Adoptive Masonry

Adoptive Masonry is a practice in Masonic societies which allows women to become members, something they generally can't otherwise do. It is generally limited to only female relatives of male Masons. Spence, L. (1920). An Encyclopædia of Occultism. 2 ed. pg. 4
Adoptive Lodges were first established in France in the 18th century, before spreading to other places. The first known Masonic group to "adopt" women were the Mopses. The Felicitaries were established in 1742, and the Fendeurs (Woodcutters) in 1763. Bauchaine, a Master of a Parisian Lodge, modelled the Fendeurs on the Carbonari, and it was notably popular. 
The three degrees of the Rite of Adoption were established in the Grand Orient Lodge of France in 1774, and the Duchess of Bourbon was elected as Grand Mistress of France, and many notable French women quickly joined the Lodges of Adoption. By the early 20th century, Lewis Spence writes that the Rite of Adoption had been accepted as part of general Freemasonry, and had been expanded to twelve degrees. 
The Ladies' Hospitallers of Mount Tabor added Latin and Greek mysteries to their rite. The Rite of Mizraim created mixed-sex Lodges in 1819, 1821, 1838, and 1853. The Rite of Memphis did so in 1839. In America, the Rite of the Eastern Star was established, which was also a mixed-sex Lodge.
There was an attempt by the Order of the Eastern Star to establish Adoptive Masonry in Scotland, but this was generally unsuccessful. 
== References ==
Category:An Encyclopædia of Occultism
Category:Freemasonry