Unveiling the Sisterhood: The Complex History of Women and Freemasonry
The question of women’s role in Freemasonry often conjures images of an impenetrable ‘old boys’ club’, a society strictly for men. For centuries, this perception has dominated the public imagination, rooted in the historical foundations of the Craft. The familiar narrative is one of exclusion, a tradition passed down from the operative stonemason guilds of the Middle Ages to the speculative lodges of the Enlightenment.
Yet, this simple narrative conceals a far more intricate and fascinating reality. The relationship between women and the Masonic square and compasses is not a story of straightforward prohibition but a complex tapestry woven with threads of exception, adaptation, and the creation of parallel, powerful traditions. To truly understand the Craft, one must look beyond the surface and explore the often-overlooked history of female Masons and their journey.
This exploration reveals that women have not just knocked on the door of the lodge; in many forms, they have entered, established their own working tools, and raised their own temples of knowledge. From clandestine initiations in the 18th century to the thriving international orders of today, women have carved their own unique space within the broader Masonic world, proving that its core tenets of enlightenment and self-improvement are truly universal.
What Are the Historical Roots of Exclusion?
To understand why women were traditionally excluded, we must travel back to the origins of modern Freemasonry. Before it became a philosophical and esoteric society, or ‘speculative’ Masonry, it was an ‘operative’ craft. The medieval stonemasons who built Europe’s great cathedrals and castles formed guilds to protect their trade secrets, regulate their work, and provide mutual aid.
These guilds were, by the nature of the labor and the societal norms of the era, exclusively male domains. The work was physically demanding, and the guild system was structured around the master, journeyman, and apprentice model, a path not open to women. As Freemasonry transitioned from a literal building trade to a symbolic and moral one in the 17th and 18th centuries, it retained many of these foundational structures and customs.
The most significant formalization of this exclusion came with the publication of Dr. James Anderson’s ‘Constitutions of the Free-Masons’ in 1723. Commissioned by the newly formed Grand Lodge of England, this document laid out the ‘Charges of a Free-Mason’. The third charge explicitly stated that 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, no immoral or scandalous Men, but of good Report’.
This constitution became the bedrock for what is now considered ‘regular’ Freemasonry, particularly within the Anglo-American tradition. The reasons were twofold. First, it was a continuation of the operative guild tradition. Second, in the social context of the 18th century, public and private spheres were largely separate, with fraternal societies like Freemasonry occupying a male-only space for business, philosophy, and fellowship.
Were There Ever Exceptions in Mainstream Freemasonry?
Despite the clear wording in Anderson’s Constitutions, the history of Freemasonry is peppered with intriguing exceptions that challenge the idea of an absolute ban. The most famous case is that of Elizabeth Aldworth, known as ‘The Lady Freemason’. Her story, dating to the 1710s, is a celebrated piece of Masonic lore.
Born Elizabeth St Leger, she was the daughter of Arthur St Leger, 1st Viscount Doneraile, in County Cork, Ireland. A private lodge, number 150, held its meetings in the family home. The story goes that a young and curious Elizabeth, driven by a desire to know what secrets the men were guarding so closely, found a way to observe the proceedings of a degree ceremony.
She reportedly removed a brick from a wall adjoining the lodge room and witnessed the ritual. Her presence was discovered when she, overwhelmed by the experience or simply attempting to flee, made a noise that alerted the tyler, or lodge guard. The Masons were faced with a serious dilemma. Elizabeth had seen their secret rites, a violation that could not be ignored.
After a lengthy discussion, they reached a remarkable conclusion. To bind her to secrecy and ensure the integrity of their oaths, they resolved to initiate her into the Craft. Elizabeth Aldworth was duly initiated into the first and second degrees of Freemasonry, becoming a full member of the lodge. She remained a respected Mason in good standing for the rest of her life, known for her charitable works.
How Did Co-Freemasonry Emerge?
While cases like Elizabeth Aldworth’s were rare anomalies, a more structured and widespread movement for female inclusion began to take root in continental Europe, particularly in France. The 18th century saw the rise of ‘Adoption Lodges’ or ‘Lodges of Adoption’. These were quasi-Masonic bodies sponsored by regular male lodges, created for the female relatives of their members.
