Craftswomen (ICHF paper 2007)

[Tamrin]

Conclusion:

While we may debate details concerning the involvement of women in the medieval building trades, we find they had an enduring presence that was sufficient for their participation to be legitimized in the Old Charges. I conclude therefore, that the Emperor has no clothes!—That no amount of repetition can make a falsehood true!—And that there were women in the building trades and as Stonemasons!

[Tamrin]

Appendix:

A few examples of the argument that women are excluded
from Freemasonry because they were never Stonemasons:

His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent, (the Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England since 1967), on being asked: ‘Sir, in 1986 how do you justify the exclusion of women?¹

’That is I think largely an historical affair. It's simply that Freemasonry as you may know stems right back into the Middle Ages, there were no practicing women Masons who operated on building sites as they were in those days, and it was from those origins that Masonry largely derives, and it is simply that this is the way it has grown up. I wouldn't say that this is a situation that will necessarily persist forever, but certainly for the moment I don't think it is regarded as a live issue in Freemasonry.

Robert Ramsay, 1880, Voice of Masonry:²

The ancient regulations, charges, and obligations, one and all, exclude her from a participation in the ceremonies.

René Guénon, 1964, Studies in Freemasonry & the Copmpagnonnage:³

The true reason for the absence of any feminine initiation in the contemporary West is that all the initiations it retains are based essentially on trades the exercise of which pertains exclusively to men...

Robert I. Clegg, 1898, Mackey's History of Freemasonry:⁴

Operative Craft from of old has been by law restricted to men. These ancient regulations were doubtless in the first place due to custom and to courtesy due to the female sex. That the labor of the builder and stonecutter was universally thought as peculiarly befitting the strength and place of men seems to us most probable.

Dr. Crucefix, 1877, The Royal Masonic Cyclopaedia:⁵

The only reason why ladies cannot be present in an open Lodge of Freemasons is, that their mysteries, being symbolical of labour as performed by men, could not in that case be shared by women...

Eugen Lennoff, 1934, The Freemasons:⁶

[When he] … expressly barred women from admission into the Society, Anderson only followed the principles of the ancient operatives, to whose gilds members of the female sex were in no circumstances admitted.

Robert Macoy, 1869, A Dictionary of Freemasonry:⁷

As Masonry, at its origin, and through many centuries, was occupied solely with physical labors, in which females do not participate, the instructions of ancient Masonry are only suited to the male sex; consequently women would not find themselves interested in our symbolical Lodges.

John G. Sullivan, 1986, Prosper the Art:⁸

Freemasonry stems from the all-male culture of the ancient stonemason where the presence of women was unknown. Subsequently, the constitution of our speculative order was so framed as to forbid the admission of females into Masonic assemblies.

Robert L.D. Cooper, 2006, Cracking the Freemason's Code:⁹

As there were no women stonemasons in medieval times, Freemasonry is simply continuing a centuries-old custom and practice by not admitting women today.

Roy Wells, 1982, Freemasonry—Men Only!¹⁰

Why is Freemasonry under the United Grand Lodge of England restricted to men only? It is a question that is frequently raised and the only way to understand that situation, and to avoid hasty conclusions, is carefully to examine the roots of organised Freemasonry as well as the behaviour which was built into it, by conduct required and encouraged amongst stonemasons and the trade guilds in the sixteenth century and even earlier.

Albert Mackey, 1874, Encyclopedia of Freemasonry:¹¹

Now, as we admit of no innovation or changes in our customs, Speculative Masonry retains, and is governed by, all the rules and regulations that existed in and controlled its Operative prototype. Hence, as in this latter art only hale and hearty men, in possession of all their limbs and members, so that they might endure the fatigues of labor, were employed, so in the former the rule still holds, of excluding all who are not in the possession of these prerequisite qualifications. Woman is not permitted to participate in our rites and ceremonies, not because we deem her unworthy or unfaithful, or incapable, as has been foolishly supposed, of keeping a secret, but because on our entrance into the Order, we found certain regulations which prescribed that only men capable of enduring the labor, or of fulfilling the duties of Operative Masons could be admitted.

