On the initiation of women in GOdF Lodges

[jmd]

I mentioned in another forum, and others before me also noted in yet different forums, the wonderful event that took place some only recently in what is now a number of Lodges of the Grand Orient de France - France's oldest Grand Lodge, and the second oldest in the world.

Until this time, it had remained a masculine-only Grand Orient, though admittedly, as with most GL in France, in amity relation and intervisitation rights with many other French and other GLs that already allow women.

This is a major event and shows the ongoing progressive nature of this GL reflecting the light and impulse of Freemasonic principles.

candide.over-blog.fr/article-19865794.html

As the blog explains, however, the last convention (equivalent to our local Quaterly Communications, it seems) had clearly stated that the GOdF was not an exclusively masculine Order, and at the same time acknowledging that (at that time true) only women were initiated in its ranks.

The GOdF has of course acknowledged that the women that have been initiated in its Lodges have been so regularly, and by so doing, though there may be pressure from some misogynists and bigots that the Lodges be harshly dealt with, it will need to clearly re-state its view that the GOdF is not exclusively masculine, and that now, some of its Lodges have indeed initiated women, which it has as full Freemasonic members amongst its ranks.

I look forward to this announcement, which I expect will be made before the end of this year.

Another Berlin wall collapses!

[Tamrin]

Thank you for sharing this truly wonderful news, Bro. JMD. With developments afoot elsewhere, I suspect we have reached a turning point.

[Tamrin]

Les dames en maçonnerie, une histoire récente
Ladies in masonry, a recent history

[Excerpt - Article by Chantal Savioz, Les Quotidiennes 31 May 2009 - Linked Above -
translated below with the help of Babel Fish]

«La féminisation de la franc-maçonnerie est à la fois inéluctable, réelle, mais lente». Jean-Pierre Bacot, docteur en sociologie et lui-même franc-maçon vient de faire le point sur les femmes et l’ordre maçonnique en Europe. Dans une société basée sur les rites institués il y a trois siècles et dont les statuts bannissaient purement et simplement les femmes, celles-ci ont obtenu une place au prix d’un long combat. Des loges féminines dites d’adoption (sous tutelle d’obédiences masculines) ont certes existé depuis des siècles. La constitution de grandes loges exclusivement féminines est cependant récente. Et leur accès aux obédiences traditionnelles relève encore de la revendication, tout particulièrement en France.

En 2008, le grand orient de France procédait à un coup de force. Les partisans de la mixité ont ainsi initié «sauvagement» six femmes. L’affaire s’est soldée par un procès devant la chambre suprême de justice maçonnique. 169 personnes y ont comparu. Le verdict a conclu à l’arrêt des poursuites, moyennant la fin des initiations de femmes et le silence des frondeurs.

C’est dire l’importance de l’enjeu. Selon Jean-Pierre Bacot, une évolution du grand orient de France vers une mixité totale et partielle pourrait s’avérer une étape importante vers l’«inéluctable» féminisation de la franc-maçonnerie.

Les sœurs suisses se révèlent plus dociles. Elles ne revendiquent pas le droit à l’initiation dans les loges masculines. Et il est difficile de les imaginer envahir l’espace public, banderoles au poing. A en croire Geneviève (prénom fictif), responsable de la GLFS, il n’y a aucun désir de rompre la sacro-sainte tradition. «Nous souhaiterions cependant que certains frères que nous recevons en visite, nous acceptent à leur tour dans leurs réunions», ose la grande maîtresse, désignant la grande loge de Suisse alpina. Un rappel à la simple réciprocité qui place les sœurs suisses à des lieues de la position revendicatrice de leurs alter ego françaises.

"The feminization of freemasonry is at the same time inescapable, real, but slow". Jean-Pierre Bacot, doctor of sociology and himself a freemason has just given a progress report on the women and the Masonic order in Europe. In a society based on rites instituted three centuries ago and whose statutes purely and simply banished women, they obtained a place at the price of a long combat. Female lodges known as lodges of adoption (under supervision of male obediences) certainly existed for centuries. The creation of exclusively female Grand Lodges is however recent. And their claim to access traditional obediences is still an issue, particularly in France.

In 2008, the Grand Orient of France experienced a forceful takeover. Supporters of mixed masonry "wildly" initiated six women. The action led to a lawsuit before the supreme chamber of masonic justice. 169 people appeared there. In its verdict, the supporters of mixed masonry were ordered to cease helping in the initiations of women and were told not to speak out.

