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Article OCCASIONAL PAPERS.—No. II. ← Page 2 of 3 Article OCCASIONAL PAPERS.—No. II. Page 2 of 3 →
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Occasional Papers.—No. Ii.
Masonic pleasures ; and , whatever else they were , these Lodges were most charitable , and have left records of their good deeds of practical benevolence . It may be well to mention two or three of these Lodges to show the position they took . The first was established in Paris in 1760 . bv
Count de Bernouville ; another at Nunenegen , in Holland , in 1774 , with the Prince of Waldeck and the Princess of Orange as its heads ; iu 1775 one was appended to tbe Lodge St . Antoine , and was ruled over by the Duchess of Bourbon and the Duke of Chartres . In 1777 there was
an Adoptive Lodge of La Oaudeur , over which the Duchess of Bourbon presided , assisted by the Duchess of Chartres , the Princess Lamballe , and the Marchioness de Genlis ; and there was another governed by Madame Holvetius , tho wife of the illustrious philosopher .
The Grand Orient assumed the protection of these Lodges in 1774 , and ordered that no males , save regular Freemasons , should attend them ; and that each Lodge should be attached to a regular Lodge of Masons , and should be ruled by its Master , assisted by a female
President , or Mistress . This has been the rule ever since that date . I am not aware if any Lodges of Adoption are now in existence in France , but if there are , they are still governed by the same laws , which have never been altered . The Rite of Adoption contains four degrees—( 1 )
Apprentice ; ( 2 ) Compagnonne ; ( 3 ) Maitresse ; ( 4 ) Parfaite Maitresse ; and in some Lodges ( 5 ) Sublime Dame Ecossaise . The first degree is the Initiation , when the candidate is presented with a white apron and gloves , the symbolical meaning of which is explained . In the Charge in the first degree occurs the following passage " : —
" Your sex , my dear sister , having for a long time been denied admission to our Society , alone has the right to think ns unjust . What satisfaotion mast you therefore now enjoy in perceiving that Freemasonry is a school of decorum and virtue , and that our Jaws are intended to restrain the violence of onr passions , and to make ns
more deserving of yonr confidence and esteem . We have hitherto frequently found ourselves at a loss in onr meetings for the agreeable conversation of yonr amiable sex , and hence we have at length
determined to invite yon into oar Society by the endearing name of sisters , with the hope that we shall hereafter pass our time more delightfully in your pleasant company , as well as give additional respect to our Institution . "
In the second degree the Lodge is made to represent the Garden of Eden . The candidate ] represents Eve , In the middle of the Lodge is the tree of good and evil , with fruit hung from the branches , and a serpent coiled round the stem . An apple is plucked and given to the candidate ,
who is persuaded to eat it by tbe assertion that otherwise she cannot gain a knowledge of Freemasonry . She takes the fruit , but no sooner bites it than she hears a clap of thunder . A curtain is dashed aside , and she finds herself
in the presence of the assembled members of the Lodge , detected in the very act of eating the forbidden fruit . The Master lectures her on her conduct , but finally pardons her on her promising to show the same forgiving spirit to others .
In the third degree of Mistress , the Tower of Babel and Jacob ' s ladder are introduced , with a long explanation of their symbolical significations . In the fourth degree of Perfect Mistress , the Mosaic Tabernacle is supposed to be represented by the Lodge , and
the liberation of the soul of man from sin is symbolised by the liberation of a bird from a cage . In a portion of the ritual of this degree the candidate is plainly told that the ceremony is " a virtuous amusement , by which we recall a part of the mysteries of our religion . "
The Lodge rooms of the Rite of Adoption in France were often splendidly furnished , and were emblematically disposed to represent the world , the west end being called Europe , the south Africa , the north America , and the east Asia . The members sat in rows on each side , the ladies in front .
In 1775 the Duchess of Bourbon was installed the first Grand Mistress , with great splendour , and the Empress Josephine , wife of Napoleon I ., presided at a meeting of one Lodge at Strasburg in 1805 . The French Freemason has given us an interesting
account of the installation of Madame Cesar Morean as Grand Mistress in the Lodge La Jerusalem des Vallees ti f / yptiennes in July 1854 , which was a most elaborate and spectacular ceremony . After the introduction in due form
of a number of brethren and sisters , the Grand Mistress elect was announced , and she entered , preceded by the five lig hts of the Lodge , and escorted by tbe Inspectress , Depositress , Oratress , aud Mistress of Ceremonies .
