Female Masons have been a controversial topic in Freemasonry for centuries. While women are not permitted to join mainstream Masonic lodges, there are Masonic organizations that do admit women. So what are female Masons called? The answer depends on the specific Masonic order they belong to.
In mainstream Freemasonry, which consists of masculine lodges operating under the United Grand Lodge of England or one of the state Grand Lodges in the United States, women are not permitted to join. However, there are several Masonic organizations that do admit women. The most well-known of these are the Order of Women Freemasons, Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons, and the Continental Order of Freemasonry for Men and Women.
Order of Women Freemasons
The Order of Women Freemasons (OWF) was established in 1908 as the Honourable Fraternity of Antient Masonry. It is an organization dedicated to making Masonry available to women. In 1935, the organization changed its name to the Order of Women Freemasons.
The OWF follows the same rites and rituals as masculine Freemasonry. Members are initiated, passed, and raised in Masonic lodges. The only difference is that lodges in the OWF consist of only women members. Female members of the OWF are simply referred to as Freemasons, just as male members of masculine lodges are.
The OWF has thousands of members throughout Great Britain. They use the same terminology, regalia, ritual, and symbolism as masculine lodges operating under the United Grand Lodge of England. Members of the OWF may also attain the same Masonic ranks as men, such as Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, and Master Mason.
Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons
The Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons (HFAF) is an organization for women based on Masonic principles. It was founded in 1913 as the Honourable Fraternity of Antient Masonry and adopted its current name in 1958.
Like the OWF, the HFAF conducts rituals and initiations. However, there are some differences in ritual compared to masculine Freemasonry. The HFAF also confers different ranks than mainstream Freemasonry. The primary Masonic ranks in the HFAF are Associate, Member, and Companion.
The headquarters of the HFAF are located in London. As of 2018, the organization had approximately 4,000 members in over 300 lodges across the United Kingdom and associated lodges around the world. Members of the HFAF are generally referred to as “Sisters.”
Continental Order of Freemasonry for Men and Women
The Continental Order of Freemasonry for Men and Women is an international co-Masonic order that admits both men and women. It was founded in France in the late 19th century and spread to other European countries. The order also has a significant presence in Latin America.
In co-Masonic lodges, men and women are completely equal members. Unlike the OWF and HFAF, which are exclusively for women, the Continental Order actively recruits both genders for membership. Members practice rituals similar to those of regular Freemasonry.
The Continental Order confers the standard Masonic degrees: Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, Master Mason, and beyond. Members are referred to as Brother for males and Sister for females. The Continental Order has tens of thousands of members globally, though its membership numbers are not as large as masculine Freemasonry.
Other Female Masonic Organizations
In addition to the three largest female Masonic orders, there are several smaller Masonic organizations for women:
– Order of Women Freemasons in Romania
– Grand Lodge of Freemasonry for Men and Women in Germany
– Women’s Grand Lodge of France
– Honourable Order of American Co-Masonry
The requirements for joining these groups are generally similar to those of mainstream Freemasonry. Candidates must profess a belief in a Supreme Being, be of lawful age, and have a good reputation in society. Some orders may have additional requirements.
Requirements for Joining Female Masonic Orders
While the entry requirements may vary slightly between different female Masonic orders, there are some common requirements:
– Candidates must be female (with the exception of co-Masonry orders that admit men and women)
– Belief in a Supreme Being/higher power
– Minimum age requirement, often 21 years old
– Support of current Masonic members
– Ability to pay dues/fees
– Good moral character
Here is a comparison of the key requirements for the three main female Masonic orders:
| Order | Minimum Age | Belief Requirement | Sponsorship Required? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Order of Women Freemasons | 21 | Belief in a Supreme Being | Yes – 2 sponsors |
| Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons | 21 | Belief in a Supreme Being | Yes – 1 sponsor |
| Continental Order of Freemasonry for Men and Women | 21 | Belief in a Supreme Being | Yes – 2 sponsors |
As shown in the table, the basic requirements around age, religious belief, and sponsor recommendations are largely consistent across the major female Masonic orders. All require new candidates to be supported and recommended by existing members.
