On the 11th of May 2021, I attended a Provincial Zoom meeting on Women in Freemasonry. The fraternity’s current Grand Master, Christine Chapman, gave a fascinating and informative talk on the subject. I am sure, like myself, you only had limited knowledge of their existence in the UK.
In explaining their rise from 1913 when the current organisation was formed, their history dates back to a definitive link with French masonry where women have been established there for some time.
The common, but suspect theory associated with the establishment of women in the fraternity derives from one lady of a prominent male mason overhearing a Lodge meeting in a large private house and was caught ‘eaves dropping’ by the Tyler, who was the butler. To preserve the ritual secrets that she overheard, they made her a mason by initiating her into their Lodge. This appears, however, to be a good story but maybe not entirely true!
What is true is the connection with French Co-Freemasonry and a steady progression of women demanding more important roles in society during the early 1900s.
Many suffragettes became lady Freemasons as the organisation began to grow in the UK. At present, there are 700 members with, according to Christine, 80 awaiting initiation and some 200+ vesting a strong interest since lockdown.
The principles and tenets on which their Order is founded are the same as our own being Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth, and their ritual is all Universal.
The added principles of Friendship, Inspiration and Empowerment also feature highly in their profile which can be studied in more detail by going on to their website hfaf.org together with added material on Solomon Live accessed via UGLE.
There are also Women Chapters and KT, and prior to lockdown, moves were being made to add other side degrees, such as The Secret Monitor.
Acceptance by UGLE has been slow but now gaining momentum and ‘Women in Freemasonry’ as the organisation is currently known is working alongside UGLE in many aspects of the male dominated sectors but still has not gained full recognition which maybe is only a matter of time?
I strongly recommend, therefore, that you visit their website by the link added to our site below where you will find further interesting information and who knows, your own Wife or partner may wish to seek to join, and details on how to are listed on the site.
Tony Saunders
Secretary
Heritage Lodge No 5572