LADY FREEMASONS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2116, 9 October 1885, Page 2

LADY FREEMASONS.

The Italian Freemasons have introduced an important innovation into the statutes of the Masonic Suciety. There are now sister masons, venerables, and grand mistresses. The Correspondencia of Home thus describes the ceremony of install- j ationj "In i} room hung with black was 1 raised a table covered with black plofch. j } on the tablo was a skull,' and dbove'ij;' w'a| a lamp, which shed a funereal'light, Eight personages then entered—a : vener- \ss able grand master, a venerable grand mistress, a brother orator, dressed as a capuchin, 4 bvotUeg jiipctui;, if §iptQii inspeotress, and'Vwtor ihtrodijctra', 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, aiid marpjiefl at the side of the grand -mistress, elevated" to ilje "rpk of honorable companion. ' The 'brothers and sisters of the lodge all w?)rQ mystical aprons and white gloves! A novico was to be "introduced. The grand tuastor fsti'ijck his hands together five times, and solemnly asked onopf tne dignitaries, 'What arq tlie dpties (ifs Masonic aspirant;?' The" answer' wag, ' Obedience, labor, and silence. 1 Tlig brother qra|pr then (;Qpk fc]ie iipvisp by the hand, and conducted her t'p a qarf room, where, having bandaged her eyeq, he read her a hqmjly pn virtue and charity, When the bandage remgyejj she found herself surrounded by brothers in a circle, their swords crossed over her head. After another homily, pronounced this time by the grand master, ho asked if she had reflected before entering a society which was unknown toher, 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 of being cut to pieces by the sword of the exterminating angel' The ijrand master then showed her the sign by which the brothers aiid sisters recognise eacli other, sn| gave h'er the password Qf the' Order,' Theh, takinf the sister by the hand, lie reppepfcifvtlly gave her five kisses of peace, and handed her —. an apron and a pair of \