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Not only have there been female Freemasons in the past, but there are currently female Freemasons today.
It's a complicated question; Grand Lodges following the tradition of the United Grand Lodge of England (the oldest Grand Lodge of Freemasonry) do not permit female members. This includes all US Grand lodges of Free and Accepted Masons, the Grand Lodge of Scotland and the Grand Lodge of Ireland. The third of the Old Charges, (the governing rules of Freemasonry), states: "The persons admitted Members of a Lodge must be good and true Men, free-born, and of mature and discreet Age, no Bondmen, no Women, or immoral or scandalous Men, but of good Report."
There are at least two historical instances in which a woman was initiated. In the 19th centurey Mrs. Richard Aldworth was duly obligated both as a Mason after witnessing a Tiled lodge. The lodge members felt it was the only way to maintain secrecy.
The second instance concerns Helene, Countess Hadik Barkoczy, born 1833, and "made a Mason" in Lodge Egyenloseg, in 1875.
Women are accepted as members in some French lodges and there are some groups in the US that practice co-masonry (co-ed) but these are considered irregular or clandestine by most Masonic Lodges.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoYes, and no... "Regular" Freemasonry, which is recognized throughout the world and has a direct linage to at least the 1600's in Britain, does not allow women as members. There have, however, been various irregular lodges that have allowed women to join since at least the 1700's, particularly in the Netherlands and France. There are still groups today, such as "co-masonry," that have both men and women as members, but they are not recognized as Freemasons by the majority of Grand Lodges throughout the world, and so cannot participate with any of them in Masonic activities.
It is sort of like a group of people who calls themselves Catholic Christians, but have beliefs and practices that are very different from those of the Catholic Church in Rome. They can call themselves whatever they want, believe whatever they want, and do whatever they want, but the Roman Catholic Church does not recognize them as being part of itself, and may not recognize them as "Christian" either. That doesn't mean they are wrong, but they are not part of the larger, older, group.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoMen are Freemasons only, but there are bodies of Freemasonry that women join, such as the Order of Eastern Stars (OES) or Rainbow Girls.
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Do you have to be a man to be a free mason?
Yes (and no kinda) yes, because to be a member of a traditional, regular and recognized Masonic lodge you must me Male. No, because there are what are known as irregular or Clandestine lodges that include in their lodge, elements not in line with the ancient and established traditions of Free Masonry. A big no-no in any regular lodge is to initiate a women as a Mason. However, there are many clandestine lodges out there that do confer Masonic degrees on and make women Master Masons. There are coed and all female lodges all over the USA and in Europe. As far as any regular Grand Lodge is concerned these women are not really masons and Members like myself from recognized lodges are forbidden from having any Masonic contact with clandestine lodges and their members.
Are black masons welcome to white masonic lodges?
No
Are african-americans allowed in the masonic lodge?
Yes, there are African-American members of Masonic Lodges.
Where do you find masonic lodges in Zimbabwe?
A list of Lodges in Zimbabwe can be found at the related link.
Where are found in Tanzania?
All over the place, but certainly in Masonic Lodges when they meet.
Which schools are under freemason in Tanzania?
I am not aware of any Tanzanian schools which are sponsored by or supported by Masonic Lodges. I would consider such a thing unlikely.
Where are freemasons found in Tanzania?
All over the place, but certainly in Masonic Lodges when they meet.
Do Blue Lodges rent premises for their meetings?
Some do; others own their own buildings. Sometimes a group of Lodges will get together to maintain a Masonic Hall run by a central board from which the Lodges can rent space.
How many masonic lodges in england?
The United Grand Lodge of England has over 8,000 Lodges, but not all of these are in England. Some are in Wales, and in various parts of Africa and Asia which do not have a local Grand Lodge.
How many Masonic temples are located in London?
There are 24 Masonic temples located in the London area. The Freemason's Hall is the London headquarters of the United Grand Lodge of England and is the central meeting location of London area Masonic lodges.
Do you have to be a man to be able to be a freemason?
There are three types of Freemasonry in the world today: By far the largest is "masculine Freemasonry", and is typically the Freemasonry with which everyone is familiar. These Lodges do not allow females to be made a Mason - one must be a man to petition and receive degrees. There are also a small number of "Co-Masonic" Lodges which welcome both men and women as Masons. These are termed "irregular" by the predominant masculine Masonic bodies. The smallest group is "feminine Freemasonry", which only welcomes women as Masons. Feminine Masonry is also considered "irregular" by the predominant masculine Masonic bodies. The small number of Co-Masonic and Feminine Masonic Lodges are not due to any type of repression or stigmatization, but rather an apparent lack of interest on the part of females in becoming Freemasons.
Is Halle Berry a Freemason?
Unlikely. There are very very few Masonic Lodges in North America which admit women.
