| The Craft
Unfortunately, in these modern times, there's often a time or communication's
gap between fathers and sons that's hard to bridge. Many fathers find
it hard to be with and to talk to their sons, much as they would like
to. The Freemasonry craft bridges that gap by bringing fathers and sons
together in the Craft and through shared experiences and shared
values.
Afarnily's involvement in Freemasonry Craft can go beyond the father-to-son
relationship. There are Masonic youth organizations for the children
including opportunities for both boys and girls. These organizations
offer Masonic values designed to support the strong family values parents
should have already instilled in their children. They offer special programs
that focus on the needs of youth including social, athletic and self
awareness programs.
There are organizations for adult women including Eastern Star - a world
class organization for women to which members of the craft may
also be members.
But Freemasonry is foremost a Fraternity for men. As a result, every father hopes the day will
come when he will stand with his son just as his father stood with him as he was welcomed into the Craft.
Talk to your father about becoming a member of the Craft. Ask him what
the Fraternity has meant to him and what you will be able to give and get
by belonging and being active in Freemasonry.
He'll be happy to get you a petition. Or surprise him; find another Mason,
submit the petition, and then let your father know what night you're to receive
the First Degree.
Freemasonry. It's something for the whole family.
Steps to Joining
Free Information
For more information or for free brochures go to Steps to Join Masonry.
To learn more go here: Masons & Freemasonry or Mason,
Masonry and Freemasonry
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Are there women Freemasons?
No; for a woman to become a real Freemason is as impossible as
for a man to become a mother, a leopard to change his spots. A
female duly elected, properly prepared, initiated and obligated,
passed and raised, who signed the bylaws of a regularly constituted
lodge, would not be a Freemason, as all which had been done with
her would be illegal, and one illegally initiated is not a Freemason.
The third of the Old Charges, foundation law of the Craft, states
emphatically: "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 appear to have been at least two historic instances in which
a woman was initiated. Prior to the formation of the first Irish
Grand Lodge, an Irish lodge, meeting in the home of Arthur St.
Ledger, First Baron Kilmayden and Viscounte Doneraile, had its
privacy invaded accidentally by the Honorable Elizabeth St. Ledger,
later Mrs. Richard Aldworth. The lodge members decided the only
way to preserve secrecy was to obligate her; she was, therefore,
duly obligated both as an Apprentice and as a Fellowcraft<p>.
The second instance concerns Helene, Countess Hadik Barkoczy, born
1833, "made a Mason" in Lodge Egyenloseg, warranted by
the Grand Orient of Hungary. The last of her race, at her father's
death she was permitted by the Hungarian courts to take the place
of a son, receiving his full inheritance. In this was an extensive
Masonic library in which she became much interested. In 1875 the lodge
mentioned admitted her!
The Grand Orient of Hungary took immediate action on this "breach
of Masonic vow, unjustifiably conferring Masonic degrees, doing
that which degrades a Freemason and Freemasonry, and for knowingly
violating the statutes." The Deputy Master of the lodge was
expelled, the officers of the lodge had their names struck from
its rolls, and the members were suspended for various periods of time.
To the honor of the Grand Orient be it said, its final pronouncement-apart
from these merited punishments--was unequivocal. There are a dozen
or more stories of other women "made Masons" but none
of them withstands critical examination. |
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