The Fair Sex And Adoptive Masonry.

THE FAIR SEX AND ADOPTIVE MASONRY .

ARTICLE I . Having occasionally heard through various channels that there were in existence female Masons in American territory , I resolved a short time since to secure , if possible , some

authoritative information respecting the mysterious craft in order to dispel the doubts of myself and several Masonic associates . By the courtesy ot an intimate friend just returned from the New World , I have been furnished with materials

which enable me to give very copious and interesting particulars appertaining to the sisterly community . I may premise that Free and Accepted Masons in this country and elsewhere , after having perused the several articles which form

my paper upon the subject , will readily understand that their ceremonies , lectures , & c , have not been violated , being totally different from those established by the female order . It can excite but little surprise that an attempt should have been made by the fair daughters of

Eve to organise a secret society among themselves , and no one will possibly show any determination to deprive them of the privilege of holding now and then a secret council , especially if the result of this communion is morall y and physically advantageous .

However faithful the members may have heretofore been to thc obligations imposed upon them at their initiation into the sisterhood , I should certainly not advocate their claims for admission into any lodge of Accepted Masons , but would strenuously oppose any endeavour to

overcome the objections urged against their participation of tlie privileges enjoyed by the Craft . I do not think it necessary that I should enter into any explanation as to the reasons which prompt me to exhibit this solicitude for the interests of the Brotherhood ; nor have I any

desire to argue the question often mooted in social gatherings , viz ., " Why females should not be entrusted with the same knowledge as that imparted to every Mason ? " If the explanation were given unreservedly , I feel convinced that I should incur the lasting displeasure of all the

ladies , besides being subjected to an unlimited torrent of reproaches . The historical essay upon the foundation , Sec , of certain secret institutions , as published in the " Manual of the Order of the Eastern Star , " is sufficiently interesting to warrant its production in these columns : —

" Secret societies imitating Freemasonry for the admission of females as members were ( says the author ) first organized in France during the early part of the eighteenth century , and still exist there , and in other parts of Europe , as a distinctive rite . By the term Adoptive Masonry is implied that

system of forms , ceremonies , and explanatory lectures which is communicated to certain classes of ladies who , from their relationship by blood or marriage to Master Masons in good standing , are entitled to thc respect and attention of the entire Fraternity . These ladies arc said to be adopted

into the Masonic communion because the system of forms , ceremonies , and lectures above referred to enables them to express their wishes , and gives satisfactory evidence of their claims in a manner that no stranger to the Masonic family can do . To the organizations thus established for the initiation

of females the French have given thc name of ' Adoptive Masonry , ' Maconnerie r / ' Adoption , ancl the lodges arc called J . oges d' Adoption , or ' Adoptive Lodges , " because every bdge of females was obliged to be adopted by , and under the guardianship of , some regular Masonic lodge . One of the

first of these societies was thc ' Order of Perfect Happiness , ' for so wc may be permitted to translate the name of ' Fclicilaircs , ' which thoy adopted . This society assumed a nautical character in its emblems and its vocabulary . It was divided into the four degrees of ' Cabin Bov , ' ' Master , ' '

Commodore , ' and 'Vice-Admiral . ' What little information wc have been enabled to obtain from a very brief notice of its ritual leads us to believe that it was not of a character to merit countenance . It did not long retain its existence , for two years afler its formation it gave place to the ' Kiiighis and Heroines of ' . he Anchor , ' whicli was , however , but

The Fair Sex And Adoptive Masonry.

a refinement of the original society , and preserved its formula of initiation and nearly all its ceremonies . In 1747 , one Beauchaine , the Master of one of the Parisian lodges , instituted a new society , which he called ' L' Ordre des Fendeurs , ' or the Order of Wood Cutters . This institution borrowed its

principal ceremonies from the society of the Carbonari , or Coal Burners , which had been previously established in Italy . The place of meeting of the Wood Cutters was called the ' Wood Yard , ' and was supposed to represent a forest ; the presiding officer was called ' Father Master , ' ancl the male and

female members were styled 'Cousins . ' This society became at once exceedingly popular , and the most distinguished ladies nnd gentlemen of France united themselves to v . It was consequently the cause of the institution of many similar societies , such as the Order of the Hatchet , of

Fidelity , & c . In consequence ofthe increasing popularity of the numerous secret associations which , in their external characters ancl myverious rites , attempted an imitation of Freemasonry—differing , however , from that Institution , of which they were , perhaps , the rivals for public favour , by the

admission of female members—the Grand Orient of France , in 1774 , established a new rite , called the ' Rite of Adoption , ' which was placed under the control ofthe Grand Orient . Rules and regulations were thenceforth provided for the government of these lodges of Adoption , one of which was that no

men should be permitted to attend them except regular Freemasons , and that each lodge should be placed under the charge , and held under the sanction and warrant of some regularly constituted Masonic lodge , whose Master or , in his absence , his Deputy should be the presiding officer , assisted

by a female president ov mistress . Under these regulations a Lodge of Adoption was opened in Paris in 1775 , under thc patronage ofthe Lodge of St . Anthony , and in which the Duchess of Bourbon presided , and was installed as Grand Mistress of the Adoptive Right . Many systems of Adoptive

Masonry have from time to time been introduced in the United States with varied success , noneofwhich , however , seem to possess the elements of permanency , except the Order of the Eastern Star , which was established in this country during the year 1778 . Thc success of this order , therefore ,

corresponds in its beneficence and usefulness with the extent of Freemasonry . Its obligations are based upon the honour ofthe female sex , and framedupon thc principles of equality and justice ; that whatever benefits are due by the Masonic Fraternity to the wives , widows , daughters , and sisters of Masons .

corresponding benefits are due from them to thc members ofthe Masonic Fraternity . The theory of the Order ofthe Eastern Star is founded upon the Holy Writings . Five prominent female characters , illustrating as many Masonic virtues , are selected , adopted , and placed under Masonic protection .

