LADY MASONS.

Evening Star, Issue 5050, 12 May 1879, Page 2

LADY MASONS.

In the earlier days of masonry, as shown by some ancient manuscript, there -were Dame Masons" as well as "Master Masons." The "apprentice" fa charged in one manuscript that he "shall not steal or pick away his master's or dame's goods " andm another manuscript that "he shall not disclose his master's or dame's counsel or secrets," whence it may be inferred that at one time the widows of masons were permitted to carry on work under the guild, and in that case the apprentice would serve out his time. "It may be," adds the editor of the work of Masonic history, to which mo indabtedl for this Information, that this rule was even enlarged so as to admit the widows and daughters of Masons, a supposition which may well suggests misgivings about the secrets imparted to those who knew anything about the order, formerly, both in France and Germany, there existed—and now exist in tbe United states—systems by which women could be made acquainted with certain signs and mysteries, thus enabling them to make themselves known to members of the craft. Con. cernmg the German " Mopses " a good deal of doubt prevails, inasmuch as it is even a moot point whether the word "mops" signißes the wife of a Freemason, or a Dutch mastiff or pug dog—or both." At any rate, nothing has been seen of the " Mopses " for over 150 years. In France "Maconnerie d'aption' flourished during a considerable part of the eighteenth, and was revived in the early years of the nineteenth century. Between about 1740 and 1760 the French nation boasted of many, what some Englishmen ate pleased to call "Androgynous" orders of Freemasonry. Among these were " L'Ordre de la Felicity ou les Feliciteries de rAncre," "L'Ordre des Chevaliers et Nymphee de la Rose,' "L'Ordre des Dames Eoossaises de 1 Hospice du Monthaba," and " L'Ordre de la Perseverance."

Later on, that is for fifteen or twenty years before the outbreak of the revolution, secret societies were the rage with all classes even with the great ladies of the court! Under the patronage of Cardinal De Rohan, the notonous and infamous CagHostro established his system of "Egyptian Masonry,' installed himself as Grand Cophto, and opened lodges for sistew as \rell a* brethren at Strasburg, Lyons, and Paris, of which lodges the two principal ones were named "La Sagesse Triomphante' and "Les Philanthetes.' Another order received the particular protection of the. Duchess de Bourbon and Princess de Lambelle, and in the Lodge St. Antoine one a? them, as Grand Maitresse, was in the habit of conferringthe four degrees of "Apprentie," "Compagnonne," «• Maitresse," and "Parfiite Maitresse," But the new sisterhood passed away with the old rig'mie, and, although it was partially revived under/ Napoleon L, and again uniertbe Bourbons, it gradually came to an end, and does not exist.

Iq our own country, an adoptive rite—the term adoptive seems to be the Masonic equivalent for female—was instituted in 1855 consisting of five degrees Jephtha's daughter, or the daughter's degree; Ruth, or the widow's degree ; Esther, or the wife's degree ; Martha, or the sister's degree ; and Electa, or the Christian martyrs degree, the whole assemblage being called the Eastern Star. Now, this body of Freemasonry never can be Freemasonry, and is not, of course, ; reoognhel by Masons in good standing.' Nevertheless, it em-

braces only the wives, widows, 'mothers, daughters, and sisters of Master Masons, and all the male persons who are members in this adoptive rifce must necessarily ; be masons. The origin and progress of this rite is not even familiar to most Masons. It was first brought out in 1850, and the degree was first conferred in this city in April, 1853; but the order in its present form was not introduced until in October, 1868, when the system of oeremonies for opening, closing, and initiating candidates was exemplified for the first time before Alpha Chapter. Since then it has apread all over the'country, and in almost every State anil territory Chapters have

already been established. This, order now numbers nearly 20,000 members in this country alone. But there are signs of discord, even in this excellent order, and the chief matte** under dispute is whether man or woman shall wear the apron of authority, and whether that apron shall or shall not have a bib to it. It seems not to have been intended by the originators of the order that womajd should be its leading executive officer, but rather as an assistant. Nevertheless the lovely creatures have succeeded in many jurisdictions in securing the control of the lodges, and now hold the leading offices.

In the meantime the outside world is called upon to stand and wonder while these *' female Freemasons" settle the question, riot only of authority, but of uniformity in the clothing to bo worn in subordinate chapters, Shallthey'wear sealskin or Astrakhan jackets, aprons with or without ruffles, and long or short pants; that is to say, shall there be uniformity, and thus create harmony and goodness. Perhaps Mis 3 Nilsson, who has just been elected to the highest grand office of the order in England, can solve this question.—• New York Times.'