WHY WOMEN CANNOT BE MASONS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 260, 2 November 1877, Page 4

WHY WOMEN CANNOT BE MASONS.

At the late anniversary celebration of the Masons at Austin, Nex., orator of the day tbu3 discources upon the question. " Why cannot a woman be j made, a Mason ?" It has the merit of novelty, at least. The speaker said:— '• Woman sometimes complaioa that she is not permitted tp enter our Lodges, and work with the craft in tbeir labors, ' and learn ell there is to learn in the institution. We learn thafc before the G.A.0.T.U., had finished his work, he was in come donbt about creating Eve The creation of every living aud creepiog thing had been accomplished, and the GLA 0.T.U., had made Adam (who was the first Mason) and created ' tor bim the finest Lodge iv the world and called it Paradise No, 1. He then called all the beasts of the field and fowls of the air to pass before Adam for him to name them, which was a piece of work he had to do alone, so that no confusion might hereafter arise from Eve, who he knew would make trouble if she was allowed to participate if he created her beforehand. Aiam, beiog very much fatigued with the labors oi his task, fell asleep, and when he awoke he fouud Eve iv the Lodge wifch him. Adam, being Senior Warden, plaoed. Eye as the pillar of beauty iv tbe south, and they received their instructions from tbe Grand Master in the Eaat, which, when finished, she immediately called the Craft from labor to refreshment. Instead of attending to the duties of her office, as she ought, sha left her station and her obligations, and iet in an expelled Mason who had uo busiaess there, and went round with him, leaviag Adam to look after the jewels. The fellow had been expelled j

from the Grand Lodge, with several others, some time before. But hearing the footsteps of the Grand Master, he suddenly took his leave, telling Eve to ' make aprons, as she and Adam wer*e ftot in proper regalia. She went and told Adam, and whenthe Grand Master returned to tha Lodge he found that: his gaval had been stolen. He oalled for tbe Senior and Junior Wardens, who had neglected to guard tha door,, and found them absent. After searching for some tjn*e, he can^e to wfeerp they were hid, and demanded of Adam what he was doing there, instead of, occupying his official position. Adam replied thafc they were waiting for ; Eve to call the Craft from refreshment to labor again, and that the Craft was not properly clothe, which fcljey were making provision for. Turning to Eve he asked her what she bad to offer in excuse for her unofficial and unmasonic conduct. She replied that a fellow passing himself off as a Grand Lecturer had been giving her instructions, and she thought it would be no harm to learn them. The Grand Master then asked what had become of his gavel; she said she did not know, unlesa the fellow had taken it away. Finding that Eve was no longer trustworthy, and that she had caused Adam to neglect hie duty, and bad let in one whom he had expelled, the Grand Master had closed the Lodge, and turning them out, set a faithful Tyler to guard the door with a flaming sword. Adam, repenting his folly, went to work like a man ami a good Mason, in order to get reinstated again. Not so with Eve; she got angry about it and commenced raising Cain. Adam, on account of hia reformation, was permitted to establish Lodges aod work in the lower degrees, and while Eve was allowed to join him in the works of charity outside, she was never again to be admitted to assist in the regular work of the Craft. Henoe the reason why a woman cannot become a Mason."