The selections arc : — " 1 . Jepthah ' s daughter , illustrating respect to thc binding force of a vow . " 2 . Ruth , illustrating devotion to religious principles . " 3 . Esther , illustrating fidelity to kindred and

friends . " 4 . Martha , illustrating undeviating faith in thc hour of trial . " 5 . Electra , illustrating patience and submission under wrongs . "These are all Masonic virtues , and havenowherc

in history more brilliant exemplars than in thc five characters illustrated in the lectures of the Order of the Eastern Star . " The honourable and exalted purposes had in view in its dissemination can have no opposition worthy the name . Its effects in winning to thc

advocacy of Masonry the vittttous , intelligent , and influential lady members of our families arc truly encouraging , and stimulate its friends to persevere in a general promulgation of the system . According to the tenets ofthe Order of the Eastern Star , Adoptive Masonry stands a bright monument to

female secrecy and fidelity , and proves how wrong all those are who fancy a woman is not to be trusted . There is not in the whole of the ceremonies of this rite a single point with which thc most ascetic moralist could find fault . On the contrary , all is pure , all is beautiful ; it is among thc brightest

jewels which spangles thc records of Masonry . As the Adoptive privileges ofthe lady entirely depend upon the good standing and affiliation of the brother through whom she is introduced , this system will be a strong inducement , it is thought , to keep

a brother , otherwise inclined to err , within thc bounds of morality . A general diffusion of this rite will tend to supersede the other so-called female degrees as being , at the best , but trivial and henceforth superfluous and useless . "

I purpose giving in my next article the prescribed rules and other matters calculated to engage thc attention ofa !! interested in the subject under discussion . C . S .

Bro. Hughan And The Bible Question.

BRO . HUGHAN AND THE BIBLE QUESTION .

( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) I trust that few readers of your paper will disagree with me that Bro . W . J . Hughan stands among the foremost in unearthing and bringing to light information derived from authenic sources . Among other productions from his

prolific pen , the Fraternity are particularly indebted to our worthy brother for his contribution to the "Kingston Annual , 1871 "—a history ofthe G . L . of York . Until very recently the said G . L . was regarded by many almost as a myth . Those who undertook to write about

it vied with each other , not to enlighten , but to befog . All the information they gave was that it began in the days of Athelstan , and ended , " the Lord knows when . " Bro . Findel threw some light on the subject , but Bro . Hughan exposed the whole to daylight I therefore

always take pleasure in reading Bro . Hughan ' s contributions , and have always relied on the correctness of his quotations , and generally approve of his inferences and conclusions . In your issue of January 7 th , Bro . Hughan clearly proved by many citations from old Constitutions ,

& c , that the bricklayer and stone-worker associations of the middle ages were , and had to be , Roman Catholics . I do not object to his proofs—nay , I even thank him for it , and earnestly wish that either Bro . Hughan or some enterprising brother would furnish the Masonic

world with a complete set of all the old documents and allusions appertaining to the old building guilds now scattered in the English libraries , so that brethren residing at a distance from their place of deposit might have an opportunity of judging for themselves the amount of

actual value the information derived from them could be to our Freemasonry . But while thanking Bro . Hughan even for the fragmentary extracts , I must most respectfully dissent from his motives for furnishing them , and the conclusions they lead him to . Bro . Hughan appears

to labour under the impression that those who would approve the removal of the Bible from the lodge were ignorant of the fact which his citations prove . Now , the only persons who expressed an opinion touching the removal of the Bible were Bro . Buchan ancl myself * but as

Bro . Buchan and myself never disputed the Christianity of the Operative Masons , the information of Bro . Hughan , as far as the retention of thc Bible is concerned , is superfluous . The question is not what religious belief was necessary in order to bean Operative , but a

Speculative Mason ; nor do I care whether Anderson copied the charges verbatim , or whether he composed them himself . The charges as printed by Anderson in 1723 were then received with applause , and they are still printed in our Constitutions . The question is , Are those charges

consistent with the retention of sectarianism , even the Bible , in our assemblies ? My opinion is , that the charges are as inconsistent with our practice as the American declaration , that " all men were born free and equal , " was with their Constitution when it legalised human slavery .

Bro . Hughan justly objects to the Scotch practice of pretending to cosmopolitanism , and when the candidate had crossed thc threshold of the lodge , to find out , that Scotch cosmopolitanism " is all my eye - " in short , Bro . Hughan objects to it because such practice is neither more nor

less than cheating ; and if my worthy brother had only followed up his own logic , he would have found that the Scotch practice and his own conclusions arc very much alike . Thc man who cheats another out of a pound inflicts a greater loss on his victim than the one who cheats to

the extent of a shilling •but in the eye of justice the offence is equal . Before , however , proceeding with my argument , I beg to premise that if a stranger were for thc first time to fall into a company of Christians ,

and listen to thc constant repetition of such phrases as " Christian charity , " " Christian goodness , " " Christian mercy , " " Christian civilisation , " & c , he might be led to imagine that Christianity possesses a code of ethics peculiar to itself , and that goodness , mercy , charity , & c ,