I am curious why the Freemasons still exclude women as members, especially when we live in a time where women are very educated and highly skilled members of society.

Cordially,
Carol

I have the same concerns you do. My father is a mason in argentina. I forund out about masonry on my own and due to my curiosity, he felt compelled to tell me. I want to become a member as well and follow my father’s steps. I live in the U.S. and I no longer have his guidance. I would like to have an anser to your question as well.

I may be female, but also want to know where I can receive guidance and a sense of community and “brotherhood”. I feel that there is something great in me, but also that I have encountered uncanny obstacles at times.  The tension to complete good things is unbearable. If only I could make better informed decisions, maybe greater answers would arise.  As women - where do we go?

Dear Forum Visitor: You may wish to research The Order of the Eastern Star,
What It Is: The Order of the Eastern Star is the largest fraternal organization in the world to which both men and women may belong. Worldwide, there are approximately 1 million members under the General Grand Chapter.
As they discuss:
Eastern Star is a social order comprised of persons with spiritual values but it is not a religion. Its appeal rests in the true beauty of the refreshing and character-building lessons that are so sincerely portrayed in its ritualistic work. A deep fraternal bond exists between its members. It is the wholesome relationship of sisterly and brotherly love brought about through high principles exemplified in our lives which makes us near and dear to each other.

While this is an Order composed of people of deep spiritual convictions, it is open to all faiths, except no faith. The personal welfare of our members is vital to all of those in the Eastern Star and it is considered a privilege to help another member whenever we can. For membership information-  http://www.easternstar.org
Hope this helps- Ron Doucette

Thank you for your questions about women and Freemasonry. 

Women may not join a lodge under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts or any Grand Lodge it recognizes.  Freemasonry is a fraternity whose stated purposes is to draw together men from every country, race, religion, ethnicity, opinion, and background, and help cultivate better relationships and bonds of friendships among them by teaching the principles of Friendship, Morality, and Brotherly Love. Freemasonry doesn’t focus on these three principles because we believe that only relations between men are important, or that relations between men and women are unimportant; but because we believe hope for peace and harmony in the world is improved when men can put aside their differences and come together as friends.  As noted in the earlier reply, Masons also appreciate and value relations with women. We sponsor and participate in Masonic related organizations such as the Order of Eastern Star and the Order of Rainbow for Girls, whose members include women and girls respectively.

You might also be interested to learn that Co-Masonry or Mixed Masonry was organized in France 125 years ago.  It operates in the United States as the American Federation of Human Rights, http://www.co-masonry.org  In addition, female only Grand Lodges were organized in England more than 100 years ago and continue to exist today throughout the world.  You should be able to learn more about them with some online research.

I hope this helps.
-Robert

There are many venues for Women to participate in Freemasonry.  The concepts of ethical conduct, self-improvement, relief to the poor, the sick, the widow, the orphan, are not gender specific.  We are all our “brother’s keeper”, and even sisters can have brothers. In our materialistic society, it sounds trite; but it is truly more blessed to give than to receive.  Charity, forebearance, service to mankind (and womankind), are all our business. In this world, God’s work must truly be our own.

Masonry is a “cafeteria” of organizations.  If a woman chooses to take the symbolic degrees of Freemasonry, she is free to seek out membership in a “Co-Masonic lodge”. This is a co-educational organization, that instructs women in Freemasonry. You can learn more about it at http://www.comasonry.org and in the book “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Freemasonry”.

There are several organizations affiliated with mainstream Masonry that admit women. The most widely known is the “Order of the Eastern Star”. Their website is http://www.easternstar.org/

There are other organizations. The Order of the Amaranth is co-ed. ( http://www.amaranth.org/ )

The Social Order of the Beauceant ( http://www.yorkrite.com/SOOB.htm ) is affiliated with the York Rite of Masonry.

The Heroines of Jericho is an androgynous degree ( http://members.tripod.com/~EbonyAngel7/TheHeroinesofJerichoindex-2.html )

The Ladies Oriental Shrine of North America ( http://www.ladiesorientalshrine.org/) is sponsored by the Shrine, and supports the Shrine hospitals.

The Daughers of Isis is sponsored by the Ancient Egyptian Order, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (http://doipha.org/)

And there are a number of “fun” organizations in Masonry that are co-educational. My ex-wife, joined the “Hillbilly Shriners”, and we dressed up in hillbilly costumes, and drank white lightning, and partied in the boondocks.  The “Turtles” is a co-ed fun organization.

So you can see, that there are many ways for a woman to participate in the Masonic experience.  Just select an organization that appeals to you, and join in on the fun.