Occasional Papers.—No. Ii.
Monsieur Boubee , the W . M . of the Lodge , conducted her to the altar , where , having installed her into office , and handed her a mallet as a symbol of authority , he addressed her in a series of doggrel stanzas . To this she replied , and then m-oceeded to the reoontinn nf n vrmnn *
lady , part of which ceremony is thus described : — " Of the various trials of virtue and fortitude to which she was subjected , there was one which made a deep impression , not onl y on the fair recipient , bat on the whole assembled company . Four boxes were placed , one before each of the
male otticers ; the candidate was told to open them , which sho did , and from the first and second drew faded flowers aud soiled ribbons and laces , which being placed in an open vessel , wero instantl y consumed by fire as au emblem of the brief duration of such obiects
from the third she drew an apron , a blue silk scarf , and a pair of gloves ; aud from the fourth a basket containing the working tools in silver gilt . She was then conducted to the altar , where , on opening a fifth box , several birds , which had been confined in it , escaped , which
was intended to teach her that liberty is a condition to which all men are entitled . After having taken the vow , she was instructed in the modes of recognition , clothed with the apron and scarf and gloves , aud presented with
the working tools , and the Grand Mistress gave an explanation of the symbols and ceremonies . After further addresses , an Ode was sung , an alms box handed round , and the Lodge was closed . "
Lady Morgan , in her famous Diary , has recorded her reception in the Lodge La Belle et Bonne in Paris in 1819 . The Lodge was held at the Hotel la Villette , and amongst those present were Prince Paul of Wurtemburg , the Count de Gazes , the Bishop of Jerusalem , and the actor Talma .
Lady Morgan describes the scene when the doors were opened as most magnificent . A profusion of crimson and gold , busts in marble , a decorated throne and altar , abundance of flowers and incense , music , aud all sorts of aids to scenic effect . After Lodge there was a grand ball .
In Italy Adoptive Masonry found a home at Naples at the beginning of this century , a Lodge being presided over by the Queen of Ferdinand II . In Germany , in 1738 , a Society of Freemasons was formed under the strange title of the Mopses . It was
derived from the German word mops , a mastiff , and was intended to imply the faithfulness of the members . It was formed in consequence of the condemnation of Freemasonry by Pope Clement XII ., by some brethren who were unwilling to give up the Order , and so hid themselves
nnder the guise of a new name . It was patronised ia the highest quarters , and as early as 1745 became androgynous . I have an old French work on the Order , which gives the ceremonies , signs , & c , and which has an illustration of the
ceremony of reception of a female , in which the candidate is blindfolded , hands chained together , and is surrounded by a circle of brethren holding in their right hands swords , and in their left stuffed dogs .
I have previously made allusion very briefly to the initiation of Mrs . Aldworth ( or rather Miss St . Leger ) , in Ireland . It was in or about the year 1735 , at Doneraile , that this lady received the first and second degrees . She was then about 22 years of age . Her brother , Lord
Doneraile , was Master of Lodge 44 , which met at Doneraile House , and this young lady concealed herself in such a manner as to command a view of the Lodge at work , and witnessed the first and second degrees . Endeavouring to retire in the dark , she stumbled against a chair , was discovered ,
and fainted with terror . As soon as she recovered , she was compelled to confess what she had seen , and after a lon g and angry discussion it was resolved to confer on her the
two degrees , which was done . She lived many years , and married a Mr . Aldworth , but never forgot the lessons of charity she was taught on that occasion , and she was always a liberal contributor to the Masonic Charities . The case of Mrs . Beaton was somewhat similar . Sho
died at Norwich in 1802 , aged 85 , and for the major portion of her life she was known in the neighbourhood as the Female Freemason , she having by stealth witnessed an initiation , and being discovered was compulsorily initiated . These initiations may be regarded as acts
of necessity , but the case of Mdme . de Xanitrailles , related by Clavel , was a wilful violation of our laws . It took p lace in Paris at the close of last century , in the Lodge of Fre ' res Artistes , at the eve of a festival , at which a young Officer presented himself for admission . Being asked for his certificate , he presented the commission of an aid-de-camp
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Occasional Papers.—No. Ii.
