The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-25
WOMEN FREEMASONS
Instances in Europe in Which
They Have Been Initiated.
''The Human Right" Lodge i'm France
Composed Exclusively of Women,
Still in Existence.
New York Herald.


with many expressions Of incredulity from
men IN the order and out Of it. Some de-
clared that If she knew the secrets of Ma
sonry she had learned them by stealth or
fraud, but the commonest assertion was
that the claim was absurd-that women
were ineligible TO the order and that the
idea that Mrs Lease or any other woman
had penetrated its circles was preposterous.
All talk Of this sort is based upon a SUI
perfciaI and inadequate knowledge of the
extent TO which women, especially in Eu-
rope, have been identified with Masonic af-
fairs. That the secrets of the ancient order
have not always been exclusively monopo-
ized by men will be evident to anybody who
cares TO take even a casual glance at the
history OF the craft
Nine. Maria Deraismes. whose death has
just taken place at Paris, was renowned
not only as one OF the most successful lead
ers in the struggle for the emancipation of
her sex, but likewise for her revival of fe-
male lodges of the Masonic craft. Several
European and American newspapers de-
scribed her as having been the first woman
ever deliberately admitted into the mys-
terleS OF the order while others cited the
well-knOwn instance of Lord Donerailes
daughter as being the only other instance
of lady having been initiated.
It
century there was a large number Of la
dies OF rank who were Freenasons, and at
the present moment female Masonic lodges
abound in Spain, the principal female dig
nltary or the craft being Princess Maria
de Bourbon, daughter of the Infant Don
Enerique, who was soemnly initiated by
the I'll Taller Lodge, of Salamanca.
WOMEN MASONS IN FRANCE.
II was in 1870 that we first heard of fem
mime lodges being constituted in France,
and although they may be said TO have
existed alongside the masculine Freemason-
~ rather than forming part and parcel
OF IL, yet they were definitely recognized
as belonging TO the craft by decree of the
Grand Orient of France, dated April 10, IVA.
FEMININE masonry in those days was re-
strlcted almost exclusively TO ladies of
royal and noble rank. Thus we find the
Duchess of Chartres as mistress of one
lodge and the Duchess of Bourbon of an
other both OF these princesses being ad-
uresS as honorable and Worshpful' i'm
the official communities lions dispatched to
them by the Grand Orient of France
,, Marie Antoinette's friend, the lovely
5rlncess De Lamballe, who was massacred
during the Reign of Terror, and whose
heau was carried on a pike through the
streets or Paris. was the mistress of the
before the overthrow of royalty served for
q time as grand mistress of the order.
I'll IN tSoS the Empress Josephine was pres
sl al a meeting of duly constituted fem
mine Masonic meeting at StraSburg ana
again, In 1919, we hear of the Celebrated
sututlon OF new Masonic lodge. In short.
feminine Masons abounded in France M
70 the year 1868, when the decree of Pope
rus tX, denounctng Freemasonry as in
compatible with membership i'm the church
or Rome, caused the abandonment of Free
masonry liz. by women and the practical if
not Official, dissolution of their sariona
lodges throughout the country.
II was noS until April, 1882, that any at
tempt was made 70 revive them In Janu-
~.
EMMY initiated by the masculine lodge
Les LlbreS PenseOuS'' 0he free thinkerSl
az EEspecq' near Paris. The Grand Orient
OF france, however, declined to ratify the
seiSctlon, and even wenr so far as TO oT,-
eiaiiy dissolve the lodge that had been
guilty OF unauthorized revival of a prac
tee which had become Obsolete
IN no wise discouraged by this lack of
g0od VIII on the part of the Grand Orient.
luatlon 10 found Masonic lodge of her
own, and at the present there are some
sdA'y or seventy members belonging there
70, one or the past grand mistresses being
NINE Clemence Roger wife of the fornnaS1
S 0aDinet Minister and statesman of that
All the ladies who belong TO this Iodoa
Whl SI bears the name of the Droit Humafn'
oI human Right, turned out in full force
a. lhe funeral Of its founder and laid on
n nSH CONN a large wreath and inscription
VI course, the obsequieS were of a purejv
nlasonlc and lay character, the church be-
ing unrepresented at the grave for Nine
Deraismes, like all her sister Masons Of
me present day in France, was a free
thnrct ana ana an enemy Of the Catholic
sentiments when she applied for recoeni-
tlon or her lodge to the Grand Orient. :sIt
~ ,ad {ari1 gu women that Catholicism has
iudue It's way into our social system che
declared, and if 1T maintains its place
there 1t Is entirely through woman. Won
would, therefore, my brethren, do well to
the craft If you wish to combat Catholicisno
on an equal ground"
II mas become a noteworthy fact that
wvherl; In 1853, the great ladies of France
aDahdoned Masonry in Difference to the in
JInctlon or the Church of Rome. the women
perha5s EVEN Mno IA, are quite as religious. and
churcn, should have gone on maintaining
lodges and practicing the craft
MASONRY IN PORTUGAL.
FOR some reason or other however, the
Catholic Church regards the Masons in
spain and Portugal with a far more in
dulgent eye than either those of France or
Oh Italy. Thus, remember some years ago
attending the funeral at Lisbon of a senior
anton dAguilar, who at the time of his
leatn held the position of grand master of
lnS craIt IN Portugal.
ID Dom Anton was an ex-Minister of Public
Ro was aoe senator the president of the
eral years had acted as governor nor an 0 h see
leader OF the present king. a great favor
le at court, his death was sincerely
~ the royal ". HIS BODY Law
~ stare Tor three days in the Church of
81 Isabel. arrayed in his Masonic insignia-
ma among the wreaths and floral emhIemS
ispOslted at the bier We're many bearing
alaSCnlc inscriptions, which, however did
lOt prevent the priest from kneeIinp in an
attitude OF prayer beside the coffin throuPb
1ut the whole time that the body remained
wing before the altar
On the day Of the funeral which was at
.Snued Dy representatives of the late King
me queen and the present King in state |
carriages, large cOrtege of prelates and
priests IN full canonicals were present The
IuII services of the Catholic Church were
performed by the clergy at the grave. DIR
nS the course OF the ceremony discourses
1L farewell TO the dead statesman being
leiNered Dy Deputy Senior Elias on he
laII OF the treemasons of Portugal and bv
9enhor Nillarino on behalf of those of |
l may add that Senior Sagasta. the Prime
minister OF the most Catholic country on
ne race or the earth, namely Spain holds
.ne rank Oh grand master Of the Freema- |
In Great Britain the craft is presided |
9ver by the Prince of Wales in Sweden |
and Norway the grand mastership is hell
oy KING oscar, who occupied that office |
before MS ascension to the throne AS in
ne case OF the sons and grandsons of the
queen or England, so are also the sons of /
King Oscar members of the craft.
IN Denmark IL is the Crown Prince who
5 the mead or the Grand Orient, while the |
ate Emperor Frederick held the grand mas
ership OF German Freemasons FROM Is ~ |
until the time OF his death. His son al
-nough Mason, has declined to accent the |
grand mastership in succession 70 biS |
atner or TO attend any lodge MEETINGS |