The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-07
THE FEMALE In MASONRY.
APreposed Dramatic Representation Showing
Her Relation to the Fraternity.

An enterprising lodge of Masons propose to
give an entertainment for the profit and pleas
ure of its members and friends. II is suggested
that hit could be made, and the community
benefited by the the presentation of fraternity
drama with a moral. Wives throughout the
Masonic universe and in all ages have pertinent
ly inquired why they, too may not at
tend lodge with their husbands The heart
laceration that has resulted from the UNIFORM
inability TO reply satisfactorily to this query has,
perhaps, been next to the monthly fees) the
greatest drawback to membership in the Ma
sonic order. But there is a sufficient reason
deemed So at least, by no less Mason than
Solomon, the wise Indeed, the time was, no
doubt. when the women were also Masons, and
the oldest living Mason can all but remember
that long-ago period. But let the drama tell
how change was brought about and the pres
ent order of things established:
THE SISTERS MASONIC-A DRAMA IN THREE
ACTS
SCENE: Jerusalem Lodge, No. !, Free and accepted
Masons
DRAMATIs PERsoNR.
seoor Warsn Hiram King KING s S yre
Senior Deacon Azarah, SON of Nathan
Junior Deacon Labud
Tyler. .Abushar
Jews and Jewesses in regalia. Il Kings j. 1-7.)
ARGUMENT OF AoTL
Scene opens with Blue Lodge in session Sol
ONION, in all his glory, surrounded by all his
wives, directs the ritualistic rites. Wives of
other officers and members play leading parts.
Music on the jews harp by Sir Knight Shimei.
49,. -
great scroll of the lodge by the very ancient
grand recorder Behold, how good and
how pleasant it is for brethren
and sisters to dwell together in
unity and red ink link was drawn around
this observation to call attention to its signlh-
canoe. A sheik from the Vhimmering desert
enters, gives the grand hailing signal and, in
the beautiful and impressive words of the
Chaldalc tongue, announces the visit to Jerusa-
lem of the great Queen of Sheba. She applies
for membership in Masonry. A committee ap-
pointed to investigate her character reports Ito
allay all suspicious the part of their wives)
that she is not beautiful but good and rich,
whereupon she is elected
ARGUMENT OF ACT II.
Magnificent preparations made in the lodge
for comforting the rites of Masonry upon Sheba.
A broad-gauge goat, imported for her special
benefit from the Vale of Cashmere, and deodor
lied with some of Sheba's own spices, side
saddle, hung with silver bells, mounted in gold
anu STUDDED WlCu QlamOQQS tpaSb0 stones naQnL
been perfected then) provided. The Junior
warden leads away to the livery stable the ordi-
nary odoriferous billy heretofore indispensable
at initiatory rites) for fear he would be excited
to jealousy by the spendor of the imported Sir
William, but all of the brethren fail to note the
apprehensions with which the sisters noted these
extraordinary preparations for initiating this
foreign, ugly, hateful old thing from Kalamazoo
or Timbuctoo. The queen indicted slow music
on the psalter The tyler, instead of
rirp-maStpr ia wi
gracefully leads the docle goat round
and round, while thekjunior and senior wardens
walk on either side, ready to catch the queen
should she fall, and seemingly, rather anxious
that she should fall just little. Solomon and
Hiram consume much time in giving Sheba the
grips and signs and teaching her their meaning,
and at the close of the ceremony Solomon him
self sees her home in his own spring wagon
Meantime the indignant and jealous wives have
retired to the refreshment rooms, and instead of
serving the taffel beer and the doughnuts they
indignate.
ARGUMENT OF ACT III.
Dies irae. Jerusalem in an uproar. Masons
everywhere exchange signals of dire distress
The female Masons indignant at the attentions
paid by the brethren to the Queen of Sheba
They persuade her out of town by the fencerail
route. Meantime, King Solomon hurriedly calls
special meeting of the lodges, and, because of
the uncomfortable jealousies to which women
are subject it was resolved to rule them out of
the fraternity, and the constitution and bylaws
were then and there amended, and therefore,
it is not handed down by each past grand
high generalissimo that it is good
and pleasant for brethren and sisters to dwell
together in unity, because they can't. Wanting
the presence of woman, poker was introduced
that very night in the lodge, and hence, forever
more, late hours. The de masoned women find
firm friend in the high priest Azariah, the son
of Zadock, and become his devoted allies, the
power of the church wakes great, and is felt
throughout the world and finally, leagued with
Masonry and all the benevolent agencies,
subdues the earth
Hosaniaahs and Curtain.
The Wheelmen's Tournament.