Masonic pleasures ; and , whatever else they were , these Lodges were most charitable , and have left records of their good deeds of practical benevolence . It may be well to mention two or three of these Lodges to show the position they took . The first was established in Paris in 1760 . bv
Count de Bernouville ; another at Nunenegen , in Holland , in 1774 , with the Prince of Waldeck and the Princess of Orange as its heads ; iu 1775 one was appended to tbe Lodge St . Antoine , and was ruled over by the Duchess of Bourbon and the Duke of Chartres . In 1777 there was
an Adoptive Lodge of La Oaudeur , over which the Duchess of Bourbon presided , assisted by the Duchess of Chartres , the Princess Lamballe , and the Marchioness de Genlis ; and there was another governed by Madame Holvetius , tho wife of the illustrious philosopher .
The Grand Orient assumed the protection of these Lodges in 1774 , and ordered that no males , save regular Freemasons , should attend them ; and that each Lodge should be attached to a regular Lodge of Masons , and should be ruled by its Master , assisted by a female
President , or Mistress . This has been the rule ever since that date . I am not aware if any Lodges of Adoption are now in existence in France , but if there are , they are still governed by the same laws , which have never been altered . The Rite of Adoption contains four degrees—( 1 )
Apprentice ; ( 2 ) Compagnonne ; ( 3 ) Maitresse ; ( 4 ) Parfaite Maitresse ; and in some Lodges ( 5 ) Sublime Dame Ecossaise . The first degree is the Initiation , when the candidate is presented with a white apron and gloves , the symbolical meaning of which is explained . In the Charge in the first degree occurs the following passage " : —
" Your sex , my dear sister , having for a long time been denied admission to our Society , alone has the right to think ns unjust . What satisfaotion mast you therefore now enjoy in perceiving that Freemasonry is a school of decorum and virtue , and that our Jaws are intended to restrain the violence of onr passions , and to make ns
more deserving of yonr confidence and esteem . We have hitherto frequently found ourselves at a loss in onr meetings for the agreeable conversation of yonr amiable sex , and hence we have at length
determined to invite yon into oar Society by the endearing name of sisters , with the hope that we shall hereafter pass our time more delightfully in your pleasant company , as well as give additional respect to our Institution . "
In the second degree the Lodge is made to represent the Garden of Eden . The candidate ] represents Eve , In the middle of the Lodge is the tree of good and evil , with fruit hung from the branches , and a serpent coiled round the stem . An apple is plucked and given to the candidate ,
who is persuaded to eat it by tbe assertion that otherwise she cannot gain a knowledge of Freemasonry . She takes the fruit , but no sooner bites it than she hears a clap of thunder . A curtain is dashed aside , and she finds herself
in the presence of the assembled members of the Lodge , detected in the very act of eating the forbidden fruit . The Master lectures her on her conduct , but finally pardons her on her promising to show the same forgiving spirit to others .
In the third degree of Mistress , the Tower of Babel and Jacob ' s ladder are introduced , with a long explanation of their symbolical significations . In the fourth degree of Perfect Mistress , the Mosaic Tabernacle is supposed to be represented by the Lodge , and
the liberation of the soul of man from sin is symbolised by the liberation of a bird from a cage . In a portion of the ritual of this degree the candidate is plainly told that the ceremony is " a virtuous amusement , by which we recall a part of the mysteries of our religion . "
The Lodge rooms of the Rite of Adoption in France were often splendidly furnished , and were emblematically disposed to represent the world , the west end being called Europe , the south Africa , the north America , and the east Asia . The members sat in rows on each side , the ladies in front .
In 1775 the Duchess of Bourbon was installed the first Grand Mistress , with great splendour , and the Empress Josephine , wife of Napoleon I ., presided at a meeting of one Lodge at Strasburg in 1805 . The French Freemason has given us an interesting
account of the installation of Madame Cesar Morean as Grand Mistress in the Lodge La Jerusalem des Vallees ti f / yptiennes in July 1854 , which was a most elaborate and spectacular ceremony . After the introduction in due form
of a number of brethren and sisters , the Grand Mistress elect was announced , and she entered , preceded by the five lig hts of the Lodge , and escorted by tbe Inspectress , Depositress , Oratress , aud Mistress of Ceremonies .
