The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1878-03-09
Why Cannot Women Be Masons.

At the late anniversary celebration of the
Masons at Austin, New, the orator of the day
thus discussed the question, Why cannot
Women be Masons ?" 1t has the merit of
novelty, at least. The speaker said -
Woman sometimes complains that she is not
permitted to enter our Lodges and work with
Craft in their labors, and learn all their is to
learn IN the Institution. We learn that before
the G. A: o. T. U. had finished his work, he
vas in some doubt creating Eve. The creation
of every living and creeping thing had been
accomplished, and the G.. A. o. L. U. had made
Adam (who was the first Mason) and erected
for him the finest Lodge IN the world and called
it Paradise No. 1. He then called all the beasts
of the field and all the 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 thereafter arise from Eve, who
he knew would make trouble if she was allowed
to participate if he created her beforehand.
Adam being very much fatigued with the
labors of his 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 r~efreshment.
Instead of attending to the duties of her Office
as she ought, she left her station, violating her
obligations, and let in an expelled Mason who
had no business there, and went round with
him leaving Adam to look after the jewels. The
fellow had been expelled from the Grand Lodge
with several others some time before. But
hearing the footsteps of the Grand Master he
suddenly took his leave, telling Eve to make
aprons, as she and Adam were not in proper
regalia. She went and told Adam, and when
che Grand Master returned to the Lodge he
found that 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 bid, and demanded
of Adam what he was doing there, instead of
occupying his official position. Adam replied
that he was waiting for Eve to call the Craft
from refreshment, to labour again, and that the
Craft was not properly clothed, which they were
making provision for. Turning to Eve he asked
her what she had to offer in excuse for her
unofficial and unmasonic conduct. She replied
that a fellow passing himself off as a Grand
Lecturer had been giving her instructions, and
she thought it would be no harm to learn them.
The Grand Master then asked what had become
of his gavel; she said she didn't know, unless
the fellow had taken it away.
Finding that Eve was no longer trustworthy
and that she had caused Adam to neglect his
duty, and let in one whom he had expelled, the
Grand Master had closed the Lodge, and turn
ing them out set a faithful Tyler to guard the
door with a flaming sword. Adam, repenting
his folly, went to work like a man and a good
Manson, in order to get reinstated again. Not
so with Eve she got angry about it and com
menced raising Cain. Adam, on account Of
his reformation, was permitted to establish
Lodges, and work in the lower degrees, and
while Eve was allowed to join him in the works
of charity outside she was never again to be
admitted to assist in the regular work of the
Craft. Hence the reason why a woman cannot
become a Manson.