UGLE Extracts Re Women and Masonry

[Tamrin]

EXTRACTS FROM REPORTS OF THE
UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND
RE WOMEN AND CLANDESTINE IRREGULAR
FREEMASONRY.

(U.G.L. Communication, September 3, 1919.)

The Board's attention is being increasingly drawn to sedulous endeavours which are being made by certain bodies unrecognised as Masonic by the United Grand Lodge of England to induce Freemasons to join in their assemblies. As all such bodies which admit women to membership are clandestine and irregular, it is necessary to caution Brethren against being inadvertently led to violate their obligations by becoming members of them or attending their meetings. Grand Lodge, nine years since, approved the action of the Board in suspending from all Masonic rights and privileges two Brethren who had contumaciously failed to explain the grave Masonic irregularity to which attention is now again called; and it is earnestly hoped that no occasion will arise for having again to institute disciplinary proceedings of a like kind.

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(U.G.L. Communication, March 2, 1921.)

Freemasons’ Hall,
London, W.C. 2,
February, 1921.

Dear Madam,

I have laid before the Board of general Purposes your communication of November last, enclosing a petition from a body styling itself the Honourable Fraternity of Antient, Masonry, praying recognition from the United Grand Lodge of Antient, Free and Accepted masons of England.

The Board, after giving full consideration to this petition and the explanatory statement from yourself with which it was accompanied, directs me to state that it cannot recommend the prayer of the petition for acceptance by Grand Lodge. The body from which that document emanates claims in the words of the petition, to be “a genuine Masonic Organisation …. Working on strictly orthodox lines …. And departing from them only in the one matter of the admission of women.” This “one matter” affects a principle on which the United Grand Lodge of England has always stood firm, and concerning which it admits no compromise. No woman can be a Freemason according to the original Plan of Freemasonry to which English Freemasons have from time immemorial adhered. Every Brother among them is pledged while respecting genuine and true Brethren wherever they are to be met, to discountenance all dissenters from that original Plan, and to admit that it is not in the power of any man or body to make innovation in the Body of Masonry. In these conditions, it is impossible for the Board of General Purposes to recommend to Grand Lodge the prayer of the petition; and it will continue to exercise its disciplinary powers towards any member working under the English Jurisdiction who violates his Obligation by being present at or assisting in assemblies professing to be Masonic which are attended by women.

Yours faithfully,
(Signed) P. COLVILLE SMITH,
Grand Secretary

The President of the Board of General Purposes: M.W. Pro. Grand Master, I have to move that the report be received, adopted and entered on the Minutes. The report is of an unusually important character, but one part, and not the least important, will come before Grand Lodge in the form of a separate resolution. As to the remainder, the parts, I think, which can be described as of the greatest importance and significance to the Craft are those which deal with two thorny subjects—the recognition of foreign Grand Lodges and the association of women with Freemasonry. The Board, with the assent of the advisers of the Grand Master, have taken the unusual course of giving in full, in the appendix to the report now presented, statements which set out with clearness the position taken up by the Grand Lodge of England on these two points. It has been a subject for complaint in the past on the part of other Jurisdictions that, while the United Grand Lodge of England took its decisions on great issues and adhered to them, there was no clear statement available of the reasons why those decisions had been taken. That is not quite the case as regards our foreign relationships, though it is nearly fifty years since the matter was fully discussed in Grand Lodge on the question of our severance with French Freemasonry, when the facts were clearly stated on both sides. In all the circumstances, it has been felt most desirable that our position should be placed not only before our own Brethren but before the Craft of the whole world. That has been done in this report, M.W. Pro. Grand Master; and, whatever view Grand Lodge may take in the future on either of these questions, we shall never again be able to be taunted with the assertion that we kept to ourselves our reasons, and, perhaps, because we could not clearly state them. They have now been clearly stated. They are open to challenge, either by Masons here or elsewhere, but at least no one will have the right in the future to say that we did not make up our minds on straight issues in a straightforward way. Therefore, M.W. Pro. Grand Master, I move that the report be received, adopted, and entered on the Minutes.

The Vice-President of the Board: I beg to second that.

