Lady Freemasons

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 28, 15 August 1885, Page 2

Lady Freemasons

The Italian Freemasons have introduced an important innovation into the statutes of the Masonic Society. There are now sister masons, venerables, and grand mistresses: The Correspondence of Borne thus describes the ceremony of installation :— . . ,

"In a room hung with black was raised a table covered with black cloth ; lon the table was a skull and above it was a lamp, which shed a funereal light. Eight personages then entered, a venerable grand master, a venerable grand mistress, a brother orator* dressed as capuchin, brother inspector, a sister inspectress, and a sister introductress. These dignitaries wore on their breasts a wide violet ribbon, to which was suspended a little gold trowel; the grand master held a hammer, serving as his sceptre, and marched at the side of the grand mistress, elevated to the rank of hori- ■ orable companion. The brothers and sisters of the lodge all wore mystical aprons and white gloves. A novice was to be introduced. The grand . master struck his hands together fiy«) times, and solemnly asked one of the dignitaries, 'Whatare the duties of a masonic aspirant? 1 The answer was, * Obedience, labour, and silence.' The brother orator then took the novice by the hand and conducted her to a dark— ' J room, where, having bandaged her eyes, he read her a homily on virtueand charity. When the bandage was removed she found herself surrounded' by the brothers in a circle, their swords crossed over her head.

" After another homily, pronounced' this, time by the grand master, he asked if she had reflected before entering a society which was unknown to her, and then, after mutual explanations, the proselyte repeated' the formula of the oath— ♦ I swear and ' promise to keep faithfully in my heart all the secrets of Freemasonry, and - engage to do so under the penalty ef i being out to peices by the sword of the exterminating angeL The grand master then showed her the sign by which the brothers and sisters recognise each other, and the password' of the order. Then, taking the siste?: by the hand, he respectfully gave, her five losses of peace, and handed her an apron and a pair of gloves." -