7


Nevada, rece =, Msjor Sherman deliv'
cred e dress, abounding in wit
and uum9r, clustering around eloquent
gems al Masonic history. As speei-
men lo humor, we quote the solution
of th .,ye query, as reported in the
Ecrsts:
q" Women sometimes complain that
they are not permitted to enter our
Lodge and work with the craft in Their
labors, and learn all that there is TO be
learned in the institution. We will ex
plsin the reason. We learn that before
the Almighty had finished His work lie
was in some doubt about creating Eve
The creation of every living thing had
been accomplished and the Almighty
had made Adam (who was the first Ma
SOM and created for him the finest Lodge
ia the world, and called 1t Paradise No
|. He then caused all the beasts OF the
field and fowls Of the air to pass before
Adam for him to nsmo them, which was
a piece of work he had to do alone, so
that no confusion might therefore arise
when Eve was created, whom he knew
wuuld make trouble il she was allowed
10 participate in it, if he created her be-
fore hand Adam, being very much IA
tigued with the labors OF his first task,
fell asleep, and when he awoke he found
Eve 10 the Lodge with him. Adam, be-
ing the Senior Warder, placed Eve as tha
pillar oil beauty in the South, and they
received their Instructions from the
Grand Master in the East, which, when
finished, she Immediately called the Graft
from labor to refreshments. lnstc1: OF
attending to tue Office IS she ought she
left her station, violated her obligations,
let in AN expelled Mason, who had 40
business there, and went round with him.
leaving Adam to look after the ewc,s
This fellow had been expelled from the
Lodge, with several others, some time
before; but, hearing the footsteps Ct the
Grand Master. he suddenly took his
leave telling Eve to 60 and make aprons,
as che AMI Adam were not iH proper re
gala She went and told Adam, and
when lhe Grand Master returned to the
Lodge ao t3u7I his gavel had been stoI-
oa. and !ie called ror She senior and jun
jar wardeps. who had neglected to guard
the door. and found th,n absent
" After searching for seme time he
came to where thcY we're hid, and de
mandad of Adam what ne was doing
there. instead of occupying his official
position Adam replied ,uat he was
VISITING for Eve to call The Craft from re-
frcshmanl to labor again, and that the
Graz. was not properly clothed, which
lLeG were making provision for. Turn
iua To- I,5 ho asked her what she had to
otter III excuse for uvl unofficial and un-
masouic conduct. She replied that N
fellow, passing himself Off as a grand
lecturer had been giving her instructions,
anu she Thought ID was no harm. That
Craui Master then asked heI what had
h...a, OF bis gavu? She said she did
not spov, unless that fellow had taken
it away, Finding that Eve was no long
er Trustworthy aad that she nad caused
Adam to neglect his duty, and having
let one in whom lie had expelled, the
Grand Master closed the Lodge, and
| turning them out, set faithful Tiler to
watch the door with flaming sword,
! Adam, lepentiug of his folly, went To
work like a man and a good Mason, in
order 10 get rejnstatsd 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
outside, she was never again admitted &c
assist in the regular Lodge work Of the
Graft Hence the reason why . woman
cannot become Gn inside Mason.