W. Bro. R. Fox Warner (P.M. 2536) proposed that that part of the report which dealt with “the Honourable Fraternity of Antient, free and Accepted Masons of England,” should be referred back to the Board for further consideration and report. He did so because he thought there were very few members in the Temple that night who knew anything about that Fraternity. (A Voice: “Do you?”) The Board of General Purposes did, but he considered there was quite a possibility that that Fraternity might be mistaken or confused with Co-masonry, with which he had no sympathy. If it were a question of whether they were going to admit women into Masonry, he would be the last to suggest it. But those women knew very much about Masonry.

Various Brethren: How do you know?

W. Bro. Fox Warner: “I will tell you how I know. My wife happens to be one of them. (Loud laughter.) I happen to know several other ladies who are members, although I have never, of course, visited their lodges as I should have liked to have done to see for myself.” He, therefore, suggested that Grand Lodge should recognise them in some form and with conditions, one being that they should not initiate men (laughter), as what would be our position in five or ten years’ time when they had initiated a lot of men? (Renewed laughter.) They might meet such a man and ask him to their Lodge, and be put, as a result, to considerable trouble and difficulty, and summoned before Grand Lodge to give an explanation. It would, therefore, be to the advantage of Freemasons to acknowledge the Fraternity in some way, on condition that it did certain things we wanted. If the matter were reconsidered by the Board of General Purposes, they would enlighten the Brethren more than at present, about which there was very little in the report; and he was sure the Board would not mind doing so.

Bro. G.J. Perkins (P.M. 2536) seconded the amendment.

The M.W. Pro. Grand Master: Brethren, it was proposed and seconded that this report be adopted; since when an amendment has been moved to the effect that that part of the report which refers to the Fraternity of Antient Masons be referred back to the Board of General Purposes. The amendment is under discussion.

The President of the Board of General Purposes: I do not think Grand Lodge will desire to discuss this matter at any length (“Hear, hear!”), and I, therefore, say at once that I am convinced that the Board would not be prepared to reconsider the decision to which it has come, even if Grand Lodge refers it back. I am bound to say that quite plainly. The matter was considered very fully, so fully that, despite the fact that the proposer of the amendment says there is very little about it in the report; seldom, if ever before, I believe, has any contentious subject had so much space as in the present report and appendix of the Board. M.W. Pro. Grand Master, the proposal upon the face of it is impossible that we should recognise this body because it is said that some lady has told a Mason that she possess all our Masonic secrets, and that Mason says he has tested this lady as to whether she does possess them. One cannot help asking whether that Brother inspired so much confidence in one claiming to be a female Freemason by imparting various secrets to her, in order to show that he was a genuine male one. The matter really does not bear examination (Applause.) Either our Brotherhood maintains its purity in this regard, or it becomes a mixed assembly of any who claim to have become possessed in some way of our secrets. We do not, and we will not, recognise that. (Renewed applause.) If it be that there are Lodges—as the proposer of the amendment thinks—in which it is possible for people belonging to spurious bodies to obtain admittance by the simple statement that they are Masons, then those Lodges ought to be sternly disciplined (“Hear, hear!”), as in every Lodge and for every visitor there ought to be a severe test before the entrance of an unknown visitor is permitted. M.W. Pro. Grand master, I see no chance whatever of the Board’s decision, which was reached after very mature thought and close consideration, being in any way altered. (Applause.)

The M.W. Pro. Grand Master then put the amendment, and said: I can count only two votes for the amendment. It is, therefore, lost. Does any Brother wish to speak on the substantive motion that the report be adopted?

W. Bro. F.C.C.M. Fighiera (P.A.G.D.C.): I only want to make one enquiry. I take it that, when this report has been adopted, the matter will be promulgated through the various Lodges, and possibly something read at their meetings. Obviously, as the report stands to-day, it is seen by members of Grand Lodge; but with the flood of new members we are getting into Masonry, they may fall into the error of visiting one of those Lodges without having had an opportunity of knowing what the views of Grand Lodge are. I throw that out as a suggestion to save trouble in the future.

