Old Billy.

finally clutched what 1 thought must be the long beard of a man , which gave me a very creepy sensation , then 1 felt myself prodded with some hard substance about my back , and was eventually rolled completely over . 1 tried to call out , but could not raise my voice beyond a very faint "help , help !"

To my great relief , however , a familiar " baah , baah , " enlightened me as to the character of my harmless assailant , which turned out to be the favourite old goat belonging to my father ' s farm , who had followed one of the farm servants into the town , and by some mischance had missed him , and had then recognised aud followed me .

Many a time previously to this , "Bill y had accompanied one ot the men sent to meet and accompany me home on very dark nig hts , so that on this occasion he had no doubt thought he was rig ht in constituting himself my escort . ' * J . H . S .

Women As Freemasons.

Women as Freemasons .

Bv J . T . THORP . Author of "Medkeval Masonry , " "Extinct Leicestershire Lodges , " " English Grand Lodge Certificates , " " The Masonic Apron , " S , c , & -c .

| | pjl ^ P || ANY attempts have been made by women during the f // fll § iri ^ ^ ^ centuries to obtain admission as members of ( Kfl ioJ ' ) a Lodge of Freemasons , and in some countries these i-XVtS U / M attempts have at different times met with partial gjgs ^ KJsS' success . No reference is here intended to isolated eases such as that of Miss St . Leger and others , but

to the recognised admission of all those who openly applied and were deemed worthy of membership . The earliest instance on record of the recognised admission of women , to a participation in some of the ceremonies of Freemasonry , was the establishment in France , about the year 1740 , of Lodges

of Adoption , which were composed principally , if not exclusively , of women , and of which , at one time , the Duchess of Bourbon was Grand Mistress ( Grande Maitressc ) . These Lodges subsequently received the sanction and recognition of the Grand Orient of France , and became very popular , but died out during the excesses of the Revolution .

The most recent instance is the admission of women into some of the Lodges under the Gran Dieta of Mexico , where they work side by side with men in Craft Masonry , and even act as the presiding ofliccr of the Lodge . Throughout the nineteenth century instances are on record , of

women being allowed to participate in the various rites oi Irecmasonry in France and other countries of Europe , but at the present time the doors seem to be more carefully guarded , and it is very improbable that women are now admitted into any of the Lodges of Europe .

That they were admitted , and allowed to participate m some Masonic ceremonies in the early part of the present century , is proved by the existence of two very curious and unique French Certificates , both of which were granted to Women Masons . These Certificates belong to the very extensive and valuable collection of these documents in the Leicester Freemasons' Hall Museum , and are now published for the first time .

The first of these Certilicates is dated 1821 , and was issued by the Governing Bod y of the Rite of Misraim . This Rite was introduced into France from Italy about the year 1811 , and Consisted of ninety degrees , divided into seventeen classes . Its chief propagators were the three brothers Bedarride ( Mare , Michel , and Joseph ) , who Micceeded in attracting to their Rite some of the foremost French Masons of the time , amongst whom may be noted Count Muraire , and

Women As Freemasons.

1 hory , the French Masonic historian . In the year 1822 their meetings were suspended by order of the police , and the Rite remained dormant for some time . Their Lodges were reopened about the year 1830 , but little success attended them , and although it is still an independent Masonic bod y in France , it is of very little importance .

11 ns Certificate is a parchment document , 13 } inches b y 10 f inches ; the design , which is printed from an engraved plate , is as follows : — Along the top of the document are ranged the following emblems , viz .: a casket containing a flaming heart , sun , clasped hands , three stars , ladder of three staves , rose , two stars , dove with branch ,

trowel m the centre of a sixteen-pointcd star , and a circle containing a flaming heart surrounded b y the words "Silence—Vcrtu— "Union . " Underneath these emblems is a scroll with the words , "Par la Constance clles sont unies" ( Constancy unites them ) . On the dexter side of the document is a tree , probably intended for an apple tree , round which twines a serpent with an apple in its mouth ; at the

toot of the tree kneels a figure of Time with a scythe . On the sinister side is a pillar , surmounted by a flaming heart ; a scroll is wound round the pillar , upon which are the letters M . S — J . A . —F . F . ; by the side of the pillar is an unfinished building , whilst at the foot of the design is an ark upon the water . The centre is filled up with manuscript as follows :

Gloire an Tout Puissant . Respect a L ' ordrc . A Tous les Macons et Maeonnes . Joie—Saint—Prosperite .

Nous Souv . Grands Maitres , composant la Puissance Supreme pour la France de l'Ordrc maconnique de Misraim en Son 90 e et dernier degre , Faisons savoir que notre T . C . et T . R . S . Marie Anne Mauduit Devautant Nee a Paris agee de 25 ans , est niaconne , quelle

possedc Ios degres d'Apprentic de Compagnonne et de Maitresse . Et qua ces litres elle fait partie -de la Grande logo d'Adoption du Rit de Misraim , en consequence nous invitons tous les Masons et Maeonnes a la traitor Favorablement et a lui prefer aide et assistance en Cas dc besoin .

Emaue de Notre Puissance Supreme a Eden , Valleo dc Paris , le 10 cmc Jour du I erne Mois 1825 , on le 10 erne Jnin , 1821 ( Ere Vulgairc ) . Le Super . Gd . Conserv ., Le Grand President , Bedarride , Cte . Muraire , 90-G . C . 90 ° Timbre et Scelle par Par Expres Commaiidenieiit

Nous G . garde des dc la Puissance Supreme Seeaux et Timbres , ] 0 G . Chancellier , f . p . j . Mint ( r ) Felix Riviere , 90 * f 90 Le Cte . L . de Foueheeourt , Gcnl . Teste

90 ° 9 < p The following is a rough translation : —

Glory to the Almi ghty . Respect for the Order . To all Masons and Masons ( fern ) . Joy—Safety—Prosperitv .

\\ e Sovereign Grand Masters , constituting the Supreme Authority for France of the Masonic Order of Misraim in its 90 th aud lust de"roe , hereby declare that our very dear and very worshi pful Sister Mario Anne Mauduit Devautant , born in Paris , and aged 25 years , is a

Mason ( tern . ) , that she has taken the degrees of Apprentice ( fern . ) Companion ( fern . ) and Mistress . And in virtue of these titles belongs to the Grand Lodge of Adoption of the Rite of Misraim , therefore wc desire all Masons and Masons ( fern . ) to receive her with kindness and to aid and assist her in case of need .

This emanates from our Supreme Power in Eden , Valley of Paris the 10 th day of the -ith month , 1825 , or June 10 th , 1821 . The seal is missing , and one of the signatures is very dillicult to decipher . The second of these Certilicates belongs lo the Order of Memphis , which was established iu Paris about the year lS ' . iS , by Jacques

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ST . GILES' CHRISTIAN MISSION . ZrreaStU'CC : J '" - A . BEVAN , Esy ., oh LOMISAHI ' STKI : I ; T , E . C . SUPP 0 RT € D ENTIRELY BY VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS , THE SICKLY AND DESTITUTE , THE HUNGRY AND HELPLESS , THE INNOCENT BUT SUFFERING Wives and Children of Prisoners , SEEK OUR AID IN LARGE NUMBERS . BUT OUR FUNDS ARE INADEQUATE . THEREFORE YOUR HELP IS EARNESTLY SOLICITED . WILL YOU GIVE IT ? WILLIAM WHEATLEY , Superintendent . I , AMI'TUN SII ; I : I : T , RUJKXT St'f . Uii ; , Lu . \ i » ox , W . C .