These Adoption Lodges used a modified, allegorical ritual often based on biblical heroines and themes deemed more suitable for women. While they provided a social and moral outlet, they were considered auxiliary bodies, dependent on male lodges and not practicing Freemasonry on equal terms. They were a step towards inclusion but fell short of true Masonic equality.
The transformative moment arrived in the late 19th century. Maria Deraismes, a prominent journalist, feminist, and social reformer, was invited to speak at a male Masonic lodge. Her intellect and eloquence so impressed the members that they voted to initiate her. On January 14, 1882, Maria Deraismes was initiated into the ‘Les Libres Penseurs’ lodge in Le Pecq, France, becoming the first woman to be formally initiated into a regular, recognized male lodge.
However, this bold move caused a schism. The lodge’s charter was suspended by its grand body for initiating a woman. Undeterred, Deraismes, along with the influential Mason and senator Georges Martin, embarked on a new project. They envisioned a Masonic order that would admit men and women on a basis of absolute equality. In 1893, they founded the ‘Grande Loge Symbolique Écossaise de France, Le Droit Humain’, which would become the International Order of Co-Freemasonry, Le Droit Humain.
This was a revolutionary development. Le Droit Humain was not an auxiliary or a modified rite; it was a complete Masonic obedience that worked the standard rituals and conferred the degrees upon men and women alike. It established the first truly egalitarian female branch of the Masons, one that would spread across the globe and champion the idea that Masonic light should not be limited by gender.
What Are Women’s Only Masonic Orders?
Following the groundbreaking work of Le Droit Humain, another path for women in Freemasonry emerged: obediences exclusively for women. This movement was born from the belief that women, like men, could benefit from a single-gender space for personal and spiritual development. Many of its founders were women who had been initiated into co-masonic lodges but desired to create their own distinct tradition.
In the early 20th century, a group of members separated from the British Federation of Le Droit Humain to form a new body. Their goal was to create an order that mirrored the structure and practices of ‘regular’ male Freemasonry as closely as possible, but for an exclusively female membership. This led to the establishment of the Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons (HFAF) in 1913, which is now known as Freemasonry for Women.
Around the same time, another significant body, the Order of Women Freemasons (OWF), was also established. These organizations are not auxiliaries; they are sovereign and independent Masonic bodies. They confer the three degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and Master Mason, and many have appendant bodies for further degrees like the Royal Arch, just as in male Freemasonry. Their rituals, symbolism, and moral teachings are derived from the same historical sources. A look into a woman’s journey in Freemasonry shows how deeply personal and transformative the experience can be, mirroring the journeys of their male counterparts.
These orders provide a space where women can take on all leadership roles, from the Worshipful Master of a lodge to the Grand Master of the order. The terminology used is a point of interest. While the general public might ask what are girl Masons called, members typically refer to themselves simply as Freemasons or Masons. They see themselves as part of the wider Masonic family, distinguished only by gender, not by the substance of their work.
What Is the Stance of Mainstream Grand Lodges Today?
The existence of co-masonic and women’s-only Grand Lodges creates a complex landscape of recognition within the global Masonic community. The benchmark for ‘regularity’ for many is the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE), the oldest Grand Lodge in the world. Officially, UGLE only recognizes and permits visitation with Grand Lodges that adhere to the ‘ancient landmarks’, which include the restriction of membership to men.
Consequently, UGLE does not formally recognize women’s or co-masonic obediences. This means that male Masons under UGLE cannot officially visit a women’s lodge meeting, and vice versa. This lack of formal recognition is the primary reason why Freemasonry is still widely perceived as exclusively male. The broader topic of Freemasonry and women is filled with these nuances of recognition and regularity.
However, the relationship is not one of animosity. In 1998, UGLE issued a pivotal statement clarifying its position. It acknowledged that the two women’s Grand Lodges in the UK, the OWF and HFAF, are regular in their practice. The statement affirmed that while they are not recognized, ‘discussions with them on an informal basis are permissible’ and that they share a belief in a Supreme Being and follow Masonic principles. A deeper dive into historical documents about women and Freemasonry confirms this evolution from strict separation to informal respect.