Controversy Surrounding Female Freemasonry
While female Masonic organizations have existed for over a century, their relationship with mainstream Freemasonry has often been strained. Most masculine Masonic lodges do not formally recognize female Masonic orders or their initiations.
There are several reasons why mainstream Freemasonry has historically opposed the inclusion of women:
– Tradition – Masonry has been an all-male organization since its origins in medieval stonemason guilds.
– Rituals and secrets – Some argue Masonic rituals were designed for men only.
– Exclusivity – Admitting women could dilute the sense of exclusivity.
– Distraction – Some believe romance or harassment could become an issue if lodges were not single-sex.
However, views within masculine Freemasonry are gradually shifting. While women still cannot join mainstream lodges, some masculine Grand Lodges have begun acknowledging female Masons. For example, in 1999 the United Grand Lodge of England acknowledged the OWF and HFAF to be regular Masonic orders.
Ranks and Progression in Female Freemasonry
The system of Masonic ranks and progression in female Freemasonry closely parallels that of mainstream masculine Freemasonry. Like their male counterparts, female Masons advance through the three primary degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, and Master Mason.
Advancement requires a vote by members of the Lodge. As Masons gain more experience, they may take on leadership roles within their Lodge, such as Secretary or Treasurer. High-ranking female Masons may also hold grand titles like Grand Master (for Grand Lodge officers) or Worshipful Master (for the leader of a Lodge).
Here is an overview of the standard degrees and leadership roles in female Freemasonry:
| Degree/Role | Description |
|---|---|
| Entered Apprentice | First degree |
| Fellowcraft | Second degree |
| Master Mason | Third degree – Highest common degree |
| Worshipful Master | Elected leader of the Lodge |
| Grand Master | Oversees all Lodges in a jurisdiction |
A female Mason may spend years mastering the lessons and rituals associated with each degree before advancing. Higher degrees beyond Master Mason, which require invitation, are also available in some female Masonic orders.
Female Masonic Rituals and Traditions
The rituals enacted in female Masonic lodges closely mirror those practiced in mainstream male lodges. All Masonic rituals impart moral lessons using symbolism and allegory related to tools of medieval stonemasons.
Some of the most well-known Masonic rituals and traditions include:
– Initiation rituals for each degree, involving oaths, allegories, and symbols.
– Opening and closing rituals performed at Lodge meetings.
– Masonic funeral services.
– Festive boards or meals after Lodge meetings.
– Secret handshakes, signs, and passwords among Masons.
– Use of Masonic symbols like squares, compasses, aprons, etc.
Ritual garments are an important part of ceremonies too. Female Masons wear ceremonial aprons just like male Masons. However, women’s aprons are often customized for them with more feminine decorative elements.
Public Masonic processions are another tradition. Female Masons march together in parades wearing Masonic regalia just as male Masons do. Overall, they uphold the same traditions and fraternal bonding activities as their male counterparts.
Benefits of Joining Female Freemasonry
Why do women choose to become Freemasons today? Female Masons are attracted by many of the same benefits as male Masons:
– Sense of tradition and history.
– Self-improvement through moral lessons and fraternal bonding.
– Contributions to charity and the community.
– Networking and career connections.
– Leadership opportunities within the Lodge.
– Chance to participate in rituals and ceremonies.
– For co-Masonry, the ability to be a Mason among men and women.
Additionally, female Freemasons take pride in being part of a long tradition of women in Freemasonry. They become part of a movement that paved the way for gender equality in fraternal orders.
Conclusion
While mainstream Freemasonry remains exclusively male, women around the world have formed their own Masonic orders open to female members only. The three largest of these groups are the Order of Women Freemasons, Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons, and the co-Masonic Continental Order that admits both genders.
Female Masons take part in similar initiations, rituals, and fraternal activities as their masculine counterparts. By joining female lodges, women can enjoy the same sense of tradition, self-improvement, and brotherhood that has attracted men to Freemasonry for centuries. While views on women Freemasons are mixed, female Masonic organizations uphold centuries of tradition and history.
