Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1880-11-18
Why q Woman Cannot Be : Mason.

At q masonic celebration in 1870,
in Austin, Nevada, Major Sherman
delivered an address abounding IN
wit and humor, which clustered
around eloquent gems of masonic
history. He said:
"Women sometimes complain that
they are not permitted to enter our
Lodge and work with the craft in
their labors, and learn all there ls to
be learned in the institution. We
will explain 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 and creeping thing had been.
accomplished, and the Almighty had
made Adam, (who was the first
Mason1, had created him for the
finest lodge in the world, and called
it Paradise No. /. 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 be had to do alone, SO that no
confusion might therefore arise when
Eve was Created. whom he knew
would make trouble if she was allow
ed to participate in it, if he created
her beforehand Adam, being very
much fatigued with the labors of his
first task, fell asleep, and when he
awoke he found Eve in the lodge
with him. Adam being Senior War
den, placed Eve as the pillar of beau
ty, 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 refreshment. In
| stead of attending to the duties of the
office as 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 ex-
PEELED 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 go to making
| aprons, as she and Adam were not
in proper regalia. She went and
| told Adam, and when the Grand
Master returned 10 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 we're hid, and
T demanded of Adam what he was
4 doing there, instead of occupying his
/ official station. Adam replied tha
} he was waiting for Eve to cali the
| craft from refreshment to labor again
: and that the craft was not properly
/ clothed, which they were making pro
. visions for. Turning to Eve, HI
asked her what she had to offer il
excuse for her unofficial and un
7 masonic conduct. She replied that
fellow passing himself off as CRANE
lecturer, had been giving. her instruc
Ftions, and she thought it was NJ
HATH. ut uiahA VI dSScI tucA oShCs
her what had become of his gavel
She said she didn't know, unless tha
! fellow had taken it away. Findini
!, that Eve was no longer trustworthy
and that she had caused Adam t
neglect his duty, and had let in on
whom be had expelled. the Gram
Master closed the lodge and turning
them out, set faithful 1iler to watc
the door with q flaming sword
Adam, repenting of his folly, went t
/. work like a man and good mason
I In order to get reinstated again. No
: SO with Eve-she got angry about il
and commenced raising Cain.
"Adam on account of reformation
was permitted TO establish lodges an
work in the degrees, and while Ev
was allowed to join him in acts {
charity outside, she was never agsi
to be admitted to assist in the reguls
lodge work of the craft. Hence th
reason why woman can not becom
an inside Mason.''