This means that while the formal barriers remain, there is an underlying acknowledgment of shared heritage and purpose. The relationship can be described as one of ‘separate but equal’, with different obediences operating in their own spheres but respecting each other’s work and Masonic legitimacy from a distance. In other parts of the world, particularly within Continental Freemasonry, recognition of and interaction with co-masonic and women’s lodges is much more common.
Are There Famous Women Associated with Masonry?
Beyond the foundational figures, many influential women have been drawn to the light of Freemasonry. While many lists of famous members tend to focus on men, pioneering women also made their mark. Annie Besant, a renowned British socialist, theosophist, and women’s rights activist, was a prominent co-Mason who helped spread Le Droit Humain throughout the British Empire, particularly in India.
Maria Deraismes, the godmother of co-masonry, remains a celebrated figure in both Masonic and feminist history. Other notable women, including writers, artists, and social reformers, found a home in the Craft, using its philosophical framework to inform their public work and private spiritual lives. Their involvement underscores that the appeal of Masonic teachings transcends gender.
What Do the Symbols and Rituals Mean for Women in Masonry?
At its heart, Freemasonry is a system of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols. Its central purpose is to take a good person and make them better, using the allegorical tools of a stonemason to build a more virtuous and enlightened inner self, or ‘spiritual temple’. These core symbols and allegories are universal.
The square teaches morality, the compasses teach self-restraint, and the pursuit of light represents the search for truth and knowledge. These concepts are not inherently male. Women Freemasons engage with the very same symbolism and find profound, personal meaning in it. They use the allegorical tools to explore their own character, their relationship with the divine, however they conceive it, and their duties to humanity.
The core tenets and what some call the Masonic secret are found in its universal symbolism, not in a password or handshake. For a woman in a lodge, the process of building her temple is the same journey of self-discovery undertaken by any Mason. The lessons of the level, the plumb rule, and the gavel apply equally to all who seek to improve themselves and the world around them.
In this sense, the work of women’s and co-masonic lodges is identical to that of male lodges. They are all engaged in the great and important undertaking of building a better humanity, one stone at a time. The existence of these thriving orders is a testament to the enduring power and universality of the Masonic message, a message that ultimately speaks not to gender, but to the human spirit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are female Freemason lodges officially recognised by the men’s Grand Lodge?
Yes, the two largest female Grand Lodges in the UK are formally acknowledged by their male counterpart, the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE). In 1998, the UGLE stated that The Order of Women Freemasons and The Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons are regular in their practice, meaning they follow the same core principles and use the same rituals. This recognition confirms their legitimacy within the wider Masonic family, though it does not permit visiting each other’s formal lodge meetings.
This relationship is best described as one of mutual respect, cooperation, and fraternal support. While official ceremonies are conducted separately, members from male and female lodges often collaborate on charity fundraising, community work, and social events. This shared commitment to Masonic values like integrity and service fosters a strong, amicable bond between the orders.
What are the core requirements to become a female Freemason in the UK?
To be eligible for membership in a women’s Masonic lodge, an applicant must meet several key criteria. She must be at least 18 years old, be of good character, and be joining of her own free will. A fundamental requirement across all regular Masonic orders is a belief in a Supreme Being, though this is a personal matter and is not tied to any specific religion or denomination.
Beyond these formal rules, lodges seek individuals who are motivated by a desire for personal growth, community, and a commitment to charitable work. The application process typically involves meeting with members of the lodge to ensure there is a good mutual fit. The goal is to welcome women who genuinely wish to embark on a journey of self-improvement and contribute positively to society.
How do the rituals and ceremonies in women’s lodges compare to those in men’s lodges?
The rituals and ceremonies conducted in female Masonic lodges are essentially identical to those practiced in men’s lodges. They follow the same traditional structure, including the three symbolic degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and Master Mason. The ceremonies use the same allegorical stories and symbolism derived from the stonemasons of old to impart moral and ethical lessons.
This adherence to tradition is intentional, as the founders of women’s Freemasonry sought to create an authentic experience for women that mirrored the established male orders. The core teachings, symbolic journey, and principles of brotherly (or sisterly) love, relief, and truth are the same. The primary difference is simply the single-gender environment in which these time-honoured ceremonies are conducted.
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