The President of the Board of General Purposes: With the exception of a slight inaccuracy in fact, I entirely agree with W. Bro. Fighiera. That slight inaccuracy is that this report is seen only by members of Grand Lodge. This is a mistake which is made by many Grand Lodge Officers. As a matter of fact, the report is sent to the Worshipful Master of every Lodge in the English jurisdiction, so that each Lodge will receive the report, together with the account of our proceedings to-night. But the suggestion just made is an admirable one; and I think that Grand Lodge will agree that, in sending out this report, a special circular should go from the Grand Secretary directing Secretaries of Lodges that that part of the report which concerns women should be read at their next regular meeting.

The M.W. Pro. Grand Master: The question is that the report be received, adopted, and entered on the Minutes.

The resolution was carried nem con.

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(U.G.L. Communication, June 1, 1921.)

In accordance with the desire expressed by Grand Lodge at the Quarterly Communication of 2nd March last, there has been forwarded to the Secretary of every Lodge in the Jurisdiction a reprint of that portion of the Board’s last report which dealt with the questions of the relationship of the United Grand Lodge of England to Foreign Grand Jurisdictions and the admission of women to Freemasonry, with a direction that it should be read at the next Regular Meeting, in order that Brethren may not innocently be led to violate their obligations. The Grand Secretary, in sending this communication, stated that a sufficient number of copies would be supplied on the request of the Lodge Secretary for distribution to members of the Lodge; and already 100,000 have been applied for and distributed.

The necessity for the greatest caution being exercised by Brethren in dealing with bodies which, from a Masonic point of view, are clandestine or irregular, continues in a variety of ways to be illustrated. Brethren who served their country in a special capacity during the War are being invited to join an “Order,” the objects of which are stated to be “good fellowship, harmony, and benevolence.” While this body is not called Masonic, it officially states that there is a Grand Council composed of those who have passed the Chair, and that this Council grants charters and dispensations for the founding, opening, and consecration of Lodges. “There is a ceremony of initiation, simple but impressive,” while in each of such Lodges is an altar; and again to quote from the authorised statement, “The Lodge is dressed and regalia worn by the officers, and in the two Lodges already formed are to be found many Freemasons who take a great interest in the Society.” The claim made in the last sentence deserves serious consideration; and the greatest caution is enjoined upon Brethren when invited to assemblies of the kind indicated.

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(U.G.L. Communication, September 7, 1921.)

