The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1891-08-15

WHY CAN'T A WOMAN BE A MASON.
At Masonic celebration in Austin,
New, years ago, General, (then Major)
Sherman delivered the address, aboun
ing in wit and humor, clustering around
eloquent gems of Masonic tradition.
As specimen of the same the Reveille
gave the following extracts as a solu-
tion to the above query:
Women sometimes complain that
they are not permitted TO enter our
lodge and work with the craft in their
labors and learn all there is to be learEa,
ed in the institution. We learn that
before the Almighty finished his work
he was in some doubt about creating
Eve. The creation of every living thing
had been accomplished and the AL
mighty had made Adam (who was the
first Mason) and created him for the
lodge in the world, and it was Paradise
No. l. 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 piece of work he had to do
alone, so that no confusion might
therefore arise when Eve was created,
whom he knew would make trouble If
she was allowed to participate in it, if
he created her beforehand Adam be-
ing 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 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 to refreshments. In
stead of attending to 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. The fellow had been
expelled from the lodge with several
others sometime before, and hearing
the footsteps of the Grand Master, he
suddenly took his leave. telling Eve to
go making aprons, as she and Adam
wers not in proper regalia. She went
and told Adam, and when the Grand
Master returned to the lodge he found
his gavel had been stolen, and he cell
ed for the senior and and junior war
dens, who had neglected to guard the
door, and found them absent After
searching for some time he came to
where they were hid, 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 together again,
and that they were not properly cloth
ed, whicn they we're making provisions
for.
Turning to Eve he asked her what
she had to offer in excuse for the un-
official and unmasonlike conduct. She
replied that fellow, passing himself
off as grand lecturer, had been giving
her instructions and she thought it no
harm. The Grand Master than asked
her 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, that she
had caused Adam to neglect his duty,
and had let one in whom He expelled,
the Grand Master closed the lodge and
turned them out, set a faithful Tyler
to watch the door with flaming sword.
Adam, repenting of his folly, went to
work like a man and a good Mason in
in order to get reinstated again. Not
so with Eve. She got angry about it
and commenced raising Cain. Adam,
on account of his reformation, was per-
mitted 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 to assist
in the regular odge work of the craft.
Hence the reason why woman cannot
become an inside Mason.