New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-17
FEMALE FREFNiSONS.

Some o, our readers says The London Free
rnason's Chronicle" viii doubtless be amused
on reading the following article. which appeared
originally In the columns OF THE Birmingham
Daily POST In France they have long had a
system OF what II known as Adaptive Masonry"
End in some parts OF the United States there Is a
quasi Masonic female order known the
Eastern star" None the less however. are we OF
opirlon that the ladies' are much better placed
outside TIC lodge portals There IS one we'll
authenticated case OF lady Free Mason but We
shall regret exceedingly when the Instances OF
these iady Free Masons may b" described In the
plural instead Of the singular number. our prin-
cples are known and appreciated. but It would be
an utter subversion % those principles II ladies'
were permitted to undergo the rite OF Initiation.
They are most darling creatures In their various
capacities OF mother wife, sweetheart. daughter:
but what would become of our lodge work II
there were lady members? For Instance. could Bro.
: Warden fulnl his duties while engaged In A
Irritation with sister a, or We viii ask what would
become OF Bro Senior Deacon II II should be his
fate to assist I'm the initiation Of Sister No, let
our fair friends know as little as possible OF Ma
sonic lodge work and feel assured they Will
appreciate the tcnets or our cratt tho more Ger
"A French Masonic lodge has not only decided
10 admit women members on equal terms. but
has. according 10 the Kappel.' already elected
one lady. Initiated her into the mysteries OF the
craft. and lntrustcd her with a first instalment
OF those secrets which Mrs Caudle was 80 eager
to discover and which her sleepy husband dared
thus set by the Pecq Lodge VIII be copied In Eng
land. We much too conservative for such i
startling Innovation to md favor among the
lrcthrcn and even in these days OF woman :
rights there is not much fear Of the sex being
successful IN passing the stern janitor who stands
at the lodge portal To keep of all intruders aad
Of their becoming practically familiar with the
Eleuslan mysteries OF the hot poker concerning
which the outer world processes to be wise.
The curiosity OF the ladies' on these grave matters
cannot therefore, be- satisfied Just yet In England
at any rate. not by the legitimate method OF mem
hership. Legend has 1t that one woman did con-
trive by secreting herself In a hiding place in
lodge 10 learn some OF the secrets OF the craft +,
and mysterious shake OF the head the part
OF the narratOrs OF the story Is meant TO imply
thar the subsequent proceedings interested her no
more II there had been daily journals I'm those
day. a paragraph would have gone the round OF
the papers. mysterious disappearance of a woman.
why woman should be excluded from partcipa-
ton in tho benefits OF Freemasonry is n bit OF a
puzzle to those who impartially inquire into the
subject. Some people say 1t Is because n woman
cannot keep a secret. and that II she were in
trusted with the signs and passwords OF the fra
t.rnty she would be bound to communicate them
tO her bosom friend the very first time they met
That f. very hard on the fair sex. They do lmpart
their lille condolences. ali know and they
don't Ike TO be uncOmmuncative when some par
ticular Information has been intrusted their
keeping but there Is no reason why they should
not he as mum regarding the secrets OF Masonry
as the most taclturn OF men. In respects
perhaps the craft would gain by the Introduction
81 female members. II the principles OF Free
masonry good for men. II is difficult to
how they be bad for women. But then, we
selfish creatures like 10 have some place OF we'll
gain admission. Masonry would probably lose half
It's charm 10 reat many men II they knew that
they were 20 , 10 meet their wives at the lodge
Their AAsons engagements constitute a sort Of