The chief matter referred to in the Board’s Report, and one which, by asking Grand Lodge to receive and adopt it, will make it a declaration of policy on the part of Grand Lodge, is that which refers to the Order of the Eastern Star. It has been a subject of long, careful, and even anxious consideration by the Board, which had no desire to bring the matter into this prominence until it was found necessary, as the Board considered, for the protection of the interests of the Craft, that it should be investigated and dealt with. Grand Lodge has before it in the Report a precise statement of the grounds on which the Board has judged concerning the Order of the Eastern Star. Though it is fair to that Order to state that it disclaims being a Masonic body, yet it insists upon a Masonic test for membership; and the Board holds that, as none but Freemasons can possibly judge the validity of the Masonic test, it is not right that bodies admitting women should have in themselves the power of saying that a certain person shall or shall not be elected, because he or she is not a Mason in good standing. It is impossible, according to our system, for a woman to apply the tests necessary; and the moment we say that any body of women can test whether a man is a Freemason, we may as well at once admit women to Masonry, a course Grand Lodge has always refused to adopt. But it may be said that the only requirement necessary to secure the knowledge that a particular person is a Mason in good standing is an application that is made to the Secretaries of our Lodges, to see whether a specified person who claims to be a member of that Lodge can be so described. Such applications have been received by Secretaries of our Lodges, and one which has come before me is signed by the woman secretary of an Eastern Star Chapter. We submit that nobody outside Masonry has a right to apply to a Masonic official for information which can only be known to him in his Masonic official capacity (Hear, hear!); and we say at once that no Secretary has the right to divulge anything in connection with the membership of his Lodge to anyone not a Freemason, and not to anyone who is a Mason unless there is good reason for the question being put and valid grounds submitted. (Applause.) I may add that I have to-day been assured that the Grand Chapter of Scotland of the Eastern Star strongly deprecates the putting of such questions to the Secretaries of our Lodges. The Grand Chapter of Scotland of the Eastern Star has supreme and exclusive jurisdiction over the whole of the Eastern Star in the British Dominions except—and this exception is of the greatest importance—the Continent of North America. It, therefore, cannot guarantee that our Secretaries shall not continue to receive such applications as we condemn. In fact, only yesterday at Freemasons’ Hall there was received from the Secretary of one of our Lodges a communication addressed to him by the Secretary of an Easter Star Chapter in America, asking for specific information as to whether a certain Brother was a Mason in good standing. Without in any way challenging the good faith, the excellent intentions, and, as I believe, in some directions the righteous work that is being done by the women members of the Eastern Star, we hold, as a Board, and we submit our conclusion to Grand Lodge, that no Mason has a right, as a Mason, to join a body which admits those who would not be admitted under the Book of Constitutions to a Lodge under the jurisdiction of the United Grand Lodge of England. (Hear, hear!) We want to make that point perfectly clear, because the danger is not illusory. So long as there was no real danger, we were not anxious to stir in the matter, but there lately has been great activities in certain of our Northern Provinces among the advocates of the Eastern Star; and it has been urged upon us by some Provincial authorities whose territory is being invaded in this way, that we ought to make the position clear, in order to prevent Brethren from inadvertently joining a body which makes Masonry in any form a test of membership, and which enacts, in regulations which I have before me, that a Mason in good standing must take a leading part in the initiation and other ceremonies within those Chapters. We hold clearly that no Mason under the British Jurisdiction has the right to associate himself as a Mason with such a proceeding. I think Brother Cobbett wishes to raise a point as to a phrase in the Report, and I will endeavour to answer the point at once. On page 3 in this statement: “No Freemason is entitled to attend, as such, any non-Masonic meeting at which Masonry by direct implication is introduced, or to participate in any ceremony which is quasi-Masonic or is held under some pseudo-Masonic and unauthorised auspices.” I understand that Bro. Cobbett objects to the use of the words “as such,” on the ground that it provides a loophole by which some who wish to join the Eastern Star might escape by saying: “Well, we did not go as Masons; we went as ordinary men.” I do not think that is a real danger; but it is a point on which I am certain the Board will agree with me that we should not be insistent, as long as we make clear that no Freemason is entitled to attend or assist at ceremonies which we hold to be dangerous to the Craft. I do not wish to go at this point into any detail as to the ritual of the Eastern Star, but I think that what we have stated in the Report suffices to show that this peril exists; and, in moving the adoption of this Report, I ask Grand Lodge to endorse the clear attitude the Board has taken up on the question. I, therefore, propose that the Report be received, adopted, and entered on the Minutes.

The Vice-President of the Board of General Purposes seconded the resolution.

W. Bro. Cobbett: In this part of the Hall, M.W. Pro. Grand Master, we had not all the pleasure of hearing everything that was stated by the President of the Board of General Purposes; but, if I understand that the words “as such” are to be deleted, I have no more to say. But, if not, I want to point out that, if no Freemason is entitled to attend “as such,” there is the natural inference that one may attend in any other capacity.

The M.W. Pro. Grand Master: Is Brother Cobbett moving an amendment? Is he moving to delete the words “as such”?

W. Bro. Cobbett: I do, M.W. Pro. Grand Master.

W. Bro. I.A. Symmons (P.A.G.Reg.): M.W. Pro. Grand Master, I beg to second the amendment. I suggest that, unless the phrase be changed round, any Freemason is entitled to attend any non-Masonic meeting at which Masonry by direct implication is introduced so long as he does not attend as a Mason. (Cries of “No.”) I ask the Deputy Grand Registrar to say whether, in his view, leaving the words “as such” does not convey the meaning I have given. I submit with great respect to Grand Lodge that, if you leave in the words “as such,” it means that any Mason is entitled to attend so long as he does not attend as a Mason..

The President of the Board of General Purposes: M.W. Pro. Grand Master, there is no need for a legal opinion to be sought in the matter. We were putting a practical point to practical men. As the words “as such” are construed differently to the way we thought it was possible to construe them, I am quite willing—and I am sure the Board will agree—that these words should be omitted. I therefore, now move that the Report be adopted, with the omission of the words “as such.”

The M.W. Pro. Grand Master: Brethren, I will not actually put the amendment, as it has been accepted by the President of the Board. The question is that the Report be received, adopted, and entered on the Minutes, with the words “as such” in line four on page three omitted.

The resolution was carried nem con.