Freemasons

As a North Shore District Lodge we make a special effort to include all wives and partners in our Refectory (Dining Lodge) and in our masonic socials. We do not see any particular reason however to include ladies in our ceremonial workings any more than women would want men involved in female only organisations. But, having said that, I firmly believe that Freemasonry will continue to slide towards oblivion if we do not take account of our Ladies concerns rather than taking them for granted. I have 100% support from my wife for my masonic work, she is happy to join all our social events but has no desire to become involved with the Lodge workings, although she knows many of the Charges as well as, if not better than I do. Let us foster the goodwill we do enjoy with our partners rather than seek to change just because it happens to be the in thing. CYRIL B.

Last Thursday I was at a Christmas Dinner held at my Masonic Hall, the Lady seated next to me was the wife of a PM of the Lodge of which I was a guest. During the converstion it transpired that she was a member of the Order of Women Freemasons (she had been through the Chair of two Lodges) and she in common with other Women Masons who I have met had no wish to combine our Orders but only wished that the male GL (UGLE) would just give a bit more support .

Mike

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My Lodge Website, Mersey Lodge

Hi Cyril,
Just would like to get your feeling on the following situation :
A Lady with a very deep interest in Masonry for years but whose husband is not a freemason. She is leaving in a country where there is no female Masonic Lodge.
Should she stay at the door of the lodge just because she was born with the "wrong attributes" and because males are happy with the status quo ? Will Masonry continue to neglect and miss human beings with a call because they are females ?
Should women only exists in Masonry though their husband/partner/whatever it is called ?
Corinne

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Coca

This is the way it is and I don't think we should change it, I would love to say why but I don't want to offend any one. The main reason is men need a place to go where they can be men and have time with other men and learn without outside persuasion, I might sound old fashioned, but that is what I think

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Hadyn Nicholls PM
Homewood Lodge 447
Recruitment & Publicity Officer
http://www.homewood-lodge.net.nz
Wellington District Education Officer

Sorry not sure how to remove a post. please read below

Unknown to allot of members out there is that there have been warrented unisexed lodges within the craft during the 1800's. This is most notable by asking where the woman freemasons organisation comes from.
Its was through the French Grand Lodge that this was allowed and personally I dont see why this cant happen again.

I personally like a male only lodge becuase I enjoy a place to go which is only for guys. (somethign that is hard to find these days)

I also see that there could be unisex and female only lodges within the craft with the decision upto the lodge about its gender dispursement. This would ensure that if a member was not truely happy with his lodges decision he could join one that does. This would be no different that lodges of today in regards to lodges today that differentiate as to age (such as lodge horizon in sydney).

We can learn lessons from the past which we can apply to help our craft grow.

hello everyone...i'm interested is there any other reason for excluding women from masonry other than that of the established landmarks?

I'm sorry to say this but if women were involved in the lodge i think it would be a distraction to the workings especially if some lucky brother had a very hot lady freind/partner/wife. It would throw our concentration off the ritual and that's the last thing we want given that we have to memorize alot of stuff!

Interesting debate,

It is clear that women are excluded from Freemasonry (and by that I mean craft fremasonry - not the OES etc). It is clearly written and contained in the reasons for preperation charge also. Some I have heard say that they like it being men only. They like having something that women are excluded from. Having women arund causes complications. etc etc etc

If we were to leave all of that aside - it would be an interesting debate as to whether women would get something out of freeemasonry were they allowed to join. Personally I think they would get just as much out of it as the men.

Leaves me to wonder - with women these days being included in many places that they were excluded from (working mens clubs is one classic example) and with a lot more women working in trades these days, are we going to see the day they are admitted to freemasonry? Maybe not in my lifetime, but you can never say never in my view. I have to be honest and say I would be against it.

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Adrian Douglas
IPM/Secretary
NZ Pacific Lodge No.2
Wellington