Masters' and Past Masters' Lodge, 1972, ‘Questions and Answers’:¹²

The restriction of Freemasonry to men alone is obviously due to its operative origins, it being evolved from the Lodges of Operative Masons in the Middle Ages, membership of which was, by reason of the nature of the trade, restricted to the male sex.

J.W. Stubbs, 1967, ‘The Last Fifty Years’ (an official history of the U.G.L. of England):¹³

In 1921 an approach was made to Grand Lodge for recognition by the `Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Masonry'; in a reply starting for obvious reasons `Dear Madam' the Grand Secretary made it plain that the admission of women was utterly foreign to the original plan of Freemasonry to which English Freemasons had adhered from time immemorial.

¹Interviewer & H.R.H. the Duke of Kent, quoted in S.C.R.L., op. cit., p.13.

²<www.themasonictrowel.com/Articles/General/female_files/masonry_and_woman.htm#top>.

³R. Guénon, op. cit., p.55.

⁴R.I. Clegg, Mackey’s History, op. cit., v.6, p.1992.

⁵Dr. Crucefix quoted in Kenneth Mackenzie, 1987 (org. 1877), The Royal Masonic Cyclopedia, The Aquarian Press, Wellingborough, U.K., p.217.

⁶Eugen Lennhoff, 1978 (org. 1934), The Freemasons: The History, Nature, Development and Secret of the Royal Art, (trans. E. Frame), A. Lewis, London, p.335.

⁷Robert Macoy, 1989 (org. 1869), A Dictionary of Freemasonry: A Compendium of Masonic History,Symbolism, Rituals, Literature and Myth, Bells Publishing Company, New York, p.394.

⁸Sullivan, John G., 1986, ‘Women and Freemasonry’, Prosper the Art, Square One Publications, Melbourne, p.56.

⁹Robert L.D. Cooper, 2006, Cracking the Freemason’s Code: The Truth about Solomon’s Key and the Brotherhood, Rider, London, p.199.

¹⁰Roy, A. Wells, n.d., Freemasonry—Men Only!, audio tape, (start of side two): Adapted from his 1982 inaugural address as President of the London Grand Rank Association, 20 May 1982, Freemasonry—A Male Exclusive, at Conway Hall, Led Lion Square, London, (unpublished draft or transcript with corrections).

¹¹A.G., Mackey’s Encyclopedia, op. cit., p.1013.

¹²A.R. Chambers, (Editor), 1972, Questions and Answers: The Questions and Answers dealt with in the Transactions of the Masters' and Past Masters' Lodge up to June, 1971, Masters' and Past Masters' Lodge No. 130 (New Zealand Constitution), p.307.

¹³Stubbs, J.W., 1967, ‘The Last Fifty Years’, Grand Lodge: 1717 – 1967, printed for the United Grand Lodge of England, London, pp.163/4.

[Solomon]

Aug 30, 2008 9:03:47 GMT 10 Tamrin said:

To avoid distraction, to comment on this thread please do so on the appropriate thread, under Topics.

Be content, my friend Zabud!
The time will soon come when a door will be left open for your reception

In view of the selective nature of membership, the mature responses thus far and despite having been taught to be cautious, I appear to have been too cautious and have accordingly unlocked this thread.

[Tamrin]

Belated congratulations to the Manchester Association for Masonic Research. Widely considered to be the finest British Masonic research institution outside of London, it has recently celebrated its centenary. Many thanks to the association for the invitation for me to speak on the occasion and I am deeply honoured that the paper was presented on my behalf, despite my being unable to attend. Dr. Bob James of The Australian Centre for Fraternal Studies, who was in attendance, today informed me that it was positively received.

May, 27 - Centenary of the
Manchester Association for Masonic Research

The Manchester Association for Masonic Research celebrates its centenary on Wednesday 27 May 2009 with an ambitious lecture program and other events open to the public.