There is [said to be] an important issue of the stake. According to Jean-Pierre Bacot, the evolution of the Grand Orient of France towards a total and partial mixed masonry could prove to be a big step towards the “eventual” feminization of freemasonry.

Their Swiss sisters appear to be more flexible. They do not assert their right to initiation in the male lodges. And it is difficult to imagine them publicly demonstrating, banners in hand. According to Genevieve (fictitious name), the presiding officer of the GLFS, they has no desire to break the sacred tradition. “We would wish however that certain brothers that we allow to visit, accept us in turn at their meetings”, dares the Grand Mistress, indicating the Grand Lodge Swiss Alpina. A call for simple reciprocity, which places the Swiss sisters miles from the claims of their French sisters.

So much for Liberté, égalité, fraternité. Odd how the proposition that candidates be accepted or not on their personal merits, without regard for gender, is thought to inevitably result in the feminization of an institution!? And would that be a bad thing? (A psychoanalyst would have a field day). I am reminded of Socrates having said, "Once made equal to man, woman becomes his superior." We have the examples of co-masonry and social norms in the wider community ready to hand, where is the problem?

[magusmasonica]

The Grand Lodges (Grand Orients) time has passed. We live in the Post-Modern era. The human equation demands that lodges go independent and be in charge of their own destiny.

[Tamrin]

Jul 21, 2009 5:47:17 GMT 10 magusmasonica said:

The Grand Lodges (Grand Orients) time has passed. We live in the Post-Modern era. The human equation demands that lodges go independent and be in charge of their own destiny.

Good sentiments underlie your idea Brad. However, I believe there remains a place for Grand Lodges and Grand Orients. For instance in your other recent quote concerning the Shriners, I believe that, as a last resort, GL/O's should be able to proscribe organisations, such as the Jesters, which are beyond the pale. I appreciate they presently allow such cross membership and instead are overly concerned with proscribing just and upright masonic obediences: This however, is a problem of application rather than of principle.

Similarly, we are arguably in a Post-Post-Modern era: The so-called War on Terror sees a renewed focus on private assemblies. As with the Unlawful Societies Act of 1799, from which mainstream Freemasonry was granted a specific exemption, Grand Lodges are in a position to vouch for their member lodges.

[magusmasonica]

Does anyone have any contact info for these five lodges who took this wonderful step towards intergretion? These are brave and noble Brothers who need our support.

Love and Light,

[Tamrin]

After some deliberations and motions back and forth, the GOdF appear to have settled on the initial decision to allow its lodges to admit women: See Le Grand Orient s'ouvre aux femmes by François Koch (translation below):

Electric shock in a very masculine Masonic landscape, the largest French obedience, 50,000 Brothers strong, officially recognized on Friday the freedom of the Lodges to initiate women.

Will the Grand Orient become a mixed obedience?

The Grand Orient, an almost three hundred years old federation of Lodges where only men had been fully initiated, regularly submitted the question to its annual assemblies in September, but a majority never emerged in favor of the right of Lodges to accept Sisters or to initiate women. This refusal appeared quite regressive, in view of the proportion of women, which has remained since 2000 at 17% of all French Freemasons. The current Grand Master, Pierre Lambicchi, chose to change the method, by not waiting for the new assembly of the Lodges in September, in two ways:

1. On January 21, 2010, Olivia Chaumont, a transsexual, was recognized as a Sister of the Grand Orient. This was an innovation, as the predecessors of Pierre Lambicchi had preferred to discreetly direct the Brothers who became women to the mixed or feminine Lodges.

2. On April 8, 2010, the Supreme Court of Masonic Justice (CSJM) ruled that the Lodges are free to initiate women without violating the General Regulations of the obedience. The CSJM was approached by Pierre Lambicchi himself 15 days ago, The Grand Master wished that it would consider the question posed by the Lodges that initiated six women a year ago. In spite of the disavowal by the majority of the Brothers in a vote of the assembly of September 2009, they persisted in arguing that they had the right to initiate whomever they wanted in their own group.

In view of this leading decision by the CSJM, the six women initiated into the Grand Orient in a quasi clandestine manner could be officially recognized by the obedience. Other Sisters are sure to follow them.

Will the Grand Orient become a mixed obedience? In practice, yes. Officially, no. "We are not in the regular manner a mixed obedience," Pierre Lambicchi explained to L'Express. A very Masonic subtlety to calm tensions on a controversial issue? A prudent statement about what, in the land of the Brothers of the three points, constitutes a small revolution.

Thanks for the email Bro. (I respect your wish to remain anonymous)