LADY MASONS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 3308, 25 March 1879, Page 2

LADY MASONS.

[PROM THE NEW YORK TIMES.] In the earlier days of Masonry, as shown by some ancient manuscript, there were "Dame Masons" as well as Mastei Masons." The " Apprentice" is charged in one manuscript that he "Bhall not steal or pick away his master's or dame's goods," and. in another manuscript thai "he shall not disclose his master's 01 dame's counsel or secrets," whence it maj be inferred that at one time the widows of Masons were permitted to carry oe work under the guild, and in that case the apprentice would serve, out his time. "it may be," adds the editor of tha work .of Masonic history to which we are in> debted for this information, " that th.ii rule was even enlarged so as to admit tht widows and daughters of Masons," s supposition which may well suggest mis givings about the secret 3 imparted tc those who knew anything about the order. Formerly, both in France and Germany, there existed — and now exists in the United States — systems by which women could be made acquainted with certain signs and mysteries, thus enabling them to make themselves known to members oi the craft. Concerning the German " Mopses" a good deal of doubt prevails, inasmuch as it is even a moot point whether the word " mops" siguifiea " the wife of a Freemason," or a Dutch mastifi or pug dog" — or both. At any rate, nothing has been seen of the " Mopses" for over one hundred and fifty years. In France "Maconnerie d'aption" flourished during a considerable part of the eightteenth, 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 are pleased to call "Androgynous" orders of Freemasonry. Among these were *' L'Ordre de la Feiicite", ou les Feliciteries de l'Ancre," "L'Ordre des Chevaliers et JNymphes de la Rose," " L'Ordre des Dames Ecossaises de l'Hospice dv Monthaba," L 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 Cadinal De Rohan, the notorious and infamous Cagliostro established his system of " Egyptian Masonry," installed himself as Grand Cophte, and opened lodges for sisters as well as brethren at Strasburg, Lyons and Paris, cf which lodges the two principal one were named " La Sagesse Triomphaute" 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 of them as Grand Maitresse, was in the hibit of conferring the four degrees of " Apprentie," * ' Compagnonne, " ' ' Maitresse, " and "Parfaite Maitresse." But the new sisterhood passed away with the old regime, and although it was partially revived under Napoleon I.' and again under the Bourbons, it gradually came to an end, and does not exist. In our own country, an adoptive rite — the term adoptive seems to be the Masonic equivalent for female— was instituted in ] 855 consisting of five degrees — Jephtha's daughter, or the daughter's degree ; Ruth, or the widow's degree ; Esther, or I the wife's degree ; Martha, or the sister's degree; and Electa, or the Christain martyr's degree the whole assemblage being called the Eastern Star. Now this body of Freemasonry, never can be Freemasonry, and is not, of course, recognised by Masons in good standing. Nevertheless, it embraces only the wives, widows, mothers, daughters, and sisters of Master Masons, and all the male persons who are members in this adoptive rite must necessarily be masons. The origin and progress of this rite ia not even familar to most Masons. It was first broughc out in 1850, and the degree was first conferred in this cicy in April, 1850 ; but the order in its present form was not mroauced I until in October, 1868, when L-»e system of coremonies for opening, ci. si'-g, aa<i initiating candidates w.-n exeir>:uci for the first iiine before Alpha Uiiiptor. Since then it ha 3 spread a) 1 over the country, and in almost every State and

Territory Chapters have already been established. This Order now numbers nearly 20,000 members in this country alono. But there are signs of discord, even in this excellent order, and the chief matter 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 women 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 word ia called upon to stand and wonder while these " female Freemasons" settle the question, not only, of authority, but of uniformity in the clothing toT^e worn in Subordinate Chapters. " ShaM they 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 harmotf^ and goodness. Perhaps Miss Nilssofl, who has just been elected to the higest grand office of the Order in England, can solve this question. ;.