Guided visits to the superb Chetham and Rylands Libraries in Manchester will be available in the morning. After an informal lunchtime, celebration of the Centenary will commence at 2pm. This will include talks by several rare world-class speakers. In the evening there will be a chance to hear the 2009 Prestonian Lecturer, WBro John Wade (himself a vice-president of MAMR) on the topic of ‘Masonic Processions’. Ladies will be welcome throughout the day and may find the occasion of more than usual interest!

Programme

2.00pm - Presidential welcome, followed by the 2009 Prestonian Lecture: Go and do thou likewise: English Masonic Processions from the 18th to the 20th Centuries
by Dr John Wade (MAMR and Quatuor Coronati Lodge 2076)

3.00pm -The Synogogue and the Lodge: Aspects of the fraternal integration of Jews in early America by Dr Susan Mitchell Sommers (USA)

4.15pm - Craftswomen in the Old Charges, in the building trade and as Stonemasons by Philip Carter 100 YEARS (Australia) presented by Fred Lomax (MAMR)

5.00pm - British Freemasonry - Fact or Fiction? By Dr Bob James (Australia)

5.45pm - Question and Comment time Association for Masonic Research

6.30pm - Drinks reception

7.15 - 9.30pm - Centenary Dinner. Open to Ladies, Non-Masons and Freemasons at Freemasons’ Hall in Manchester

MAMR is the North of England's foremost Research body, annually publishing a volume of illustrated Transactions containing contributions by leaders in the field. Speakers are often of International status. When coupled with the Centre for Research into Freemasonry and Fraternalism (CRFF) at Sheffield and the Masonic libraries available at Manchester (John Rylands and Central) and Sheffield (Tapton Hall and Douglas Knoop Centre), the combination results in truly excellent facilities from which to pursue learning about Freemasonry.

[Tamrin]

Last night, on behalf of the Newcastle Masonic Study Circle, I had the honour of presenting this paper in my home town, to the Masters' and Wardens' Association of the Newcastle Districts. My last address to them had been over twenty years' ago on the broader subject of Are We Justified in Excluding Women?

[Tamrin]

Cathedrals of Europe

Many of the Medieval cathedrals of Europe were constructed over many centuries under the direction of a series of Master Builders or Architects. Often these Master Builders were buried in the cathedral and many of them were women. Medieval reords also confirm that many of the skilled stonemasons, or fellows of the craft, were also women. Construction of Cologne Cathedral began in 1248 and was completed 632 years later. Cologne cathedral employs the best stonemasons of the Rhineland for constant repair and maintenance work. The current Master Builder of Cologne cathedral is Barbara Schock-Werner.

[Tamrin]

Star stonemason Samantha wins top award

A former stonemasonry apprentice from City of Bath College is celebrating after receiving one of the industry's top awards.

Samantha Peacock, 24, who studied an NVQ Level 3 in stonemasonry at the College's Construction Skills Centre, was awarded the coveted accolade of Stonemason Trainee of the Year 2010 from the Stone Federation of Great Britain...

[Tamrin]

Stonemasons become 2012 William Morris Fellows

Two stonemasons and a bricklayer have been chosen as SPAB’s 2012 William Morris Craft Fellows.

Since 1987 The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) has organised the unique training scheme, The William Morris Craft Fellowship, to foster a new generation of outstanding craftsmen and women with the knowledge and expertise to pass on the skills that are essential when working with the historic fabric of buildings. The scheme runs in parallel with SPAB’s Scholarship for architectural and building professionals.

Stonemasons Samantha Peacock, who is on the left of the picture at the top, and Callum Plews join bricklayer Emily Hale on the six-month programme of visits to projects and workshops in all parts of the country, paid for by SPAB.

They will learn about traditional building techniques from skilled craftsmen and women who have already established their careers. You can follow their progress at SPAB’s new dedicated blog: spabscholarsandfellows.wordpress.com.