WOMEN MASONS

Hokitika Guardian, 16 September 1933, Page 2

WOMEN MASONS

MEN S RITUAL COPIED, AT HOME CRAFT SECRETS CLAIMED An organisation of masonry confined entirely to women, the secrets of which are ua jealously guarded, as those of [lre-emasonafy itself, is to- launch a movement for a large increase in membership in Britain within the next few months;

Mrs Cc'clieiitti, who is Inaster designate of the Worthing Lodge, which is to be formed ’ shortly, told the Sunday Chronicle recently; that the secrets of freemasonry, closely guarded for centuries, were given away when a lodge in France admitted a woman who handed down the secrets of mfasonry to others of her sox. ‘.‘We claim' to know every secret,” ■Mrs Coclielitti said. “We claim also to have reproduced every article of ceremonial, usage and custom exactly as it is preserved to-day in the men’s lodges—secrets which freemasons claim no one who is not a freemason knows. We make no attempt to hide the fact that our order, which is known as the Honourable Fraternity of Ancient •Masonry,' is modelled exactly on the original craft. We have our charities just as the men have, and our custom land ritual, which we are as careful to guard from the unimated as they.”

The women’s membership at present does not exceed 2000, split up among 18 lodges,' the more influential of which are in London, Liverpool, Manchester, Sunderland and Southend. Worthing will be the nineteenth lodge to be founded.

“It is. a common jibe,” Mrs Coche'jiittii said, “that ouj- order does not have its foundation in charities as the original craft does. This is a com-' plete misconception. We do a great deal of quiet work in connection with the girls in the Borstal Institution, and as proof of the shrength of our order I can reveal the fact that Miss Lilian Baker, head of the Women’s Borstal Institution, is a member of one of our lodges. “It is true that we cannot afford the magnificient hospital and headquarters that the'men’s order has, but we have la- very fine temple with accommodation for 400 people at Penbridge Gardens, dotting Hill Gate, .London, and as time goes on we shall extend our influence.”