Unveiling the Sisterhood: The Hidden History of Women and Freemasonry
When one pictures a Freemason, the image that typically comes to mind is that of a man in an apron, a member of a centuries-old fraternity steeped in tradition and secrecy. For much of its history, this image has been largely accurate. Freemasonry, in its most recognized form, has been a homosocial institution, a brotherhood of men dedicated to moral and spiritual improvement.
Yet, this picture is incomplete. The relationship between women and the Craft is far more nuanced and fascinating than a simple story of exclusion. It is a tale of determined individuals, evolving societal norms, and the birth of parallel Masonic movements that thrive to this day. To truly understand the Masonic world, one must explore the complex history of female Masons and their unique journey toward the light.
The story is not one of modern invention but has roots stretching back centuries. It involves exceptional circumstances, clandestine initiations, and the pioneering efforts of women who saw the value in Masonic principles and sought to create a space for themselves within its framework. This article will illuminate that hidden history, tracing the path from exclusion to the vibrant, active world of female Freemasonry today.
Why Was Freemasonry Traditionally for Men Only?
To understand the exclusion of women, we must look back to the origins of modern, or speculative, Freemasonry in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The fraternity evolved from the guilds of operative stonemasons who built Europe’s magnificent cathedrals and castles. These guilds were, by their very nature, male-dominated professions. The physical labor was demanding, and the structure of apprenticeship and trade was built around men.
As Freemasonry transitioned from a guild of working builders to a philosophical society of ‘speculative’ Masons, it retained many of the original customs and regulations of its operative predecessors. These were known as the ‘Ancient Charges’ or ‘Old Charges’.
When the first Grand Lodge was formed in London in 1717 and later codified its principles in James Anderson’s Constitutions of 1723, these traditions were formalized. The Constitutions explicitly stated that Masons were to be ‘good men and true, free-born, and of mature and discreet age, no bondmen, no women’.
This rule was not necessarily born of malice but was a product of its time. In the 18th century, women had few legal rights. They could not own property independently, sign contracts, or participate in public or civic life in the same way men could. Since Freemasonry was a society of free men who met in public houses and engaged in civic discourse, the inclusion of women was simply outside the era’s social and legal framework.
Were There Any Early Exceptions to the Rule?
Despite the official rules, history is seldom without its fascinating exceptions. The most famous and well-documented case is that of Elizabeth Aldworth, known as ‘The Lady Freemason’. Born in 1695 in Ireland, she was the daughter of the 1st Viscount Doneraile. The story goes that a private lodge, of which her father was a member, held its meetings in their family home.
Driven by curiosity, the young Elizabeth concealed herself in an adjoining room to witness the secret ceremonies. After being discovered, the members of the lodge faced a dilemma. She had learned a significant portion of their secrets. After much deliberation, they decided the only way to bind her to secrecy was to initiate her into the Craft. Aldworth reportedly remained a respected member of her lodge for the rest of her life.
While Aldworth’s story is the most celebrated, other scattered accounts and legends exist of women gaining entry into Masonic lodges under extraordinary circumstances. Furthermore, some associated side degrees or social orders emerged that included female relatives of Masons, hinting at a desire for a more inclusive social environment, even if it fell short of full Masonic initiation.
These cases were anomalies, not the norm. They did not change the fundamental male-only character of mainstream Freemasonry at the time. However, they planted a seed, demonstrating that the bond of Masonic obligation could, under the right conditions, transcend gender. These early stories form a crucial part of the broader story of women and Freemasonry.
How Did Organized Female Freemasonry Begin?
The first widespread and organized system for female participation appeared in France in the 1740s with the ‘Lodges of Adoption’. These were auxiliary lodges chartered by and attached to regular male Masonic lodges. They were created specifically for the female relatives of Freemasons, allowing them to partake in a modified form of Masonic ritual and social life.
While these lodges used Masonic symbolism and taught moral lessons, they were not considered ‘regular’ Masonry. The members were ‘adopted’ rather than ‘initiated’ in the full sense, and the lodges were always under the authority of the sponsoring male lodge. The system was popular and spread throughout Europe, but it maintained a clear hierarchy with women in a subordinate role.
The true turning point came over a century later, again in France, fueled by the rising tide of feminism and secularism. In 1882, a male lodge, Les Libres Penseurs (The Freethinkers), acting independently of its grand lodge, initiated Maria Deraismes. Deraismes was a prominent journalist, writer, and champion of women’s rights.
Her initiation was a revolutionary act that sent shockwaves through the Masonic world. It directly challenged the ‘no women’ clause of the ancient constitutions. Though her lodge was suspended for its actions, the seed of equality had been sown. A decade later, in 1893, Deraismes, along with the influential Mason Georges Martin, co-founded the first Masonic order to admit men and women on equal footing: Le Droit Humain (Human Rights).
This was the birth of what is now known as Co-Masonry. It was not an adoptive or auxiliary rite but a complete and independent Masonic order that worked the ancient rituals and conferred the same degrees upon men and women alike. This was the moment that organized, equal Freemasonry for women truly began.
What Are the Different Forms of Female Freemasonry Today?
From these pioneering efforts, several distinct branches of Freemasonry that include women have flourished. Today, a woman seeking to join the Craft has more than one path to follow. Understanding these different forms helps to clarify the modern landscape and answer the question of what are female Masons in the 21st century.
What is Co-Masonry?
Co-Masonry, as established by Le Droit Humain, is a global movement that continues to practice Freemasonry with both men and women as equal members. Its philosophy is rooted in universalism and human rights, believing that the lessons and benefits of Freemasonry should be accessible to all worthy individuals, regardless of gender, religion, or ethnicity. Lodges under Co-Masonic orders, such as the International Order of Freemasonry for Men and Women, Le Droit Humain, operate in dozens of countries worldwide.
What Are Women’s-Only Masonic Orders?
Shortly after the establishment of Co-Masonry, a different movement began in Great Britain. Some women, while inspired by the idea of female Freemasonry, felt that the unique dynamic of working in a single-sex environment was valuable and worth preserving. They wanted to create a space for women that was parallel to, not mixed with, male Freemasonry.
This led to the formation of the first women’s-only Grand Lodge in 1908, which is today known as the Order of Women Freemasons (OWF). Its founders were a group of men and women who seceded from the Co-Masonic movement to establish an order exclusively for women. The necessary rituals were performed by male Masons to ensure the new order had a legitimate and unbroken lineage, after which the men withdrew. You can read a personal account of a woman’s journey in Freemasonry to better understand this experience.