Occasional Papers.—No. Ii.
Monsieur Boubee , the W . M . of the Lodge , conducted her to the altar , where , having installed her into office , and handed her a mallet as a symbol of authority , he addressed her in a series of doggrel stanzas . To this she replied , and then m-oceeded to the reoontinn nf n vrmnn *
lady , part of which ceremony is thus described : — " Of the various trials of virtue and fortitude to which she was subjected , there was one which made a deep impression , not onl y on the fair recipient , bat on the whole assembled company . Four boxes were placed , one before each of the
male otticers ; the candidate was told to open them , which sho did , and from the first and second drew faded flowers aud soiled ribbons and laces , which being placed in an open vessel , wero instantl y consumed by fire as au emblem of the brief duration of such obiects
from the third she drew an apron , a blue silk scarf , and a pair of gloves ; aud from the fourth a basket containing the working tools in silver gilt . She was then conducted to the altar , where , on opening a fifth box , several birds , which had been confined in it , escaped , which
was intended to teach her that liberty is a condition to which all men are entitled . After having taken the vow , she was instructed in the modes of recognition , clothed with the apron and scarf and gloves , aud presented with
the working tools , and the Grand Mistress gave an explanation of the symbols and ceremonies . After further addresses , an Ode was sung , an alms box handed round , and the Lodge was closed . "
Lady Morgan , in her famous Diary , has recorded her reception in the Lodge La Belle et Bonne in Paris in 1819 . The Lodge was held at the Hotel la Villette , and amongst those present were Prince Paul of Wurtemburg , the Count de Gazes , the Bishop of Jerusalem , and the actor Talma .
Lady Morgan describes the scene when the doors were opened as most magnificent . A profusion of crimson and gold , busts in marble , a decorated throne and altar , abundance of flowers and incense , music , aud all sorts of aids to scenic effect . After Lodge there was a grand ball .
In Italy Adoptive Masonry found a home at Naples at the beginning of this century , a Lodge being presided over by the Queen of Ferdinand II . In Germany , in 1738 , a Society of Freemasons was formed under the strange title of the Mopses . It was
derived from the German word mops , a mastiff , and was intended to imply the faithfulness of the members . It was formed in consequence of the condemnation of Freemasonry by Pope Clement XII ., by some brethren who were unwilling to give up the Order , and so hid themselves
nnder the guise of a new name . It was patronised ia the highest quarters , and as early as 1745 became androgynous . I have an old French work on the Order , which gives the ceremonies , signs , & c , and which has an illustration of the
ceremony of reception of a female , in which the candidate is blindfolded , hands chained together , and is surrounded by a circle of brethren holding in their right hands swords , and in their left stuffed dogs .
I have previously made allusion very briefly to the initiation of Mrs . Aldworth ( or rather Miss St . Leger ) , in Ireland . It was in or about the year 1735 , at Doneraile , that this lady received the first and second degrees . She was then about 22 years of age . Her brother , Lord
Doneraile , was Master of Lodge 44 , which met at Doneraile House , and this young lady concealed herself in such a manner as to command a view of the Lodge at work , and witnessed the first and second degrees . Endeavouring to retire in the dark , she stumbled against a chair , was discovered ,
and fainted with terror . As soon as she recovered , she was compelled to confess what she had seen , and after a lon g and angry discussion it was resolved to confer on her the
two degrees , which was done . She lived many years , and married a Mr . Aldworth , but never forgot the lessons of charity she was taught on that occasion , and she was always a liberal contributor to the Masonic Charities . The case of Mrs . Beaton was somewhat similar . Sho
died at Norwich in 1802 , aged 85 , and for the major portion of her life she was known in the neighbourhood as the Female Freemason , she having by stealth witnessed an initiation , and being discovered was compulsorily initiated . These initiations may be regarded as acts
of necessity , but the case of Mdme . de Xanitrailles , related by Clavel , was a wilful violation of our laws . It took p lace in Paris at the close of last century , in the Lodge of Fre ' res Artistes , at the eve of a festival , at which a young Officer presented himself for admission . Being asked for his certificate , he presented the commission of an aid-de-camp