The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-06-09
WOMEN AND MASONRY.

In consideration of the fact that wOm-
en-, because of their sex, are, and have
been for all the ages past, and for all the
indications we can see to the contrary,
will for all ages to come be excluded
from Masonic lodges, we regard the fol-
lowing, taken from the proceedings OF
the Grand Lodge of Oregon, a. +. * A.
NJ" few years ago, though true and
beautiful in theory, as entirely, utterly,
and hopelessly contrary to the practice
of Free-Masonry:
As it is our purpose only TO account for the
presence OfAndrogynous organizations among
u.s. and as woman is to be considered in our re-
marks, permit us TO say now that the better in
huences IN all the affairs of life come from
woman. An eminent orator said beautifully,
"Women govern us; let us render them per-
feet; the more they are enlightened, so much
the more shall we be. On the cultivation OF
the mind of women depends the wisdom OF
men," Man and woman mutually put each
other in mind of what each other ought TO be
to the other There must be mutual respect
between them. What is there so elevating, or
so well calculated 10 preserve us from the con-
taminatiOn of low pleasures and pursuits, as
the society of the more intelligent and virtuous
portion of the other sex? What can add so
much to the refinement of man as the compan-
ionship and conversation of well-educated
women? In the absence of female society,
man can never acquire that polish of manners,
nor his mind and heart those true and noble
sentiments so essential to his success in life as
Mason and a gentleman.
1t is not our purpose to make fight
upon Masonry-nor, indeed, are we ego
tistical enough to suppose that we could
harm the Order, backed as it is by the
money, power, and influence of the men
of the world. Intrenched as it is in these,
it will, to use the language of lady
friend, probably be the lasG stronghold
based upon the aristocraey of sex to fall.
Yet we feel that when men as Masons
theorize as in the above extract, and
still persist in excluding women from
their counsels, as unworthy their conf
dence, their actions so falsify their
words as to render the latter, if not un-
true, at least calculated to mislead.
Take, for instance, the single declara-
tion that ''In theuabsence of the society
of women, man can never acquire that
polish of manners, nor his mind and
heart those true and noble sentiments
essential to his success in life" Why,
if this be true, do men join exclusive
societies and spend therein their time
and money to help perpetuate barriers
between themselves and the society of
women?
Sensible women cannot be cajoIed and
fiattered by a sugar-plum in the shape
of a "side degree" supplemented by
words of empty adulation about their
Influence" into believing statements
which every action contradicts. And
while for Masonry, so far as our knowl-
edge of its workings extends-which,
being nothing but a woman, is doubt
Hss meager indeed-we, with the ex-
ception spoken of have respect,
we confess that every woman
who nibbles at the cunningly devised
sugar-plum of ''side degree" sinks
perceptibly in our estimation; in fact,
proclaims herself a cipher, and meekly
taking her place at the leftof the signifi-
cant figure, diminishes in tenfold ratio
the value of the man. For all of which
opinions we charge nothing.